How long after radiation before I should feel O.K.?

Kellw3boys

Hi,

I have been reading this board for about 6 months but have never posted.  I started this road last March with surgery, then chemo, and radiation.  Still having Herceptin till June 2014 and now on hormone replacement.  Here is my question, When should I start feeling less tired?  I finished radiation over a month ago but now feel so fatigued all the time.  I was feeling like myself after chemo but after radiation, I just can't seem to bounce back.  Any thoughts or advice would really help.

Thanks,

kwing514

I just finished my radiation on Christmas Eve and am wondering the same thing. My Rad Onc said it would probably be at least 2 months before I start feeling myself again. I'm finding it hard to judge how much is too much. I feel fine some mornings and jump right into chores then the that afternoon and into the next day I am totally zapped.

Good Luck

Hortense

It just takes time. You have been through a lot. 

I finished chemo in July 2010 and radiation in October 2010. My onco doctor told me that I would be feeling much stronger by February 2013, however that didn't happen. Though getting stronger, I was still not myself in April. By May, I wondered if I would ever regain energy and, frankly, my looks, but by summer I realized that without being aware I was much, much better. I also had lost that "grey" look. My skin was looking far healthier and I no longer looked as old as I had been looking which was wonderful. 

Things will improve, it simply takes longer than the doctors tell us.

Kellw3boys

Thank you for your response.  I guess it is just going to take time.

ziggypop

Hey Kell - The fatigue can take a while. I tend to think that it's also in part emotional - we push ourselves a lot during treatment (physically) and it's afterward (it seems to me anyway) that what we've just been through kind of 'hits' us. Try to do some mild exercise every day - just walking may be best. Also - ask your onc to check your vit D and B12 levels. 

cookiegal

I was beat after rads. It is a gradual recovery. I kind of measured it by how much of the bathroom I could clean.

I would say 3 weeks out I was 75 percent back, but that last 25 percent took a bit.