Exhausted!

tgf
tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I am so exhausted I can hardly keep my eyes open. Friday I have #11 (of 12) taxol/herceptin infusions ... and I had been doing just GREAT ... until about 2 weeks ago and then "it" hit me like a ton of bricks. I have been totally wiped out. I go to bed at 8:00 and still don't want to get up when the alarm goes off at 6:30. To top it all off ... I came down with a cold last week and I sound like I'm ready for a yoddling contest. I've talked to the oncologists office and they told me what I could take for the cold and I've been taking everything in the medicine cabinet they told me I could take.

I just feel like crap ... to put it bluntly! I was hoping to start radiation right after taxol/herceptin ... but I've heard the main side-effect of radiation is fatigue and I can't imagine being any more fatigued than I am right now. I am drained. In fact ... after lunch today it got so bad that I went into the library here at work and plopped down on the couch and stayed there for an hour. I did feel better when I got up ... but ... this is crazy. I'm almost to the point where I can't function. The chemo brain has wiped out all ability to concentrate ... and then ... to not have any energy ... I just feel like going to bed ... pulling the covers up over my head and staying there for 3-4 months.

Very frustrating.

Photobucket

hugs.
teena

Comments

  • Linda M
    Linda M Member Posts: 10
    #2
    Hang in there
    Hope you feel better. don't be hard on yourself for getting lots of rest.
  • RE
    RE Member Posts: 4,591 Member
    #3
    ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
    Teena I did ten weeks of rads after 18 rounds of chemo and it was okay. I was quite tired, but I found that after I stopped chemo my body rebounded a bit before I had to do the rads. It all worked out okay. Just be kind to yourself and know that you will get back to being more energetic once this is all behind you. In regards to that cold, sure hope you feel better soon!

    RE
  • cats_toy
    cats_toy Member Posts: 1,462 Member
    #4
    Hang in there Teena
    Almost done, and just now feeling it isn't too bad. Most rad docs will make you wait a month before starting, they want you to get a bit of recovering going from the chemo before hitting you again. Just think, you are more than half way thru!!! yay!
    =^..^=
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #5
    Tired teena...
    Yes, how frustrating. But, incredible fatigue is part of the journey for so many of us. Please, teena, whatever you do - DON'T delay your radiation treatment just because you're tired. The fatigue will eventually pass, with lots of REST (naps are highly recommended!) and TIME.

    Can you negotiate part-time work, vs. full time? It would be temporary. Either 1/2 days, or 3 days a week?

    We women are incredibly active and busy. It's very difficult to give that up. But - again, it's only temporary. NOTHING is more important than making it through ALL of your recommended treatments!

    Your fatigue is your body's way of TELLING you it NEEDS rest. Our bodies heal the most efficiently while we're asleep. Please don't fight it, or you'll be tired for even longer. I'm sure your cold is making it worse at the moment.

    Take care, teena.

    Kind regards, Susan
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143 Member
    #6
    tuckered out
    Teena, you are still in treatment. No wonder you're tired. And to have made it through 11 out of 12 treatments before feeling fatigue is incredible. You are one resilient lady. But now, the chemo is catching up to you as it, unfortunately, always does. This is the signal that you need to rest and heal. Susan's idea of working part time for a little while is a good one, if you can.

    About rads: they haven't tired me out yet and I'm on week 3. In fact, I feel great. The rads fatigue probably won't hit until you've recovered somewhat from the chemo, so don't despair. One thing at a time.

    Mimi
  • neda
    neda Member Posts: 36
    #7
    Dear Teena,
    I had radiation
    Dear Teena,


    I had radiation for 33 days. It worked out just fine. However, before sarting the treatment , I heard that rad is sometimes very difficult. ANyway I finished and it ended 3 weeks ago and my skin never burnt. I am getting my energy back. ,but I am not willing to do so much activitiesas I used to do. I have heard It will take a few mounths to get your energy back! A good nutrition is really realy helpfull. If you have gone through chemo, you will easily do the rad! trust me. IF you have any question related to rad, please send me a message.

