Cognitive Decline: A Personal Battle with Brain Health

Brain health is something most people rarely think about until it starts to change. For me, it has become impossible to ignore. Living with a brain cancer diagnosis, going through surgery, and now facing vitamin deficiencies, I am forced to look at what happens when the brain does not work the way it used to. It is hard to admit when things are going downhill, but I know I am not the only one.

Cognitive Decline After Brain Surgery

Brain surgery saved my life, but it also left me with invisible scars. The surgeon had explained the risks, but no one can truly prepare you for what it feels like when your memory falters or your thoughts slow down.

After surgery, I noticed small but unsettling changes. Words would escape me mid-sentence. I would lose track of conversations or forget why I had walked into a room. At first, I thought it was the anesthesia wearing off, but the truth is that surgery changes the way the brain functions. Even when everything “looks fine” on a scan, the brain still has to rewire and adjust. These moments are reminders that my mind has been touched in ways that will never be the same again.

The Upcoming EEG

Soon, I will undergo an EEG. It is supposed to help doctors better understand what is happening in my brain—whether seizures or irregular brain waves are playing a role in my cognitive struggles. I have not gone through it yet, but I already feel the weight of it hanging over me.

On one hand, I want answers. On the other, I am anxious about what it may reveal. Will it confirm my fears about further decline? Will it bring relief by ruling things out? Living with brain cancer has taught me that every new test feels like another crossroad. The EEG is another reminder of how fragile brain health can be, and how much uncertainty comes with monitoring it.

Vitamin B-12 Deficiency: Another Kicker

As if brain cancer were not enough, I was recently diagnosed with a severe vitamin B-12 deficiency. It felt like another cruel twist. Here I am already dealing with glioblastoma-related issues, and now I have to face something else that can affect memory, mood, and focus.

Vitamin B-12 is essential for healthy nerve function and red blood cell production. When levels are too low, the brain simply does not fire the way it should. For me, it explained some of the fogginess, the forgetfulness, and the days when my concentration seemed to collapse without warning. Knowing there is a medical explanation gave me some relief, but it also added to the frustration. How many more things can pile on?

The good news is that unlike brain surgery or tumor damage, B-12 deficiency is treatable. Supplements and injections can help restore balance. But it does not change the fact that every time my mind stumbles, I wonder whether it is the tumor, the surgery, or something else entirely.

The Hard Truth About Decline

The hardest part is not the tests, the needles, or even the diagnosis. It is admitting that decline is real. I used to pride myself on my sharp memory and quick thinking. Now, there are days when I cannot trust my own mind to keep up. That is painful to acknowledge.

Cognitive decline feels like losing pieces of yourself. It affects confidence, independence, and even the way you connect with others. Sometimes I grieve the version of me that was not constantly second-guessing whether my brain would cooperate.

Why Brain Health Matters

Brain health is more than just physical survival—it is about dignity, identity, and relationships. Every forgotten word, every lapse in focus is a reminder of how important the brain truly is. I may not have control over every factor—surgery was unavoidable, an EEG is necessary, and deficiencies can creep up without warning—but I do have control over how I respond.

I can seek treatment. I can rest. I can acknowledge the decline without letting it define me. Most importantly, I can share this honestly, because someone else out there may be going through the same thing.