Fatigue after Chemo

yesyes2

Hi and Happy Saint Patrick's Day,

I was just wondering how long people have felt fatigued after finishing chemo. I am 4 weeks out from my 6th round of RCHOP and there are days when I'm just too tired to get dressed and do much of anything. Other days I feel good but run out of energy after a few hours. When I mentioned it to my onc he said, I'm not surprised. My blood work is good but my RBC is a little low at 3.75.

Anyway, I'd love to hear your stories.

Thanks,
Leslie

winthefight

Fatigue
Hi Leslie,

I can relate to the fatigue. When I was on RCHOP I too was fatigue. My oncol as well as so many other oncol have patients implement exercise. I know it sounds strange but it actually works. Exercise includes mild/seated yoga, ta chi too. Medical pros have suggested to just walk to the mail box or from your door to the curb....do a little each day. It wasn't until I started to exercise that the fatigue disappeared. I know it seems like a huge task, but this is what worked for me.

I am glad that your blood work is good. How long as your WBC been on the low side? I would ask more questions about why it is so low and what can be done about it. When I was on RCHOP my W and R bcs were low. I was given the neulasta shots for the wbc. And given something else (I believe it was procrete) for the RBC.

I hope you feel better soon. I look fwd to hearing about your progress.

Be blessed.

yesyes2

winthefight said:

Fatigue
Hi Leslie,

I can relate to the fatigue. When I was on RCHOP I too was fatigue. My oncol as well as so many other oncol have patients implement exercise. I know it sounds strange but it actually works. Exercise includes mild/seated yoga, ta chi too. Medical pros have suggested to just walk to the mail box or from your door to the curb....do a little each day. It wasn't until I started to exercise that the fatigue disappeared. I know it seems like a huge task, but this is what worked for me.

I am glad that your blood work is good. How long as your WBC been on the low side? I would ask more questions about why it is so low and what can be done about it. When I was on RCHOP my W and R bcs were low. I was given the neulasta shots for the wbc. And given something else (I believe it was procrete) for the RBC.

I hope you feel better soon. I look fwd to hearing about your progress.

Be blessed.

Fatigue
Hi Win,

Thanks for your reply and good advice. You always have good advice and kind words of wisdom. I'm not just lying in bed and am moving around, shoping, doing laundry, etc. but I'm not doing a regular exercise program like I know I should be. And I know I should do more.

I have had low RBC for a long time but am lower than usual and think it's because of the chemo. My RBC is low because I also have Rhuematoid arthritis which causes some anemia. My doctors aren't worried about it at this point in time.

Thanks for your kindness and God bless.
Leslie

Stephen Pietrowski

cfs

HL GIVES ONE CFS . After 9.5 years 37 % still have cfs. What to do re ? Natural healing tech. Tai chi not fixing me. 

lindary

Tired

I did 6 cycles of R-Chop too and was tired. About a week after the treatment I would go back into the office every day until the next treament. That first day back was hard but each day I felt stronger and less tired. The I had to do 3 cycles of RICE which required about 3.5 days in the hospital. That could really knock me out. Anyway, last Nov I was told I was in remission. Since then my blood counts have seldom been at the minimum level and if 1 of the counts is at the min level, the rest aren't. I don't get tired as easy as 6 months ago but if I do too much I need a nap. I am frustrated that the counts aren't better by now and I wasn't so tired. But there are others in this group that have been in remission longer and still have complaints about their blood counts & fatigue. Guess it just takes a lot of time. 

 

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

lindary said:

Tired

I did 6 cycles of R-Chop too and was tired. About a week after the treatment I would go back into the office every day until the next treament. That first day back was hard but each day I felt stronger and less tired. The I had to do 3 cycles of RICE which required about 3.5 days in the hospital. That could really knock me out. Anyway, last Nov I was told I was in remission. Since then my blood counts have seldom been at the minimum level and if 1 of the counts is at the min level, the rest aren't. I don't get tired as easy as 6 months ago but if I do too much I need a nap. I am frustrated that the counts aren't better by now and I wasn't so tired. But there are others in this group that have been in remission longer and still have complaints about their blood counts & fatigue. Guess it just takes a lot of time. 

 

37%

Stephen,

I don't know where you got the 37% figure from, but I certainly believe it.  One issue is that there are 200 different chemo drugs, and they all are very different in chemistry, mode of action, and so forth.

Unlike Lindary, my blood counts have been normal through six years of remission, except for a period of a few months with severe anemia that required iron infusions, cause never identified.  But I do have severe fatigue, and do not think I will ever shake it. Natural aging and other medical problems are probably involved (prostate cancer, lung disease).

Significant chemo (I am referring to at least several months of infusions) wacks the body in ways medicine essentially does not understand even today.  Eat healthy, remain active -- these things can only help, and cannot hurt. They also help in ways that are not necessarily related to chemo:  Weight management, heart health, liver health.

No magic bullet exists, that I am aware of.  But I have used a motto for years now:  I'd rather have side-effects than have cancer.

max

Max Former Hodgkins Stage 3

yesyes2 said:

Fatigue
Hi Win,

Thanks for your reply and good advice. You always have good advice and kind words of wisdom. I'm not just lying in bed and am moving around, shoping, doing laundry, etc. but I'm not doing a regular exercise program like I know I should be. And I know I should do more.

