Fatigue

Hi Spooks

i am sorry to hear that you had a tough year last year. Going through surgery and chemotherapy. My own cancer was endometrial and I also had surgery and that was followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

I also had lingering fatigue, I think partly from the emotional aspect of having a cancer diagnosis and treatment and partly from the sheer amount of treatment, and what that treatment does to our bodies. 

For the first year I had a lot of fatigue but it did gradually start to improve. Pacing myself did help. If I did something one day, I would have an easy day the following day. I also had regular afternoon rests/naps on bed and went to bed early most nights. 

I am now 2 and a half years post treatment and still get some fatigue, but it is manageable. 

I will pop a link here with some info that may help.

Tiredness (fatigue) and cancer | Macmillan Cancer Support

The only other thing, to be on the safe side is to have a word with your CNS/GP and maybe get bloods etc checked. I know for a while I was low on haemoglobin and that can affect tiredness etc. 

If you would like to talk this through a bit more, then perhaps give the Support Line a call. 

Jane

Thank you for replying.  I think frustration that I’m not 100% now I’m in remission is making me push things.  I feel I’m letting my family down as fatigue looks like just being lazy and I can’t do the things they and I want to do.  If I do much I’m just zombie like by evening, even with an after lunch rest.  It’s just so frustrating.  O well, just have to put up with it.  Am taking exercise every day and eat v well as I’m a diabetic.

has anybody any other tips to overcome fatigue or found they were allergic to anything or deficient in anything which was making it worse?

I felt that way- the frustration that I should just bounce back. It is worth getting bloods taken as they can check your iron levels etc to see if that is an issue. I had problems after radiotherapy which meant I had to look at my diet and was excluding certain foods. I had to keep a food diary and went through it with my CNS. I asked about supplements and was told that taking a multi vitamin and multi mineral may help. I also took Vitamin B12 and calcium/vitamin D. 

I did develop some food intolerances after treatment- mainly dairy/ high fibre. 

It does slowly get better, exercise does help. 

I never really understood before cancer that fatigue is very different from tiredness. 

It is worth looking at the fatigue diary on the link- it could be a starting point to identify any patterns etc.

I’ve been keeping a health diary since diagnosis last January.  Nearly finished volume 2 now!  May I ask, did you get any JOINT PAIN after cancer/chemo?  I have very sore ankles first thing but only for about ten minutes.  Is this another side effect do you think?

Well done.

I had bone pain during chemo and it was mainly around lower back and top of legs. I was told it was due to the paclitaxel. (My chemo was carboplatin/paclitaxel)

I still get aches and pains in my joints but not all the time. I do however have pain from neuropathy caused by the chemo. Its from mid thigh down and mid arm. 

I was told that it can take a fair while for things to improve after chemo and for most people they do. My neuropathy remains. 

I definitely feel more aches and pains generally since chemo. Do you get any numbness/tingling type feelings around ankles/feet- if so this may be some neuropathy. Worth mentioning it to your CNS at your next check up.

The forums are such a blessing.  There’s always someone in the same sort of boat so you don’t feel alone.  Family and friends are lovely but I don’t think they really understand.

i don’t have any neuropathy issues - though one friend still can’t really feel her feet after chemo - but just get these aching ankles after resting/sleeping.  But in the broader scheme of things I guess that’s not too bad.  Maybe they will stop hurting and the fatigue will diminish as time passes.

best wishes and happy weekend to you!