Fatigue: How bad is it really? What helps?

Betabel translates into Radish

(Sorry if this is unhelpful, I am finding sharing through writing helpful to me on my journey as I am working on post treatment healing which is 1000 times more difficult than the treatments.). While I was waiting for treatment to start, I was watching the cycling events on TV. There was a comment on fatigue, and the general advice was “when you have fatigue, it is important to do some activity to work through it”. When you are tired, it seems that resting will resolve it, but I made a point to have an activity before I took the rest. At the worst point, it was get up and walk around my an apartment (my goal at this point was 50 steps), but shifting the focus to achievement is good for morale. Keep the goal achievable with the reward at the end but also know that the try even if you fail is okay and try again tomorrow. God bless and good luck.

Chemo does take a toll on your body and it’s okay to rest and let your body try to heal as much as it can. Try to go for little walks or do some light e eat home, to at least keep blood flowing Andy maybe distract your mind from all the chaos for a bit. The journey isn’t easy but YOU CAN DO IT. Stay positive and keep strong.

@cloudybright, how are you managing with side effects of treatment? What helps with the fatigue for you?

Its taken me a while to learn the pattern that emerges from the drugs.
On Chemo day the nurses first administer anti-nausea drug and dexamethasone, taking about thirty minutes before starting the oxaliplatin followed by the folfox.
I think the dexamethasone keeps me propped-up (feeling okay) for about three days.
By the fourth day my only desire is to sit on the sofa or recliner all day, nap, watch daytime TV (yuk) and nap some more.
On the fifth day I get a few things done. Each day I can do a little more. And the more I do, the more I feel like doing.
Eating early and not snacking in the evening helps with sleep and recovery for the next day.
For me personally, ibuprofen is greatly helpful. So I take 400 mg in the morning and another 400 mg in the evening. "Inflammation" is one of the enemies. And it makes a difference.
My chemo doc approved this when asked about my ibuprofen intake. My kidney function is good.
Even so, my natural inclination is to sit all day. After any activity I get tired, and so find myself sitting and resting more than I would like. I've always been an active person with various projects waiting for me to attend to.
Today, I ignore projects that I would like to do. Just keeping up with routine daily maintenance is first. Stuff like keeping dishes out of the sink, making the bed, etc. Things that I used to blow through are now my daily achievements.
It's a slow process, but it is where this person finds himself now.

I experienced that 4th day crash as well! (towards the end of my treatments, it crept into the 5th day as well). I would get up and get dressed in the morning and then it was an all day series of naps.