Nonscientific Fatigue Survey

peverson

For those of you who had surgery, chemo, and rads, how long did the the faigue last after radiation? I'm there right now and wondering about the experiences of those ahead of me!

 Patsy

changes

Patsy - I had surgery and rads, but no chemo, so my info may not apply to you. I finished radiation on August 26. My energy is just starting to return. It has gotten better by very small increments.

mom3band1g

I didn't hvae chemo either but finished rads the beginning of July.  It took a good 6-8 weeks after I was done to not feel like a zombie and it was a slow process.  I struggle now with being very tired at night....like 9 pm and I'm ready (really ready) for bed.  Is this still rads or is this just me?  I was 39 at diagnosis and am 40 now.  I do have 4 young kids so that could be it...  I just want to be able to stay up later than my 6th grader so I can talk to my husband!

BarbaraA

I had no chemo and finished rads 7/9. I was feeling back to 'normal' energy-wise around the first week of August. I am 58. I think they key is to exercise every day at least 15 minutes.

BocaCiegaBabe

I'm interested to read everyone's responses.  

I had no chemo either, and just finished rads Oct 18, so perhaps it's too soon to be expecting to feel great...but just a little more pep...is that asking too much?  LOL  Last night I felt like a total zombie by 7 PM!  My husband and I were wondering aloud how long this would last, and I was quietly wondering to myself if it was all in my mind!

Claire_in_Seattle

I finished radiation on June 8, and was dragging for about 3.5 weeks after that.  I still did a lot of exercise as I was training for the Seattle-to-Portland Bicycle classic (200 miles over 2 days), but I was definitely feeling the effects.  The bulk of the tiredness lifted overnight.  I am ascribing it to the lavender-chocolate macaroons I ate.  No lie.

I dragged myself through a 30 mile training on Friday, did a leisurely Three Rose Gardens ride on Saturday with a stop for macaroons, and on Sunday, July 4th did a 35 mile ride on the Cedar River Trail and felt great afterwards.

This was just in time for the STP which was two weeks later.  I needed extra energy potions, but I did it.

Having said this, I am still gaining energy in minor increments.  Just noticed in the past couple of weeks that I want to do a lot more "stuff".  I was also able to keep up with a faster group of cyclists yesterday.

I do think that all the exercise helped me get back on track a lot faster. 

Post radiation, I wasn't in bed by 7, but I did want 9-10 hours of sleep most nights.  Your body needs it to heal.....also more protein than normal.  (Although I favored tea with a "little something" late afternoon.)

NatureGrrl

I was told that fatigue for a year or longer isn't unusual.  I'm about 8 months out from the end of rads and still have some fatigue (evenings I can't count on getting anything done, and if I don't get enough sleep at night -- 9 hours or so -- I feel like heck the next day).  But I've been seeing steady, very slow improvement -- 6 months ago I was taking 2-3 hour naps every afternoon and now if I take a nap it's usually just 20 minutes.

Exercise helps me, eating well helps, and being gentle and patient with myself has been important.

Everyone is different, our bodies are different, the exact treatment, how much we were able to exercise during treatment, age, what else is going on in your life (kids, work, etc), everything, can make a difference.

If you're ever concerned about fatigue -- if it feels like it isn't getting slowly better after a few months -- it's always worthwhile to talk with your dr. and see if there are other things that may be impacting you, like thryroid issues, etc. 

Overall, although I wish I felt better, I know I feel a lot better than 6 months ago and I'm going in the right direction, so I'm grateful!

Drim

I finished rads on Sept 24th (had a lumpectomy in March and finished TCx4 on July 13th, still on herceptin) and I started to feel the fatigue/tiredness a couple of weeks ago. I'm 44, no kids, and I work full time/overtime. I think Barbara has a good point about exercising. I've been pretty bad with that. I'm not a napper at all but yesterday after a very long week I could not get out of bed to do anything by mid-afternoon. Not feeling like do much at the moment either. I'm hoping I can attribute this to the healing that is going on. I did read to expect to feel fatigue for at least a couple of months afterward.

peverson

Thanks for all of your responses! I'm feeling pretty ragged right now, physically and emotionally. I'm not a napper (though I wish I were) so when I feel tired, I just rest. I do get exercise every day, nothing like Claire in Seattle (wow!), but do walk a couple of miles or so. I've had a tough 18 months or so. My last rads were October 18, and I know that I need to be patient and gentle with myself. But I do so want to have a sense of well-being and be well. Right now, it still seems kind of illusive.

Patsy

ruthbru

I did chemo, and was SO HAPPY to be going to the radiation side of the clinic instead of the infusion side, that I actually felt a lot MORE energy than I had during the chemo phase. Do keep walking and getting some exercise; it will make your recovery  (physically and mentally) go much smoother. I read somewhere that as long as your treatment was, you can expect it will take that long again to feel 'normal'. I think it is about double that time myself. But it will get better; hang in there! Ruth