No bounce back after last chemo

just4Brooks
just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
After my first two chemo treatments I felt sick and was tired but after that first week or so I seemed to bounce back. It seems that this time around I just feel so tired and here it is the Monday before chemo and no feeling of a bounce back. I know that my fluid intake is not what it should be. I never have been good at drinking a lot of fluids. My Labs are tomorrow so maybe that will show something. Anyone else seem to go through this and chemo treatment go?

Comments

  • AnneCan
    AnneCan Member Posts: 3,673 Member
    #2
    Sometimes our bodies just need a rest
    When I went to have my third chemo treatment in this round, I was delayed because my bloodwork wasn't what they wanted. Specifically my nutrofils were too low (.9 & they wanted a minimum of 1.5). I went back 1 1/2 later & my nutofils were 6.0! I got to have my treatment. They told me sometimes our bodies just need a rest. I had noticed that I didn't back from the 2nd treatment as I had from the first, but didn't know why. I have bounced back from my third treatment even better than from the 1st; at least that is what I think; we'll see what the experts say when I go on Friday for treatment #4!
  • butterfly23
    butterfly23 Member Posts: 256
    #3
    Hi
    I was just talking to my mother about this. I still feel tired and nauseus and I am already due for another treatment next week. This is my 3rd treatment, but I did have a break between the 2nd and 3rd because I had some radiation treatments. I am also not very good at drinking fluids, but I am trying this time. I know they say that makes a big difference. I have treatments every 3 weeks but am taking xeloda for 14 days. you're not alone, just when you start to feel o.k. it's time for another treatment!
    Karyn
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #4
    butterfly23 said:

    Hi
    I was just talking to my mother about this. I still feel tired and nauseus and I am already due for another treatment next week. This is my 3rd treatment, but I did have a break between the 2nd and 3rd because I had some radiation treatments. I am also not very good at drinking fluids, but I am trying this time. I know they say that makes a big difference. I have treatments every 3 weeks but am taking xeloda for 14 days. you're not alone, just when you start to feel o.k. it's time for another treatment!
    Karyn

    Karyn, I emailed Doctor
    Ya... I just emailed my doctor about it. Maybe he'll want some extra labs tomorrow? Well wait and see.
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #5
    Hi Brooks
    I can't remember that far back but I will tell you that while there are certain side effects that remain constant, others like energy levels can fluctuate. I've had weeks where I sleep 16 hours a day for 3-4-5 days, other times I'm good with 4 hours a night. I'm similar with the fluid intake, we both should try to drink more (water).
    -phil
    PS: good idea about the labs...
  • just4Brooks
    just4Brooks Member Posts: 980 Member
    #6
    PhillieG said:

    Hi Brooks
    I can't remember that far back but I will tell you that while there are certain side effects that remain constant, others like energy levels can fluctuate. I've had weeks where I sleep 16 hours a day for 3-4-5 days, other times I'm good with 4 hours a night. I'm similar with the fluid intake, we both should try to drink more (water).
    -phil
    PS: good idea about the labs...

    Phill...
    That's what I'm thinking too (energy levels can fluctuate) but being kind of new at this Chemo thing I'd thought I'd ask you guys too. You have lived it and know it more about it on the patient side.
  • luv3jay
    luv3jay Member Posts: 533 Member
    #7
    I've had that happen before
    I've had that happen before also. I ended up having two blood transfusions in the past due to low blood counts. Chemo is really rough and sometimes your body just needs extra! Extra fluids, blood...rest...etc...just extra! Hopefully, your labs will come back good tomorrow. Good luck.

    -Sheri
  • coloCan
    coloCan Member Posts: 1,944 Member
    #8
    chemo
    Don;t forget, you.re probablystarting off this round much weaker than you were previously and this must have its impact as well as the cumulative affect of all the prior chemo. Steve
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #9
    Treatments
    The more treatments I had the less bounce back I got and then there was no bounce back at all. Not everyone experiences this though so just do what your body tells you. If you feel tired, take that nap and yes drink lots of water (or other liquid) as that will boost your energy level. I got to treatment 5 and then had to take the neuopgen shots and ended up every three weeks as my counts weren't coming up fast enough. Good luck with your treatment.

    Kim
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    #10
    I crashed after my 2nd and
    I crashed after my 2nd and doctor lowered my dosage a bit. Also, my potassium was too low and getting that back up helped so much. Ask about your potassium level. That is in with the liver panel tube so is sent out at most offices. It took a full day for me to get those results back.

