Feeling tired and exhausted

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tequilasun48
tequilasun48 Member Posts: 3
in Colorectal Cancer #1

 

Hi in December 2006 I was diagnosed with having a tumor in my tear duct and my doctor ordered a CT and PET scan which revealed I also had a very large tumor in my colon but i had no symptoms so I was operated the first week of January 2007 on my tear duct and in the first week of February I had surgery to remove the tumor from my Colon. 

A few weeks later I began getting radiation therapy for my tear duct every day for a month and when I finished the radiation I started the Chemo every week for 7 months when I finished the Chemo the depression started but I could work and have a pretty normal life but as time went by I have become progressively more depressed and I have aches and pains all over my body specially my back,wrist,legs,and feet to the point that it's becoming difficult for me to keep a steady job I try but it is becoming worse ( I'm an electrician ) and I'm 55 years old I have begun seeing a psychiatrist and she diagnosed me with extremely severe depression.

Please help I'm wondering if what I feel is normal and is anyone else going through this ?

 

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  • Trubrit
    Trubrit Member Posts: 5,796 Member
    #2
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    Normal

    I would say that it sounds like your normal.  I know others who suffer from depression also, and for them, that is normal. But is it normal? I don't know. 

    One thing that I have found during treatment and thereafter, is that the foods I eat really make a difference to how my body and emotions work.  There are definitely foods that I can no longer tolerate. They cause problems like joint pain, bloating, weight gain. 

    While working with your Doctor for your depression, I would suggest that maybe you keep a food journal, and see if any of your physical symptoms and maybe even emotional ones, can be correlated with the foods that you eat. 

    The foods that set my joints off are whole wheat flour, excessive sugars, excessive salts.  

    Definitely keep away from the processed foods. They aren't healthy, period. 

    Just ideas. 

    I do so hope that you are able to find something that helps you lead a more joyous life. It is a wonder to beat Cancer, especially two seperate kinds, and you deserve to live a happy life. 

    Welcome to the forum.  I know there are others here who suffer from the depression. They will be along soon and can help you even more than I. 

    TRU

  • tequilasun48
    tequilasun48 Member Posts: 3
    #3
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    Trubrit said:

    Normal

    I would say that it sounds like your normal.  I know others who suffer from depression also, and for them, that is normal. But is it normal? I don't know. 

    One thing that I have found during treatment and thereafter, is that the foods I eat really make a difference to how my body and emotions work.  There are definitely foods that I can no longer tolerate. They cause problems like joint pain, bloating, weight gain. 

    While working with your Doctor for your depression, I would suggest that maybe you keep a food journal, and see if any of your physical symptoms and maybe even emotional ones, can be correlated with the foods that you eat. 

    The foods that set my joints off are whole wheat flour, excessive sugars, excessive salts.  

    Definitely keep away from the processed foods. They aren't healthy, period. 

    Just ideas. 

    I do so hope that you are able to find something that helps you lead a more joyous life. It is a wonder to beat Cancer, especially two seperate kinds, and you deserve to live a happy life. 

    Welcome to the forum.  I know there are others here who suffer from the depression. They will be along soon and can help you even more than I. 

    TRU

    Thank you

    thank you for the advise it very much appreciate. 

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    edited February 2017 #4
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    Could be lots of different

    Could be lots of different things going on. You had surgery 10 years ago, some radiation, and a lot of chemo. My first surgery was Sep. 7 07, nine years ago, then six months of chemo, I'm 58 now. Going from 45 to 55 without the cancer and treatment, you'd still be dealing with getting older and achy, of course. The treatments could have changed you, and/or the trauma that goes with all this, may have affected your ability to enjoy life, it did mine. I'm not sure I haven't developed some form of PTSD through all this stuff [and losing my wife along the way]. If your psychiatrist is calling it severe deppression, what is she suggesting? Some respond well to ssri antidepressants, if the problem is chemical changes in the brain, which enough chemo and radiation could certainly affect. There were and are times I think "what's the point" and don't get things done, my energies half of what it was. I'm feeling better, bit by bit, as time goes on, but who knows what level I'll get back to. You may have to fight this on more than one front, finding an anti-depressant that works for you, finding something that sustains some interest and joy for you. When I can do nothing else I walk, some here meditate, some write books about their journey. Your going to have to cast about for whatever can elevate you, people can suggest things, but you'll have to grab ahold of what may help. Good luck with that, we here have been through enough crap, as have you, and are deserving of what happiness and serenity we can get ahold of.....................................Dave

  • beaumontdave
    beaumontdave Member Posts: 1,280 Member
    #5
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    beaumontdave said:

    Could be lots of different

    Could be lots of different things going on. You had surgery 10 years ago, some radiation, and a lot of chemo. My first surgery was Sep. 7 07, nine years ago, then six months of chemo, I'm 58 now. Going from 45 to 55 without the cancer and treatment, you'd still be dealing with getting older and achy, of course. The treatments could have changed you, and/or the trauma that goes with all this, may have affected your ability to enjoy life, it did mine. I'm not sure I haven't developed some form of PTSD through all this stuff [and losing my wife along the way]. If your psychiatrist is calling it severe deppression, what is she suggesting? Some respond well to ssri antidepressants, if the problem is chemical changes in the brain, which enough chemo and radiation could certainly affect. There were and are times I think "what's the point" and don't get things done, my energies half of what it was. I'm feeling better, bit by bit, as time goes on, but who knows what level I'll get back to. You may have to fight this on more than one front, finding an anti-depressant that works for you, finding something that sustains some interest and joy for you. When I can do nothing else I walk, some here meditate, some write books about their journey. Your going to have to cast about for whatever can elevate you, people can suggest things, but you'll have to grab ahold of what may help. Good luck with that, we here have been through enough crap, as have you, and are deserving of what happiness and serenity we can get ahold of.....................................Dave

    One other thing, you didn't

    One other thing, you didn't mention what kind of electrical work your doing, but I've known some guys that really have to bust their **** to get the job done. If your killing yourself to make a living, or if you feel beat up at the end of every day, you might have to find something less stressful. I don't think I could do a hard, full day job, every day. I'm fortunate enough to work for myself, which allows a slower pace, especially important for my 88yo feet.............................Dave

  • tequilasun48
    tequilasun48 Member Posts: 3
    #6
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    Hello Dave,

    Thanks for your input I see your going through some of the same things, at the end of all the treatment my then wife she is now my ex started saying I was going crazy ( a woman that never even met the doctors because she never went with me to the treatments ) so I got divorce. 

    I'm a commercial electrician and I usually work 10 hour days 6 days a week something that has become very difficult for me I just am not the same person I was before I got sick I am 55 years old now .

  • mozart13
    mozart13 Member Posts: 118
    edited February 2017 #7
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    Long hours

    Sorry to hear about your marriage, but life goes on. Like you noticed, long hours are getting to you, try to spend more time with yourself for yourself, I know it is easy to say.

    Maybe less hours at work, if possible, some community activity might help, being alone is not an option, sitting home is not good idea, maybe some kind of hobby, maybe something thay you like when you were young.

    I am going through simillar proccess, 56 in month, always active, swimming, skiing,etc.

    Could retire, but want to stay active and working, thinking about going back to school, lucky to have familly support, but this sitting at home would kill me, just finished my treatment, will go for surgery soon, trying to come up with some kind of plan what to do with my self.

    Good luck to you!

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