What happened to my energy?

AnacortesGirl · February 2011

This is really bothering me. For the last two weeks at work my energy level has been so low. When that happens its hard for me to think and the days start to get very long. Something has changed. Prior to this I was having so much fun at work, thinking, getting results, interacting with my co-workers. That's my norm. What could be causing this?

Meds haven't changed. They are still paxil, aromasin, prilosec, neurontin. On the personal front I've been working with my parents and brother because my dad has been dx'ed with multi fract dementia (small strokes). But I got his computer rebuilt (he really messed it up!) and my mom finally seems to be on track for accepting the dx. My brother has been a godsend through all this. So I feel comfortable that we'll get a plan together and things will work out.

My onc visit isn't until March 21. I don't feel sick. I'm going to physical therapy for my shoulder which took a real hit from the bmx. But the range is much better and I'm down to 1 visit a week. Been walking 4 miles a week.

Do I just need a vacation? Do AIs cause energy levels to rise and fall? Or, and of course this is my real fear, is there cancer back in my body and it's sucking up energy? Just like it was when I was first dx'ed?

It's really brings down my emotional energy too. I'm close to wanting to cry and it takes a lot for me to cry. I need advice.

weesa · February 2011

This is so concerning! And you know, of course, that it could be bc again, but could also be a good many kinder things, like anemia or winter doldrums. You have ready waited the standard two weeks, and it isn't getting better.Go see your onc this week and let us know.

A big hug from one-footed Weesa

Laurie09 · February 2011

Hoping it's nothing, but I agree you should probably talk to your Dr.

I have fluctuations in my energy level that I attribute to tamoxifen and whether I am actually cycling. It seems when I do cycle, for about 2 weeks before, I am completely wiped out. I never really know that's what it was until I get a period and suddenly feel better. Since I don't cycle regularly sometimes it can be hard to tell what is going on. I don't know if the AI's can cause similar fluctuations or not.

Hugs and prayers that it's something simple.

diana50 · February 2011

could it be that the longer you are on the aromasin....it will have more side effects? i noticed with the arimidex that i when i started taking it...no problem..,.but as the months and years wore on...i really started to feel side effects...pain,,fatigue...etc.

i think having your dad having some health issues...even tho your brother is helping...is still kinda emotional and a worry. worry can take the skip out of your step.

keep track of fatigue, is it when you get up...for all day..or later in the day...talk with you onc.

depression can cause feelings of fatigue too; maybe your paxil needs a kick up.

when they do blood work for appt they will see if you are low in red blood cells.

keep us posted. hang in there. hope you feel better**

Gitane · February 2011

I find that when I get tired I get very, very tired. I've never experienced that before in my life. I thought it would get better with time, but it doesn't. What's even more strange is I will have a wave of fatigue that makes me feel like not doing anything at all, then later in the day I will perk up and become functional again. I feel it emotionally before I read it physically if that makes sense. It also builds up. If I don't listen to my body for a couple of days, by the third day I'm a mess. I just need a slower pace and more sleep and the signs of that are hard to read, so I will over do it before I realize I should have paced myself.

This has been my life for 5 years. As far as I know, no recurrence yet. I don't know if the drugs cause this, or if it's the aftermath of treatment and surgeries. I guess it doesn't matter what the cause is as I'm not willing to change meds right now and the rest is over and done with.

Should you get this checked out? I don't know. It sure wouldn't hurt to ask the onc and look at a new blood panel just to be covering the bases.

Wish you weren't going through this. I know it's hard. I've cried a lot for no reason, many times, before I figured out that it's my body hitting the wall and I just need to rest. I'm not able to do what I did before, no matter how much I think I can. You are working. I didn't even try to do that. Good luck, AnacortesGirl. Let us know how it is going.

Hugs, G.

clariceak · February 2011

Sorry about your loss of energy. It may be a combination of things. Certainly, having a parent with a serious illness will take its toll, even with the support of your brother. I have read that for those of us in northern latititudes, seasonal disorder hits the hardest in November and February. It seems counterintuitive since the days are longer.

A visit to the onc might be in order, just to tweak your meds and check whether you are anemic like others have suggested.

jenn3 · February 2011

It sounds like you have a combination of things hitting you all at the same time. A talk to the onc wouldn't hurt anything - peace of mind, medication adjustments, blood work - all of which you may need.