    CANCER is not fun
  • Shayenne
    Shayenne Member Posts: 2,342
    #11
    dianetavegia said:

    I crashed after my 2nd and
    I crashed after my 2nd and doctor lowered my dosage a bit. Also, my potassium was too low and getting that back up helped so much. Ask about your potassium level. That is in with the liver panel tube so is sent out at most offices. It took a full day for me to get those results back.

    CANCER is not fun

    I was...
    Like Luv3Jay, I have had treatments where I didn't bounce back, but I am anemic as well, and also needed blood transfusions, which honestly did make me bounce right back after getting it, I would get unhooked from the chemo on Friday, and didn't feel the need to rest, I actually felt good, iron counts were low.

    One time my legs were very antsy, it didn't hurt, they were just annoying, felt itchy under the skin, and that's where the onc ordered 4 units of potassium! my legs have been feeling fine since, all this happened after around the 4th or 6th treatments as well.

    Hope you feel better soon Brooks! they will replenish you on what you're low of :)

    Hugsss!
    ~Donna
  • grammadebbie
    grammadebbie Member Posts: 464
    #12
    Dear Brooks,

    I've been done with my chemo a long time but i remember the cumulative effect it had. I just got more and more tired. Sometimes I couldn't even lift my fork to my mouth. It sounds funny now but I would just look at my fork and my food and think How am I going to pick that up. I feel like I slept for about 6 months. I did have to delay some of my treatments due to blood counts etc. My doctors told me to listen to my body and rest. I wasn't allowed to exercise because I was so exhausted. Please don't beat yourself up. Rest when you need to and get up and go when you can. I'll be praying for you.

    Blessings to you,

    Debbie (gramma)
  • Holdtight
    Holdtight Member Posts: 151
    #13
    just4Brooks said:

    Phill...
    That's what I'm thinking too (energy levels can fluctuate) but being kind of new at this Chemo thing I'd thought I'd ask you guys too. You have lived it and know it more about it on the patient side.

    HI!
    Thanks for asking that question - that is where I am right now. I am tired during my treatments and than after I'm unsure if it's due to not being as active as I was very active 5 mos ago and have been sitting around since I left my job in July following docs orders. I've been told that if you walk the week before treatment it helps so I have started walking a 1 1/2 mile walk each day now before I go into my 4th. I am really going to test myself and see if I can get up at 7:00-7:30 instead of 9:00 to see if I;m able to go back to work in a couple weeks. From what I'm hearing though it does get exhausting further in I guess I'll need to go to bed earlier instead of 10:00. Most nights lately I have to sleep 12 hours and drag myself out of bed. I only needed 6,7,8 hours before the chemo treatments so yes I do feel a difference and I think the only way around especially if you need to work is get to bed earlier. I don't know yet but I think it's getting harder and I need to figure out how I'm going to work. I hope this was encouraging in some way for you.
  • daydreamer110761
    daydreamer110761 Member Posts: 487 Member
    #14
    grammadebbie said:

    Dear Brooks,

    I've been done with my chemo a long time but i remember the cumulative effect it had. I just got more and more tired. Sometimes I couldn't even lift my fork to my mouth. It sounds funny now but I would just look at my fork and my food and think How am I going to pick that up. I feel like I slept for about 6 months. I did have to delay some of my treatments due to blood counts etc. My doctors told me to listen to my body and rest. I wasn't allowed to exercise because I was so exhausted. Please don't beat yourself up. Rest when you need to and get up and go when you can. I'll be praying for you.

    Blessings to you,

    Debbie (gramma)

    I can remember
    Being exhausted, but I worked through the whole treatment. I went to bed a little earlier, got up at 6:30 and worked from 7-noonish, by 2 I was napping. I am also bad about drinking fluids, but found out that if i forced myself I felt a little better. I was lucky enough to have an understanding boss so if I was late or needed to leave early they all worked with me. I found that at least by working I didn't spend as much time thinking about what was wrong, it kept my mind busy, and I had a reason to get up.
  • GOOFYLADIE
    GOOFYLADIE Member Posts: 232 Member
    #15
    Hi Brooks
    I am sorry to hereyou have no bounce back. It was years ago, but I remember it like yesterday, I was exhausted. It was a huge effort just to get up to make it to the bathroom. Much less, get a glass to my mouth for a sip of water which tasted like minerals and metal. I drank Orange drink, and Coca Cola. Orange Powerade worked pretty good too. Green Tea with organic Honey when I did drink. I was blasted every 7 days I spent 4 days in the hospital out for 3 days on the 5th and 6th day I just started to feel ok and then day seven I was good. Then the new week started chemo again sucked but I am here cancer free. I didn't ever sleep much, but my recliner was my new best friend. Play cards with the kids, cross word puzzles, boaard games things we usually kind of push aside. Hope this helps.Make it a Great Day!! Goofyladie (Cass)

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