I'm afraid no-one can say how long as everyone is different. Mine lasted for a couple of days after finishing the steroids they send you home with but I have heard of people being totally wiped out for the whole time while on chemotherapy.
Try to get some gentle exercise every day as it does help but don't fight it too hard as your body is telling you it's struggling. Get outside if you can and don't overdo the visitors.
Oh thank you for your reply. As it is only 5.55 am as I am writing this it also makes me question how much sleep I am actually getting!
I keep waking at 5am doesnt matter what time i come to bed, so it probably doesnt help.
I live alone and dont really have many visitors so not sure that's the reason. I suppose the world of cancer throws our lives into such chaos - I do try to walk each day but still only manage about a 1000 steps.
This may sound a bit strange, I was watching GP behind closed doors the other day. The patient she wakes early everyday and his response was, that it tends to be a sign that the person is a bit down. Could this be the case and maybe why you are not sleeping, tired and thus adding to your exhaustion?
Like you say, a good nights sleep will also help with your tiredness. Maybe you could try some complimentary courses usually run at your local Macmillan on relaxation and this may help you rest better.
Being so physically debilitated after each cycle of chemo can be a sign that your red blood cells are dropping too low. Please contact your chemo hotline or your Consultant as you may need to have a post chemo blood test to check your red blood cell count.
It could be that you simply need your red cells topping up via a blood transfusion; they certainly worked for me when mine dropped through the floor and I barely had the strength to walk.
Kegsy x
"If you are going through hell, keep going" ; Sir Winston Churchill
" Cancer may take my life; however it will not become my life" Kegsy August 2011
Yes - sure your right...... I probably am depressed and on overload.
Keep going to the yoga at the Maggie's but hard to keep positive.
Thanks for replying - good to hear you doing so well yourself (and getting back into work must help! - I've not heard from my work since February- not even a get well wish - find them very cold and odd.....)
