Fatigue

JanJan63
JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
in Colorectal Cancer #1

Okay, I'm having a bad day and I'm so sick of the fatigue. Most days I push through it but today it's so hard although I'm still trying. I'm low on megnesium again so that doesn't help. I take 4 tablets a day but it doesn't absorb well so that affects my energy level. The food that have it in are mostly things I'm unable to eat other than spinch and how much spinach can a person eat? I eat it several times a week. I was sure that I'd had a blockage from it in the past but I've figured out how I can eat it and I'm even eating salads again! It's lovely to have something a bit crunchy and fresh. I missed them SO much.

I've never gone back to full strength since I was paralyzed but I can walk around and look normal. If there's even the slightest slope it exhausts me and I'd never dare to run more than a few feet because ebery once in a while my leg muscles give out without warning and I fall. I went to stand on a chair to put something away in the kitchen last night and my thigj muscles just gave out when I went to hoist myself up. A few eeks ago I feel in the dining room because I was leaning over to plug in a wire. Its a funny feeling because there's just very little strength there and it's so unexpected. My friend says I fall in slow motion. I do because the muscle tries to hold me up so I kind of lower myself to the ground. But I can be walking up stairs and suddenly one leg just doesn't respond and I trip. It's scary and weird.

Anyway, does anyone have any suggestions? I take vitamin D and B12 every day and the magnesium several times a day. I'm thinking about signing up for a senior's fitness group. The woman that runs it is trained in geriatric physical fitness and the participants can even sit in a chair while doing it. But I just vaccuumed my house and mopped the floors and I'm exhausted. I was planning to ride my horse today but now I can't. I have to pick which one thing I want to do in a day. I hate being so limited. Any suggestions?

Jan 

Comments

  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,804 Member
    #2
    Ginseng

    The only thing I can think off the top of my head is Ginseng.  It is supposed to give you some energy.  I would run it by your Doctor first though, as it is a herb, and sometimes they don't mix well with other drugs. 

    I am sorry you are so tired. It really does get you down. 

    Tru

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #3
    Ashwaghanda

    There is some evidence the supplement ashwaghanda helps to build muscle mass: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4658772/

    This study reports that ashwagandha supplementation is associated with significant increases in muscle mass and strength and suggests that ashwagandha supplementation may be useful in conjunction with a resistance training program.

     

    See also: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6266766/

    A 500 mg dose of an aqueous extract of Ashwagandha improves upper and lower-body strength, supports a favorable distribution of body mass, and was well tolerated clinically in recreationally active men over a 12-week resistance training and supplementation period.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #4
    Thank you both! Interesting

    Thank you both! Interesting ideas! 

    Jan

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306 Member
    #5
    Maca Root

    Jan, you may want to check into this for fatigue. You can find it in capsule form or powder form to add to smoothies, etc. It is used by a lot of atheletes for energy recovery and performance. It has been studied and proven to fight fatigue syndrome. It is called the "Peruvian" ginseng.. I have never taken it personally but know others who swear by it. Hope you are "back in the saddle" soon!...Hugs, M

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    edited May 2019 #6
    mojogirl67 said:

    Maca Root

    Jan, you may want to check into this for fatigue. You can find it in capsule form or powder form to add to smoothies, etc. It is used by a lot of atheletes for energy recovery and performance. It has been studied and proven to fight fatigue syndrome. It is called the "Peruvian" ginseng.. I have never taken it personally but know others who swear by it. Hope you are "back in the saddle" soon!...Hugs, M

    Thank you! I assume it would

    Thank you! I assume it would be found in a supplement store? We have trouble getting anything medicinal sent into Canada. 

    Jan

  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    edited May 2019 #7
    Ostomy

    Sometimes when you have an ostomy the vitamins if in pill form don't absorb that much because it doesn't go through your complete digestive system.  It was recommended to me when having my ileostomy that any pill should be in a gel (to absorb faster) or liquid.  I'm not sure if the magnesium would be better absorbed if it was crushed or taken in another form.  Ask you doctor what they might recommend, but I'm sure you did that already.  Are there infusions you could get for that?  Hope you can get something to help.