I hope that some of that energy returns soon.........

leisaparis · February 2011

I'm not anemic, have my blood checked every month. On a new trial drug though. I feel the same way. I'm tired ALL the time. I take a daily vitamin & other suppliments. But since my dx, no matter how much sleep I get, I'm still tired. I think it's just this damn disease. Took so much out of us and just can't seem to get it back. IMHO. Sorry you are feeling the same way. It sucks.

pupfoster1 · February 2011

Christy,

I am sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well. And it just sucks that we have to question every ache and pain we have. I know that's been my MO in the past. If it were me I'd call the onc to see if you can bump up your appt and just have your blood work checked etc, for peace of mind. It's probably nothing, but I know once I get into that "stinkin thinkin" mode I can't rest until I hear everything's OK.

(((HUGS)))

Sharon

Bugs · February 2011

Could it be a virus? There has been so much going around this winter. I had what I thought was going to be a bad cold, but the only thing I got was some small sinus stuff and fatigue.

I agree with Diana about keeping track of the fatigue for a couple of weeks. There are a million other things besides recurrence that this could be. Try not to "stinkin' think" as Sharon says

1Athena1 · February 2011

Anacortes, I am butting in here if you don't mind because some of your meds touch on my area of knowledge/personal experience.

SSRIs and hormonals, together, can cause incredible fatigue, but sometimes it takes some time for that symptom to really show. The Neurontin is sometimes prescribed for sleep, such are its sedating qualities. If anything, with this combination, I am surprised that you had not felt fatigued from the start. (I know nothing about prilosec.)

Questions I would have are: how long have you been on that combination at current dosages, and do you take them at night or in the morning. I would suggest discussing this with your doctor. You onc may want to have a consult with a psychiatrist regarding Paxil to see if there is any way you can continue to have relief from depression/anxiety while controlling the fatigue and continuing with your cancer treatment. They might not have the answers and it might take a bit of trial and error before you reach a combination that suits you.

This is assuming there is nothing else afoot....although when I read your list of meds, fatigue seemed almost preordained. Remember, too, that menopause has its stages - the longer you are in it, research suggests, the lower the already very low estrogen levels. Less estrogen can always equal more fatigue.

I'm really sorry you are going through this. Fatigue is one of my most feared SEs, for some reason. I would rather have surgery to replace my heart and lungs than go through some of the bouts of fatigue I have experienced. I know how frustrating it is to have to keep changing, switching, cutting, pasting and generally toiling along in search of the right pharmaceutical formula for your body. Assuming you get the physical all clear, a psychopharmacologiost or a psychiatrist or even an endocrinologist may be able to help (oh - don't forget to check your thyroid). Good luck!

AnacortesGirl · February 2011

Thank you. All good ideas and I really appreciae them.

I just finished jotting down some notes and I'm going to start keeping track of how the day went, how the sleep was, if my shoulder or arm is bothering me. The low energy is all day long. No bursts of get up and go.

I've always taken the paxil at night along with 2 of the 300 mg neurontin. Morning is when I take the aromsin, prilosec, and 1 neurontin. Been doing those meds since last Feb. Of course I had others added and subtracted along the way as I finished chemo, had surgery, had rads, more chemo and an ooph. But since October (excluding the small step back with the ooph) I was feeling great.

Late winter doldrums? Could be - the thought crossed my mind. Even though the days are getting longer and have been sunny lately there is something about the transition from winter to spring that affects us.

Depression? Stress? My husband told me a couple of weeks ago that he was worried about my dealing with my parents problems and getting too stressed out. I assured him that I could handle it but maybe he was right. We've been dealing with it for months now and it's just now beginning to look like my Mom is stepping up to the plate. But maybe it's already taken its toll on me.

When my RBCs were low I was lousy at being able to sense it. It was only when they got into the low 9's or 8's that I finally realized something was wrong. Physically I would keep on truckin'. The day I went to see the onc and they were in the 8's was when I had an emotional breakdown in his office. Three units of red blood cells later I was able to maintain emotionally. I'm just not thinking this is anemia, though.

I think I'm going to start jotting notes for the next week and see how it goes. I'm already planning on taking Thurs, Fri and the following Mon off. My daughter has been wanting to come down for a visit. If this doesn't get better then I'm going to have to see somebody.

Gitane · February 2011

I really hope you feel better soon, Christy. Keeping a log of things may help you get to the bottom of this. Could very well be the meds. You are dealing with a lot of other things, too. That kind of stress is pretty subtle, at least it was for me. Those days off sound like a good idea. Hugs, G.

