same problem, different day

RoseC

islandgirlculebra said:

Took about four months for me

Took about four months for me to feel like myself again. That's not to say the horrible, horrible fatigue lasted for four months. But I mean to feel pretty normal again, as far as energy levels.  

Adapting is a very important

Adapting is a very important thing. No one WANTS to have to adapt to a lesser situation, but we HAVE to. It's not a really bad thing in the overall scheme of things. I've adapted to not being able to walk too far, and to problems in the bathroom. It's ok. We humans are very adaptable. It takes time - don't expect everything to come at once, but things will be ok. Doggies and kitties adapt rather quickly to a new routine (most, anyway) - whatever it may be. If they can do it, so can we.

LaCh

RoseC said:

Adapting is a very important

Adapting is a very important thing. No one WANTS to have to adapt to a lesser situation, but we HAVE to. It's not a really bad thing in the overall scheme of things. I've adapted to not being able to walk too far, and to problems in the bathroom. It's ok. We humans are very adaptable. It takes time - don't expect everything to come at once, but things will be ok. Doggies and kitties adapt rather quickly to a new routine (most, anyway) - whatever it may be. If they can do it, so can we.

PoseC

Well, I'm pretty adaptable but I don't want to adapt prematurely before I know for sure what my "new normal" is. In other words, until I know that I've come to rest and that my body won't regain anything more, I want to push myself so that it does. Once I'm sure that "this is it," whatever "it" is, I can accept it. I might not like it, but better to make peace with what you can't change than to chafe under it; I just want to be sure.

LaCh

islandgirlculebra said:

Took about four months for me

Took about four months for me to feel like myself again. That's not to say the horrible, horrible fatigue lasted for four months. But I mean to feel pretty normal again, as far as energy levels.  

islandgirlculebra

Ok, thanks, that helpful to know, not set in stone but a good guidline. Thanks.

LaCh

AZANNIE said:

LaCh

I'm almost 2 years post treatment and there are times when it feels like someone has pulled my plug as in electric plug. I'm on thyroid medication now. Thyroid was normal before treatment. As for your iPod touch maybe you need a new charger? I have to say that I am able to do things again. Didn't think I would feel this good again when I was going through treatment. It does get better.

Azannie

I think I'd be mentally better able to cope with a day here or there than I would be with a permanent, pervasive fatigue that prevented me from doing the things that I want to do. That said, I don't think I get a vote on it; I get what I get.  As for my iPod Touch, no, sadly, it's the battery and I've been unable to even get on the subway to take it downtown and get the battery changed. Normally a simple thing, even a short subway ride is beyond me at the moment.  But it'll get done eventually.

LaCh

Marynb said:

Lach
I guess I m not typical, who knows. I had major surgery weeks after finishing treatments. I then went back to work full time, 4 months later, with an hour and a half commute each way. I felt ok, but was exhasuted at the end of each day. I have to say to this day, I am not the person that I once was. Maybe that is a good thing? I have slowed down considrably and I am battling fatigue these days. I think and hope that the more typical patient recovers and stays recovered?

You are really early in your recovery! I think you will see improvement gradually. Hopefully, when your body is able to digest food normally again, there will be a big improvement.

Is it snowing in NYC? It is mixed here.

marynb

I once said to my nmdical onc that "I'm not going to be the same person coming out of this as I was going in," and normally a bit of a Pollyanna, he actually agreed and said, "No, you won't."  But as I said in another posting under this subheading, I've not "come to rest," yet insofar as where I'll be, what I'll have lost and what I'll still have and be able to do.  Regarding the snow, no we had no snow here yesterday, just drizzle and then rain.  

Angela_K

AZANNIE said:

LaCh

I'm almost 2 years post treatment and there are times when it feels like someone has pulled my plug as in electric plug. I'm on thyroid medication now. Thyroid was normal before treatment. As for your iPod touch maybe you need a new charger? I have to say that I am able to do things again. Didn't think I would feel this good again when I was going through treatment. It does get better.

Thyroid

Glad you brought up thyroid, Ann.  My thyroid levels have plummeted since treatment and continue to do so therefore I, too, am on levothyroxine. My thyroid levels had been normal but were low at the time of diagnosis and then just went downhill during and after treatment.  Getting that adjusted did help my enormous fatigue.

I am 2 years post and I am almost polar opposite than I was coming out of treatment as it applies to fatigue.  Still I don't have the endurance that I once had but I am determined to get a little of of that built back up by the big 5-0 next fall.

Time heals many things.

jcruz

LaCh said:

so what's the general consensus???

so what's the general consensus regarding how long acute radiation fatigue takes to resolve?  I know that the answers will vary, but.... in general.... 

about 4 months for me too

I'd agree with islandgirlculebra about sort of returning to my old self around 4 months after treatment.  The worst of the unbelievable fatigue was in the first 4-6 weeks.  Two naps a day, foggy head, etc.  I took two short walks most days and gradually added minutes to the walks.  I would still not say I'm 100% and that's why I've asked to return to work half-time.  Most days now I'd say I run out of steam at the end of the day but I'm not completely wiped out like in the early days.

