Ongoing Fatigue?

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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!

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  • shila
    shila Member Posts: 7
    edited October 2011

    peverson,

    I was diagnosed and treated almost the same time as you. I had my hyst/ooph surgery 3 months ago and went back to work 4 weeks after that. I feel fine in the morning and very tired in the afternoon. I am working half time but feel more difficult to handle than the full time work before bc. I started to think this is my new normal and getting worried what I am going to do when they ask me to work full time. I decided to do only what I can handle for now. Fortunately things are working well at work and I am not under pressure to do more.  

    BTW, how is your diagnosis IIIa? Should it be II for that size? Are you BRCA+? I am BRCA1+.

    Good luck to you. Get plenty of rest.

    Shila

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  • peverson
    peverson Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2011

    The doctor said that because I had more than 3 lymph nodes affected, it was IIIA. I think that it would have been IIA back in the day because it was pretty small. I am not BRCA+, but I have sketchy family history (an aunt with ovarian, a grandma with some kind of gyn cancer), so I opted to have the surgery. She didn't remove my uterus because it looked OK.

     I am working half time also, but my boss wants me to increase my hours. I am hoping that I will continue to recover my energy. I don't really want this to be my new normal, but if I can stay cancer free, I'll take it!

    Patsy

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited October 2011

    i think your energy level will bounce back.. new foods to counteract 'gravity' and new activities.  I am not a great example by any means but find that time dedicated to exercise (walking fast, for me)  increases my energy level.

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  • peverson
    peverson Member Posts: 55
    edited October 2011

    Thank you for the responses. I thought that I was regaining my energy, and then about 3 weeks ago, I felt super tired and came down with a pretty bad cold a couple of days later. My cold is about over, but I just don't feel like my energy level is the same as it was before the cold. So I'm feeling discouraged.

    Patsy

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    joycek

    I too had my thryroid really knocked by chemotherapy - now take medication and feel SO MUCH better.  Make sure everyoone who is feeling this tired has a TSH blood test ( Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) and MAKE SURE the result is LESS THAN 2.5 

    Some labs still use OLD measurements allowing TSH to go up to 6.00

    BUT, American Sociirty of Endocrinologists in 2003 said the TSH level should NOT BE ABOVE 2.5

    Makes such a difference.  Some doctors are still using the OLD 6.00 as a "normal."  IT is not.

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