sleeping at stop signs

sandysp · February 2012

I seem to be having a fatigue setback. I just called my internist (should I have called the Oncologist?) I just can't seem to drive anywhere without feeling like I have to take a nap at the stoplight. I can sleep up to 18 hours a day like I did during treatment. My last tx was August 15th. Lyrica has the side affect of sleepiness but I didn't have this side affect in November when they increased the dosage. I have a stuffy cold or allergies with symptoms in this same time period of sleep dysfunction (several weeks) but only take cold medicine at night when I get so stuffy I can't sleep and neither can my husband for all my noise making. It actually feels scary to be this out of control of my "waking hours." My blood pressure when they took my port out was only 87 over 55 so they could not use hardly any anesthesia. I thought it was just because it was so early in the morning. My blood pressure normally gets to be around normal as the day goes on. I don't know if it is running low all the time now. Has anyone else had this kind of fatigue/sleep dysfunction? Do you think it is treatment related?

Lorikat · February 2012

Yes, me! By two in the
Yes, me! By two in the afternoon I feel like I have sprung a leak and all energy has run out. I can actually FEEL it leaving! My eyes are tired and my head feels bogged down. It seems as though I "rest" a lot. Am four months out of treatment and fatigue seems to be the worst side effect now.
I haven't talked to my doctor because I feel like I am whining even though I am not.......

Phoebesnow · March 2012

Lorikat said:
Yes, me! By two in the
Yes, me! By two in the afternoon I feel like I have sprung a leak and all energy has run out. I can actually FEEL it leaving! My eyes are tired and my head feels bogged down. It seems as though I "rest" a lot. Am four months out of treatment and fatigue seems to be the worst side effect now.
I haven't talked to my doctor because I feel like I am whining even though I am not.......

Fatigue
Urghhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Rej0328 · March 2012

Fatigue
I have been out of treatment since Aug 5th and still felel like I have to nap everyday. I don't think it's as bad as yours but still get tired. Now I am having catarac surgery. Just had one eye done a couple of days ago and not sure when they will do the other. The orthodontist said its a side effect of the chemo.

Anyway maybe it's a good idea to get checked out.

eihtak · March 2012

Rej0328 said:
Fatigue
I have been out of treatment since Aug 5th and still felel like I have to nap everyday. I don't think it's as bad as yours but still get tired. Now I am having catarac surgery. Just had one eye done a couple of days ago and not sure when they will do the other. The orthodontist said its a side effect of the chemo.

Anyway maybe it's a good idea to get checked out.

Tired
I was also like that until I started taking two iron pills a day. I am typically a bit anemiac, but was much worse after treatment. ( been out since April ) What a difference the iron makes. I feel healthier than ever before and saddly I was just last week diagnosed with breast cancer now. Try a multi vitamin if not eating great, or just the extra iron for a lift since most people truely don't eat enough foods high in iron. Good luck....feel better!

Phoebesnow · March 2012

eihtak said:
Tired
I was also like that until I started taking two iron pills a day. I am typically a bit anemiac, but was much worse after treatment. ( been out since April ) What a difference the iron makes. I feel healthier than ever before and saddly I was just last week diagnosed with breast cancer now. Try a multi vitamin if not eating great, or just the extra iron for a lift since most people truely don't eat enough foods high in iron. Good luck....feel better!

Eihtak
Thanks for the info about the iron, sometimes b12 too can be deficient. Sadly these deficits seem to have something to do with our cancers and other illnesses. Often I would make better meals for my husband because we ate at different times. PI have a habit of pushing myself to the limit and then grabbing anything avail. Often drank soda to get me thru the next hour, when I could have some real food like a bag of chips. These were huge mistakes. Iam leaving for lost wages shortly and am googling trader joes and whole paycheck (whole foods). I ran on regular for a long time like most people. Today I am going for the supreme.

I am so sorry to hear about the diagnose, I hope your regime will be one of the simpler ones. My heart really goes out to you. It is a lot for one person to endure.

eihtak · March 2012

Phoebesnow said:
Eihtak
Thanks for the info about the iron, sometimes b12 too can be deficient. Sadly these deficits seem to have something to do with our cancers and other illnesses. Often I would make better meals for my husband because we ate at different times. PI have a habit of pushing myself to the limit and then grabbing anything avail. Often drank soda to get me thru the next hour, when I could have some real food like a bag of chips. These were huge mistakes. Iam leaving for lost wages shortly and am googling trader joes and whole paycheck (whole foods). I ran on regular for a long time like most people. Today I am going for the supreme.

