today im so down in the dumps unable to move round much had chemo on weds ive alo put on more than a stone in 6months no clothes fit feet swollen when i go for chemo i listen to other woman some r doing a lot of walking some arrobics and swimming i just have energy for the day i feel so lazy my family and housework is my limit
I’m sorry you feel so down, I’ve finished chemo for now but I recognise exactly how you feel - if you are used to being busy it seems lazy just to be sitting around. But you must give yourself permission to do just that - chemo is a terrible load for the body to cope with - and if you are managing to look after your kids and do the housework, you are doing very well indeed. You may well find a lot of the weight is water retention that will go when you have finished chemo and steroids - it was in my case. If you’ve just had chemo a few days ago you will probably be suffering from the steroids now - hence the swollen feet and the down mood. Plus you’ll be able to exercise and shift it when you feel better - no hurry just now.
Chemo affects everyone differently - and the women that are managing to exercise may well be on a different regime, or not have children to look after - or just the lucky ones.
Hope you feel better soon.
finty xx
thanks finty im on tax that was my 3rd one have 1 left not sure how much more i cud have taken you realy do have to find inner strengh to get through
If you’re on tax that certainly explains it - it can hit you like a 10 ton truck. For me FEC was a breeze compared to tax - there were days when I could barely put one foot in front of the other. But only one left - you’re nearly there.
finty xx
Hi Elaine
sorry your feeling down at the moment,I was exactly the same just managed cooking and the housework,it would take me the whole day because I had to keep stopping for a rest. The only time I had any strength at all was the third week just in time for next chemo lol.When I heard of people exercising and running in-between chemo’s I felt like a failure.But as finty said they could be on a different regime or just lucky.I finished over 2 years ago and am feeling very well now.Be good to yourself and just do what you can.I was also on FEC/TAX,I wasn’t too bad on FEC but the TAX was totally different.
Best wishes Mel xx
Hi Elaine, stop giving yourself a hard time, it is difficult I know, but if you can accept this is how you are going to be on chemo, you’ll feel better.
I went from superwoman to couch potato in one go, and it took me quite a while to realise that I had to accept that. I was still trying to be a mum, a wife, cook, cleaner etc etc. Apart from a couple of days after chemo when I felt really bad, I used to give myself one little job to do in the morning, like vacumn the lounge or put some washing out or even meet a friend for coffee and then in the afternoon I just lay on the sofa or bed and watched TV. We have cable TV, and for the 6 months I was on chemo my husband got the movie channels, so I had more choice.
I lost some weight after chemo finished, but am still about 10lb heavier than I originally was, I still worry about this, but in the big scheme of things its not such a big problem - I am still here.
Take care & put your feet up xxx
A friend of mine wrote this on facebook and it made me smile,so I thought I would share it with you.
Cancer can sure put a frown on your mug! so i’m sending you something not found in a drug. A prayer and a smile and a great BIG (((HUG)))
Best of luck with your last chemo.It will soon be over.
Love Mel xx
Hi Elaine,
In a funny sort of way, you made my day, as i thought i was the only one who felt fat and lazy, i have put on well over a stone, and i have water retention, constipation etc, none of which helps.
I am having a fat day today, really fed up, i look 9 moths pregnant, i suppose as i’m constipated it looks worse.
My hubby tries to make me feel good, bless him, but it doesn’t make it any better.
I hope you are having a better day, hope i didn’t make you feel even more fed up, i’m normally pretty upbeat, just having a cr*ppy couple of days.
My bc nurse told me a couple of weeks ago that i have enough to worry about, worry about the weight when treatment is finished.
I suppose it will be salads for months, ha ha.
We will get there in the end.
Take care, Sandrae x
Hi Elaine and Sandrae,
I understand where you are both coming from. This time last year I was having tax and felt as fat, bloated and tired as you do. I am usually a fit, active person and found it very difficult to accept that my body was fighting some very powerful drugs. It was made more difficult by the long summer days when I would normally have been out walking or cycling. On the occaisions when I did try to do stuff I ended up in tears because I just couldn’t do it. Although we are told of the side effects of the chemo I don’t think they really let on about the pychological side effects of the drugs especailly the steroids.
On a positive side I very quickly lost about 4 kg of fluid once my chemo finished and although I wasn’t running marathons, I was soon able to swim and cycle again once the chemo finished. Be kind to yourself mentally as well as physically. I used to get my husband to walk around the block every evening in the weeks after my chemo and he now laughs and says it wasn’t really a walk, more a shuffle - and I used to have a favourite wall to reach before I sat down for a rest!!!
take care
Louise
hi ladies took on board all your comments and thank you 2day is a gud day and whats a few pounds between friends ha ha you get these crappy days its good to know that people out there understand and listen to your moans and groans gives the hubbys ears a rest thanks