Still so bloody tired

tinker-bell

Hi ladies!

I’m 2 years post treatment (lumpectomy, taxol chemo, rads, tamoxifen) and I am still feeling tired a lot. I’m studying for an MA and not working.

I do a dog walk every morning, weights 2 x a week and sometimes kickboxing. I’m still a bit overweight so doing Fast800 for 2 weeks, but tiredness predates it. Have achy legs too.

Anyone else in same boat? Should probably talk to GP. Am seeing nutritionist

Moderators

Hi Tinker-bell,

It sounds like you're doing a lot of good things to take care of yourself and your energy. It does seem like a good idea to talk with your GP to make sure your labs are all good (e.g. iron, etc). Here is a page of Possible Causes of Fatigue and Ways to Manage Fatigue, in case there could be something in there that is helpful.

Hang in there, and let us know what your GP says!

The Mods

tinker-bell

Thanks very much! I will read through those resources

Runrcrb

talk to your GP. Also, in my opinion, cancer and its treatments take longer to recover from than one imagines. I’m two years from the end of radiation and 18 months from reconstruction surgery. In addition to not exercising at the intensity I did prior I have found I am less interested. I’m doing different things and yes sometimes I am more tired than I remember being “before”.

godisone

Once you leave working out, its nearly impossible to go back at it. Before being diagnosed i was a very fit woman and used to gym 3 days a week with my girlfriends but since the diagnosis i was so anxious that i eventually stopped stepping my food in the gym and even to any form of exercise and after the surgery when i got a little strength back i wanted to be alive and be able to do the things that means so much to me.I tried gym but that was too much for me as now i don't have much strength left to perform all those strenuous exercises. My oncologist suggested me a yoga teacher and trust me it is so effective its simple, relaxing and healing at the same time.it doesn't leave me tired as gym used to.. its refreshing change in my life and now i am so glued to it, i am also following satvik (simple) vegan diet along with the yoga asanas while i can tell you more about. i am so intrigued by the yoga that i really want to know everything about it and i keep searching it over the internet as well. i came across some really great articles i am sharing a few links:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5545945/

https://www.voiceofcancerpatients.com/article/benefits-of-yoga-and-meditation-in-cancer

https://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/yoga-for-cancer

if there is magic, it has to be yoga, loved it. if you guys come across some more interesting articles about advantages of yoga in the treatment of cancer then do let me know. God luck and God bless.

Scrafgal

tinker-bell

I was diagnosed and treated about the same time as you. Look at my profile to see how much time I spent in treatment and surgical recovery, over the past 2.5 years. Between restrictions on movements after surgeries and returning to work, and just the mental strain and PTSD of cancer, I had to accept the fact that I had to rebuild strength and stamina. I was very healthy and in shape when I was diagnosed at 50, and it was hard to accept the times when I just could not work out as usual. I worked out during Taxol but FAC nearly left me for dead. I just had to get through it without being hard on myself for not being myself.

Give yourself a break and just keep doing what you are doing for now, as you get healthy, over time. It does take time to recover....more than you think maybe.

I have rebounded nicely by ramping up slowly, over time. I am strong now and no longer fatigued the way I used to be. I work out regularly.

Also, tamoxifen is very dehydrating. So drink plenty of water or else you will feel very fatigued from that! Since starting that med, I now drink 100 ounces per day. If I don't, I am crampy and tired.

Finally, graduate school is stressful. I have two advanced degrees and late nights studying can throw off your sleep and energy.

Stay strong! You will get there!

tinker-bell

hi Scrafgal

I think we did Chemo at the same time! I remember seeing your posts.thanks for your lovely message. You had some tough surgeries and chemo too - I’m so glad you’re feeling better.

I think my fatigue may have been made worse by doing a low calorie keto diet - I decided it was too extreme for me. I’m feeling a bit better at the moment but am seeing a nutritionist and my GP when I get back from holiday.

That’s a great tip about water. I’m not a great water drinker and really have to force it down but I’m trying to drink more!

All the best and thank you

tinker-bell

hi Godisone!

I’ve always been interested in yoga but find it quite difficult to actually do - I think I’m not very bendy. I did do some meditative low impact yoga which really helped my moods (it was a free one for cancer patients) and I will try and find another friendly local class. I’m glad it’s helping you’re fatigue! Thanks for all the links and suggestions

edj3

For what it's worth, I'm a stick, completely not bendy. So I do yoga because I don't want to be that old lady who has to turn her whole body to turn her head! Low impact yoga can be immensely beneficial.

moth

tinker-bell, I went back to school while still in rads. I just think tired is my new baseline. I don't really pay attn to it. This is a time when denial can really work for us :P I try to get enough sleep, try to eat well and do my workouts. I think one important thing for me has been to just accept that my body is different now (my first chemo tx pushed me through abrupt menopause). Low estrogen can cause fatigue so I think this is just our reality. I'm sore, things are creaky, it takes my joints a while to get loosened up. I just mostly shrug and limp on and still get out there and do as much as I can. I don't have time to be worrying about it. My skin has changed too - drastically in the last 8 months or so; that's been harder to accept but oh well. Again, when I catch myself worrying about it too much I usually just say "moth, don't you have other stuff you'd rather be doing than fussing about this?" and the answer is always yes LOL

Also, don't forget to ask your doc to check your thyroid! Thyroid can go out of whack during treatments.

godisone

hi tinker-bell, i am glad that you are interested in yoga and you have been trying it. Yoga teaches patience, so with time and patience your body will learn the bending moves along with breathing patterns. refer to youtube videos for "yoga for beginners", slowly and steadily you will be able to perform the simple ones, i wont lie but even i am unable to do difficult poses such as hand stand but yoga is a lifestyle and you will gradually adapt to it.

keep up the good work.

GreenHarbor

Tinker-bell, meeting with your doctor and a nutritionist are great first steps for dealing with your fatigue. Scrafgal is right about drinking water. I feel better when I'm hydrated, even if it does seem like I have to pee every 20 minutes. ;-) Something else that may help is increasing your exercise. I know... that is the last thing you feel like doing. I am the world's biggest couch potato at heart and I'm terrible at any and all team sports. I joined a gym for the first time in January, and have found (much to my surprise) that I feel better when I'm getting more exercise. I also take a weekly yoga class that I love. Cancer has taught me to be better at taking care of myself- mind, body and spirit. Part of that is finding a balance between encouraging myself to make healthier choices, but also being gentle with myself when I don't.

Desert_tiger

Yes I totally was. I messaged you