    Kim

  • mojogirl67
    mojogirl67 Member Posts: 306 Member
    #8
    JanJan63 said:

    Thank you! I assume it would

    Thank you! I assume it would be found in a supplement store? We have trouble getting anything medicinal sent into Canada. 

    Jan

    Found In Most Supplement Stores

    Good morning!! Hope you are feeling better. Yes, you can find this in most nutritional stores or you can order online. Most of the people I know who take it mix it in with shakes, smoothies, etc. Hope this helps!!

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #9
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Ostomy

    Sometimes when you have an ostomy the vitamins if in pill form don't absorb that much because it doesn't go through your complete digestive system.  It was recommended to me when having my ileostomy that any pill should be in a gel (to absorb faster) or liquid.  I'm not sure if the magnesium would be better absorbed if it was crushed or taken in another form.  Ask you doctor what they might recommend, but I'm sure you did that already.  Are there infusions you could get for that?  Hope you can get something to help.

    Kim

    I did get infusions for it

    I did get infusions for it but it only improved it a bit. But because it was coming up they stopped them. They thought it was a side effect of the chemo but I haven't had chemo since March. Just another side effect of the cancer, I guess. I'm getting really sick of all of this. They don't like giving me IVs because of how hard it is to start them. And I'd prefer not to as well. I was black and blue fromthe last one for the calcium thing after getting four pokes to get it started.

    I wish there was an idea for making it absorb better like when you take turmeric you have to take  something with it to make it absorb. I think it's black pepper? And maybe that's a small part of the fatigue. Maybe it's still from being paralyzed. It's a really scary feeling when one leg just doesnt seem to get the message that it's needed. I've had this while going up stairs as well. 

    Maybe I should start taking a multivitamin. I haven't done that for a few years.

    Jan

  • SandiaBuddy
    SandiaBuddy Member Posts: 1,381 Member
    #10
    JanJan63 said:

    Thank you! I assume it would

    Thank you! I assume it would be found in a supplement store? We have trouble getting anything medicinal sent into Canada. 

    Jan

    Costco

    They had maca at the bigger Costco stores here in the States.  You might check.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #11
    SandiaBuddy said:

    Costco

    They had maca at the bigger Costco stores here in the States.  You might check.

    Thank you! I picked some up

    Thank you! I picked some up today from the pharmacy. You and Tru are my idols when I think about being so tired all the time. I think about you both and think I must be able to do this. You two give me hope.

    You hike at the Grand Canyon! I had trouble walking on the rim if there was a slight rise. My daughter was holding my arm almost the whole time. I will get there, I will, I just have to tell myself again and again.

    Jan

  • annie4145
    annie4145 Member Posts: 218 Member
    #12
    Also check old fashion other

    Also check old fashion other reasons for fatigue, including low thryoid levels.  It is an issue that might not be apparent.   I was very very tired, and I blamed it all on chemo/radiation, but I am feeling better now that I got on thryoid medicine , so it can be a combination of both.

  • JanJan63
    JanJan63 Member Posts: 2,478 Member
    #13
    annie4145 said:

    Also check old fashion other

    Also check old fashion other reasons for fatigue, including low thryoid levels.  It is an issue that might not be apparent.   I was very very tired, and I blamed it all on chemo/radiation, but I am feeling better now that I got on thryoid medicine , so it can be a combination of both.

    Thank you! I do have a slow

    Thank you! I do have a slow thyroid or low or whatever it's called. But not bad enough to treat. The combination of that, the low magnesium, and the high calcium certainly don't help. I'n frustrated, I think, because it seems like I've hit a plateau. I'm pretty good but just can't get better. I was in a wheelchair earlier this year so I'm glad I've improved a lot but I feel like this could be better. 

    Jan

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