Energy Level At It's Lowest

Faith_
Faith_ Member Posts: 56
in Lymphoma (Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin) #1
Looking for advice....my husband’s energy level is at its lowest. He doesn't sleep through the night, but this is nothing new. He always had problems with sleeping even before being diagnosis with NHL. Now after Chemo, all he wants to do is sleep all day. Yes, I know this is one of the side effects of Chemo. He may be good for just a few hours but that's about it. I make him me every energy juice that I think of plus give him vitamins...but still nothing helps. Can anyone tell me what you do to help increase your energy level??????
Thank you and God Bless.

Comments

  • Michele23
    Michele23 Member Posts: 168
    #2
    energy
    Hi Faith,He really needs to try and move about the house a bit.I know when I first started Treanda/Rituxan all I did was sleep the first couple weeks.That got old fast for me as the more I slept the more tired I became.Sorry I'm not much help.Take care,Michele DX95FNHL3
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #3
    Finished
    When did he finish treatments? Keep in mind that energy levels are going to be compromised for a while. I am not at quite the level you describe, but I'm doing chemo right now. I do know that one minute I'm ok, the next I am ready for bed or really need to sit down.

    When I finished treatments before, it was several months before I had any energy to speak of. I don't think this is something we just bounce back from. You might want to have him check with his oncologist to make sure his blood levels are good.

    Keep in mind everyone is different and we all react diffrerently to various treatments and recover at different speeds.

    Don't worry Faith, you'll come to a new level of normal.

    Take care,
    Beth
  • Christopher_
    Christopher_ Member Posts: 5
    #4
    Energy
    What I find helps me out when I'm feeling low on energy is exercise. Not running a marathon or anything, but I gentle stroll can really make you feel revitalised. I think exercising in the evening would possibly be beneficial too, might help with a more sound sleep.

    Thats just my two cents on the subject, what helps me. Everyone reacts differently to things and I guess it's just trial and error until you can find what helps best.
  • yesyes2
    yesyes2 Member Posts: 591
    #5
    Christopher_ said:

    Energy
    What I find helps me out when I'm feeling low on energy is exercise. Not running a marathon or anything, but I gentle stroll can really make you feel revitalised. I think exercising in the evening would possibly be beneficial too, might help with a more sound sleep.

    Thats just my two cents on the subject, what helps me. Everyone reacts differently to things and I guess it's just trial and error until you can find what helps best.

    Exercise/Walking
    Hi Christopher,

    You are so right. Exercise does make me feel better, have more energy, and is said to reduce depression. That being said I usually don't follow my own advise. When I'm fatigued all I want to do is nothing.

    If I havn't done it already, chemo brain and all, welcome to the CSN. Nice to meet you.

    Leslie
  • allmost60
    allmost60 Member Posts: 3,178 Member
    #6
    yesyes2 said:

    Exercise/Walking
    Hi Christopher,

    You are so right. Exercise does make me feel better, have more energy, and is said to reduce depression. That being said I usually don't follow my own advise. When I'm fatigued all I want to do is nothing.

    If I havn't done it already, chemo brain and all, welcome to the CSN. Nice to meet you.

    Leslie

    Me too..
    Hi Christopher,
    I can't remember if I welcomed you..but just in case I didn't..."WELCOME". For me, just a little exercise can boost my energy enough to kick start my motivation. I don't ever have a day where I do absolutely nothing...I've come close, but so far haven't gotten totally down for the count. Chemo definetely kicks butt and takes numbers. Sue (FNHL-2-3A-6/10)
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #7
    energy levels
    Faith,
    I do not know what stage in treatment your hubby is in,but it will kick you down a little more after each one. I have been out of chemo R-CVP for 7 months and still not 100%. I have just finished my first set of R treatment and I believe that is kicking my butt as well. Nothing like the chemo though. I have been taking different vitamins, Don't know if they really helped or its just my body getting back to normal on its own. I was walking every day but recently I have been have lower leg cramps in the back of mt calf. Don't know what that is. We are all different and react different. So keep that in mind. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)
  • dixiegirl
    dixiegirl Member Posts: 1,043 Member
    #8
    COBRA666 said:

    energy levels
    Faith,
    I do not know what stage in treatment your hubby is in,but it will kick you down a little more after each one. I have been out of chemo R-CVP for 7 months and still not 100%. I have just finished my first set of R treatment and I believe that is kicking my butt as well. Nothing like the chemo though. I have been taking different vitamins, Don't know if they really helped or its just my body getting back to normal on its own. I was walking every day but recently I have been have lower leg cramps in the back of mt calf. Don't know what that is. We are all different and react different. So keep that in mind. John(FNHL-1-4A-5/10)

    Leg Cramps
    That was a side effect of the Vincristine for me John. My onc had me take Magnesium supplements for a while. They did help a little.

    Gradually they went away but I would have thought they would have dissipated for you since you've been out of treatment for awhile now.

    Talk to you later,
    Beth
  • COBRA666
    COBRA666 Member Posts: 2,401 Member
    #9
    dixiegirl said:

    Leg Cramps
    That was a side effect of the Vincristine for me John. My onc had me take Magnesium supplements for a while. They did help a little.

    Gradually they went away but I would have thought they would have dissipated for you since you've been out of treatment for awhile now.

    Talk to you later,
    Beth

    leg cramps
    Beth,
    I don't know what it is. It feels like a charlie horse in the back of my calf. I wonder sometimes if it is because I keep my right leg crossed when on the computer and my knee digs in the muscle. It is in the same spot. When I realize my legs are crossed it to late.I try to keep them straight but tend to forget. John
  • miss maggie
    miss maggie Member Posts: 929
    #10
    dixiegirl said:

    Leg Cramps
    That was a side effect of the Vincristine for me John. My onc had me take Magnesium supplements for a while. They did help a little.

    Gradually they went away but I would have thought they would have dissipated for you since you've been out of treatment for awhile now.

    Talk to you later,
    Beth

    Beth
    Dear Beth,

    I am sound asleep, and get woken up with the most horrible pain just below my right knee.
    It's as if someone took a metal pipe and bashed my right knee. What I do notice, if I sleep on either side of my body and pull my legs up a bit, I don't get the pain. (some what like a fetal position) I miss sleeping on my back, so afraid of the pain.

    Beth, very interesting you mentioning Magnesium supplements. How much do you take? I see
    no harm adding Magnesium to my other supplements.

    Thanks all my love Maggie
  • Faith_
    Faith_ Member Posts: 56
    #11
    Thank you
    His last Chemo treatment was on March 25th. The next one is scheduled for this Wednesday 4/20 for three days (8 hours the first day and two 3 hours infusion). Funny the last 3 days have been really good for him, much more energy and spirits high. Tomorrow another round of Chemo. Thank you everyone for your words of advice. I will incorporate some exercise in his daily routine.

    My thoughts and prayers go out to all of you. I pray that the good Lord Blesses you all and heals you from Cancer. I don’t know any of you personally but feel a connection; you are all truly amazing people.

    God Bless!!!!

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