Stamina/Tired 1yr after Radiation??

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Kayce234
Kayce234 Member Posts: 249
edited June 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I finished my Radiation in March of 2012 and found that during Radiation I did nothing but sleep - if I wasn't at work I was in bed.  I've also found after completing Radiation that I just don't have the energy I used to.  I've noticed the past month or so my stamina and energy is much better than it was, but I "lied" down after work on Friday at 5pm and didn't wake up until 9:30am on Saturday!  I used to be able to go, go, go but I'm finding I now have to pace myself or else I hit a wall hard.  I'm wondering if anyone else has had these side effects.  I didn't do Chemo - just the surgery, radiation and now Tamox.

Thanks!

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  • TarheelMichelle
    TarheelMichelle Member Posts: 871
    edited May 2013

    Kayce234, it's been a few years since I had radiation but my fatigue lasted a longgggg time like yours. During the weeks of radiation I wasn't as tired but after all treatment was over I had exactly the same fatigue. Would simply collapse after work. And I didn't work my desk job during radiation. Was so exhausted my doc wrote me out of work for an additional 3 months. So my fatigue was 6 months out and beyond. My doc said younger women seem to be affected more by extreme fatigue. It did get better for me eventually. Hope your energy level improves soon. Tamox might be contributing factor

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  • Lumpynme
    Lumpynme Member Posts: 747
    edited May 2013

    i am 6 months out from radiation and i still have some days where i am just absolutely freaking exhausted by the end of my work day...and i sit at a desk! some days it's more mental tho than physical so i just don't know WHAT to attribute the tired to!

    i have found that i am finally feeling like i WANT to do things again.....

    pacing oneself is always a good idea tho not always practical! easier said than done dontchaknow! hope this improves or you!

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited May 2013

    I finished rads March 21.  My RO put me on disability from day one of rads through  the four weeks afterwards.  During that time, I did nothing.  Really nothing.  Just this Wednesday I had my first day feeling like myself at work.  Thursday and Friday, I had no energy and went home early,   We've walked through fire, so to speak.  Our bodies have been through a lot and have to recover at their own pace.

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited May 2013

    Oh, I just noticed your rads were in 2012.  Have you thought about anxiety, depression, PTSD?  All of those are absolutely normal after what we've been through.  Maybe your MO or PCP could give you a 30-day trial RX of something gentle, just to see if it helps?

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  • Kayce234
    Kayce234 Member Posts: 249
    edited May 2013

    thanks everyone!  I'm finding I don't get tired as fast or as much as I did when I was on the Rads and a while after, but boy when it hits it hits hard!  I find it amazing how long some of the side effects that we have to do to get rid of this monster can last.  I need to check on the tamox symptoms list and see if that may be it too - :(

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  • poohnutw3
    poohnutw3 Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2013

    I thought I was crazy but I am 1 1/2 years out and still can get beyond exhausted if I get real busy. My breast still turns red if I take a hot shower. I was just wondering the other day how long these things will last, if they will ever go away. Of course I always get mixed answers at the drs. Like always it is so nice to see I am not the only one. Have a great day everyone:)

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  • Kayce234
    Kayce234 Member Posts: 249
    edited May 2013

    Poohnut so glad to hear I'm not the only one who is like this - it's not often but like I said when the fatique hits it hits hard!  I wonder if I'll ever have my full stamina back :)

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  • kestrelgurl
    kestrelgurl Member Posts: 266
    edited May 2013

    I finished rads Jan 2012 and although I felt pretty good and worked and ran through it, I still struggle with fatigue. I am 55 and very active, but would be hard pressed to manage a fulltime job these days. I am also on tamoxifen and have a form of indolent leukemia which is not currently being treated.....so I asked my MO if it was the tamox or the leukemia that was forcing me to nap every afternoon even when I am getting 10 hours of sleep a night. He said that my body had been through a hell of a lot and healing is tiring. I have begun to think of radiation as the gift that keeps on giving. Wink

    Despite the fatigue, I have remained active and have decided that exercise is more important than chores......so I skip them when I am tired.

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