When does "new normal" start?

Betsy13
Betsy13 Member Posts: 185
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I finished rads on 5/28 and am still exhausted. I never had the time to enjoy being a rad grad because I worked through the whole thing. I am off this summer because I am a teacher and am getting ready to go back to work. I get up around 9a and take a nap in the afternoon, sometimes up to 2 hours, then go back to bed around 11p. I don't know what is going to happen when I start working. I am up at 5:45a, home from work around 4:30p. I'm not trying to borrow trouble but I am scared I'll give myself a set back. I don't have support from work, none at all.

I've never really had time to enjoy anything because of the fatigue. I am still depressed, although not as bad as before. Should I up my anti-depressants?

When does the "new normal" start?

Comments

  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #2
    I was told that it takes a
    I was told that it takes a year after completing treatment to start feeling normal again. Although everyone is different and it does depend on what you have been through. That was one of my main complaints, that I was always so tired. You may want to have the doctor run some tests to see if you are anemic, that is my problem right now although i am back in chemo. It could also be the depression that is making you tired , I would not increase my dosage without speaking to my doctor first, or maybe he could switch your medication. Is there anything that you could do for fun, can you go to the beach (i found that helps me) or the mall ( also helps me, hey its called Mall Therapy!). How about cooking, i also find that very theraputic. And if you really want a laugh watch "Jersey Shore" on MTV. It is unbelievely entertaining, my new indulgence. Let us know how you are doing
  • AMomNETN
    AMomNETN Member Posts: 242
    #3
    New Normal
    Betsy,
    I finished my chemo July 16th. I'm doing well and I have returned to the classroom. We started Aug. 12. I'm still tired at times but I just push myself to do a little more each day. There are still things I can't do or it takes a lot of effort, like climbing stairs (it hurts my legs) or getting up out of the floor. Ouch! For everyone it is different do what you can do and try a little more each day. It is hard but worth it. The new normal starts when you and your body are ready for it too. My taste is back and that is the best normal to me. LOL Also one thing that is helping right now is I go once a week to get fluids and they put some decadron in it. I get a little more energy but this heat really zaps me. Hang in there!!

    Janie
  • bjmom1
    bjmom1 Member Posts: 152
    #4
    New Normal
    The new normal take awhile remember your body been through alot. It take time to heal rest when you can drink plenty of water to flush the chemo out of your body. And give yourself break the new normal takes about a year . Also for my depression I go to group therapy and my doctor change my anti-depression med. Good luck with school and you are in my prayers.

    Barbara
  • aisling8
    aisling8 Member Posts: 1,627 Member
    #5
    bjmom1 said:

    New Normal
    The new normal take awhile remember your body been through alot. It take time to heal rest when you can drink plenty of water to flush the chemo out of your body. And give yourself break the new normal takes about a year . Also for my depression I go to group therapy and my doctor change my anti-depression med. Good luck with school and you are in my prayers.

    Barbara

    So sorry
    that you're still exhausted. I finished rads two days before you and am feeling pretty "bounced back." But I didn't have chemo so I walked in not wiped out to begin with.

    I guess take it a day at a time and if tired is where you're at, honor that and give your body what it needs. Maybe getting back to work will end up being a good thing in the long run -- getting back into a familiar routine and such. I sure hope so. You sound so tired and down. I want you to feel better:)

    xo,
    Victoria
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #6
    Everybody's new normal is
    Everybody's new normal is different. I am almost two and a half years out of treatment and life still isn't perfect (will it ever be? : ) ); although I feel pretty "normal" now, I'm not sure when this "new normal" began. Like you, I taught through rads, and I believe that took its toll. I also experienced depression. (Read "I was a train wreck!")

    Also, like you, I find myself sleeping a lot during the summer... but I got through the past school year fine and I'm feeling positive that this year will be even better! I just pat myself on the back for babying myself over break.

    It is a good idea to talk to your doctor about your meds. Are you taking Arimidex? It can contribute to depression.


    Bit by bit my life has gotten better. With time, you will be feeling better, too. xoxoxo Lynn
  • roseann4
    roseann4 Member Posts: 992 Member
    #7
    lynn1950 said:

    Everybody's new normal is
    Everybody's new normal is different. I am almost two and a half years out of treatment and life still isn't perfect (will it ever be? : ) ); although I feel pretty "normal" now, I'm not sure when this "new normal" began. Like you, I taught through rads, and I believe that took its toll. I also experienced depression. (Read "I was a train wreck!")

    Also, like you, I find myself sleeping a lot during the summer... but I got through the past school year fine and I'm feeling positive that this year will be even better! I just pat myself on the back for babying myself over break.

    It is a good idea to talk to your doctor about your meds. Are you taking Arimidex? It can contribute to depression.


    Bit by bit my life has gotten better. With time, you will be feeling better, too. xoxoxo Lynn

    Lynn's right about Arimidex!
    It's been 1 1/2 years and other than the side effects of Arimidex, my new normal has started. The drug has had a negative effect on my brain chemistry which I am countering with nutrition. I exercise and take vitamins which were suggested by my nutritionist. My Vit D was low at 30 which also had an effect on my mood. We get so busy with traditional medical docs that we must make time to repair the damage done in the process of saving our lives.