I think your plan to walk on the treadmill is great and I also think you will be walking your dog in the park come spring.

 

jcruz

mp327 said:

jcruz--

I wish you all the best with your return to work.  I hope the half-time schedule will be just right for you!

thanks

I'm looking forward to work but it is going to be such a change.  I'm having a few days of heightened anxiety - I think I went through a whole box of kleenex yesterday when I fell into a crying jag.  I'm never good at anticipating something new and I think this is my usual anxiety multiplied.  For me there are so many layers of emotion around this illness, treatment, healing, retreating from the world and then returning.  I'm trying to take it a minute at a time.

LaCh

jcruz said:

about 4 months for me too

I'd agree with islandgirlculebra about sort of returning to my old self around 4 months after treatment.  The worst of the unbelievable fatigue was in the first 4-6 weeks.  Two naps a day, foggy head, etc.  I took two short walks most days and gradually added minutes to the walks.  I would still not say I'm 100% and that's why I've asked to return to work half-time.  Most days now I'd say I run out of steam at the end of the day but I'm not completely wiped out like in the early days.

I think your plan to walk on the treadmill is great and I also think you will be walking your dog in the park come spring.

 

jcruz

thanks jcruz, this is all good to know....  4 months... that'd be the very end of May for me...  that'd be great. It occured to me that adding to my fatigue might be the fact that I'm just sitting around all day and not challenging my body.  If you don't challenge it, it doesn't "rise to the challenge," within reason, of course, considering the circumstances...  I'm going to try to register at the facility where I have coverage this Friday and then will be able to go whenever I want....  and see if the treadmill helps. I sure hope I can get over to the park by the Spring...  well, come hell or high water, I'm going to go, ever if it's for a short while, even if I end up sitting more than walking.  I need it. We both need it (me and my dog). 

islandgirlculebra

LaCh said:

jcruz

thanks jcruz, this is all good to know....  4 months... that'd be the very end of May for me...  that'd be great. It occured to me that adding to my fatigue might be the fact that I'm just sitting around all day and not challenging my body.  If you don't challenge it, it doesn't "rise to the challenge," within reason, of course, considering the circumstances...  I'm going to try to register at the facility where I have coverage this Friday and then will be able to go whenever I want....  and see if the treadmill helps. I sure hope I can get over to the park by the Spring...  well, come hell or high water, I'm going to go, ever if it's for a short while, even if I end up sitting more than walking.  I need it. We both need it (me and my dog). 

Doggie.....

What I did for my dog when I couldn't walk was lean against that hay bale, and used one of those hand-held ball throwers you can buy at PetSmart so he could get some exercise. Of course that may be hard for you, since you live in NYC, finding any kind of off-leash area for your dog.......The whole time I was sick, though, my dog never "pestered" me to go for a walk; guess he knew I just couldn't do it. They are so smart.

LaCh

islandgirlculebra said:

Doggie.....

What I did for my dog when I couldn't walk was lean against that hay bale, and used one of those hand-held ball throwers you can buy at PetSmart so he could get some exercise. Of course that may be hard for you, since you live in NYC, finding any kind of off-leash area for your dog.......The whole time I was sick, though, my dog never "pestered" me to go for a walk; guess he knew I just couldn't do it. They are so smart.

islandgirlculebra

no, my dog's been great this whole time, he doesn't pester me to go out and when I was going through the most painful periods and literally covering my mouth with a towel each time I went to the bathorrm, he'd get very upset and come to see if I was ok...as soon as I told him "I'm ok..." whether I was or I wasn't, he was reasurred. having him here with me was--and always is--an absolute blessing. That said, the look on his face when our five-minute walks to simply let him do what he has to do...those expressoins are hard to bear...  

mp327

LaCh said:

islandgirlculebra

I don't feel that kind of frustration, or that kind of defeat, to me it's more astonishment, like, "holy s***, this is NUTS!"  I had to take my dog to the vet the other day and the entire thing, round trip, probably took 40 minutes.  But I was wiped out for the rest of the day, and the place is just a few blocks from here.  I feel like a third-pary observer at times, thinking, "this is the weirdest thing I've ever seen..."    As for the patience/impatience part, I can't really say that I feel that, exactly either, it's more of a "Man, I sure hope this improves by the Spring," sort of thing.  The rest of it, yeah, I'd say that I feel the same. The spurts of energy that make you think, "YES!   I'm BACK!!" that peter out a minute afterwards.  And then you think, "Wow, that was quick."  I don't lose any sleep over it, but it's more of a "I sure hope this resolves rather soon."  I still plan to try walking on a treadmill sometime in March...see if that has any effect.... 

LaCh

I think you'll find that getting some exercise on the treadmill will be a boost to your energy level.  I started running again 10 days after treatment ended, albeit at a very slow pace and for a very short period of time, but I always felt energized afterwards, at least for a few hours.  I hope your results are the same.

LaCh

mp327 said:

LaCh

I think you'll find that getting some exercise on the treadmill will be a boost to your energy level.  I started running again 10 days after treatment ended, albeit at a very slow pace and for a very short period of time, but I always felt energized afterwards, at least for a few hours.  I hope your results are the same.

mp327

we'll see.  I hope so too.