Chemo Over & Not Feeling Better - HELP

gapeach0820
gapeach0820 Member Posts: 1
edited August 2011 in Breast Cancer #1
Nine days ago I finished my chemo. 4 rounds of A/C and 12 of Taxol. I expected to start feeling better since I didn't have chemo this week but I feel so weak. My legs feel like lead and I can only do a little and have to sit down and rest. Can some of you ladies weigh in on how long after chemo did you begin to physically feel better. I'm getting sort of down over this.

Comments

  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #2
    It can take a while
    Remember what all your body has been through and how much "poisen" was pumped in there. Chemo is the best weapon we have but it does take it out of you and each one reacts differently and takes a different amount of time to bounce back. I had chemo before surgery and they wouldn't schedule the surgery until at least 4 weeks after the last infusion if that gives you any idea. The long-term survivors that I've talked to say it takes a while, don't ask, just listen to your body, do what you can, and nap when you need to. Since I also had rads it's taking a while but I'm confident it will happen and it will happen for you too. I know, I'm not a very patient person either and lots of people have given me heck for trying to do too much but I just want my life back. I guess the patience will come. Hang in there, you'll make it too!! {{{{{{HUGS}}}}}}}}
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #3
    Give your self time. If I am
    Give your self time. If I am not mistaken 7-10 days is when your blood count is the lowest. I started to feel more normal after 3 weeks. It will take a while for your body to bounce back to what it was before chemo. Sometimes up to a year. I had the same cocktail and I still have days when I am beat! My last infusion was March 2 this year.

    Rest when you need to and take advantage of the good days. Stay vigilant about germs for a bit because your immune system will take a little longer to recover too.

    Cindy
  • camul
    camul Member Posts: 2,537
    #4
    It took months
    to completely get my strength back after the first go round. Chemo takes so much out of our bodies over the period of time that we are getting it. It was kind of funny, because it was like all of a sudden I realized that I was feeling 'good'. No bells or whistles I was just not as tired and started feeling like going back out in the world.

    Be patient, it happens!

    ~Carol
  • JoAnn4818
    JoAnn4818 Member Posts: 83
    #5
    It Does Get Better!
    Oh I know how you feel! I finished chemo (almost the same as yours - 4 of A/C followed by 4 Taxol dose dense) at the end of April. I could hardly walk up a flight of stairs the first month after I was done. By the end of the second month I was feeling a little better but not nearly back to normal. I was tired and had joint pain. This month I'm doing pretty good. My eyebrows and eyelashes are back, I can walk around an entire shopping mall (slowly) and food tastes good again. The hardest thing was that my friends and family expected me to be able to do the things I used to do right away - but there was no way that I could.

    I'm so happy for you that you've finished! It's a major accomplishment! As time goes on just keep looking back and notice how much more you're able to do than the month before. I'll be thinking of you and sending healing thoughts your way!

    Hugs,

    JoAnn
  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #6
    Hi -- Sorry you are not
    Hi -- Sorry you are not feeling so great. I hope you fully recover very soon. Unfortunately, it can take up to a year to feel "normal". I also know some sisters experience side effects for a longer time. I pray you feel much better very, very soon.
  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #7
    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Hi -- Sorry you are not
    Hi -- Sorry you are not feeling so great. I hope you fully recover very soon. Unfortunately, it can take up to a year to feel "normal". I also know some sisters experience side effects for a longer time. I pray you feel much better very, very soon.

    I remember my last cycle well
    and I didn't have as much chemo as you! Nonetheless, the last one knocked me for a loop. I remember saying to my pcp "I'm so weak". Her response would be "you had chemo".
    "My eyes are tearing". Again "you had chemo". "But I can't even walk to the corner" "You had chemo". "But I can't even eat, this isn't me". "You had chemo". And on and on until she finally simply said "It's poison!". She did keep a careful eye on me because these side effects (I also had low BP and tachycardia, was anemic, and ran a low grade fever) were serious regardless of what caused them. In hindsight, my onc wondered if I should have been hospitalized. I'd planned on visiting my grands about 3 weeks after my last chemo because I'd always felt fine by that time, but I didn't know if I could make the trip I was so weak. I wouldn't necessarily call it fatigue, I was like a limp dishrag. It took me about 6 weeks, and then it was like someone flipped a switch. One day I woke up and I was my old self again - just in time to drive myself to radiation every day. I didn't even have any radiation side effects. Go figure.

