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Has anyone tried Ritalin to reduce fatigue after chemo?

Posted by oldfords @oldfords, Aug 22 8:35am

Has anyone tried Ritalin to reduce fatigue after chemo? What are others doing to help with fatigue?

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VancouverIslandHiker | @vancouverislandhiker | Aug 26 9:20am

Ive had radiation after operation. No Chemo or ADT though . But External Beam radiation tired me out . What I did is walks ! Get your exercise in. Gives you endurance through the day . I went hiking with the dogs each day for 2 hours , worked up to 4 hour hike ! Plenty of fresh air is great for you too . Combine that with some 1/2 naps in the day , but no more . You want quality sleep at night !

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johnernest | @johnernest | Aug 26 10:09am
In reply to @stevecando54 "I'm always whining about the fatigue. Almost 18 months on monthly Firmagon shots. It just doesn't..." + (show)
@stevecando54

I'm always whining about the fatigue. Almost 18 months on monthly Firmagon shots. It just doesn't get better, although certainly better then not having the shots. I get by saying keep pushing. 8 hours a day on my feet but get home mow the lawn and it makes you feel good. I'll be 70 soon so there is that to take into account. On weekends, I take care of chores, resting in between, and it's not bad, hoping when I retire it will be manageable. Best to all.

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Started on Firmagon last Friday. Two injections in the abs, not painful until the next day, have some swelling at the injection sites, seems to be calming down today.
I’am 71 and have always worked out, mainly weight training. I woke up this morning feeling very strange, not really tired, but just kind of slow. Had breakfast and went to the gym, did my typical entire body workout, after the first set leg exercises I started feeling normal and had a good workout and just a strong as before. Hope this continues.
btw
My prostate cancer has spread locally and is high risk. I went in for my annual physical 4 weeks ago, my primary care doctor called me that evening about my blood work, PSA was 62
He immediately referred me to a local urology, had DRE and then biopsy the next week. Now here I am about a month later on ADT and scheduled for a PSMA PET scan next week. Doctor thinks this is treatable with the hormone therapy and possibly radiation after he has the PET results
Trying to stay positive and keeping busy. Lots of anxiety in the evenings, doctor prescribed Buspirone to keep me calm, seems to be working. I will post more once my scan results come back

REPLY
1 reply
ecurb | @ecurb | Aug 26 12:03pm
In reply to @johnernest "Started on Firmagon last Friday. Two injections in the abs, not painful until the next day,..." + (show)
@johnernest

Started on Firmagon last Friday. Two injections in the abs, not painful until the next day, have some swelling at the injection sites, seems to be calming down today.
I’am 71 and have always worked out, mainly weight training. I woke up this morning feeling very strange, not really tired, but just kind of slow. Had breakfast and went to the gym, did my typical entire body workout, after the first set leg exercises I started feeling normal and had a good workout and just a strong as before. Hope this continues.
btw
My prostate cancer has spread locally and is high risk. I went in for my annual physical 4 weeks ago, my primary care doctor called me that evening about my blood work, PSA was 62
He immediately referred me to a local urology, had DRE and then biopsy the next week. Now here I am about a month later on ADT and scheduled for a PSMA PET scan next week. Doctor thinks this is treatable with the hormone therapy and possibly radiation after he has the PET results
Trying to stay positive and keeping busy. Lots of anxiety in the evenings, doctor prescribed Buspirone to keep me calm, seems to be working. I will post more once my scan results come back

Jump to this post

As far as I know the ADT your on will lower the PSA. Mine dropped real quick from 8-3 within the first month. This was my experience. Soon it will be < 1 is my guess.

REPLY
maga | @maga | Sep 2 4:24pm
In reply to @grandpun "Good topic as energy loss and loss of strength is common with lots of PC treatments...." + (show)
@grandpun

Good topic as energy loss and loss of strength is common with lots of PC treatments.
ADT (Lupron) took my energy (and strength) away.
I used 'power naps' of 15 - 20 minutes starting with focused relaxation. Also, liquid, sublingual vitamin B 12 in the morning. Both really helped. I must be sensitive to B 12 so I had to titrate down to 1/10 of the suggested 1ml dosage. Any more and I get jittery.
Now, 7-months since last Lupron shot and I think my energy is coming back; but I still use the B 12 and naps for now.
Good luck and keep up the good fight.

Jump to this post

I'm 85 years old. After going thru 23 radiation treatments and got second shot of Lupron which kicked my butt I started swimming the same day as I got the second shot. That was about 3 weeks ago. I started to get my energy back immediately. I now swim half a mile 2 days a week and started weight lifting 2 days a week.

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