Zero energy

no advice, just a hug

Denise

jessiesmom1 said:

Lack of Energy

To have an utter lack of energy during chemo is 100 percent normal. Fatigue is probably the single most common chemo side effect. Many people (myself included) find that chemo side effects are magnified as the rounds continue and the type of side effects are more varied. Basically that means more and stronger side effects. I remember my fatigue something like this: Take off pajamas to take a shower. Take shower while seated. Put pajamas back on. Exhausted. Go back to bed. Of course, everyone is different. Some barely feel a thing and continue to work full-time. That would definitely have not been me. You can get through this. I did. That yucky period of my life was 5.5 years ago.

IRENE

Lori I think that exhaustion is a very real possibility with chemo.  I too am new to the breast forum....recently diagnosed but i have done 3 years of chemo for my colorectal cancer.  I found that the fatigue would accumulate as the chemo went on......the first couple of rounds were almost like....."well this isn't too bad" but then it would it get harder.  Irene is right....try to be very gentle with yourself.....yes some people do work straight through the process.....i could not have worked......I definitely was more of the lay on the couch and stare at the ceiling kind of chemo girl.  It doesn't last forever.....are you trying to get a little exercise .....a walk down to the corner and back? something small and doable.....eat whatever appeals to you Lori and keep on drinking that yummy water....

sending love, maggie

hi, Lori

     Yes, fatigue was the worse SE for me.  It was not that I was tired all the time, for me it was the muscle fatigue - especially my legs.  I found that the 2 days after neulasta shot made me sleep a lot, but the rest of the days I could not do much in an hour's time.  I found myself reserving my energy for what was most important to do: homework or boardgames with my daughter, laundry a few days, cooking a good meal at least once a week, going out to lunch with a dear friend:)

      I am now 13 weeks past Neoadjuvant chemo, and still I have fatigue.  It is a little better each week, but still there.   Fatigue is your body's way of telling you, " take it easy, I'm working in here to heal you."  Be kind to yourself and let others help you as needed.  You are not giving up your independence or responsibilities.  You are allowing others to let theirs shine!

peace and prayers,

Kathy

camul said:

Totally normal.

The longer I was getting it the more fatigued I became.  I was on 5 different chemo over a period of 2 1/2 years administered weekly  I had 2 weeks off to do scans periodically which would show the chemo wasn't working, then it was start a new one.  This kept up until I had PE and blood clots, then it was no more chemo and they took me off the hormone blocker.

Said time for hispice.  I was exhausted but not ready for hospice. Went to a different cancer center.  Still no chemo as it was not effective on my tumors but put me back on Aromason.  But the fatigue was progressive.  Along with the pain I was and am in, they suggested taking a stimulant with it.  Instead I did a low dose steroid for a bit.  Now I am ready for the steroids again to strengthen my system and ritlin stimulent) for the exhaustion, I will see a f it works.

Chemo takes so much out of you.  I found that the steroids did boost my energy and unfortunately my weight.  Now I have dropped all of it so am curious to see if the lbs stack up again.  As exhausted as I was, I also found that walking close to 2 miles twice a day helped boost my energy.

Lori,

Chemo fatigue does often get worse as you do more rounds -- that's totally normal.

Boy, do I relate to Irene's story about just barely having enough energy to take a shower -- there were days it would take me hours just to summon enough energy to do that!

But my oncologist just kept telling me over and over that, according to research, the BEST way to fight chemo fatigue is mild exercise, such as walking.  As several others here have said, please try, try, try to even just walk to the corner and back, or your mailbox and back, anything.  It really will help.

Traci

Just_lori6 said:

8)

Hi Traci,

Haha.... I am totally relating to Irene. That's pretty much my day every day now. I try to wash like 5 dishes each time I get up to get water but sometimes I only manage 3 before I need to lay back down. I did get on the tread mill for 10 minutes about an hour ago. As hard as it was it really has seemed to give me some energy. Who would've thought exercise would help. I've heard radiation is better for some and worse fore some. I'm hoping radiation comes better to me than chemo because this feeling like a wet wash cloth is irritating 8)

Thanks as always Traci,

~Lori 

10 minutes on the treadmill is AWESOME, Lori!  Try to do that just 1 more time later today, okay?  You can do it! 

I also totally relate to not having any energy to make myself something to eat -- just the walk to the kitchen was enough to exhaust me!

What worked for me was to focus on protein -- that really helped me feel better.  I stocked up on single-serve things for my fridge that I could just grab and go back to the couch: cheese sticks, single-serve cottage cheeses, single-serve yogurt, etc.  Those were also pretty easy on my tummy, if I was feeling nauseous.  I really, really noticed a difference if I got some protein in me.

Traci

Just_lori6 said:

8)

Hi Camul,

I think of you daily in hopes that my wishes and prayers for you are heard. Thanks as always for your advice. I was thinking since the first two rounds weren't too bad that I was going to float through chemo pretty well but nope! My butt is dragging. I feel like a wet wash cloth that is trying to walk & clean. UGH. I keep trying to tell myself that it will be over eventually but right now it sure doesn't seem like it. 

I know you have tried so many different things in your journey. Have you considered or called Cancer Treatment Centers of America? I had googled success stories when I was first diagnosed because all I could do was cry. There are so many success stories from Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Some of the patients have stories similar to yours and they have been cured. One lady seems alot like you and she had stayed at the treatment center for several months (like hospice but better). She received many different treatments along with an exercise & diet plan. She said with in weeks her pain disappeared and by the time she was ready to go she felt like a million bucks. I'm sure you've already considered them as you've done so much. Just thought to mention it. They take almost any insurance and they are in many different states. I think they seem successful because they treat the mind, body, diet, everything together for a healthy person. 

Anyways, if you've heard it all before I'm sorry to bother you with it. Know that I think great wishes for you daily and very much appreciate your advice.

Thanks and take care of you~

Lori

 

 

I had 4 rounds of cytoxin and taxotere and the taxotere whipped my butt. I had retired the year before so didn't have the concern of returning to work. I am so grateful that Lew was here to help me - he took care of doing the dishes and trying to keep the house picked up a bit. I spent so much time in my recliner I was afraid I might get sores on my butt. Taxotere made me short of breath, I couldn't bend over and tie my shoes. Wasn't able to do one flight of stairs for a couple months after chemo.

As for radiation, it was a breeze for me. Those who hadn't had chemo were telling me how tired they were, and I could feel my strength returning every day during rads. I didn't have a treadmill at home and didn't want to expose myself to all the germs at the gym. Lew would come home over the noon hour and we'd go for a slow walk, me holding onto one of his arms with my left arm and my cane with my right. We'd walk across the street, around our neighbor's house and back to our house and by the time we got home sweat was running down my face as if I'd run a marathon, and then I'd take a nap.

Do you have a YMCA near you? Check if they have the Livestrong program for cancer survivors after you're done with chemo. It's a free program, you meet twice a week with a small group of other survivors and several trainers. They totally individualize your exercise program as to what you can do, and I found it invaluable in getting back in shape. You can also use the Y facilities free during the 3 months of classes.

I joined the Y after my classes (I qualified for a scholarship membership so it only costs me $25/month) and am now walking 10,000 steps a day.