Energy back after rads--please post your suggestions/experience

Chicago1958

Hi everyone. I finished radiation on Monday and had a pretty smooth experience (thank you to the February 2012 Radiation Gals posters for their companionship!).

Fatigue was an issue, though. And now I'm starting a new full-time job next week, after 22 years of self-employment. (We're also getting ready to move from the house we've lived in those 22 years, by May 1 if all goes well.)

The new job is primarily home-based but I just learned I'll be going in to the office, an hour and a half away, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday of next week. It's with my favorite client, so I'm not stressed about the work--in fact, I'm looking forward to it--but I sure don't want to be bleary-eyed and fuzzy-headed by early afternoon if I can help it!

So I thought I'd ask for advice about how a generally healthy, kinda fit, 54-year-old might get her energy back asap. Exercise? Food? Rest? Supplements?

I'm open to learn; bring it on! and thanks in advance.

changes

Congratulations on being finished with radiation. Protein is pretty critical to getting energy back after radiation. And "budget" your energy - don't waste it on things that aren't important, at least not until you are feeling better.

Moderators

The main Breastcancer.org site has lot of information about fatigue and how to deal with it. You might want to start with this section called Ways to Manage Fatigue that links to more on strategies for eating, exercise, medications, and complementary/holistic approaches.

Best wishes on your new job!

elimar86861

Totally agree about the protein.  Your body is working hard to rebuild the damage from the rads.  Also, drink lots of water.  Vitamin B-12 always gives me an energy boost.  If you are working at home and do feel tired, see if a 20-min. "power nap" will do the trick; or maybe go for a 20-30 min. walk if that is something that refreshes you.

Do you normally get good rest at night or not?  If not, I have been supplementing with Calcium, Magnesium, and Vit. D3 for a couple years now and am finally getting the best sleep I have had in the last 30 years!   I cannot recommend those supplements highly enough now.

The fatigue has a lot to do with your fitness going in to treatment.  Everyone is different.  It took me about 6 mos. to be able to say the rads fatigue was totally gone.  

As far as the move, try and get all the help you can, at least for the heavy labor.  Not only will it wear you out, but you still should not be lifting heavy boxes or furniture.  Good Luck!

Shirlann

Hi sister, you should recover rapidly, but all bodies are different.  Try a supplement called D3, a good B Complex, and 1000mg of C.  Maybe you could snag a reasonable hotel/motel for those 3 days for a few weeks?  All alone, just Vegetate!

Gentle hugs, Shirlann 

ruthbru

Moderate exercise will actually help minimize the fatigue.

Chicago1958

Thanks to all for the suggestions, including the link!

Very good point about protein, Changes and Elimar; I know I tend to fall short in that area. Water too--I'll keep a glass nearby. I will check into the vitamins. I thought about getting a hotel for Thursday night too, Shirlann, and I may do that. Most weeks I'll only have to go in to the office for meetings on Tuesdays.

Exercise has been more complicated than I expected, Ruthbru. I was a regular Pilates/treadmill type but my first few classes after rads started left me feeling completely worn out. So I scaled back to yoga. A couple of one-on-one classes with someone who specializes in "breast cancer yoga" were wonderful, but too expensive for the long term. In the group yoga class, the lowest level class they offered, my muscles shook wildly in what would ordinarily be an easy pose for me. It was a question of listening to your body or pushing your way through and I opted for the former -- have just been walking since then.

(The RO, by the way, said I should eat more when that happens and that candy would be best. I really like and respect him, but was reluctant to take in more sugar...)

I know there are exercise threads in the forum and I'll check them out.

Thanks again for the tips and encouragement!

ruthbru

Check out the 'Lets Post Our Daily Exercise' thread. A great, positive group of ladies in all stages of treatment and beyond.

