After chemo side effects

sassyboots
sassyboots Member Posts: 4
in Breast Cancer #1

Hi Ladies! I just finished my 4th and LAST round of T/C chemo 2 weeks ago. I have gotten over all side effects but one - fatigue. Before chemo, I was such a high energy person, and even exercised throughout my chemo treatments, except the day of. But after the 4th treatment, I'm very tired. Has anyone experienced this, and if so - how long does this last? My Oncologist said it could take weeks, but I spoke to another survivor who said it took her months to get her energy level back! I just started a no-animal eating plan from and after-cancer-care center, and they are monitoring my blood to see where I am deficient thanks to the chemo, I asked them about the fatigue, and they told me the same thing... it could take weeks to months. Any advice would be greatly appreciated, I sleep 10 hours a night, and still need a nap around 2:00 in the afternoon. I miss my energy!

Comments

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #2
    Might be an Iron Problem

    I am on Taxol too.  The fatigue was so bad that my primary care had my iron check.  Normal is 20 and I was a 9 so I had an iron infusion.  I am finally feeling some life.  Have your iron checked.  Sleep didn't help me, I was tired all the time.

    Best to you,

    Doris

  • sassyboots
    sassyboots Member Posts: 4
    #3
    SIROD said:

    Might be an Iron Problem

    I am on Taxol too.  The fatigue was so bad that my primary care had my iron check.  Normal is 20 and I was a 9 so I had an iron infusion.  I am finally feeling some life.  Have your iron checked.  Sleep didn't help me, I was tired all the time.

    Best to you,

    Doris

    Thank you!!!
    I will call

    Thank you!!!

    I will call tomorrow and see if I can have that checked! Chemo can really mess with our blood chemistry, and it's so frustrating.

  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #4
    We are ALL unique!

    Ii did 12weekly Taxol adjuvant.  My 4 neoadjuvant DD A/C, were 'easy' but Taxol utterly and completely exhausted me.  The only way I could gwt any sleep was on Ambien.  I did develope VERY low K (potassium) levels 1/2 way through Taxol.  It's been 3+ years since and I still have to take mega K to stay  close tk 'normal'.

    Have you had your Vit.D levels checkedout?  Depression comes in many f

  • RozHopkins
    RozHopkins Member Posts: 578 Member
    #5
    Shoot posted then lost

    Shoot posted then lost it.

     

    i took months to get any energy.  No blood problems.  You should be automatically tested every month for a while and any probs. should show up then.  Early days.  I slept nearly all day and night.  Everything became a big effort. Then I started to go to gym again, which I missed.  Start off slow.  Little walks etc.  I think every one feels this way and is the norm.  How ladies work and or care for children at home beats me, they all deserve medals.  

  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    #6
    I also have a problem with

    I also have a problem with fatigue, I'm currently on herceptin perjeta and taxol. I think it is mostly the taxol that is the culprit. I do pretty good as long as I keep going I can go for about 5 or 6 hours before I have to stop. But if I stop and sit down it's all over for the day.  Like every one I wish we could all have our lives back like we were before. But I guess that is not happening. I agree with the others you should have your iron checked. After asking my Dr I started taking Ginseng it helps with energy takes about 2 weeks to get the total effect though. I am going to ask him about Evening Primrose too that helps a lot of things including hot flashes, weight gain caused from menopause. Arthritis pain, and a host of other things. I have heard it works best taken with Vit-Exercise helps but my Dr told me I can't because they can't control my heart rate it goes way to high if I do anything but walk slowly. So I walk as much as I can.  I love life but wish I could have it my way..

     

  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #7
    Rague said:

    We are ALL unique!

    Ii did 12weekly Taxol adjuvant.  My 4 neoadjuvant DD A/C, were 'easy' but Taxol utterly and completely exhausted me.  The only way I could gwt any sleep was on Ambien.  I did develope VERY low K (potassium) levels 1/2 way through Taxol.  It's been 3+ years since and I still have to take mega K to stay  close tk 'normal'.

    Have you had your Vit.D levels checkedout?  Depression comes in many f

    Have your Vit. D level

    Have your Vit. D level checked and your iron.  Also, it might take some time to get back your energy.  I think it happens to all of us, from the surgery, from the rads and from the chemo.  Our bodies just need time to heal.

    Good luck,

    Lex

  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #8
    smalldoggroomer said:

    I also have a problem with

    I also have a problem with fatigue, I'm currently on herceptin perjeta and taxol. I think it is mostly the taxol that is the culprit. I do pretty good as long as I keep going I can go for about 5 or 6 hours before I have to stop. But if I stop and sit down it's all over for the day.  Like every one I wish we could all have our lives back like we were before. But I guess that is not happening. I agree with the others you should have your iron checked. After asking my Dr I started taking Ginseng it helps with energy takes about 2 weeks to get the total effect though. I am going to ask him about Evening Primrose too that helps a lot of things including hot flashes, weight gain caused from menopause. Arthritis pain, and a host of other things. I have heard it works best taken with Vit-Exercise helps but my Dr told me I can't because they can't control my heart rate it goes way to high if I do anything but walk slowly. So I walk as much as I can.  I love life but wish I could have it my way..

     

    Fatigue ... grrrrr

    and insomnia - plagued me for months --  what helped me was iron enriched foods, vitamins and time to allow my body to heal.  No quick fix information from me,  so Sorry.

    Continued strength, and health I pray for you.

     

    Vicki Sam 

  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #9
    RozHopkins said:

    Shoot posted then lost

    Shoot posted then lost it.

     

    i took months to get any energy.  No blood problems.  You should be automatically tested every month for a while and any probs. should show up then.  Early days.  I slept nearly all day and night.  Everything became a big effort. Then I started to go to gym again, which I missed.  Start off slow.  Little walks etc.  I think every one feels this way and is the norm.  How ladies work and or care for children at home beats me, they all deserve medals.  

    I didn't have chemo, but, I

    I didn't have chemo, but, I did have rads which exhausted me.  I did find out that my Vit. D level was low, so, I am taking it now.  Have yours checked too. 

    Feel better,

    Angie

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