I am on chemo...I am supposed to feel like ....

mlmjt1
mlmjt1 Member Posts: 537 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
You know I had round 3 of 4 treatments of a/c last friday and will have the last of the ac next friday then I start taxol and herceptin every other week x 4...then its herceptin for 1 year...

I have been fighting fatigue all week long...I am up 3 times per night. I have to go to bed at 9pm cuz I know I will be awake during the night and I am so tired the next morning...and that is with 5mg of ambien and an occasional xanax thrown in. My husband asks what I want to eat and I can never tell him cuz nothing appeals to me. I force feed myself...not so much that I am nauseated but I just dont want it...My heart races and I am depressed that I am so tired.

BUt I guess I had realization today...I am on chemo...who said I wasnt going to feel like crap?

Ive heard from a number of you guys that taxol and herceptin are easier...Hows the fatigue or does it get any worse.

Just had to vent...but after next wk, I am 1/2 way done with the chemo

Thanks all
LInda T
«1

Comments

  • Moopy23
    Moopy23 Member Posts: 1,751 Member
    #2
    Halfway Done
    Sorry, Linda, you pretty much describe chemo exactly. Just remember you are halfway through, and everyone has said that taxol and herceptin are much easier.(I had TAC.)

    A/C is the toughest there is. And you're surviving it. Hang in there. And vent when you need to. We all know how you feel.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #3
    Moopy23 said:

    Halfway Done
    Sorry, Linda, you pretty much describe chemo exactly. Just remember you are halfway through, and everyone has said that taxol and herceptin are much easier.(I had TAC.)

    A/C is the toughest there is. And you're surviving it. Hang in there. And vent when you need to. We all know how you feel.

    So sorry Linda. I didn't
    So sorry Linda. I didn't have chemo, but, from what I have heard, I know it is awful.

    Hang in there!

    Diane
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159 Member
    #4
    Oh yeah, you are now the
    Oh yeah, you are now the latest Poster Child for chemo! There hasn't been a word invented to describe the tiredness I experienced~ it was as if I passed delirium and landed in a place only the writers of Twilight Zone could have envisioned. I ate a lot of frozen grapes, and sipped water al day long to keep my system both flushed and hydrated. my sweetie would bring me small plates of grapes, cheese and crackers...tiny bite sized things. I was eating to live rather than living to eat! :-) Now and again he would "encourage" me to eat broth.

    Truly, it will pass, just know that for now there doesn't seem to be much you can do about this exhausting side-effect. I decided it was my body telling me it was getting well, and was only expending energy when absolutely necessary! I have no idea if that was true or not, but I convinced myself it was!

    Hugs,
    Claudia
  • 1surfermom
    1surfermom Member Posts: 396 Member
    #5
    chenheart said:

    Oh yeah, you are now the
    Oh yeah, you are now the latest Poster Child for chemo! There hasn't been a word invented to describe the tiredness I experienced~ it was as if I passed delirium and landed in a place only the writers of Twilight Zone could have envisioned. I ate a lot of frozen grapes, and sipped water al day long to keep my system both flushed and hydrated. my sweetie would bring me small plates of grapes, cheese and crackers...tiny bite sized things. I was eating to live rather than living to eat! :-) Now and again he would "encourage" me to eat broth.

    Truly, it will pass, just know that for now there doesn't seem to be much you can do about this exhausting side-effect. I decided it was my body telling me it was getting well, and was only expending energy when absolutely necessary! I have no idea if that was true or not, but I convinced myself it was!

    Hugs,
    Claudia

    The Fatigue is the worst.