    We're all different. I hope you're better soon. Remember, the side effects may be from having chemo, but if they're worrisome, be sure to get checked.

    Suzanne
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #8
    Double Whammy said:

    I remember my last cycle well
    and I didn't have as much chemo as you! Nonetheless, the last one knocked me for a loop. I remember saying to my pcp "I'm so weak". Her response would be "you had chemo".
    "My eyes are tearing". Again "you had chemo". "But I can't even walk to the corner" "You had chemo". "But I can't even eat, this isn't me". "You had chemo". And on and on until she finally simply said "It's poison!". She did keep a careful eye on me because these side effects (I also had low BP and tachycardia, was anemic, and ran a low grade fever) were serious regardless of what caused them. In hindsight, my onc wondered if I should have been hospitalized. I'd planned on visiting my grands about 3 weeks after my last chemo because I'd always felt fine by that time, but I didn't know if I could make the trip I was so weak. I wouldn't necessarily call it fatigue, I was like a limp dishrag. It took me about 6 weeks, and then it was like someone flipped a switch. One day I woke up and I was my old self again - just in time to drive myself to radiation every day. I didn't even have any radiation side effects. Go figure.

    We're all different. I hope you're better soon. Remember, the side effects may be from having chemo, but if they're worrisome, be sure to get checked.

    Suzanne

    I was told..
    By both my Oncologist and radiation oncologist that it takes about the same amount of time to feel "normal" as it took for your treatment....all my treatment took 6 months and it took that long to get my energy back and then some...I had chemo followed by 6 weeks of radiation...I echo what the others have said...listen to your body....give yourself time.. You've been through a traumatic experience.....

    Wishing you the best,
    Hugs, Nancy
  • renee616
    renee616 Member Posts: 181
    #9
    MAJW said:

    I was told..
    By both my Oncologist and radiation oncologist that it takes about the same amount of time to feel "normal" as it took for your treatment....all my treatment took 6 months and it took that long to get my energy back and then some...I had chemo followed by 6 weeks of radiation...I echo what the others have said...listen to your body....give yourself time.. You've been through a traumatic experience.....

    Wishing you the best,
    Hugs, Nancy

    It takes at least 6 weeks
    It takes at least 6 weeks for the chemo medicine to leave your body! I was having reactions to chemo several weeks later and they finally went away. As far as being tired, I've been done with chemo 2 months & radiation 2 weeks, starting to feel better, but the weariness comes and goes!Like everyone else said...listen to your body....rest when you need to rest. Dont over due it. You can feel like you can conquer the world one hour and be completely drained after a short while! You will get there! :0)
    Hugs, Renee
  • jessiesmom1
    jessiesmom1 Member Posts: 915 Member
    #10
    When to feel better
    I am about a year ahead of you in this journey. I had 4 rounds of A/C and then 12 rounds of Taxotere. The last one was on August 4, 2010. It was not until about August 30th that I even BEGAN to feel better. That is when I started being able to keep my food down on a consistent basis. Once I knew I could eat without the likelihood of vomiting I was better both mentally and physically. Still it took until probably December until I could say that I was feeling pretty good almost every day. That is not to say that I was back to normal. I wasn't and I still am not. The main thing that continues to linger is a low energy level. A nap of about an hour seems to do the trick though. I see the oncologist every 3 months (including today as a matter of fact) and he says I am doing great - come back in another 3 months. You are expecting too much of yourself too soon. My oncologist says it takes 6 months to a year to feel "normal" again.