Carrye

I finished rads two weeks ago. I have been thrilled by how fast my breast is healing. But i get sudden urges to sleep. Will try incresding protein. I am exercising.

bak94

Great suggestiona! I also just finished rads. I go to an exercise doctor (physiatry dr. that specializes in cancer rehab)  and he says it is just as important not to over do it as it is to not exercise, so I agree the the advice of listen to your body and not "push" through it when you are healing, but to make sure to exercise. He told me if my 30 minute walk (treadmill) is too much right now to break it up into 3 10 minute walks instead. Of course you can't do that with a yoga class.

pheno

There is a "Breast Cancer for Yoga" DVD available on Amazon.  It's slow paced and easy to follow. 

itsjustme10

What I've found is that I'm less tired on the days I go to the gym - on the days I don't, I end up needing a nap, on the days I work out, I don't.

sundermom

I feel 100% better after I started drinking a protein shake everyday. I drink an organic vanilla-flavored whey protein mix. It's delicious! I also think it helps with weight maintenance since it makes you feel full for longer an cabs.

Chicago1958

Thanks so much for the recommendations! Itsjustme, if you come back to this thread, I'd be interested in hearing about your workout. Do you do what you did before treatment? or have you modified it?

The DVD sounds like my one-on-one instructor, Pheno--with the emphasis on restoration and relaxation. I'm going to order it. I thought about ordering a protein shake mix too--sounds great--but there are so many choices. Is there one you'd recommend Sundermom?

And Bak94 (hello February rads Bak!), I'm glad to know your specialist recommends listening to your body. The yoga instructor in the group class did tell me to just lie there for moves that were too much, so I could break the effort up that way... but maybe I'll use the DVD for a while instead.

In general, I'm feeling much better, much clearer-headed, even though I have a cold--so I'm optimistic for next week. Carrye, I know what you mean by "sudden urges to sleep." That's exactly what I was feeling but I haven't for a couple of days. I hope it clears up for you too.

Thanks again to everyone who posted.

itsjustme10

Hi Chicago - because I still have the TE's in, and my plastic surgeon was still telling me no weights, I did modify it greatly.  Right now, I'm only doing the recumbant bike (but any cardio machine would do), and I recently added what I call a "hand bike".  Bascially, you pedal with your arms.  My gym has a PT group attached to it, so I was lucky that they have this machine - a lot of gyms don't.  I luckily had no problems after my BMX except for some numbness on the back of my arm, that is apparently a very common thing.  As the nerves regenerate, they were making my arm tingle, and just the motion and low resistence of the hand bike stops that.  I'm hoping my arms won't feel so fat and jiggly, eventually, too.

 Prior to all this mess, I used to do cardio plus some of the weight machines, so it has forced me to modify things. Better safe than sorry, though.

YogaLady

Hi ladies, thank you for allowing me to post.  My name is Kate, and I created the video referenced, "Yoga for Breast Cancer".  I created it for my mom who lived for 23 years with metastasized cancer, and wanted to alleviate her symptoms and give her calm and healing energy.  Based on the success of the first video, we have donated over 1000 videos to the PA Breast Cancer Coalition and other charities, and were able to produce "Healing Yoga for Cancer", which is more of a beginner video and excellent for low energy days and for anyone in active treatment or with limited range of movement,  I would love to send anyone on this message board a free video of either DVD, in hopes that you will find it helpful and healing.  If you'd like a free video, just shoot me an email at info@yogaforcancer.com and include your address and the video you would like mailed.  I wish you all blessings on your healing journey!

 Namaste,

Kate

pheno

Hi, Kate,

I love your DVD. I tried it initially for range of motion, and I keep using it -- it's great for relaxing in the evening.  Thanks for making it!

mlm445

Hi Kate, 

I just sent my address to you. I would love to try the beginer video. thank you so much for offering this to us.

Marcy  

mlm445

Hi Chicago...nice to see you here! 

Chicago1958

(HI Mim! You too!)

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions to my original post -- thanks!

And here's an update -- the cold I mentioned above turned into the worst chest/head/fever virus I've ever had. (Low immune system from radiation, I guess?) I started the job anyway (what else can you do?) and have been hanging on by my fingernails ever since. I did get the protein shakes and have to believe they're helping, thanks again, Sundermom -- I got a powder that sounds like what you use.

The coughing is almost over, so things are looking up. I do my very mild yoga routine in the morning (it's from a book called A Morning Cup of Yoga, by Jane Goad Trechsel) and some walking but that's about it. In two weeks we'll be moved, and I'll check out the daily exercise thread.

And thanks for your generous offer, YogaLady! You'll be hearing from me! Hope I'm not too late...