So So tired

I'm not taking Herceptin so I'm not sure of the SE's that it can cause.  Is fatigue a SE of Herceptin?  Also, I've read that it can take 6-12 months for the effects of chemo and radiation to fully work it's way out of our bodies.  If it continues talk to the onc about the fatigue, it could be related to everything you've gone through and the fatigue is just hitting you.

My fatigue continues, still, and I am more than 4 years out.  I take Femara and that is an SE of this drug.  I also think the chemo takes a huge toll.  I lost a great deal of muscle mass, and have never regained it, even with regular exercise.  The chemo also affects our heart, which may also play into this.  I went to see a nutritionist to get help with diet, and I also incorporated some other stuff to help with depression/mood like exercise, yoga, and  meditation.  They all help a bit, but the fatigue is still evident.  I sleep more now that I am able to do that, and I have been able to pace myself and do most of what I want to do.  Still, after a full day of what would have formerly been normal activity, I am beyond exhausted, something I never used to feel.

Anna, did you have your heart function tested recently? I didn't have herceptin but have heard it can effect the heart (apparently reversible when treatment ends). This could also add to your fatigue.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to post this because it's a little bit scary, but it's also important to check out.

Leah

Besides the whole physical ordeal one goes through; I think the mental stress wears you down, and really hits as you near the end of 'active' treatment. Be nice to yourself, and plan that it will take quite some time to get back to normal. Best of luck! Ruth

I agree with Kerry.

You are not that far out of treatment.  My onc told me that you can feel very tired from treatment up to a year. 

I finished rads this past August.  I was still feeling the effects of treatment up until January.  Your body needs time to recoup from everything that you have been through. 

Rest when you need to.  Your body will thank  you!

Hi I'm almost three years out,on arimidex I'm tired all  the time.Take care of small kids so its real rough but i keep going refusing to give up.I just had scans all good.I dont sleep get 2 hrs a night,I have tried every sleep aid out there nothing works.I have 2 years left on arimidex and then my five years will be done,but Onc wants me on it past 5 years because of my tumor size and node involvment,so I will take it if it will keep the beast away........Keep on going never give up......godbless roxy

Anna,

Lance Armstrong endorses something called FRS that can be found at GNS stores.  It was especially formulated for those in chemo.  i did not know about it yet when undergoing treatment, but my aggressive treatment left me with PD and the meds for it make me extremely drowsy and I must be alert at work.  So, I have found that this is really good.  If you read the label, it is full of good vitamins like B12 and also blueberries and other natural antioxidents.  It comes in drinks and also in candy chews.  It is sort of expensive, but you may want to give it a try.  Hugs,  Janie

Janie44- Thanks for the info. I may up my B vitamins. 

Anna - I finished chemo June/09 & rad the end of August.  I still have extreme fatigue.  I do think it is partly due to poor sleep.  I read on breastcancer.org that women who suffered from neuropathy from taxol are more prone to lingering fatigue (up to a couple of years) 

Marsha - I just said a prayer for you and you are on my daily prayer list.  

Bev

Fatigue is a difficult side effect of what we go through.  At my support group we were given a page with info re managing fatigue.  I found it amusing that all of us took the info.  No matter where we were on our journey all of us could relate to fatigue.  The following quote is interesting. Finally, research now confirms that fatigue can last long after chemotherapy has finished, sometimes up to five years or more.