Re: haven't been here in a while

hounddog

I find out that I'm still tired from 3 yrs ago . I was doing Yard work yesterday afternoon and I get tired very easy . I was crying and I came in and called my husband mom and said I'm not good at things any more I can only do little yard work then I get tired. I'm not as young as I use to be when I was 29 yrs old I went Through cancer and 6 months of chemo treatments . But this last round of treatments I went through in 2003 was the hardest on me I lost all my hair and it literally took it all out of me and know one believes me. Also is there anything else natural for hot flases. My husband told me that every person is different when they go through Chemo treatments it takes others longer to recover and years because our bodys aren't the same as the others . So Chemo affects people different. I cried because I'm upset about the way our yard looks and I cant handle yard work like I use to.
Is any one still tired from treatments they took 3 yrs ago or is it all in my mind?
Marilyn

Unknown

hounddog,
We BELIEVE YOU. It is NOT all in your mind.
Many of us have had the same experience during and even long after chemo.
I am a 21 year survivor...I was 38 when first diagnosed. Had 2 courses of chemo less than 2 years apart. Then rads. By the time it was all over I was a basket case as far as energy was concerned. It took a very long time (years) for all the after effects to diminish. By that time I was of an age when I had to accept that I would never feel like a spring chicken again. But, you know what, all these years later I have found peace with a slower, simpler way of living. It is a process...don't be too hard on yourself. And DON'T let others assessment of you define who you are.
God bless.

KathiM

Marilyn,

Some say that as a result of cancer, they learned the lesson of slowing down and taking life one beautiful day at a time.

I am only a year out, but, yes, I used to work like a crazy person in the yard...many nights needing linament to sooth my aching muscles. I can't do that anymore. BUT, after hiring a strong young man to 'clean up' (mine was driving me crazy), we planted some lower-maintenance stuff, with beds of flowers that I could tend to. I still get all the enjoyment of working in the yard, with none of the pain!

Be good to yourself. You are no wimp. You have fought a battle far worse than many people will ever face in their lives. Never forget that!

Hugs, Kathi

babs49242

and here I thought I was going crazy!
I've been done w/ treatments for 3 yrs also. I find myself tiring sooner than I use to. Especially hoeing in the garden. I, too, sat dwn and cried! I got so frustrated that I went to my Internalist(big mistake) he thought I was nuts. I insisted on tests..blood,ekg,stress test,thyroid...the works! all came back ok..oh humm. My Onc thought my thyroid was high but reg dr didn't....changing reg doc. I know I am 'overweight' by some but I just don't have the gumption to take walks.and it is TOO STINKING HOT HERE!(georgia)
I try to do things in little spurts. work about 10 mins take a break.
So Marilyn, I don't think you're CrAzY! it's the world around ya!

chin up it still a beautiful day!
Cindie

phoenixrising

Hi Marilyn, my husband's has been out for 4yrs. and he complains of the same thing. I've been out for a couple of months and just spent a day and a half in bed. His memory and cognitive skills are not the same and no one believed him. Finally chemobrain is starting to get some attention.
It's hard enough getting people to understand what we CAN explain, how about what we CAN'T explain. Those thoughts, feelings, sensations..etc. that we have a hard time defining. I have cried over similiar things and if I could I would give you a big hug and say "there, there, don't cry, it will be OK".

So, there are a couple of things you can do. One is taking KathM's lead and hire a "strong young man" and make that "good looking" as well, and enjoy.......or create a low maintenance garden.
I like the "strong young man" approach myself.
Hope you are smiling at this point.....
jan

Susan956

Marilyn,
I am now two years out and I can still say that my life is not back to normal. Although I would say that I live my life with a new perspective, I get tired and I cannot take on as much as before. I have tried to accept there there is a new normal. My feet and legs swell due to the drugs that I have to take... and a sleeping pill is my norm every night.... I would never have considered it as an option before... but my Onc put it I can sleep or not function (one of my side effects from taking an Amitose inhibitor). So you are not nuts... you are just living with the sides of being a breast cancer survivor....

Take Care.... God Bless....

Susan

jmears

Hello - I recently read that chemo treatment for breast cancer can age a woman 10 years. I wanted to cry when I read that! I started my fight in 2000 and it took 2 - 3 years to feel myself. I never regained the strength and energy I had before. Then a couple years ago it cam back and I was so upset that I would have to go through it again. Suprisingly, the treatments I am having for stage 4 are less offensive than for stage 2. Go figure. Anyway - you are not crazy and it is funny that you mention yard work because that seems to be the hardest thing for me to keep up with too. It used to be fun and creative ... and now it's just an exhausting, tiring chore! I'm thinking of concrete gardens! Take care and try to stay up ... you'll feel better and better. Jamie

glo2000

Hounddog,

My cancer was in 2000 and I don't think I was ever the same after that. I did learn to take life a little slower and enjoy it more.
I was diagnosed with mets 9 months ago,have two children one 24 one 14, There are many days that I look around my house and cry because I can't do half the things I was doing just 9 months ago.
When I feel like that I have myself a good cry then talk myself out of it, a dirty house or a lawn that needs cutting aren't important right now. Getting better is.

Do something that makes you smile! The yard work will wait.
Gloria