Fatigue prior to treatment?

dchavy

Have any of you experienced a significant level of fatigue prior to diagnosis and/or treatment?  Looking back on the last year or so, the common theme for me seems to be how tired I always am.  I have chalked it up to being a busy, single mom, but that is not new.  I have struggled with finishing the "little things" around the house that were never an issue before.  I have declined invitations and cancelled plans much more regularly than I ever did before.  I much prefer to be home relaxing or sleeping and am wondering now if the growing cancer has anything to do with this. 

Of course, now that I've been diagnosed, every little pain, every little oddity and my thoughts automatically go to the cancer that I imagine is shooting out of my tumor to every part of my body.  I am admittedly not the most rational right now.

fifthyear

I did. Extreme fatigue for months prior to being diagnosed. Once the tumor was removed, no more fatigue. Could be the body uses everything it has to fight the cancer.

dchavy

fifthyear: thank you for sharing.  glad to know I'm not completely losing it.

Js5

dchavy,

I was wondering the same thing.... For the past six months, I have been so tired. Would drop kids off at school and then come home and go back to bed for most of the morning. Now with diagnosis, I have even less motivation. I just can't seem to work on my "to do" pile effectively. I try to get things done but also try to relax and spend some time with kids since they are home for summer. It is nice to hear that others feel this too. Now, what can we do about it? .

bride

dchavy,

I, on the other hand, felt perfectly fine until my treatment began. It may be because of different types or stages of BC. I can say that each of us will probably experience some of the same things but each of us also has an unique experience. In others words, if it something you know you've experienced, it's true. Even if no one else felt fatigued, you did and it's part of your unique BC experience. Please don't question your sanity, you know your body. And the is no norm for BC.

bride

Nagoskwe

I began to notice an in crease in fatigue about 3 months before diagnosis, but chalked it up to the fact that my son was looking at possibly having another transplant and was not doing well. Spent a lot of time back and forth to doctors for him. It was not until He was doing much better that I went to doc, and was diagnosed. Hard for me to say but I think it was a combination of the two events happening at the same time. I have had one surgery, and next week I have the next, but still find myself very tired. I take naps on a daily basis, and I don't worry about what anyone thinks. I am the one going through this and listening to my body and what it needs is going to be very important.

I have had to figure out what I can do at any given time, and I guess the hard part is not being able to do what I did before. Slowing down is not something I am used to and i struggle with feeling bad about not being able to do things.

I have also learned to do things for myself as i would for my son. Being patient with myself more, and giving myself permission to feel and handle what ever I need to. Not always easy when I have been the cheerleader, and am now relegated to the one being cheered on. Time to put my pompoms on for myself, and remind myself that everyday is a gift, and it is not how much I do that day, but how much I love my self, and others.