worried and puzzled

lynne40
lynne40 Member Posts: 87
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi All, I had my lumpectomy and chemo last summer I was exhausted during chemo then felt like I built back up to normal or at least I saw a vast improvement in the tiredness. I saw my oncologist last week and he ordered blood work. Everything came back great except my liver (bilirubin count) was a little high so they are going to repeat it in a month. I am once again so exhausted I could sleep standing up! My doc says that probably its because I am a very active person and if I was a "slug" (his word!) I probably wouldn't notice it. I'm not sure I buy this because I am starting to get down because I am so exhausted 24 hours a day every day. I feel thet there has to be something wrong and now I'm scared that I have something else bad going on to make me so tired all the time. I am thin so its not an overweight thing but I feel like no one understands how out of character this is for me to be dragging everyday, ecspecially when my bloodwork is fine and I am 10 months out from my last chemo. If anyone has any suggestions or answers I'd love to hear them. Thanks,
Lynne

Comments

  • hummingbyrd
    hummingbyrd Member Posts: 950 Member
    #2
    I've found it is best to 'listen' to your body. If it's out of character for you then chances are something is going on. Now that may be a number of things...chronic fatigue syndrome, stress, menopause, and yes even the cancer, but that would be low on my suspicion list.
    My suggestion is get a second opinion from a doc that will listen to you.
    I found 2 bone mets because "something just wasn't right". For instance I had low back pain, mild, and only with lifting 20# or more. Doc said don't worry about it, sounds normal...BUT it wasn't normal for me AND I had been diagnosed the year before with breast cancer. Had to demand a bone scan and sure enough, there it was, a metastasis. That was Oct 2001, had it radiated and guess I'm doing well, or to dumb to know better! LOL
    Point is; it pays to listen to your body.
    Hope this helps.
    hummingbyrd
  • SusanAnne
    SusanAnne Member Posts: 245
    #3
    Hi Lynne. Did you actually see your blood count numbers? Lots of times the numbers could be in the low normal range, or even slightly below, and the doctors think things are fine. Yet for you maybe "normal" is at the high end or above. I was feeling terrible fatigue 6 months after chemo ended. My HCT was in the 35 range so I asked for a procrit shot. Within two weeks I was feeling so great it was remarkable. Just a thought.
    Susan
  • marbleslab
    marbleslab Member Posts: 24
    #4
    Hi Lynne. I had the same thing happen. My liver function was "off" and my onc said I needed to have gall bladder surgery. I did and Voila!! My husband couldn't believe the difference. He said I went from lying on the couch all the time to wanting to be up mowing the grass and cleaning the house. It was a marked improvement. Be sure and inquire about whether or not it could be your gall bladder. Best of luck. I'll be thinking about you.
    Marla

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