    You only have one more round of AC to go the worst is almost over. I have been on taxol herceptin weekly ( I get a break on day 22 of the cycle) since 5-27-09 and I have one more cycle ( three infusions) to go of taxol/herceptin and then herceptin for a year. It is much more easier to tolerate than the AC, and you will do fine. In my opinion the effects of taxol are cumulative I feel more tired now after chemo , then I did earier. Love Surf
  • cindy north
    cindy north Member Posts: 9
    #6
    Hello: I have completed 3
    Hello: I have completed 3 0f 4 treatment of Taxol and it has been much easier. The lack of energy continues as well as no taste buds, but the only other side affect has been slight tingling in my hands and some pain in joints and glands. You can do it. It is easier. Blessings, Cindy
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    #7
    Linda........
    My case was a bit different, in that I didn't have Taxol, but I had a "cousin" of Taxol, called Abraxane. While most found Taxol to be easier, I had a very rough time on the Abraxane...aches, pain, lost toe and fingernails, extremely tired.

    I am on Herceptin and have had absolutely no side effects from it.

    I went for a year, where I could not sleep for more than a couple of hours. It was horrible! I tried Ambien, and it had no effect. Finally, if I took Xanax, I could sleep a few hours. Then, I finally got to the point where I can now sleep without meds for 6 or 7 hours. It just took a very long time to get here!

    Hope you feel better soon...

    CR
  • Christmas Girl
    Christmas Girl Member Posts: 3,682 Member
    #8
    Venting is fine with us here...
    Yes, chemo can be quite difficult - which is an understatement. You are certainly now experiencing cumulative side effects. With each treatment - the body attempts to heal. And before it can, there's yet another treatment. This brutal cycle is physically exhausting. Then, of course, there's also the mental and emotional toll. However, once chemo ends - and you will finish, soon - healing can begin in earnest.

    Keep going, keep at it. It does get better. Many of us here can attest to this. Best wishes to you.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #9
    Sorry Linda that chemo has
    Sorry Linda that chemo has been so hard on you, but, as you can see, it treats everyone that way. Just look at how far along you are. Halfway done! That is a huge accomplishment already. Just hang in there and soon it will be over.

    Good luck!
  • cathlinberreth01
    cathlinberreth01 Member Posts: 38
    #10
    you aren't alone
    Hi Linda

    I have only had one round of chemo and I was beat. I get my second one next week and am just now feeling better. And I know I will just get more tired, because they are cumulative.

    I also can't sleep. I have tried 5mg ambien and 10mg ambien and I wake up. My doctor wrote a script for Lunestra? So I will try that next, I guess. Have you told your doctor about your sleeping problems?

    Keep on force feeding yourself. Your appetite WILL come back. You need your strength.

    Congratulations on being 1/2 way done!!!! You are a trooper! And everything you feel is completely NORMAL for what you are going through!
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    #11
    cindy north said:

    Hello: I have completed 3
    Hello: I have completed 3 0f 4 treatment of Taxol and it has been much easier. The lack of energy continues as well as no taste buds, but the only other side affect has been slight tingling in my hands and some pain in joints and glands. You can do it. It is easier. Blessings, Cindy

    Hi Cindy and welcome!
    Hi Cindy and welcome! Congrats on completing 3! Hope your joint pain gets better.

    Hugs,

    Susie
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #12
    cathlinberreth01 said:

    you aren't alone
    Hi Linda

    I have only had one round of chemo and I was beat. I get my second one next week and am just now feeling better. And I know I will just get more tired, because they are cumulative.

    I also can't sleep. I have tried 5mg ambien and 10mg ambien and I wake up. My doctor wrote a script for Lunestra? So I will try that next, I guess. Have you told your doctor about your sleeping problems?

    Keep on force feeding yourself. Your appetite WILL come back. You need your strength.

    Congratulations on being 1/2 way done!!!! You are a trooper! And everything you feel is completely NORMAL for what you are going through!

    I am so sorry Linda. I hope
    I am so sorry Linda. I hope it gets better for you!

    Like they said, you are a real trooper!
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #13
    Kylez said:

    I am so sorry Linda. I hope
    I am so sorry Linda. I hope it gets better for you!

    Like they said, you are a real trooper!

    Just hang in there Linda,
    Just hang in there Linda, soon you will be done.

    And, come and vent when you need to.

