Fatigue

Hi Sandy:

Fatigue is one of the biggest side effects of chemo, and you have have to make room for it. If that interferes with work, then perhaps you can look into changing the work schedule. Right now the important thing is to focus on the treatment. Once you husband is healthy, there'll be many years of happy working later. It's not the best to have too many conflicting priorities now. Most of all, don't get anxious and upset about being tired, it'll just wear down your immune system - that last last thing you want to do right now.

I worked during chemo, but not full time. I arranged it such that I get chemo on Thursday afternoons. I basically stayed in bed on Friday-Sunday, because I was just too tired to do much. I was able to make my own meals during those days, but definitely could not work. Simply didn't have the energy and the clarity of mind. Having the chemo on Thursday made it possible for me to do most of the recovery over the weekend, so I was not feeling guilty. This became a working compromise while my body recovered. During my 7 months of chemo, most of the time I was well enough to work normally the Monday after each treatment.

Fatigue is the way our body tells us that it needs rest. We must listen and give it what it needs. Keep in mind that the only time our immune system can repair itself and do its thing is when we are sleeping. Cancer and chemo are extremely hard on our immune system, therefore sleeping is at least as important as getting chemo and eating, if not more. Do not deny your body the rest that it so sorely need to help you heal. My philosophy was - while in doubt, just sleep until the doubt goes away.

While nothing replaces sleeping, there are two other things that are equally important - good nutrition and mild exercise.

On the nutrition front, please get hold of the Patrick Quillin book "Fighting Cancer with Nutrition". It'll open up a new world of possibilities for you. It is also critically important to eat well and eat enough so that you can withstand chemo.

Exercise sounds counter-intuitive at first, but mild exercise is so critically important in several ways:

- It burns off the blood suger that can help cancer cells grow
- It helps oxygen-ize your body, making it more alkaline, which denies the cancer cells the fermenting, acidy environment they need to grow in
- It creates serotonin, the happy horomone which helps dealing with chemo blues and increases our overall sense of well being
- Last but not the least, doing what you enjoyed before cancer will reinforce the belief of "I will beat the bastards and get back to my happy healthy self again"

Hope you find this helpful and good luck to you!

Cheers,
Ying

Everyone is different in their reactions. But, for me, I was usually wiped out (and nauseaous) for a few days - but then bounced back. And then felt pretty normal until the next cycle. During that time, I could go to work, gentle exercise, go out socially. That being said, I usually had a nap (or put my feet up) every day. So, I certainly wasn't my usual self. But, I was functional. This went on throughout most of the chemo. But, near the end, the fatigue really hit and I needed a lot more rest. I did 11 out of 12 cycles of chemo. I'd say I was doing great till the last couple (say around round 9 or 10).

But as I said, everyone is different. And, it is important to get as much rest as you can while going through this. It's a battle!

Best wishes to you both.

Tara

Hi Sandy,

I agree with what everyone said. Naps were my new normal during chemo. He should rest as much as possible. I had my treatments on Wednesday and Thursday and Friday the pump came off. I was lucky and could work from home those days. I actually just said in bed on my computer and rested while working. I know while doing chemo I would come home and go to bed for a rest. I didn't do much the week after chemo. I was only almost normal the few days before my next treatment. Terrible cycle but you learn to work around it. It did help to get out and do things. It kept me going. HUGS and tell hubby we all understand.

Lisa F.

the Dr. should be checking his red blood cells; if they are below a certain number, they usually give a shot to boost the RBC's. I was out to lunch the first week, and worked the second week. Make sure he is drinking at least 8 glasses of water per day. dehydration can cause fatigue also..