I have had low RBC for a long time but am lower than usual and think it's because of the chemo. My RBC is low because I also have Rhuematoid arthritis which causes some anemia. My doctors aren't worried about it at this point in time.

Thanks for your kindness and God bless.
Leslie

RBC

I posted this after seeing that yes yes wrote this years ago, but I guess it has generic relevance still -- max

 

Yesyes,

Please see my reply to Stephen.

I went into severe anemia once, aboth two years into my remission. The doctor could never figure it out, despite a series of tests that inclued a colonoscopy.  I had to go on IV iron. Cause of the anemia was never identified, but it never reoccured, but the oncologist did recommend that I take a daily irpon supplement, which I do.

During the infusions I learned that a lot of patients at the center got iron for years, even patients who had never had cancer or chemo, and the cause of thir anemias had never been identified. One woman had been getting the infusions for over a decade.

max

Kaniksu

It's coming back

I had my last RCHOP 1-29 then followed by three weeks of radiation...I was totally dragging and getting pretty depressesd about it too, then three weeks ago I really did have a turn around.. I am back to working full time and Saturdays I'm tired,but overall I'm feeling soo much better. I want to get out and do things again.. I am feeling so gratefull...Personally I'm convinced mine had alot to do with my attitude, I decided to quit worrying about this and live again..Blessings to all of us, for sharing our fears, strengths and hopes.

BrownSugarJones

winthefight said:

Fatigue
Hi Leslie,

I can relate to the fatigue. When I was on RCHOP I too was fatigue. My oncol as well as so many other oncol have patients implement exercise. I know it sounds strange but it actually works. Exercise includes mild/seated yoga, ta chi too. Medical pros have suggested to just walk to the mail box or from your door to the curb....do a little each day. It wasn't until I started to exercise that the fatigue disappeared. I know it seems like a huge task, but this is what worked for me.

I am glad that your blood work is good. How long as your WBC been on the low side? I would ask more questions about why it is so low and what can be done about it. When I was on RCHOP my W and R bcs were low. I was given the neulasta shots for the wbc. And given something else (I believe it was procrete) for the RBC.

I hope you feel better soon. I look fwd to hearing about your progress.

Be blessed.

Fatigued & R-Chop

Hi Win...  Thank you for sharing.  I have tired to exercise and my only be able to ride my stationary bike for 3 to 7 minutes.  I'm going to continue to press on.  I didn't think that was good enough.  But any amount is good.  I have been extremely fatigue.  Making breakfast and eating is a chore!  Rest time!!! it's been hard to cook, and finding easy through it together has worked.  Drinking water and eating fruits and veggies have not been on the top of the list, even water gives me heart burn, besides many foods.  Nothing taste good.  Feels like I'm eating metal, boxes ... terrible taste and textures in my mouth. 

There are days, about 15 days after chemo, a few, that I may have a couple of hours of energy, but after that it's a 2-5 hour nap.  I want to go out and have lunch or dinner with friends, but I'm so tired, I can't .... but I'm going to try to push myself.  It seems like my friends are forgetting about me... they don't want to bother me, they think I'm ... whatever e.g. too tired, sick, resting.  I call and try to stay connected with them.  Of course they work, have families and a life.   I do too have a life... and it can't be just around chemo and it's side affects.....  What a journey!

Thanks everyone for your inspirations and wonderful words to march on as a Warrior!

lindary

BrownSugarJones said:

Fatigued & R-Chop

Hi Win...  Thank you for sharing.  I have tired to exercise and my only be able to ride my stationary bike for 3 to 7 minutes.  I'm going to continue to press on.  I didn't think that was good enough.  But any amount is good.  I have been extremely fatigue.  Making breakfast and eating is a chore!  Rest time!!! it's been hard to cook, and finding easy through it together has worked.  Drinking water and eating fruits and veggies have not been on the top of the list, even water gives me heart burn, besides many foods.  Nothing taste good.  Feels like I'm eating metal, boxes ... terrible taste and textures in my mouth. 

There are days, about 15 days after chemo, a few, that I may have a couple of hours of energy, but after that it's a 2-5 hour nap.  I want to go out and have lunch or dinner with friends, but I'm so tired, I can't .... but I'm going to try to push myself.  It seems like my friends are forgetting about me... they don't want to bother me, they think I'm ... whatever e.g. too tired, sick, resting.  I call and try to stay connected with them.  Of course they work, have families and a life.   I do too have a life... and it can't be just around chemo and it's side affects.....  What a journey!

Thanks everyone for your inspirations and wonderful words to march on as a Warrior!

Walking

For me walking has been the best. I do a lot of it at work because our building is large and the meeting rooms not near where are desks are. I've been struggling with getting enough walking when I am not at work. Then in July I found a great way to use my cell phone. Don't laugh but I love Pokemon Go because the focus in on walking. It has really helped me to make sure I walk at least a few times a week. I also found that my muscles were very knotted and started getting massage therapy for the last several weeks. That has also helped me. I did have to wait until I knew my platelets were stable.