    That is why we are here, to support, listen and encourage you.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #14
    cindy north said:

    Hello: I have completed 3
    Hello: I have completed 3 0f 4 treatment of Taxol and it has been much easier. The lack of energy continues as well as no taste buds, but the only other side affect has been slight tingling in my hands and some pain in joints and glands. You can do it. It is easier. Blessings, Cindy

    Congrat Cindy on completing
    Congrat Cindy on completing 3! Only one to go.

    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #15
    taxol
    I was on taxol and herceptin, and i also was exhausted at the 1/2 way mark. I found that walking each morning helped me alot. I lost my appetite for awhile, so i would eat applesauce, oatmeal, water ice, and lots of green tea. Also, the drugs you are taking may be making you tired the next day. I took oxycodone, it just took the edge off, and made me alot calmer,
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #16
    Moopy23 said:

    Halfway Done
    Sorry, Linda, you pretty much describe chemo exactly. Just remember you are halfway through, and everyone has said that taxol and herceptin are much easier.(I had TAC.)

    A/C is the toughest there is. And you're surviving it. Hang in there. And vent when you need to. We all know how you feel.

    Halfway done Linda. Hang in
    Halfway done Linda. Hang in there. We know it is hard, but, you can do it.

    Lex
  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy Member Posts: 549
    #17
    meena1 said:

    taxol
    I was on taxol and herceptin, and i also was exhausted at the 1/2 way mark. I found that walking each morning helped me alot. I lost my appetite for awhile, so i would eat applesauce, oatmeal, water ice, and lots of green tea. Also, the drugs you are taking may be making you tired the next day. I took oxycodone, it just took the edge off, and made me alot calmer,

    Linda-ditto on what the others said...
    Taxol is easier than the first round. None of it's easy, but your half-way there and that's an accomplishment. I took advantage of the time I was given by family to just come home and crash. I was tired all the way through chemo, but I can't handle any kind of drugs well.

    Hang in there. Many of us have been where you are today. We will always remember the weeks of chemo treatments and sitting in that chair for hours on end, and that is why we can tell you that you're going to make it through before you know it and then you will be off and running to enjoy even the most simple insignificant things in life.

    dmc
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #18
    cathlinberreth01 said:

    you aren't alone
    Hi Linda

    I have only had one round of chemo and I was beat. I get my second one next week and am just now feeling better. And I know I will just get more tired, because they are cumulative.

    I also can't sleep. I have tried 5mg ambien and 10mg ambien and I wake up. My doctor wrote a script for Lunestra? So I will try that next, I guess. Have you told your doctor about your sleeping problems?

    Keep on force feeding yourself. Your appetite WILL come back. You need your strength.

    Congratulations on being 1/2 way done!!!! You are a trooper! And everything you feel is completely NORMAL for what you are going through!

    So sorry that you are having
    So sorry that you are having a rough time too cathlinberreth. I hope it gets better for you somehow.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #19
    meena1 said:

    taxol
    I was on taxol and herceptin, and i also was exhausted at the 1/2 way mark. I found that walking each morning helped me alot. I lost my appetite for awhile, so i would eat applesauce, oatmeal, water ice, and lots of green tea. Also, the drugs you are taking may be making you tired the next day. I took oxycodone, it just took the edge off, and made me alot calmer,

    Hey Meena1 and welcome! So,
    Hey Meena1 and welcome! So, are you done with treatment now?
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #20
    cindy north said:

    Hello: I have completed 3
    Hello: I have completed 3 0f 4 treatment of Taxol and it has been much easier. The lack of energy continues as well as no taste buds, but the only other side affect has been slight tingling in my hands and some pain in joints and glands. You can do it. It is easier. Blessings, Cindy

    Hey Cindy and Welcome! You
    Hey Cindy and Welcome! You are almost done! WTG!
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    #21
    Linda
    I'm not going through chemo but I will be half way through Rads Thursday. I was doing great until now....total crash and burn. So I feel for you with the fatigue. All I can say is.....Naps are good! (wise advice passed on to me from a sister survivor!!)
    ♥ Pammy

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