frustrated!

Barb5454 · May 2013

I'm 4 months post treatment and I'm very frustrated. There are days when I feel fantastic. But when I feel good I do things I normally do, but then there is a price to pay. I end up feeling terribly tired and not just for a few hours but for a few days. I have started a part time job and that wears me out too. It's not physically demanding at all. I guess what I'm trying to say is I want to feel normal again, but from what I'm realizing I may have to accept a new normal. Does this make sense?

eihtak · May 2013

Barb.....

Like so many things recovery requires MUCH patience. At 6months post treatment I thought I was doing well most of the time but then was also very tired after doing too much. Every several months I'd look back and realize how much better I was doing in the present. (although a second cancer diagnosis, breast, caused a temporary setback).....anyhow, 2yrs now post anal cancer and I rarely feel too exhausted and my so called "new" normal is actually much better than my "old" normal was!!! Keep up healthy eating, exercise, and general healthy lifestyle and you'll get there too.

mp327 · May 2013

Barb5454

Please do not be discouraged! It just takes some time to recover fully from this treatment. It's really much more draining than we realize. I am approaching my 5-year survival mark and I STILL occasionally have days when I'm totally exhausted! I attribute that to sleep/insomnia issues, which are ongoing for me, I think due to the instant menopause from the treatment. Before cancer, I was never like that. I would say that I felt markedly better at the 2-year mark though and most days I have my same energy level back. Eating well and getting regular exercise will help. Hang in there, things will get better!

Barb5454 · May 2013

mp327 said:
Barb5454
Please do not be discouraged! It just takes some time to recover fully from this treatment. It's really much more draining than we realize. I am approaching my 5-year survival mark and I STILL occasionally have days when I'm totally exhausted! I attribute that to sleep/insomnia issues, which are ongoing for me, I think due to the instant menopause from the treatment. Before cancer, I was never like that. I would say that I felt markedly better at the 2-year mark though and most days I have my same energy level back. Eating well and getting regular exercise will help. Hang in there, things will get better!

Thank you

Thank you ladies! I felt like there was something wrong with me. I guess in some ways I dont fully realize what cancer treatment has done to me. It almost felt like an out of body experience. It still seems weird that I even had cancer. I have a lot of support from my family but sometimes they don't understand either. I'll get real tired and I think they get frustrated too. Anway, thanks again you are awesome!

sandysp · May 2013

Barb5454 said:
Thank you
Thank you ladies! I felt like there was something wrong with me. I guess in some ways I dont fully realize what cancer treatment has done to me. It almost felt like an out of body experience. It still seems weird that I even had cancer. I have a lot of support from my family but sometimes they don't understand either. I'll get real tired and I think they get frustrated too. Anway, thanks again you are awesome!

GOOD FOR YOU

YOU HAVE EXPRESSED YOURSELF VERY WELL HERE AND I AM SURE EVERYONE READING THIS IS NODDING THEIR HEADS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO GRATEFUL FOR "GOOD DAYS" AS I AM NOW. I AM NEARING TWO YEARS POST TREATMENT AUGUST 15TH AND THINK FIVE HOUR ENERGY SHOTS ARE THE GREATEST THINGS SINCE SLICED BREAD. THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF B VITAMINS AND HELP BALANCE ELECTROLITES. A GOOD LONG NAP IS GOOD BUT THIS IS ALSO GREAT. I DON'T NEED ONE EVERY DAY BUT WISH I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THEM SOONER. IT WAS WHEN MY MOTHER WAS DYING THAT I FIRST TOOK ONE. THE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ALSO RECOMMENDED COCONUT WATER. IT SEEMS AFTER RADIATION TREATMENTS WE ARE PREDISPOSED TO DEHYDRATION AND COCONUT WATER IS VERY RESTORATIVE IN THIS WAY.

