Constantly tired -- mets?

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KP1970
KP1970 Member Posts: 192
edited June 2014 in Not Diagnosed With a Recurrence or Metastases but Concerned

Anyone else feel tired a lot of the time and worry that it's related to mets? Before I was diagnosed with stage II cancer (back in '06), I was constantly tired (looking back, I remember this and I have since learned that tiredness is often a symptom of cancer). I have three children (16,11 and 8)..and my youngest drains me at times, lol...but I just feel so sleepy all the time. I'm 40 and just had my 6-month check up with my onc...blood work and tumor marker tests both came back normal. Do you think something on one of these tests would have been "off" if cancer were present again? (somebody please say yes so I can sleep tonight) ;-)

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  • chrissyb
    chrissyb Member Posts: 16,818
    edited June 2011

    Kim, I think you are panicing over nothing.  You are under stress at the moment because of your mom and everything you are describing can be bought on by stress also.  Take a big deep breath and try to relax a little and you may find that a lot of these things will disappear.  If you are having trouble sleeping or with anxiety, ask your doc for something to ease these thing and explain to him/her why you are asking for them.  I'm sure they will accommodate you.

    Love n hugs Chrissy

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  • hmh23
    hmh23 Member Posts: 306
    edited June 2011

    Kim;  Have your Onc do a thyroid test...I was already taking synthroid prior to my chemo but was extremely tired 6 months afterwards.  Sure enough, my doctor needed to increase my synthroid by 50%.  I'm guessing the chemo played some havoc with your thyroid which is quite common. 

    Good luck....dream of wellness.

    Heather

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited June 2011

    Um, I hate to say this, but when I have active cancer, I get extremely tired and sleep a lot.  For me, that's kind of an early warning sign.  My tumor markers have been perfectly normal yet I have liver mets. 

    That doesn't mean it's true for you and you have a busy stressful, anxiety-filled life but I don't want to completely discount it as a symptom for others who read this.. 

    I've always been a little tired so when I come home from work I might sleep 30 minutes - a quick nap and get up and do dinner, etc.  Now, I come home and sleep for three hours, and my husband wakes me for dinner than I go back to sleep.  I am only awake about 9 hours a day now.   I've been actually hoping my next chemo gives me energy.  :-)

    It probably is nothing but it's good to know your body. 

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  • diana50
    diana50 Member Posts: 2,134
    edited June 2011

    Fatigue and tiredness can be from emotional stress; depression and also physical stress.  you know your body better then anyone; i think if you are concerned you might want to return to your doc and have them check thyroid and also make sure you aren't anemic. 

    prior to my diagnosis; i was tired but i also felt sick.  not specific sick.....just sick.  something was clearly wrong but i couldn't put my finger on it.  once diagnosed..and with all the positive lymph nodes..it made sense. 

    go see your doc. tell them what you are experiencing .

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  • carcharm
    carcharm Member Posts: 486
    edited June 2011

    I am in the same boat asKP1970. Dx & tx in 2009 and now in the last 3 months I get exhausted just getting out of bed. I have an onc appt next month and will bring it up but do fear the worst. I sleep all the time. I was OK for a year after chemo until now so I know it's something.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited June 2011

    KP, ure out 5 years now ? Congrats :) Were u taking Tamox then switched to AIs? I,m always tired because of iron deficiency anemia and Tamox and always wonder if it,s "normal" tired :(



    Having ure thyroid and anemia ruled out could give u some peace of mind

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  • KP1970
    KP1970 Member Posts: 192
    edited June 2011

    Thanks everyone. I have been on meds for my thyroid for 15 years; it was recently checked and was where it has always been. I do tend to worry about everything..from my cancer coming back, to all different things with my kids. My mom was recently diagnosed with a stage IV cancer as well, so maybe it is emotional stress? 

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  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited June 2011

    Oh, I would say this tiredness is definitely from your mother being diagnosed with stage IV cancer.  This type of stress takes a lot out of us.  I have lost two good friends in the last three months (one to pancreatic cancer and one to a heart attack), then my son broke his femur. It was a serious break that required surgery and a three day hospital stay. Two weeks ago, the 22 year old son of my mother-in-laws boyfriend committed suicide.  I had started to feel tired but this is what "did me in" tired wise. After the funeral, I could barely function. It has been a couple of weeks now and I am starting to feel more energy. Seeing the state his father was in was something no-one should ever have to experience...such a tragedy on soo many levels... worst than actually having cancer, worst than seeing my good friend deteriorate with pancreatic cancer (for me, at least).  Stress can make us tired....You seem to have a lot on your plate.  Take care of yourself during all of this stress. Get sleep, eat well and take time out for yourself to do something you enjoy.  Now I just need to take my own advice! 

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