Fatigue worse after radiation: And still have fatigue, what helps?

Hi
So post surgery and treatment last year ended April 2024. Currently I am still having brutal fatigue. I do have fibromyalgia so I don't know if it's because the trauma has really made the fibro bad or what I am so frustrated. I still have anemia from the radiation it has gotten a bit better. Do I just need to accept that this is the way it is now? My doctor put me on 25 mg of Zoloft which seemed to be working but been having issues tried to increase it to 50 I just can't tolerate it so I'm wondering if I need a different medication. I wish I could just go back on my HRT I felt so good on that.

Hi- Where do you get the C8 vitamin? I have low white blood count due to Verzenio and would like to add C8 to my supplements.

It sounds to me that you're doing everything and all that is physically possible to manage anemia. Leafy green veggies also helpful, esp. broccoli kale and spinach. Make sure you eat Vit C products with them tho., e.g., spinach salad with mandarin oranges or strawberries.
Anemia that cannot be controlled by supplements or diet is related to the effects of chemo on bone marrow, which produces red blood cells.
Hope this helps

I’m right there with you. Finished treatment December 2023 (surgery, chemo and radiation) and put on Anastrazole. Because of problems with bloodwork, further diagnostics (and stress) up till brain MRI and Petscan in July 2024 (both negative). Because of side effects (muscle and bone pain), switched to exemestane in November of last year. At that point, while tired, I was holding my own. Now, I am constantly tired to the point of nodding off mid day and for the last month or so now I can’t sleep - lucky to get 4 hours a night. I do high protein/fiber, low fat diet. Do 5000+ steps daily with strength training and cardio (not overdoing it, 30-45 minutes a day, 6 days a week). Oncologist did tests for possible causes and of course I’m “completely healthy” except for mild low white count and low lymph count that’s been persistent since the chemo. So of course, there is no treatment and I’m told I’m just depressed. I feel it’s from the exemestane just exacerbating the effects still present from treatment but that’s not really recognized and I am a bit afraid to come off the meds. I’ve avoided antidepressants because the side effects run pretty close to those from exemestane and I’m concerned it may worsen the problem instead of correcting it. (And I will admit a personal psychological feeling that taking these is a sign of my own weakness and inability to manage life) But may not have a choice as this particular sleep pattern is not sustainable.

Hi
Sorry you're struggling so bad. It definitely is from your exemestane .I did not take the hormone therapy drugs they give you. I just did not feel it was necessary for me because I was stage zero and I had dcis and I already have osteoporosis I did not want to make things 100% worse because what I researched on those medications they do a lot of bad things as far as I'm concerned everyone has to make their own decision of course. I did go on Zoloft 3 months ago 25 mg and I can tell you it's really helping me a lot. I too did not want to take something but I belong to a zoom breast cancer group and most of the women are on an antidepressant because when they take away your estrogen it's very normal to have severe depression and anxiety. I had tried four other antidepressants and they were horrible this one so far has been very good. I did have a rough three weeks when I first started it just increases your anxiety but then it leveled out and it's been good. So don't let yourself suffer. I was on HRT for 14 years so the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer my GP made me stop it. And within 3 months the anxiety and crying was just horrible.

Hi
I do magnesium glycinate at bedtime plus I do 1 to 2 mg of melatonin I take a supplement called easy Iron from my local health food store 10 mg. Vitamin D and k also vitamin C8. I had to increase my protein which was a major thing I went gluten free and I get a high protein cereal from my health food store that has zero sugar called farm girl. I also do a protein shake at noon an hour before I eat from the health food store it's called good protein you can get it on Amazon.

Thank you so much for the reply. I see a lot of responses on this site of women who say they wouldn’t have made it this far without something to help but it doesn’t seem to be the majority. I tell myself it is side effect of the medication and I’ve always hated the idea of taking yet another pill to try to solve side effects of the other pill I’m taking. Then what about side effects of the new one needing yet another medication etc, etc. but as I said, this isn’t a sustainable lifestyle. I’ve been thinking heavily on calling the doctor and accepting the med - he’s just talking low dose Zoloft - to see if it helps. Your reply has helped that mental discussion in many ways. Again, thank you.

Hi
Can you change your exemestane? I have heard different ladies in my zoom breast cancer group talk about changing the med and whatever they've decided to take instead has helped less side effects. I wouldn't be worried about Zoloft honestly 25 mg is what I'm on it's the lowest dose although in the states I think you guys have a pill not a capsule so you could do 12.5 mg if it's a pill. I hope you get some relief soon.

Already been on Anastrazole and moved to exemestane because of the side effects. This is better - helps me be more mobile and less painful. Only other option is Letrezole and it seems about the same (if not a little worse) in a lot of cases. I’ll call Doctor Monday and see about Zoloft. If it doesn’t help, then will have an in depth with oncologist.

Hi
I do magnesium glycinate at bedtime plus I do 1 to 2 mg of melatonin I take a supplement called easy Iron from my local health food store 10 mg. Vitamin D and k also vitamin C8. I had to increase my protein which was a major thing I went gluten free and I get a high protein cereal from my health food store that has zero sugar called farm girl. I also do a protein shake at noon an hour before I eat from the health food store it's called good protein you can get it on Amazon.