energy level

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nanagrandma
nanagrandma Member Posts: 40
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I finished my chemo last may which is about 10 months ago,I still get very tired at times and was wondering if it is normal. I told my doctor about it last week and he said to try vitamins.He said with the chemo and radiation it took a toll on my body and it still needs to build itself up. The reason i am asking is at work today had a meeting with my superviser and they want to know if there is anything they can do to make so i can do more work,we have an amount of orders we are suppose to pick a day and im not able to do that now.It upsets me cause I try really hard but dont get any where. Any feedback will be appreciated thank you.

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  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #2
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    Energy level
    Hi Nana. It took me a long time to get energy back, and I suppose my body will never be the same as before. I did get a prescription for physical therapy to learn appropriate exercises to build myself back up. I was so weak a year after my chemo, my friends 12 year old daughter could beat me armwrestling. I take a multivitamin every day, and try to walk at least 4 days a week, it takes some of us a long time after multiple surgeries and treatments to come back, it won't happen overnight, it is a gradual process. Try to get good sleep, eat high energy foods, and get some type of exercise, believe it or not, even though you feel so tired, the exercise will help revitalise you. Your supervisors should be made aware that you are still recovering from your ordeal, that even though it has been 10 months, it takes some people much longer to regain some degree of energy and strength. I hope they understand and don't push you too hard, stress is an energy drainer!
    Pam
  • nanagrandma
    nanagrandma Member Posts: 40
    #3
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    PamPam2 said:

    Energy level
    Hi Nana. It took me a long time to get energy back, and I suppose my body will never be the same as before. I did get a prescription for physical therapy to learn appropriate exercises to build myself back up. I was so weak a year after my chemo, my friends 12 year old daughter could beat me armwrestling. I take a multivitamin every day, and try to walk at least 4 days a week, it takes some of us a long time after multiple surgeries and treatments to come back, it won't happen overnight, it is a gradual process. Try to get good sleep, eat high energy foods, and get some type of exercise, believe it or not, even though you feel so tired, the exercise will help revitalise you. Your supervisors should be made aware that you are still recovering from your ordeal, that even though it has been 10 months, it takes some people much longer to regain some degree of energy and strength. I hope they understand and don't push you too hard, stress is an energy drainer!
    Pam

    thank you
    thanks for your input i just told my husband we had to start walking,that will be a start.Thanks again.
    Barb
  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #4
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    fatigue
    I could have written your post 1 year after chemo ended, and I only had 5FU and leucovorin. I felt so discouraged, thinking I should have bounced back after all that time. The good news is that, while it took over a year, I did get back to my former energy level. I feel pretty much as good as ever now.
    Pam's advice about exercise is important. Going back to the gym for twice a week workouts is part of what helped turn it around for me. Listen to your body, though; I found a short nap right after work helped, in addition to a long and good night's sleep. Eating a few small healthy snacks/meals during the day was good, too, and be sure to stay well hydrated. Take care of yourself; you have been in the fight of your life. Best of luck, Judy
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #5
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    jsabol said:

    fatigue
    I could have written your post 1 year after chemo ended, and I only had 5FU and leucovorin. I felt so discouraged, thinking I should have bounced back after all that time. The good news is that, while it took over a year, I did get back to my former energy level. I feel pretty much as good as ever now.
    Pam's advice about exercise is important. Going back to the gym for twice a week workouts is part of what helped turn it around for me. Listen to your body, though; I found a short nap right after work helped, in addition to a long and good night's sleep. Eating a few small healthy snacks/meals during the day was good, too, and be sure to stay well hydrated. Take care of yourself; you have been in the fight of your life. Best of luck, Judy

    Careful.......
    I hope that doesn't sound as if your boss is setting you up to lay you off ...I certainly hope not...Don't make or sign any thing that might commit you to a certain amount of product which could pin you to meet when you may not be able to. I hope that I am way out here but there are supervisors that will pull this type of stuff to avoid paying sick leave or other benefits. Be careful .. other than that it will take about 6-9 months for the chemo to totally leave your body. Walking did/does help me feel a lot better and cutting tree limbns and trees after the storm in Ky is getting my stamina really built up quickly...Hang in there but take extra good care of #1 and that would be you.....God Bless ya Hun
  • johnnybegood
    johnnybegood Member Posts: 1,117 Member
    #6
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    Buzzard said:

    Careful.......
    I hope that doesn't sound as if your boss is setting you up to lay you off ...I certainly hope not...Don't make or sign any thing that might commit you to a certain amount of product which could pin you to meet when you may not be able to. I hope that I am way out here but there are supervisors that will pull this type of stuff to avoid paying sick leave or other benefits. Be careful .. other than that it will take about 6-9 months for the chemo to totally leave your body. Walking did/does help me feel a lot better and cutting tree limbns and trees after the storm in Ky is getting my stamina really built up quickly...Hang in there but take extra good care of #1 and that would be you.....God Bless ya Hun

    hey Buz
    hope you are fine im doin a little better now.its been 5 days since i was unhooked.cant help but notice you said you are in ky so am i.had a surgen in louisville cause thats where my local surgen referred me.nice to know even though we are all far apart but yet we feel so close because of the big C.but some of us are closer to others than we think.hope you have a good day spring is on its way!!!!Godbless.....johnnybegood
  • ldot123
    ldot123 Member Posts: 272
    #7
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    johnnybegood said:

    hey Buz
    hope you are fine im doin a little better now.its been 5 days since i was unhooked.cant help but notice you said you are in ky so am i.had a surgen in louisville cause thats where my local surgen referred me.nice to know even though we are all far apart but yet we feel so close because of the big C.but some of us are closer to others than we think.hope you have a good day spring is on its way!!!!Godbless.....johnnybegood

    It took me a year
    Hi there,
    It took me a good year or so to start feeling like I had energy. I tended to pace myself at work and made sure I went to bed in good time. Believe it or not, gentle exercise like walking can really help. (Even though you may not feel like doing it) Start out slow, just go around the block and add a bit each time you go out. It will get better.

    Cheers, Lance
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #8
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    johnnybegood said:

    hey Buz
    hope you are fine im doin a little better now.its been 5 days since i was unhooked.cant help but notice you said you are in ky so am i.had a surgen in louisville cause thats where my local surgen referred me.nice to know even though we are all far apart but yet we feel so close because of the big C.but some of us are closer to others than we think.hope you have a good day spring is on its way!!!!Godbless.....johnnybegood

    It gets better every day
    Every day you are off the pump it gets better...Yep Louisville is about 4 hrs from me...Yes the spring days are here and man its beautiful outside....Johhny, have you noticed that when you go out now that you notice a lot more of whats around you ? If you haven't noticed maybe now you will, I think this gets us to thinking about the little things we take for granted so much and how we use to just let it slide by. I not only notice the grass and flowers and birds but the detail in each now, kind of like time is pressing me to see it all. Man, when you look around and really "see" things its funny how you missed it for so long....Have a great day bud and God Bless ya...
  • PhillieG
    PhillieG Member Posts: 4,866 Member
    #9
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    Energy Level
    Hi NanaG,
    I know what you mean with being tired. I have found that many times when I get out and take walks, or kayak, it actually gives me more energy overall. I'm sorry that your supervisor is on your case about doing more work. Too bad they can't walk in your shoes for a little bit, then they might be amazed at how well you have done. Just try to do your best and if you can get out for some nice walks you may be surprised at how well you feel.
    -phil

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