Radiation & Exhaustion

Survivor73
Survivor73 Member Posts: 135
in Breast Cancer #1
Ok, so today was day 2 of radiation...and I almost couldn't drive home I was so exhausted.

I'm probably doing too much...but so what's new...:)

I didn't sleep well on Sunday & Monday was my first appt. Afterward, I went to my sister's place and played with my great nephew and great neice (both babies) and had a wonderful time...babies are so healing...
Anyway, then I drove home for dinner, (had leftovers) got ready and went to play baseball (first game of season) it was a late game, started at 8:30 at night and didn't get home till 11:30 - went right to sleep...

So, Tuesday, got up with kids, sent them to school...then showered and off to rad appt for 10:15...went by my work for a few hours to visit my friends and bring donuts...

So when I got home at about 5, I was beyond exhausted - just sat on the couch and didn't want to move...is this normal or just too much done in two days?? I'm not working and haven't been since January due to recovery etc..

Will this be the new me?? EG. Can't do too much in a day?? I didn't think it would start this fast.


Just wondering how fast the exhaustion started for everyone...thanks and take care.

Comments

  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #2
    I am so sorry that you are
    I am so sorry that you are already exhausted from rads, but, you are doing a lot! Rads take a huge toll on our bodies, the treatment and just the going everyday. I don't think any of us were ready for how tired we would be. I wasn't this tired this soon, but, I didn't do much either.

    If you can, try not to overdue it. Get as much rest as possible. If you can nap during the day, do that.

    I did exercise during rads though, walking with my husband, and, that seemed to help me, plus it tired me out so I slept great.

    Talk to your rads oncologist about how you are feeling and see what he says. He might want you to start cutting a few things out of your schedule until you finish.

    Good luck to you and keep me updated on how you are doing.


    Hugs, Angie
  • ladyg
    ladyg Member Posts: 1,577
    #3
    I was quite
    fatigued from the rads but not that soon. I think you may have overdone it a little. I got tired just thinking about all you did in 2 days....lol. I did not start getting fatigued until about the 4th week. I too tried to do too much by working and all the other things on a daily basis. Speaking from my experience you need to listen to your body and rest as much as you need to. I found this out the hard way because I ended up being at home doing nothing for 10 days.Everyone is different so just do what you can and the rest can wait. You need to take care of yourself.

    Hugs,
    Georgia
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #4
    rads and exhaustion
    I have not gone through rads yet. But think about several ideas. How old are the kids? Can the oldest one get up and get done in the bathroom then wake up the next child? We did this a kds because mom was at work. Can the oldest set out the cereal bowls or plates the night before? Can they put waffles in the toaster? You would still be there overseeing from the living room but let them do the work. It does not hurt children to learn these skills especially when they know you are still there to support them through the process of learning. Let the relatives come to you for a visit so that you can reduce the amount of driving. Ball games are good exercise but how about doing 4 innings and then have another step in for you as a pinch hitter.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #5
    I LUCKED OUT
    I had no side effects at all from radiation...so sorry you are tired and exhausted...

    I"LL be thinking of you...sending good thoughts your way>

    Denise W
  • butterflylvr
    butterflylvr Member Posts: 944
    #6
    disneyfan2008 said:

    I LUCKED OUT
    I had no side effects at all from radiation...so sorry you are tired and exhausted...

    I"LL be thinking of you...sending good thoughts your way>

    Denise W

    And no help from me but I am
    And no help from me but I am sitting here taking notes because my rads start in a couple of weeks. I can't help but think "yikes girl, you tired me out just reading your daily agenda". I agree with the rest maybe Wonder woman needs to tone it back a notch... I know going through chemo there were nights I was tired. If my body needed rest, I'd close those eyeballs about 8 o'clock while watching my favorite tv program. So catch those naps when you can..

