Ongoing Fatigue?

Options
peverson
peverson Member Posts: 55
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer

I was diagnosed in March 2010, had a mastectomy w/ lymph node dissection. Then 5 months of chemo (DD AC + weekly Taxol x 12); then six or so weeks of radiation. In Dec of 2010, I had a prophylactic mastectomy and salpingo-oopherectomy. Prior to cancer, I had a stomach ailment for five months that prevented me from eating normally and lost 30 pounds. So, at this point, I am 14 months out from chemo, 12 months out from radiation, and 10 months out from my last major surgery. Although I feel much, much better than I did six months ago, I still have some fatigue. Anybody else have to deal with this? I'm just trying to get a sense of the range of "normal" recovery. Thanks for your responses!

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited October 2011

    I think it takes a long, long time to get back to feeling anywhere near 'normal'....my guess is to take however long you were in treatment and double it. What helped (and continues to help) me is daily exercise.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited October 2011

    peverson, there's a section at the main Breastcancer.org site that's all about fatigue, including links to Ways to Manage Fatigue - more on ruthbru's excellent advice about exercise is in there too.

    Managing Fatigue

    Judith and the Mods

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • peverson
    peverson Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2011

    The main info about managing fatigue is helpful, but I am also looking for information about how long it takes to get back to some level of energy after all the surgery and treatment and more surgery is done. I already exercise regularly (usually 5 or 6 days a week). I thought that my energy was finally improving, and then I got a cold about 3 weeks ago, which kind of wiped me out. I'd really like to get back to a sense of improving! Ruthbru's doubling of treatment time gives me some idea of what recovery might look like. 

    Thanks,

    Patsy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • dlb823
    dlb823 Member Posts: 9,430
    edited October 2011

    In addition to the usual range of individual differences, I think age might also play a role in how quickly we recover.  I don't spring back from anything the way I did when I was 35!  And I agree with Ruth about it possibly taking some of us twice as long as our tx.  I'm about 3.5 years out (2.5 years from end of tx), and still feeling better each month, although I still sometimes hit a wall and experience extreme fatigue if I've had a very busy day or been traveling, etc.    Deanna

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • peverson
    peverson Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2011

    At 58, I'm not 35 either. It's encouraging to read that it can take not just months, but years, to climb the mountain. Thanks to all of you!

    Patsy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited October 2011

    It took me almost a year post radiation before I got my edge back.  I did not have any further surgery.  I did get hammered by some sort of flu towards the end of this period, but was no sicker than my friends.

    I think that major exercising helped shorten the recovery period for me.  I still think I need more protein than prior to diagnosis and have to manage energy better.  Now this could be that I am getting less and less fond of bonking during long cycling events.

    Hang in there. - Claire

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited October 2011

    It took me over a year as well and like claire said i started excersing and i started feeling much better.

    I know when i get sick with a cold or flu it takes me twice as long to bounce back, i think probably because our immune systems are lower than sombody who hasnt had treatments.

    Hope you get back to feeling good again

    Hugs

    Debbie

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Racy
    Racy Member Posts: 2,651
    edited October 2011

    You have been through so many treatments, and don't forget it's not just the physical impact of active treatments, there are also the side effects of hormone therapy plus the emotional impacts of it all.



    I found a book titled 'The cancer survivor's companion' (Piatkus, UK) that recognises it takes time to bounce back and contains tips to help you pace yourself.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited October 2011

    My bloodwork has always been a little off since chemo and when I asked my doctor about how long it would take to get back to normal, he said that it could take up to five years....so it really is a long haul....not that you feel rotten for 5 years, but internally things will keep working their way towards normal for a long time.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Lunakin
    Lunakin Member Posts: 120
    edited October 2011

    Took me about a yr after chemo to get even close to normal energy again. Now I'm two years out and still have considerable fatigue problems. Not sure how much is the AI. And not all the chemofog went away.

     Sympathy all around!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited October 2011

    I am 2 years out of treatment and only now am I starting to feel a little bit like my old self.  I do exercise on a regular basis, I have eliminated sugar from my diet but I think it just has taken a long time for me to feel somewhat normal again.  Of course I don't have the energy I had pre-chemo and I have learned to pace myself.  If I am too active one day - I pay the price the next day and that can be frustrating.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • peverson
    peverson Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2011

    Thanks to all of you for the feedback! It helps a LOT to know that I'm not alone. I just seem to read a bunch of posts from women who didn't miss a day of work--and I missed over a year--and others who, three weeks after radiation ended, feel normal. I thought that it was just me. I am not quite one year out from my last procedure (a double surgery), so I guess that I just need to do what I can and listen to my body, not judge it.

    Patsy

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Boo123
    Boo123 Member Posts: 182
    edited March 2013

    Hello, thought I would bump this thread to see if anyone else gets fatigue issues?



    I am two years from my 3c diagnosis. First 8months saw mx, chemo, second mx, rads. Then onto an ai. Fatigue for a year. Then had Diep reconstruction both sides. Am ten weeks out from that surgery and recovery going well but am now back to pre recon level of fatigue I can sleep all night and still feel exhausted by 11 the next day. It is stopping me doing things as I can't deal with the tiredness I know will kick in if I go out and about too much.

    Anyone got any advice on how to manage this fatigue? Will it go away? I am wondering if the aromasin is causing it. Any thoughts appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Boo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Scottiee1
    Scottiee1 Member Posts: 2,329
    edited March 2013

    I'm 65 and before BC was extremely energetic....I finished rads, no chemo, nine months ago and get extremely frustrated regarding fatigue....I love shopping but now I'm only able to stay out a couple of hours whereas before I could stay out all day....my friends used to tease me that I was truly the poster child for "shop till you drop" ...now I drop very easily.....lol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kestrelgurl
    kestrelgurl Member Posts: 266
    edited March 2013

    So glad to see this thread revived! I am about 18 months post-DX and really struggling with the fatigue.

    I had a BMX and rads, then started on tamoxifen and was feeling pretty good. Then I started the recon process which involved 2 fat transfer procedures, TE insertion and weekly fills. It has been 4 weeks since that surgery.

    I sleep about 10 hours a night and find I can still take an hour nap every day. I was never a nap person! I exercise (run or bike) 1 to 2 hours 6 days a week and work part time at a running store.

    At 55, I am not sure how much is age, how much is activity and how much is treatment related. It's weird.....I pretty much feel good.....until I don't. And then I am wiped out!

    I am going to be switched to Femara soon and read that even more fatigue may result. That worries me!

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited March 2013

    When I felt like this after surgery for ovarian cancer the doctor told me it takes about six months to get back to normal after a major surgery. I was also very anemic and that contributed to it.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Boo123
    Boo123 Member Posts: 182
    edited March 2013

    Fatigue is such a weird experience. All of the time I feel like there is something dragging on me slightly, then if I have been very busy, it can be quite overwhelming. How do you all manage this? I am going back to work in a few weeks and I am worried about how this will impact upon me. Plus I have the memory of a gnat. Cannot remember zip unless I write it down.

    Hey ho

    Boo

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories