How can I start feeling better????

GreenEyes81

Going to share how I feel and hope someone has some suggestions! I just finished 33 rads on Friday after mx last September, no break but should have a few weeks ago. My doctor warned me, I just was not in a situation I couldn't get done by Friday at the latest. I hurt, burns, sore is oozing...its gross.

I feel like crap!! So tired, but not like take a nap tired. My mussels hurt so bad. I managed to walk at least a mile a day from day one, still just feeling super exhausted. Stairs are the worse.

The last few days I have noticed my joints are super painful. Elbows, knees, back, everything.

My chest feels tight, maybe just out of shape? Can't cough deep, it hurts. This has been going on since I had 4 surgeries from September to December last year, sucked it up to the anesthesia. It seems worse the last few weeks now.

I just want to do what ever I can to be healthy and strong as quick as possible. I was thinking about some vitamins or herbal stuff for the joint point, just not sure what.

TIA

IntegraGirl

You’ve been through a lot. I don’t think there’s a magic bullet: you need time to recover. I’m just starting to feel like I’m getting my energy back

gb2115

It sounds like you need to nap a whole lot!!!

vampeyes

Hello Greeneyes, most of us have been where you are and some of us still are. It sucks doesn't it! As for your burn, did they not give you a cream? Flamazine I believe is what I had and it was awesome, healed me up quick, mind you mine didn't get as bad as your burn. Ouchie girl!

As for joint pain I have found that magnesium and yoga helps tremendously.

Energy - still working on that one. I was told to take B12, so I started that a few days ago, didn't nap yesterday so maybe it is helping?

I finished Rads on Feb 28th and was finally starting to feel better a few weeks ago, caught a summer cold and it put me right back to where I was after Rads.

The tight chest could be scar tissue, I have that from my scar and down my arm - stretching seems to be what helps with that.

How long have you been on your hormone therapy? What one are you on? Sometimes these drugs cause some nasty SEs and what you are feeling could be from it.

{HUGS}

Spookiesmom

Your body has been through a LOT. Give it time to heal. If that means a nap, or just sitting there, so be it. You can’t rush the healing process, there is no magic wand to wave.

It took me a year to feel like myself again after poison slash burn. And yes, my skin broke. It was a watery oozing mess. MO rx’d silvadine. That took time to heal too.

Tell your MO or pcp about the tightness. Maybe some pt would be helpful.

Georgia1

Good morning and so sorry; it does get better. I agree with Vampeyes on the magnesium, naps, and a prescription for the radiation burn. The effects of radiation are cumulative so you are in the worst period right now unfortunately. Be good to yourself and skip the chores until you feel better, and be sure to get extra protein since your cells are regenerating.

Hope that helps! Wishing you a quick recovery.

GreenEyes81

Thanks ladies, I figured it was going to be "more time". lol It is nice to see others in the same place or have been. Seems like most everyone in the rads thread I was following has been "doing great". Frustrating when I feel like I am on the complete other side of the spectrum.

Going to get some magnesium and rest. Thanks again.

ShetlandPony

GreenEyes81, I'm not sure what exactly you mean when you say your chest feels tight and it hurts to cough deep. Sometimes radiation therapy can cause a lung problem, so if it feels like something to do with your lungs, please tell your radiation oncologist right away so they can investigate and treat.

As far as recovery time, someone once told me that however long your acute treatment (surgery, radiation) lasted, you might expect it to take the same number of months before you feel you have fully recovered. Now is the time to make sure you are getting good sleep — we heal while asleep— as well as good nutrition (vegetables!) and enough exercise to give you a lift without wearing you out. Make sure your family and friends understand that it's not suddenly over, that you may need some help during the recovery time. Protect yourself from the sun. For the joint pain, moderate exercise and anti-inflammatory foods like salmon (omega 3s) and ginger should help. Get your iron, thyroid and vitamin D levels checked to rule out common deficiencies that cause tiredness. Also restorative yoga is nice.

There is also the possibility of getting a referral to a bc survivorship nurse or a palliative care doc who can help you.

RockyMtnNotHigh

Hi Green Eyes, I finish my 27 rads this Tuesday, July 24th. I also wonder how long the side effects last. I do feel that the DO's dismiss the side effects especially the fatigue since it is not visible. (DOC in condescending voice "You have my permission to take a nap in the afternoon "... ME: "F*ck off" ...jk)

I was considerably active before the Diagnosis and have tried hard to continue, however I am noticing pain throughout body after exercise that I have never felt before. My energy is only in the AM and by PM I am fatigued - but not sleepy - just more like a zombie or sloth.

I feel depressed about the situation. People have said this happened to show me how I need to take care of myself. As much as I partially agree, if I don't like the person saying this I m then think "F* Off".

I am grateful to my Primary Care physician (female) that recognized my need to take short term disability from a super high stress job or I would not have made it through the treatments. Now I will see how long the side effects last.

Also, my Doc suggested CBD oil (marijuana minus the THC) for pain and sleep if available in y9ur state, I will try soon.

Moderators

RockyMtnNotHigh, we are sorry to hear what you are going through. Very happy to hear though that you were able to get on disability to help recover from the treatments.

Here is an article on fatigue, in case it could be helpful: Managing Fatigue

Hang in there, and let us know how effective you find the CBD oil.

GreenEyes81

RockyMtnNotHigh the fatigue is insane. I expected be tired, take a nap and wake up ready to go. Not even close, totally get it.

I had nasuea since day two, it took two weeks before my doctor listened and he was convensied I was not pregnant before gave me something for it. Took 3 prescriptions to find something that would even work. Thankfully that is going away now that I am a week out from being done.

I just want to be able to leave the house without wondering if my shirt is all leaked on from the open burnes oozing.

RockyMtnNotHigh

Thank you for the feedback on Radiation Fatigue. I finished my last radiation treatment yesterday. My plan was to get a lot done today. Ha Ha. I was fairly productive this morning but then crashed.

This diagnosis of BC is trying to teach me something... like self care I assume:)

KathyM7

Fatigue hit me pretty hard too. I'm now 3 months post radiation. Fortunately my skin took it well, but I'm still dealing with the fatigue which I agree is not a "sleepy, nap helps" kind of thing. It's more like a very emphatic internal command: "this body isn't doing anything right now but sitting or lying down". I also am still feeling some tenderness, tightness and just weird feeling like I need to support the breast. I was finding it all depressing and not helping with the emotional recovery. In the past week I've had follow up appts with surgeon and radiation onc (who have both been terrific) and felt much better when they told me that's all within normal expectations. They told me some stretches to do for the tightness. The rad nurse told me it can take up to 18 months to fully recover from radiation!! I hope not - I'm impatient after 3 months!

GreenEyes81

Well...I am happy to say 11 days later...I have hope. lol I can walk up the steps to my house with feeling like I need a break, still took a 3 hour nap today but I felt rested afterwards. My chest, I stopped with all the creams and it scabbed over and started to heal. I would rather the dry skin than the open oozing sore and hope for no infection.

So my MO Tuesday and expect to get the ok to start tamoxifen, on to the next "what will this crap do to me". I'mm fully expecting intense side affects, my body seems to be sensitive to everything at this point.

KathyM7 - 18 months?!?!? Heck no! I am with you on that! lol