fibromyalgia?

juneaugirl
juneaugirl Member Posts: 12
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I am 21 months post chemo (Taxol and Carboplatin) for stage 1c clear cell carcinoma of the ovary. All is well so far with my check ups. No sign of recurrence. Initially after treatments ended I started feeling better but seemed to be developing arthritus in a few joints. I went to physical therapy and it helped a lot. However now, nearly 2 years later, my energy levels are still low and I injure my ligaments and tendons at the drop of a hat, it seems. I am experiencing a fair number of the symptoms of fibromyalgia. Anyone else experiencing this? I worked full time during chemo and that was pretty hard. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to continue working with the fatigue and pain. Some mornings I wake up and feel like I've been thrown down several flights of stairs. I also have a very hard time sleeping. Hot flashes and the like wake me, if I can even get to sleep. My Dr finally prescribed sleeping pills. But I hate to take medicine unless I have no other choice so one night in desparation I took a sleeping pill. All to no avail. It had no effect on me at all. I'm not really complaining. I would do it all over again if need be. I'm gratefull to be alive especially with the prospect of many years to come. Life is good. I'm just wondering if anyone else is having any of this? Thanks for the input!

Comments

  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #2
    Sorry to hear all the pain and fatigue you are having. I have fibromyalgia and it is can be tiring. I walk alot, and ride my bike when I can't walk. I know it sounds crazy but it helps you feel better and have more energy. I also take ambiem sometimes to help with the sleep. The nightsweats will get better, but for me still have not gone away totally. The overall picture it is a minor thing. Covers on, covers off, covers on, covers off. :-) I am not making light of it just seems like this is the way most women have to sleep.

    Sorry to hear you are dealing with so much, maybe seeing a rhuematologist would help. I know they can diagnose fribromyalgia and there are prescriptions that can help with the pain. But they will tell you also, keep moving. A friend of mine does water aerobics for her fibromyalgia, and she sure can feel the difference.

    Take Care

    Bonnie
  • smithzoo
    smithzoo Member Posts: 6
    #3
    I know exactly what you mean. I am a 3 year survivor of small cell cancer of the ovary. I had about a year's worth of chemo, many different kinds....trying to find the combo that worked. I still have low energy levels and chronic pain. I blame a lot of this on chemo.
    However, I also have iron overload from having too many blood transfusions. I have to have a unit of blood withdrawn every two weeks to encourage my body to take the iron out of my stores to make new blood. I have been doing this for about four months and so far my ferritin level hasn't gone down very much. It is very discouraging. Anyway, the anemia caused by the blood draws also causes fatigue. The ironic part of it is I still am unable to get to sleep at night. I was prescribed Ambien during the chemo to help me sleep and I took it for over two years. I decided to stop taking it recently due to the fact that it was causing me to have memory loss. After taking it at night, if I didn't go to bed immediately, I would have no recollection of what happened the night before. It was sort of like having black-outs. This really scared me, not knowing what I did or said. The doctor said that it was a side effect of the ambien. I guess the reason I'm telling you this is because it is habit forming and does have some bad side effects. I stopped taking it a couple of weeks ago and I am still up until 1 or 2 in the morning. I usually end up falling asleep from pure exhaustion!
    You are right about one thing....the chemo has a lot of bad side effects, but I'd do it all over again because without it I wouldn't be here today!! I hope that you find the right combo of things that work for you to get to sleep at night!
    Donna

Discussion Boards