    Roseann
  • Betsy13
    Betsy13 Member Posts: 185
    #8
    no meds
    I'm not taking any meds besides the anti-depressant. I have had blood work done and everything is fine. I didn't have chemo, all I had were rads. I just feel lost and alone. I find I continually complain. Then I get mad at myself for complaining. I had the lumpectomy on my left side and I'm left handed. I feel sad. All the time. I see a therapist, no group in my area...believe me I've checked and re-checked...I have my husband, 17 and 19 year old children, my best friend who lives 3 hours away from me and another friend who lives close but has health issues of her own. Everyone else disappeared.

    We're up north in Michigan right now and getting ready to go back home. I have a 2 day professional development with my principal. She is not supportive at all.

    I'm trying to get back to normal, whatever that is, but not really sure how. Can't go to the mall ($ issues due to economy). I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I am sick of myself and sick of being sick.

    Please continue with ideas and support, otherwise I don't know where I would be or what I would do.

    Thanks,
    Betsy
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #9
    Betsy13 said:

    no meds
    I'm not taking any meds besides the anti-depressant. I have had blood work done and everything is fine. I didn't have chemo, all I had were rads. I just feel lost and alone. I find I continually complain. Then I get mad at myself for complaining. I had the lumpectomy on my left side and I'm left handed. I feel sad. All the time. I see a therapist, no group in my area...believe me I've checked and re-checked...I have my husband, 17 and 19 year old children, my best friend who lives 3 hours away from me and another friend who lives close but has health issues of her own. Everyone else disappeared.

    We're up north in Michigan right now and getting ready to go back home. I have a 2 day professional development with my principal. She is not supportive at all.

    I'm trying to get back to normal, whatever that is, but not really sure how. Can't go to the mall ($ issues due to economy). I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I am sick of myself and sick of being sick.

    Please continue with ideas and support, otherwise I don't know where I would be or what I would do.

    Thanks,
    Betsy

    Shopping will not bring you energy
    time will heal you. Enjoy your time off and try to develop your own system to combat fatigue. NAP & physical activities two good side by site way to help your body, which was torched for several months. I had 10 months of invasive treatment plus Tamoxifen. It took me 12 months to stop taking naps.
    Good luck
  • iowasignterp
    iowasignterp Member Posts: 55
    #10
    Betsy13 said:

    no meds
    I'm not taking any meds besides the anti-depressant. I have had blood work done and everything is fine. I didn't have chemo, all I had were rads. I just feel lost and alone. I find I continually complain. Then I get mad at myself for complaining. I had the lumpectomy on my left side and I'm left handed. I feel sad. All the time. I see a therapist, no group in my area...believe me I've checked and re-checked...I have my husband, 17 and 19 year old children, my best friend who lives 3 hours away from me and another friend who lives close but has health issues of her own. Everyone else disappeared.

    We're up north in Michigan right now and getting ready to go back home. I have a 2 day professional development with my principal. She is not supportive at all.

    I'm trying to get back to normal, whatever that is, but not really sure how. Can't go to the mall ($ issues due to economy). I don't know, I don't know, I don't know. I am sick of myself and sick of being sick.

    Please continue with ideas and support, otherwise I don't know where I would be or what I would do.

    Thanks,
    Betsy

    a new normal
    a new normal begins when you are not constantly thinking of yourself as a cancer survivor 24/7. for awhile, it is an all encompassing thing and it does take alot of time and energy to battle it. but then it is not there but you have wrapped your identity around it and it feels weird to let go of something that has been so much a part of you. Much like when you send your kids off to school the first time. your identity has been stripped and you feel like you have to start over again.

    what can you do to re-energize your identity?? take a new class, do some tutoring, find some volunteer work, find another purpose in your life? helping others or putting another label on your life takes the focus off of this cancer. find some volunteer opportunities that you can do as a family and get a two for one deal, new purpose and quality family time. I know that you are tired but if you are motivated by a larger purpose, you will find more energy than you thought you had. if you have other activities or labels, cancer will take a smaller and smaller part of your life and then it will be in proportion to the rest of your life. it may never completely go away but it won't seem such an overwhelming part of your life.

    i am sorry if i seem too harsh and maybe I am not understanding everything about how you are feeling. I noticed that my life got better once I was able to take on other roles and just be my kids' mom and get involved in other things. I was more of me rather than having a neon sign of cancer victim around my neck. it was very strange at first. it is like living with chronic pain, it can take over your life or you can learn how to deal with it amongst other things in your life. i don't know if that makes any sense or not. I will not deny that you have fatigue but how you manage and handle it is the important thing. do you make accomodations for it or do you let it control your life?? don't let it take control of your whole life, you are much more important than that is.

    hope this helps!
    take care of yourself and maybe someone else in the process.

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