Struggling with fatigue

Posted by sue417 @sue417, Feb 23 5:17pm

Hi
In march I will be going into eleven months post radiation. I feel since winter hit my radiation Fatigue and fibro has gotten worse. I am struggling horribly with this fatigue and now i'm getting depressed. I live alone.It has been a very. Difficult. I did not think the fatigue would be this debiltating this far out. I am sure my fibromyalgia Is playing a big part also. My fibro has been very much under control with the odd flare but nothing like this. I will be starting counseling at the end of March and I will be starting grief counseling at the beginning of march which i've been waiting ten months for. I am hoping some of this makes a difference. I had four deaths during my treatment, Plus having to care for my mother when I was finished in April quite a few nights a week.Finally got her in a nursing home in August.She has alzheimer's , that also has been brutal. Wonder if others with fibro have had this much trouble recovering from radiation.

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i too have extreme fatigue . finished 6 month chemo , mastectomy , 3 weeks radiation in june last year . got covid in dec had antivirals recovered well . but if any activity one day would have to rest the next . could spend all day in bed but don't wish to get worse . sooo tired all the time . only way is to have coffee which before i could not tolerate . feel like getting more tired over time . but i'm in my 60 s so that may be reason also . on exemestane daily. but just over feeling so tired . But any exercise i do after i feel such a huge boost of well-being like my body is saying yes i need this .

i think all your personal challenges and grief would play a big part in your exhaustion too.
i feel all you can do is take one day a time, indulge yourself ! your body has been thru a lot and mental stress is terrible . try go outside each day even for a short walk .it will make a difference get a pet . a little kitten or something for company. what you are experiencing is normal ! you've been thru the wringer !

try find a good tv series to watch, something to look forward to , a book , play some music . if you can try find a Tai Chi course be perfect , it's gentle exercise .

and don't expect too much of your body, rest and heal at your pace . you deserve every indulgence at this time , it's your time to heal .
all the best !!

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@kerynbookeraustralianoosaooooooo

i too have extreme fatigue . finished 6 month chemo , mastectomy , 3 weeks radiation in june last year . got covid in dec had antivirals recovered well . but if any activity one day would have to rest the next . could spend all day in bed but don't wish to get worse . sooo tired all the time . only way is to have coffee which before i could not tolerate . feel like getting more tired over time . but i'm in my 60 s so that may be reason also . on exemestane daily. but just over feeling so tired . But any exercise i do after i feel such a huge boost of well-being like my body is saying yes i need this .

i think all your personal challenges and grief would play a big part in your exhaustion too.
i feel all you can do is take one day a time, indulge yourself ! your body has been thru a lot and mental stress is terrible . try go outside each day even for a short walk .it will make a difference get a pet . a little kitten or something for company. what you are experiencing is normal ! you've been thru the wringer !

try find a good tv series to watch, something to look forward to , a book , play some music . if you can try find a Tai Chi course be perfect , it's gentle exercise .

and don't expect too much of your body, rest and heal at your pace . you deserve every indulgence at this time , it's your time to heal .
all the best !!

Jump to this post

Hi
Thank you.
So much for telling me all this. I keep thinking
There's something else really wrong. I do have a cat thank the lord She's my saving grace. I feel for anyone that takes the AI's. My cancer was e r / p r positive her2- Stage 0. The doctor told me that It was up to me if I wanted to do the AI. Because of my other health issues He
Only suggested tamoxifen. I.
Tried it for 3 wks It was too debilitating. The thing is my fatigue was getting better Then my surgeon decided.I needed a colonoscopy in december. I did not want to do it.I wanted to wait but he said no. So since the colonoscopy the fatigue has been brutal again. The prep was brutal. I am 66. I think it's harder because we're older. I wish you well. 💗

REPLY
@kerynbookeraustralianoosaooooooo

i too have extreme fatigue . finished 6 month chemo , mastectomy , 3 weeks radiation in june last year . got covid in dec had antivirals recovered well . but if any activity one day would have to rest the next . could spend all day in bed but don't wish to get worse . sooo tired all the time . only way is to have coffee which before i could not tolerate . feel like getting more tired over time . but i'm in my 60 s so that may be reason also . on exemestane daily. but just over feeling so tired . But any exercise i do after i feel such a huge boost of well-being like my body is saying yes i need this .

i think all your personal challenges and grief would play a big part in your exhaustion too.
i feel all you can do is take one day a time, indulge yourself ! your body has been thru a lot and mental stress is terrible . try go outside each day even for a short walk .it will make a difference get a pet . a little kitten or something for company. what you are experiencing is normal ! you've been thru the wringer !

try find a good tv series to watch, something to look forward to , a book , play some music . if you can try find a Tai Chi course be perfect , it's gentle exercise .

and don't expect too much of your body, rest and heal at your pace . you deserve every indulgence at this time , it's your time to heal .
all the best !!

