Tired - months after chemo ended

taraHK · September 2006

As some of you are aware, I finished 6 mos of FOLFOX last December. (Following surgery for lung met in May 05). Have been doing great since -- had clear PET scans in Jan and July -- working-- exercising fairly regularly. But, I am still tired. I find I need to lie down (nap or at least lie down) for 30 min or an hour every day (afternoon). Does this sound strange? Has anyone else had this experience? I mentioned it (kinda in passing) to my main doc in July and she didn't say anything...I can bring it up with her again more explicitly when I see her next. But I'm curious to see if others have had similar experiences or any views on this.

mindy10 · September 2006

Hi, I think all of us can lay down in the afternoon and take a nap. If im home and lay on the couch at 3:00 Im out like a light. Sometimes depression can cause tiredness to. After all you have been through maybe your a little down.

chynabear · September 2006

mindy10 said:
Hi, I think all of us can lay down in the afternoon and take a nap. If im home and lay on the couch at 3:00 Im out like a light. Sometimes depression can cause tiredness to. After all you have been through maybe your a little down.

Oh yes, I know this very well. I didn't think I was ever going to be fully charged. I had a hard time getting myself going in the mornings and usually had to rest in the afternoon. It wasn't until very recently that this began to subside and I am 1 year and 5 months out from my last chemo. I would say that it took a good year and maybe a little longer for me to finally feel almost back to normal. Of course at this point I'm not sure what normal is. All I know is that I felt lazy because I didn't want to get up in the morning and needed so much rest. I'm sure with time you will start feeling better day by day.

CAMaura · September 2006

Napping soounds pretty good to me! But, I do think it takes a while for the toxins to come out of our systems...Are you doing anything as a detox? There are some wonderful things to help cleanse the liver where a lot of the chemicals were stored. Anyway, so happy that your scans have been clear! Hang in there; also, it could be a bit of post-chemo paranoia...I swear, every pain/ache was magnified in my mind (and probably still is). Take care and enjoy allof your success!
- Best, Maura

jams67 · September 2006

My onc told it it would take about a year to get my energy back after chemo. It has been 5 mo. and it certainly hasn't come back yet, but it is better. jams

spongebob · September 2006

Tara -

It's normal to still feel fatigued well after you've "finished" chemo. Tell me this, what is your current hematocrit (below 35 or so?) and ferratin (below 20 or so?) Are they low? How much iron are you getting? Any shortness of breath accompanying that fatigued feeling? Leg cramps sometimes - especially at night?

Could be an iron deficiency. My body has decided it doesn't want to absorb iron from my food so I take a supplement - I also take a vitamin C supplement to help the body absorb the iron. I also stay away from calcium-rich products two hours before and an hour after I take my iron because calcium blocks iron absorbtion.

Just a thought...

I am so glad to hear that things look good in your scans! YEAH!!!

- Sponge

rthornton · September 2006

I was thinking about this today, as I was sitting on the living room couch envying the trees outside for being so productive and energetic. I completed a 5FU regimen last fall and I still have days when I just want to sit still or sleep for hours at a time. Today I had to inundate myself with three cups of tea before my energy level came back up. Maybe Bob has a good idea with Iron supplements. I've always heard that iron difficiency is a possible culprit for low energy.

Rodney

taraHK · September 2006

Thanks all for your replies. It is true that I have always loved a nap! -- but this fatigue I'm feeling is something altogether different. Yes, could be survivor paranoia....I take comfort in the fact that others say it took a full year or more to feel they had their normal energy back. I believe my blood counts are all normal now but I will specifically check iron -- that's a good idea. I take a multivit with iron (but also take calcium...hmmm....) but will certainly check this out. Thanks!

Susanbm · September 2006

I finshied my FOLFOX in October,2005 and the AVASTIN in April,2006 and I am still waiting to get back my normal energy level. All of my tests are good and I am NED(Stage III 1/lymph). With me, it appears as though my body will never be the same. Some days are great but then on others I will take nap in the office lounge or go straight to bed once I get home from work. Chemotherapy can really wreck havoc on your body! But, as I keep reminding myself, if I can beat Cancer, I can accept and deal with anything else. Hang in there and may God bless you.

jsabol · September 2006

I could have written your post a year ago. I am now 2 years post chemo, as of July 9 (6 months of 5FU and leuco only). I was soooooo fatigued during chemo that I took a leave of absence from my job for the last 3 months of treatment. I also experienced very low potassium levels that contributed greatly to the fatigue. It took a few months for that to be diagnosed and treated (lucky for me, a totally unrelated adrenal gland malfunction that is corrected with a blood pressure med!)
At the one year post chemo mark, I was in tears at my onc appt, dissappointed that I was still not "back to myself". I did start exercising regularly again, despite having to force myself, and was told to "give it more time". I also questioned whether I was depressed, but did not have other good clinical signs to support depression as a diagnosis. My mood was generally fairly good (as long as I didn't dwell on how tired I was!)
I am thrilled to report that more time has made a huge difference. I feel great for a very nearly 56 year old, never mind the cancer survivor stuff! I am back to enjoying old pursuits without a daily nap, and have done some amazing yard and garden stuff this spring and summer.
I would surely discuss it with your doc, just to double check the obvious causes, including poss thyroid dysfunction; I would also encourage you to give yourself permission to enjoy those naps, listen to your body and give it more time!
Good luck, Judy

Kanort · September 2006

Hi Tara,

It's so good to heat that all of your scans are clear. Hopefully you energy levels will return soon. Keep us posted.

Hugs,

Kay

Tired - months after chemo ended

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