    Good luck with the rest of your rads, maybe your body just needed to adjust..
    Lorrie
  • joannstar
    joannstar Member Posts: 403 Member
    #7
    I started feeling very tired
    about the 4th week of rads. The nurse said that between being 8 weeks out of chemo and 4th week of rads, fatigue was normal...didn't make me feel any better.
    I had to learn through this journey that there are some things I need to say "no" to that I would normally have pushed myself to do. Everytime I push too hard, I end up in tears from exhaustion and the frustration of not being "normal" enough to do everything I used to.
    You'll learn your limits and remember to be gentle with yourself--your body is going through the fight of its life!
    Good luck,
    JoAnn
  • Gabe N Abby Mom
    Gabe N Abby Mom Member Posts: 2,413
    #8
    I completed Rads on March
    I completed Rads on March 23rd...feeling lots better and did too much this past Sunday. I expected to be tired and need to recover on Monday...but it's Wednesday and I'm still recovering! So I say do what you can when you feel good, but know that it may take some time to bring the energy back up again.

    I'm finding overall that daily walks are helping a lot with bringing my energy back. I try to go every day for a half hour...sometimes I walk slowly and sometimes with more vigor. But getting out and getting it done make me feel more healthy, more in control of my body.

    I hope you're feeling better soon, and good luck with rads.

    Hugs,

    Linda
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #9
    Gabe N Abby Mom said:

    I completed Rads on March
    I completed Rads on March 23rd...feeling lots better and did too much this past Sunday. I expected to be tired and need to recover on Monday...but it's Wednesday and I'm still recovering! So I say do what you can when you feel good, but know that it may take some time to bring the energy back up again.

    I'm finding overall that daily walks are helping a lot with bringing my energy back. I try to go every day for a half hour...sometimes I walk slowly and sometimes with more vigor. But getting out and getting it done make me feel more healthy, more in control of my body.

    I hope you're feeling better soon, and good luck with rads.

    Hugs,

    Linda

    I didn't start getting
    I didn't start getting really tired until about the 4th week of rads. And, I was still tired for awhile after rads, as, the effects of rads are cumulative. If I get tired now, I just blame it still on rads. LOL

    I've found that walking has helped me in gaining strength.

    I am surprised too that you are so tired this soon.


    Good luck,

    Megan
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #10
    I started Rads -
    one week after last of 12 weekly Taxol completely/utterly exhausted. Every day I felt better as I went through Rads.

    We are all different!

    Susan
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #11
    Rague said:

    I started Rads -
    one week after last of 12 weekly Taxol completely/utterly exhausted. Every day I felt better as I went through Rads.

    We are all different!

    Susan

    I was exhausted from rads
    I was exhausted from rads and just from the going every day for weeks and weeks. But, it didn't really hit me until the end of the 3rd week or the 4th.


    Walking or any kind of exercise might help with the exhaustion, just not too much.


    Good luck,

    Lex
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #12
    butterflylvr said:

    And no help from me but I am
    And no help from me but I am sitting here taking notes because my rads start in a couple of weeks. I can't help but think "yikes girl, you tired me out just reading your daily agenda". I agree with the rest maybe Wonder woman needs to tone it back a notch... I know going through chemo there were nights I was tired. If my body needed rest, I'd close those eyeballs about 8 o'clock while watching my favorite tv program. So catch those naps when you can..

    Good luck with the rest of your rads, maybe your body just needed to adjust..
    Lorrie

    I agree with Lorrie. You
    I agree with Lorrie. You sound like wonder woman! You probably need to rethink all that you are doing, and, just stay focused on rads. Get lots of rest!


    Hugs, Diane
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #13
    Alexis F said:

    I was exhausted from rads
    I was exhausted from rads and just from the going every day for weeks and weeks. But, it didn't really hit me until the end of the 3rd week or the 4th.


    Walking or any kind of exercise might help with the exhaustion, just not too much.


    Good luck,

    Lex

    I am exhausted just reading
    I am exhausted just reading your posts. usually the exhaustion form rads is cumulative, certainly the anticiaption, stress, and not sleeping can contribute.
  • Survivor73
    Survivor73 Member Posts: 135
    #14
    carkris said:

    I am exhausted just reading
    I am exhausted just reading your posts. usually the exhaustion form rads is cumulative, certainly the anticiaption, stress, and not sleeping can contribute.

    I slept all day today
    So, I got my kids up - started at 6:30 this morning with my son, but all I had to do was wake up enough to make sure he was up...then sleep until 7:10, I got my daughter up and waved my son off...then I stayed awake to take her to the bus stop...

    Then I came home and slept until I had to get up and go to my appt...

    I feel a lot better today. No feeling of I can't get up...lol.