    IRENE
  • CAchick
    CAchick Member Posts: 277
    #11
    More time
    Hi, You need more time...chemo attacks our bodies along with attacking the cancer cells. You will need a lot more time to recover. Give yourself time...get a lot of rest...drink a lot of fluids. It took me quite a while to stop being so tired, having neuropathy in my feet/legs, feeling queasy, and generally feeling "not sick".
    Hugs,
    Sybil
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #12
    mamolady said:

    Give your self time. If I am
    Give your self time. If I am not mistaken 7-10 days is when your blood count is the lowest. I started to feel more normal after 3 weeks. It will take a while for your body to bounce back to what it was before chemo. Sometimes up to a year. I had the same cocktail and I still have days when I am beat! My last infusion was March 2 this year.

    Rest when you need to and take advantage of the good days. Stay vigilant about germs for a bit because your immune system will take a little longer to recover too.

    Cindy

    Congrats first on finishing
    Congrats first on finishing chemo! That is a huge milestone!


    I didn't take chemo, so, I am not sure how long it will take for you to feel better, but, just give yourself some time.


    Hugs, Diane
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    #13
    LoveBabyJesus said:

    Hi -- Sorry you are not
    Hi -- Sorry you are not feeling so great. I hope you fully recover very soon. Unfortunately, it can take up to a year to feel "normal". I also know some sisters experience side effects for a longer time. I pray you feel much better very, very soon.

    Please don't get down. I am
    Please don't get down. I am sure that what you are going thru is your body trying to heal. It just takes some time. You will feel good again, you will!


    HUGS
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    #14
    jessiesmom1 said:

    When to feel better
    I am about a year ahead of you in this journey. I had 4 rounds of A/C and then 12 rounds of Taxotere. The last one was on August 4, 2010. It was not until about August 30th that I even BEGAN to feel better. That is when I started being able to keep my food down on a consistent basis. Once I knew I could eat without the likelihood of vomiting I was better both mentally and physically. Still it took until probably December until I could say that I was feeling pretty good almost every day. That is not to say that I was back to normal. I wasn't and I still am not. The main thing that continues to linger is a low energy level. A nap of about an hour seems to do the trick though. I see the oncologist every 3 months (including today as a matter of fact) and he says I am doing great - come back in another 3 months. You are expecting too much of yourself too soon. My oncologist says it takes 6 months to a year to feel "normal" again.

    IRENE

    I am praying that with more
    I am praying that with more time, you will notice how much better you feel. It seems we all want to feel "normal" again, like we used to, but, with all that we have been thru, it just takes time.


    Try to be patient and be good to yourself.


    Love, Leeza
  • Toni Dine
    Toni Dine Member Posts: 3
    #15
    Thank you!

    thank you all for sharing your experiences. I completed 6 infusions of taxol and carbo 7 wk's ago and was told I should feel better in 6-8 weeks. I feel so frustrated that I'm still waking up weaK and queasy every morning. My daughter is asking if maybe I just need to get out and exercise more after being so sedentary for so long.  Sound as if it migh not be that unusual for it to take a few months. Yes?  And now we're in the process of deciding whether or not radiation is indicated. ☹️

  • Teach76
    Teach76 Member Posts: 354 Member
    edited March 2017 #16
    Be patient

    Yes, it does take a long time to recover.  I finished my 6th round in July, surgery was not until March, then radiation was not begun until June.  I remember being so tired, but frustrated that my treatment was taking so long.  It was explained to me that I needed to give my body time to recover.  Like you, I wanted to be myself again right away.

    after all treatment at my Plan meeting, onco stated that going through all 6 rounds was amazing!  Many do not make it through all 6, stopping because their bodies could not take more.  So understand that your body has been through much!  I initially took 3 months off from my job, thinking 1-2-3 everything would be over.  It took 13 months for treatment to conclude.  I am 8 months out of treatment and still having "late effects."  But I am gaining strength and energy every day.

    Do what you feel you can - eat lots of fresh foods- and get out and enjoy the Springtime!  But do rest when you need to.

    Kathy

     

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