YOU NEED YOUR REST AND YOU NEED EXERCISE. SOME DAYS IT SEEMS THAT IS ALL I DO IS REST AND EXERCISE. I GAVE UP ONE JOB AND LIKE YOU ONLY WORK PART TIME NOW. I LOVE MY WORK BUT IT WEARS ME TO THE BONE.

THANKS FOR YOUR POST. IT DOES GET BETTER AND LIFE CAN STILL BE SWEET POST ANAL CANCER.

SINCERELY,

SANDY

jcruz · May 2013

I'm 7 months post treatment

I'm 7 months post treatment and have significantly more stamina than I did at 4 months but I still get wiped out and it's not always predictable. It can be frustrating and demoralizing but we are both so new in the recovery phase. I know I have to be patient with my limitations and be upfront with others when they may not understand that just because I look so much better on the outside doesn't mean I feel so much better on the inside. Sometimes I get just a little feeling of "this is the old me" but then I fade quickly. I've been increasing my hours at work and am noticing that the end of the week is so difficult. I'm tired beyond belief and spend a lot of the weekend just in recovery, basically doing nothing.

I think we both need to give ourselves a lot more time to heal and recover before we really know what our new normal is.

Barb5454 · May 2013

sandysp said:
GOOD FOR YOU
YOU HAVE EXPRESSED YOURSELF VERY WELL HERE AND I AM SURE EVERYONE READING THIS IS NODDING THEIR HEADS. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO GRATEFUL FOR "GOOD DAYS" AS I AM NOW. I AM NEARING TWO YEARS POST TREATMENT AUGUST 15TH AND THINK FIVE HOUR ENERGY SHOTS ARE THE GREATEST THINGS SINCE SLICED BREAD. THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF B VITAMINS AND HELP BALANCE ELECTROLITES. A GOOD LONG NAP IS GOOD BUT THIS IS ALSO GREAT. I DON'T NEED ONE EVERY DAY BUT WISH I HAD KNOWN ABOUT THEM SOONER. IT WAS WHEN MY MOTHER WAS DYING THAT I FIRST TOOK ONE. THE PHYSICAL THERAPISTS ALSO RECOMMENDED COCONUT WATER. IT SEEMS AFTER RADIATION TREATMENTS WE ARE PREDISPOSED TO DEHYDRATION AND COCONUT WATER IS VERY RESTORATIVE IN THIS WAY.

YOU NEED YOUR REST AND YOU NEED EXERCISE. SOME DAYS IT SEEMS THAT IS ALL I DO IS REST AND EXERCISE. I GAVE UP ONE JOB AND LIKE YOU ONLY WORK PART TIME NOW. I LOVE MY WORK BUT IT WEARS ME TO THE BONE.

THANKS FOR YOUR POST. IT DOES GET BETTER AND LIFE CAN STILL BE SWEET POST ANAL CANCER.

SINCERELY,

SANDY

Sandysp

When you mentioned about the 5 hour energy shots is this the one you get over the counter? Also, I've noticed you are on a plant based diet. I am heading in that direction. I have been waiting to buy hemp and chia seeds. Is your diet totally vegan?

Barb5454 · May 2013

jcruz said:
I'm 7 months post treatment
I'm 7 months post treatment and have significantly more stamina than I did at 4 months but I still get wiped out and it's not always predictable. It can be frustrating and demoralizing but we are both so new in the recovery phase. I know I have to be patient with my limitations and be upfront with others when they may not understand that just because I look so much better on the outside doesn't mean I feel so much better on the inside. Sometimes I get just a little feeling of "this is the old me" but then I fade quickly. I've been increasing my hours at work and am noticing that the end of the week is so difficult. I'm tired beyond belief and spend a lot of the weekend just in recovery, basically doing nothing.

I think we both need to give ourselves a lot more time to heal and recover before we really know what our new normal is.

jcruz

Thank you! It's sad that we all have to experience this because we had cancer,but it's also reassuring that these symptoms are common. It really is frustrating. I had to come to realize that the "old me" is gone and the "new me" is worth loving.

frustrated!

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