Jump to this post

Hi
The other thing that annoys me to know end.Is the radiologist tells you?You might have fatigue for 3 weeks. Then When I called and talked to the radiology nurse , she told me for 6 mths to 2 yrs. I'm not sure if I would have done it if I knew that. I had a microscopic break in one of the walls in my milk ducts . So he strongly suggested it.

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@sue417

Hi
Thank you.
So much for telling me all this. I keep thinking
There's something else really wrong. I do have a cat thank the lord She's my saving grace. I feel for anyone that takes the AI's. My cancer was e r / p r positive her2- Stage 0. The doctor told me that It was up to me if I wanted to do the AI. Because of my other health issues He
Only suggested tamoxifen. I.
Tried it for 3 wks It was too debilitating. The thing is my fatigue was getting better Then my surgeon decided.I needed a colonoscopy in december. I did not want to do it.I wanted to wait but he said no. So since the colonoscopy the fatigue has been brutal again. The prep was brutal. I am 66. I think it's harder because we're older. I wish you well. 💗

Jump to this post

well that's what i was thinking must be something bad going on if i'm still so tired . but it just takes time no one likes to say you'll be tired for a year at least . age doesn't help either . all the best . we are more resilient than we give ourselves credit for . !

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I, too, am exhausted. 6 months past surgery (lumpectomy and axillary node dissection) and 2 months post radiation. But also taking AI meds + verzenio. I also had fibro before all this. I feel acupuncture has helped moderate most of my side-effects, but the exhaustion persists. However you have so much more to contend with - be easy on yourself. Stress is surely also a factor! Best wishes to you!

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@delfinogn

I, too, am exhausted. 6 months past surgery (lumpectomy and axillary node dissection) and 2 months post radiation. But also taking AI meds + verzenio. I also had fibro before all this. I feel acupuncture has helped moderate most of my side-effects, but the exhaustion persists. However you have so much more to contend with - be easy on yourself. Stress is surely also a factor! Best wishes to you!

Jump to this post

Hi
I think anyone who goes through breast cancer has a lot to deal with all of us. Anyone on the AI's my hats off to you. That medication is brutal. Thanks for mentioning acupuncture. I am going to try it next week. Long story short, I have a new g.p. and he won't prescribe my fibromyalgia meds. I had 8 refill from my previous gp. I spoke to my pharmacist and he filled it. Last night I finally had deep sleep. It's only 5mg of cyclobenzaprine. It's the only fibro med that works for me. I only take it when I am in a bad flare. Hopefully going back on it will get me back on track. My pharmacist said he will talk to the dr if he continues to refuse. I only went thru 1 script last yr.

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I am 72, went through surgery June 2022. Then chemo because oncotype positive and then radiation, Anastrazole for 6 months but now on exemestane because of side effects to Anastrazole. So don’t know which part of the treatment caused it but I agree - I’m tired of being tired. I have NEVER been a daytime napper and now, there are days I almost fall asleep doing something. I try to walk everyday and go to the gym for strength training at least 3 days a week (trying to stay off the bone meds!). He asks at every appointment and I respond with a yes, I’m still tired, but nothing suggested to help. Then I get the comment “radiation, the gift that keeps on giving” so don’t know if it’s a combination or just the radiation that caused it. Anyway, I guess we just have to keep plugging along. If I find anything that helps, I’ll come back and post.

REPLY
@mistymar

I am 72, went through surgery June 2022. Then chemo because oncotype positive and then radiation, Anastrazole for 6 months but now on exemestane because of side effects to Anastrazole. So don’t know which part of the treatment caused it but I agree - I’m tired of being tired. I have NEVER been a daytime napper and now, there are days I almost fall asleep doing something. I try to walk everyday and go to the gym for strength training at least 3 days a week (trying to stay off the bone meds!). He asks at every appointment and I respond with a yes, I’m still tired, but nothing suggested to help. Then I get the comment “radiation, the gift that keeps on giving” so don’t know if it’s a combination or just the radiation that caused it. Anyway, I guess we just have to keep plugging along. If I find anything that helps, I’ll come back and post.

Jump to this post

Hi
I belong to a breast cancer group that does zoom meetings every two weeks. One of the ladies told us when you hit the end of two years the radiation Is side effects just sort of dissipate. I an hoping

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