    Take care,

    Neda.
  • djteach
    djteach Member Posts: 273
    #8
    Hi Teena,
    I'm so sorry that
    Hi Teena,
    I'm so sorry that the chemo has knocked you down. Believe me, I know how you feel. I'm returning that huge cyber hug that you sent my way not long ago. I'm sure you've heard all of the good advise from our sister warriors here. I just want you to know that I'm in your corner and if anyone can get through this, it is you. I would cover for you at work if I could, of course you may not have a job left afterwords...LOL

    Keep drinking plenty of fluids and resting when you can. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
    Love and Gentle Hugs,
    Donna
  • neda
    neda Member Posts: 36
    #9
    mimivac said:

    tuckered out
    Teena, you are still in treatment. No wonder you're tired. And to have made it through 11 out of 12 treatments before feeling fatigue is incredible. You are one resilient lady. But now, the chemo is catching up to you as it, unfortunately, always does. This is the signal that you need to rest and heal. Susan's idea of working part time for a little while is a good one, if you can.

    About rads: they haven't tired me out yet and I'm on week 3. In fact, I feel great. The rads fatigue probably won't hit until you've recovered somewhat from the chemo, so don't despair. One thing at a time.

    Mimi

    You look so sweet and
    You look so sweet and upbeat. I admire you. About the rads, I have to tell you that the last week that every body is talking about, was exactly the same as other ones that I took before, so no worries. Our skin also will be just fine and hill soon as mine did. The only key I have found is that we do not have to do activities that are time consuming, and a lot of rest and the right nutrition if we find the hormone free ones. I actually found some, but they are so expensive, and because I am not working, I cannot afford it now.
  • neda
    neda Member Posts: 36
    #10
    mimivac said:

    tuckered out
    Teena, you are still in treatment. No wonder you're tired. And to have made it through 11 out of 12 treatments before feeling fatigue is incredible. You are one resilient lady. But now, the chemo is catching up to you as it, unfortunately, always does. This is the signal that you need to rest and heal. Susan's idea of working part time for a little while is a good one, if you can.

    About rads: they haven't tired me out yet and I'm on week 3. In fact, I feel great. The rads fatigue probably won't hit until you've recovered somewhat from the chemo, so don't despair. One thing at a time.

    Mimi

    MImi
    Mimi I send the message for you, but I did not mention your name.

    You are in my prayes.

    Neda
  • tgf
    tgf Member Posts: 950 Member
    #11
    djteach said:

    Hi Teena,
    I'm so sorry that
    Hi Teena,
    I'm so sorry that the chemo has knocked you down. Believe me, I know how you feel. I'm returning that huge cyber hug that you sent my way not long ago. I'm sure you've heard all of the good advise from our sister warriors here. I just want you to know that I'm in your corner and if anyone can get through this, it is you. I would cover for you at work if I could, of course you may not have a job left afterwords...LOL

    Keep drinking plenty of fluids and resting when you can. Your in my thoughts and prayers.
    Love and Gentle Hugs,
    Donna

    Thank you all ...
    Thank you one and all. I just needed a good kick in the pants ... to tell me to slow down. In my case the exhaustion didn't creep up on me a little at a time (like I expected) ... instead it hit me like a 2x4. Then the cold on top of that just wiped me out. But ... yesterday I left work early and went home ... and slept from 4 to 7 ... then got up ... loaded the diswasher and took every cold and cough medication the oncologist told me I could take ... and I was back in bed by 7:30 and slept until 6:30 this morning. I still sound like I'm yoddling when I talk ... but I feel so much better.

    Thank you all for being there yesterday and listening to my pity-party.

    Photobucket

    hugs.
    teena
  • babebussie
    babebussie Member Posts: 150
    #12
    Hugs!!!
    Oh honey i'm so sorry. Wrap your arms around yourself and squeeze real tight. That's a hug from me to you.

    Feel better dear,
    Babe
  • ninjamom
    ninjamom Member Posts: 142
    #13
    I'm sorry your're going thru
    I'm sorry your're going thru this. Please take good care of yourself, specially with the cold. After I was done with chemo and radiation I got a cold that turn to pneumonia, I don't want to scare you but everyone would tell me to rest, work part time if possible, and my brain kept telling me I was superwoman and I ended up in the emergency room. Be good to yourself and get the much needed rest.

    Patty

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