I am so sorry to hear about the diagnose, I hope your regime will be one of the simpler ones. My heart really goes out to you. It is a lot for one person to endure.

I loved your comparison! Thankyou so much for your concern on my behalf also. It is a rare "secretory carcinoma" and treatment plans are varied. My docs plan (as most often) is surgery (mastectomy), I may go for double, but at least no rad. and probably no chemo. He will examine 1 or 2 nodes and then make a definate decision on the chemo. There is not a lot of info out there on this specific cancer, so have been on the search for whatever I can find. I do believe in the iron thing tho, and yes many people are also low on B vitamins, but they are a bit easier to get from food. Good luck with your new healthier eating habits, even if its short lived you may discover some really great foods you've been missing. Changes like that are always fun.

shirlann54 · March 2012

Sandysp
Did you say your last treatments was Aug,My last treatments was in Jan 2011,And if i over do it .On the go to much .The fatigue sets in and for a day or so i have to really rest and take naps.I think its the treatments .Because i wasn't that way before the cancer and the treatments.I have been taking my dog Ressee on long walks i started that in Sept, it is really helping me get stonger .And i,m feeling better .

shirlann54 · March 2012

eihtak said:
Tired
I was also like that until I started taking two iron pills a day. I am typically a bit anemiac, but was much worse after treatment. ( been out since April ) What a difference the iron makes. I feel healthier than ever before and saddly I was just last week diagnosed with breast cancer now. Try a multi vitamin if not eating great, or just the extra iron for a lift since most people truely don't eat enough foods high in iron. Good luck....feel better!

eihtak
So sorry about your diagnose with breast cancer.You will be in my prayers.

sandysp · March 2012

eihtak said:
I loved your comparison! Thankyou so much for your concern on my behalf also. It is a rare "secretory carcinoma" and treatment plans are varied. My docs plan (as most often) is surgery (mastectomy), I may go for double, but at least no rad. and probably no chemo. He will examine 1 or 2 nodes and then make a definate decision on the chemo. There is not a lot of info out there on this specific cancer, so have been on the search for whatever I can find. I do believe in the iron thing tho, and yes many people are also low on B vitamins, but they are a bit easier to get from food. Good luck with your new healthier eating habits, even if its short lived you may discover some really great foods you've been missing. Changes like that are always fun.

ouch
EIHTAK, I really hate to hear you are having to face cancer again. That is so not fair. Thanks for letting us know and even though this isn't that site, please keep us updated on how you are doing. You are in my prayers.

Fondly,
Sandy

sandysp · March 2012

shirlann54 said:
Sandysp
Did you say your last treatments was Aug,My last treatments was in Jan 2011,And if i over do it .On the go to much .The fatigue sets in and for a day or so i have to really rest and take naps.I think its the treatments .Because i wasn't that way before the cancer and the treatments.I have been taking my dog Ressee on long walks i started that in Sept, it is really helping me get stonger .And i,m feeling better .

low blood count
My white blood cells were at 2600. I guess low healthy is 4300. So it's low, but not -"got to the hospital for a transfusion low" like it was when I was in treatment.

I agree about the walks. I have been walking at least a mile a day. It just lifts my spirits. Thank God for dogs and a break in our usual winters in NY this year. Practicing Chi Gong and Tai Chi helps too, but I get sleepy after doing it.

You are right. I over do when I feel good. I feel euphoric on days with no pain and no fatigue. You don't usually hear from me much on days I feel good:-)

I thought I would be back at work at my real job (sales) but I've only made appearances and then gone back to bed. I am not up to it yet. But it's nutty to think my body should demand any thing else but rest and nutrition and exercise. That's what it needs. I am very lucky to be able to do it.

The kitchen is remodeled, I did my concert and have kept my church job as a musician and am performing well at these things because I love them so much. Love is an amazing thing.But so are naps!

All the best,

Sandy

sleeping at stop signs

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