Progressive Fatigue

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BoyMom_2009
BoyMom_2009 Member Posts: 47
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I started radiation at the end of October and have now completed 16 treatments. Until yesterday, I've had minimal SEs (A slightly pink breast, an occasional twinge of pain in the radiated area and very slight fatigue at night). Yesterday, my fatique became noticeably worse.  I went to bed early, sleeping 9 hours.  When I woke up, I felt like I never slept at all.  I still have 16 treatments to go so I'm wondering how much worse this will get.  I am working full time and have three boys to take care of, so life is busy.  If I continue to feel this way, I may need to cut some hours at work.    

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  • KAK
    KAK Member Posts: 1,679
    edited November 2009

    BoyMom, have them check your white count.  I had the same experience.  And a year later, I'm still fatigued and have cording under my arm.  Good luck!!  I couldn't work at all while I was getting it.

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited November 2009

    Yep .. the fatigue was progressive.  It hit me pretty hard in week four and by the time I was done with the boosts (about week six), I was so exhausted, I could barely hold my head up.  I was lucky, I worked from home and don't have any young children at home. I don't think I could have made it otherwise.   It took awhile for the fatigue to pass .. I think about two months before I noticed I wasn't always exhausted.

    The best advice someone gave me was to rest whenever I could.  Geez, I was taking 2 hour naps in the afternoon.  I did have to travel to the west coast just before my boosts .. OMG, it was so exhausting!

    Best wishes,

    Bren

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  • Celtic_Spirit
    Celtic_Spirit Member Posts: 748
    edited November 2009

    Fatigue hit me around week 4 of 6. By the end of week 6, I could barely get through work, get zapped, and get home without falling asleep. I finished rads the day before Thanksgiving last year, and I felt fatigued until just about New Year's Day. But then my energy came back pretty quickly, and I was back to hiking and bicycling by the end of January.

    Get as much sleep as you can. That really helped me.

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  • MarciaGoudie
    MarciaGoudie Member Posts: 10
    edited November 2009

    Sounds scary.

    I am #12/30 rads treatment. I'm a teacher and on medical leave. My rads site is 55 min drive and the close at 3 so I never could have worked if I wanted too. I teach second grade.. no way I could work. Fatigue hasn't set in yet, but I worry. I will have to go back to work 3 weeks after last rads..

    Will I be able to do it??? I don't know!

    Marcia

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  • momand2kids
    momand2kids Member Posts: 1,508
    edited November 2009

    boymom-

    like you, I worked fulltime through rads (and chemo) and have young children at home... I found that by week 3 I was really depleted--I could get up, exercise, drive to rads, go to work and try to work,come home and that was it..... It peaked in the 4-6 week period, but then, it just lifted--- about 8 weeks after rads I felt so much more like myself with my old energy--- and it just kept getting better---

    I think rest,good nutrition and an acknowledgement that you just are not going to get a lot done right now really could help.  It was hard to sort of let go of things, but I did...my h did dinners, kids helped out----I just did not have the stamina for alot of things.

    This is a very short time in your life--it is almost over--- make sure your dr. knows of your fatigue--but take good care of yourself.... 

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  • chimayo
    chimayo Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2009

    Fatigue was gradual, becoming apparent in about wk4, almost wk5.  I continued to be tired about 6 wks after the conclusion of therapy.  Although I was able to work the entire time (okay, a few days I worked from home), I would often fall dead asleep between 8 and 8:30 (sometimes even 7:30).  

    Your body needs the rest -- it needs to recharge after the bombardment.  Whatever you can do for yourself for these few weeks.... do it.

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  • zenbug40
    zenbug40 Member Posts: 6
    edited November 2009

    Hi there....this is my first time posting!  I got heavy fatigue at 4 1/2 weeks.  I finished radiation two weeks ago tomorrow.  Still feeling tired at certain points in my day ( 11am and around 2-3pm).  I had to take some time off work.  I have three young boys, too, so I know how rough it can be.  Their love is pure medicine though.  I have started to get some energy back, but still kinda dizzy.  I am on Herceptin till April....so not sure whether to blame it on rads or that drug!! I hope you can take time off work and take care of yourself.  My skin is looking really good now.  Keep your chin up.  :) 

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  • LaurieRR
    LaurieRR Member Posts: 8
    edited January 2010

    I had 28 radiation treatments that ended in November 2009.  I also had 6 chemo treatments and surgery (double masct.w/reconstruction) in August 2009. I am just starting to feel a little better.  It's good to know there are others out there that have fatigue from radiation.  I was told by doctors and other people that radiation would be so easy. Well, it wasn't for me. I had to quit my job. Thank God I have disability insurance.  I don't know how much longer they will allow me to be disabled due to fatigue. 

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