1Athena1 · February 2011

Note taking/log keeping is an excellent idea. I have found it very revelatory. Google "mood chart" - I tried to do it for you but my silly 'puter froze up. Get charts used for bipolar disorder and substitute fatigue/energy levels for mood/manic/depressed. There is space to chart your meds, brief notes and numbered rating scales. It doesn't matter what is causing the fatigue - this chart will still help because it emphasizes symptoms. Good luck!

AnacortesGirl · February 2011

Thank for the suggestion Athena. I picked out a couple to try.

pupfoster1 · February 2011

Wow, I may have to print one out too! Thanks Athena!

Sharon

littletower · February 2011

Hey Anacortes, just checking in to see how you're feeling.

KittyDog · February 2011

Have you tried taking your AI at night? I am on Femara. This is month three and I have hit some major fatigue and bone-joint pain this month. I am not concern because I know that it was listed as one of the side effects and I have an appointment on March 9. Good luck and I agree talk with your Dr.

AnacortesGirl · February 2011

I took vacation days Thurs, Fri & Mon. So far no difference. Yesterday morning I had some energy but I think it was the andrenalin rush of the really nasty snow storm we got hit with. I went home to finish working the day from home and, zap!, the energy was gone. I quit even trying to work after a couple of hours.

I haven't tried my AI at night. I was worried about the SE of insomnia. But maybe I'll switch tomorrow and see how it works for a week or two.

Beagleandme · February 2011

Gitane, we were diagnosed almost at the same time. I was diagnosed on August 5th, 2005 and I have the exact same thing that you are talking about here. It is exactly as you were describing! Ever since my cancer and all my treatment, I have had terrible fatigue that I feel emotionally before I feel it physically. I have complained about it to my doctor over and over again and they don't seem to be worried about it. Before I was diagnosed, I had unlimited energy but since diagnosis, it's very limited. The only thing I can think of is that our treatment and all of the surgeries must have caused it. Hope you are having a good day Smile

Gitane · February 2011

Beagleandme, Yes, we were diagnosed together so-to-speak. We'll be the ILC '05 club of, two! The fatigue is hard to live with; I'm sorry to hear you dealing with this, too. I tried to describe the way I experience it as well as I could. I hope others who have it will know it doesn't necessarily mean recurrence. I'm glad you decided to join us here. Welcome! G.

Anonymous · February 2011

I do wonder if alot of my lack of energy lately is due to this long cold winter and my age, and not just the BC issues.

Barb

karen1956 · February 2011

I've been more tired too lately....since its winter, stress and lots going on in my personal life.....

AnacortesGirl · March 2011

I had my onc appointment today. Good news is that the bloodwork was OK. At least the CBC and metabolic panel. Next Monday I meet with him again and then he'll have the results of the thyroid and CA27. He doesn't see any symptoms that give him concern other than the fatigue. So he ordered a bone scan and abdominal CT which will happen on Friday. He also changed me from 20mg of Paxil to Effexor (75 mg). We're hoping that the Effexor will also help with my hot flashes so I can get off the Neurontin. But he also wrote me a script to take this week off from work. It sure would be great if that is all it took to get me back to being myself again.

KerryMac · March 2011

Well Christy, I am glad he is looking into things for you. It is good news the blood work all came back OK, and that he doesn't see anything immediately worrying. Maybe changing your meds will do the trick? You can hope, anyhow!

Will be thinking of you for your scans.

jenn3 · March 2011

Christy - I take Effexor for hotflashes and it works wonders and helps my mood. I'm glad to hear that your onc is taking all of the necessary steps to look into your fatigue problems. Good luck, thinking of you and hope that your energy returns soon.

americanpinay · March 2011

Wishing you the best of luck on your scans this Friday. Hope everything turns out OK and that you get your energy back real soon. Take care.

Gitane · March 2011

Christy, It's great to hear that the blood work came back fine. I hope the switch to Effexor helps you with those hot flashes. We will be thinking of you Friday. You are an old pro at the scans, but just the same....

A week off can't be bad. Take it easy, rest up, favorite foods... pamper yourself. Hugs!!! G.

AnacortesGirl · March 2011

For those of you who use Effexor - how long did it take before it got rid of your hot flashes?

jenn3 · March 2011

I want to say it was a few weeks before I noticed a big change and a few months before they seemed to have all but disappeared. As of this posting, it's been so long I can't remember the last time I had a hotflash. Every now and then I get one, but for the most part they're gone. Prior to being on Effexor I was having 5,10 or more a day.

What happened to my energy?

Comments

Categories