    I will definately take it easier from now on...saw my GP today, she laughed and said how about sit on the couch all day except for going for rads each day...I said I would try and it sounded good...

    anyway, thanks for your comments.

    I'll try to get more sleep and nap often :)
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #15
    Survivor73 said:

    I slept all day today
    So, I got my kids up - started at 6:30 this morning with my son, but all I had to do was wake up enough to make sure he was up...then sleep until 7:10, I got my daughter up and waved my son off...then I stayed awake to take her to the bus stop...

    Then I came home and slept until I had to get up and go to my appt...

    I feel a lot better today. No feeling of I can't get up...lol.

    I will definately take it easier from now on...saw my GP today, she laughed and said how about sit on the couch all day except for going for rads each day...I said I would try and it sounded good...

    anyway, thanks for your comments.

    I'll try to get more sleep and nap often :)

    on and off
    I am in week 3 of my rads. I found that the first 3 treatments exhausted me. The first full week I was pretty tired but not that bad. The second week I was my old self. Now in my 3rd week I am back to exhausted! I mean beat down. I find myself falling asleep in the afternoon and not being able to get back up for hours. It's a horrid feeling. It's not a sleepy feeling, just a I can't move or I'll collapse feeling. I count when getting the treatments. When it's 25 seconds I feel ok. When it's up to 32 or more I'm exhausted. Maybe that has something to do with it? Did you count yours? Did anyone else notice this? I am finding that I have to except what I cannot do for now and make everyone else do more or it just doesn't get done. Don't feel bad, it's something we have to do. Since we are both relatively new to this, you can send me a private message and we can "talk".

    ANgela
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #16
    Survivor
    you are doing too much! I had 28 rads and as time went on I became more and more tired. You have to take the time to rest whenever you can get it. I finished rads Feb 15th and I still sleep 9 hours at night and take a nap whenever I can. Take care of yourself.
    {{hugs}} Char
  • sbmly53
    sbmly53 Member Posts: 1,522
    #17
    I think you had a big couple of days,
    but radiation is cumulative and it knocked my socks off, almost from the beginning. I did 33 and I couldn't drive myself to or from appts, came home and slept. I couldn't even get off the couch to make toast. I went back to work 2 days after and it took 3 months to feel better.

    Don't push yourself. Everyone reacts differently. So do what you can, not what you think you should.

    Sue
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #18
    Survivor73 said:

    I slept all day today
    So, I got my kids up - started at 6:30 this morning with my son, but all I had to do was wake up enough to make sure he was up...then sleep until 7:10, I got my daughter up and waved my son off...then I stayed awake to take her to the bus stop...

    Then I came home and slept until I had to get up and go to my appt...

    I feel a lot better today. No feeling of I can't get up...lol.

    I will definately take it easier from now on...saw my GP today, she laughed and said how about sit on the couch all day except for going for rads each day...I said I would try and it sounded good...

    anyway, thanks for your comments.

    I'll try to get more sleep and nap often :)

    Glad you are feeling better.
    Glad you are feeling better. And, happy to read that you will take it easier. You need to think of yourself and your health now. Rest, Rest and Rest!


    Hugs, Debby
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #19
    sbmly53 said:

    I think you had a big couple of days,
    but radiation is cumulative and it knocked my socks off, almost from the beginning. I did 33 and I couldn't drive myself to or from appts, came home and slept. I couldn't even get off the couch to make toast. I went back to work 2 days after and it took 3 months to feel better.

    Don't push yourself. Everyone reacts differently. So do what you can, not what you think you should.

    Sue

    You wore me out with all
    You wore me out with all that you have done. LOL Take it easy, and, get as much rest as you can. I got really, really tired about the 4th week, so, I took naps. LOL


    Good luck!!
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #20
    Noel said:

    You wore me out with all
    You wore me out with all that you have done. LOL Take it easy, and, get as much rest as you can. I got really, really tired about the 4th week, so, I took naps. LOL


    Good luck!!

    I posted earlier that I had NO side effects of radiation
    which I started this day 3 yrs ago..

    anyhow...I am a very high energy person so I told my Drs maybe it would even me out with someone my age..hehe..

    I worked/ did treatments on lunch hour and then after worked packed family friends whole house alone...

    I was very lucky...and sorry so those who had or having side effects...

    I wish I could give all my GOOD with my radiation to everyone...

    Denise

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