Thanks Oldandlumpy, yes everyone has gone back to normal getting on with their lives and forgetting what I have been through, dont get me wrong my husband was brilliant while going through it all but has no idea of the mixed emotions I am feeling. I elected not to go on hormone treatment because I had not started the menopause so they could see no benefit, just got to keep an eye on the the breast though
I never no what to say to these helplines I ve never rung one, I feel a bit awkward
Hi oal Yes I hope they are right & this is usually the way but please dont feel your body has let you down if you do start to feel cr*ppy as you know I didn’t have chemo 45 very active did all I was told too but still had a few days where I felt like someone had mopped the floor with me, although we are all different dont beat yourself up if you do feel tired just be good to you on those days & hopefully they’ll be little if any.
Hi Backup I just finished my rads this monday (15) & was so shocked what an emotional wreck I was that day like you said I think we hold alot in while going through treatment as we just want it over & done with then when its finished we seem to be in this ‘limbo’ Ive not been too bad the last 2 days but the tiredness is creeping in & ive been surprised how washed out I feel 1st thing Im so grateful ive not had to get up & go for treatment anymore how these ladies who have 20 + and then additional boosters cope Ill never know, thankfully so far im not that sore & skin has stayed intact as for getting back to any sort of normality right now for me it just isn’t going to happen my brain is in gear but my body is saying something different so im just being good to me & going with the flow … I felt very down last night so went to my room & started writing WOW after 5 A4 sheets I think ive started a book & boy it was great therapy I slept like a log after getting so much off my mind. If it gets too bad give the helpline here a call they can put you intouch with couselling or maybe a bit of complimentry therapy which we are entitled to through NHS may just be the pick up you need, but it is all natural what you are going through
All the best
Hugs
Mekala xxx
just over 2 weeks after rads and altho im still “sunburnt sore” and flaky i have been lucky not been tired at all…only thing im not happy about is i seem to have a “sun burnt” area on the left side of my neck ( under left arm left breast as was, lymph gland in chest was the targeted aea) so why have i got a sun burnt flaky neck???
saw radiologist on tuesday for planning. She said that if you have recovered well from surgery and are not having chemo there should be nothing in the radiation treatment itself that would make you tired.
However, she said that some people are worried about the treatment and the daily stress can be tiring, some people find travelling tiring, and some poeple have to fit their normal routine round the treatment and filling the day too much can tire you also.
I am lucky that the hospital is 20 minutes away and they provide a reserved car parking space. I am retired and can easily fit all this into my life, and realy do not find anything to worry about the treatment now I have had the tatoos-- so fingers crossed I might not be too bad.
only bad thing that came out of the meeting. I have given up drinking till the end of rads, thought I would give my body a chance, but the radiologist says the rads have no effect on the liver function so carry on as normal. So now I have no medical reason to lay off the booze.
I still have not started, have actually gone off the idea of alcohol for some reason–perhaps i am sickening for something. I thought it would be a good idea to loose some weight before starting tomaxifan, but after 10 days of no booze the weight has not budged. So I suspect any day now I will be back in the old routine
I’m starting radiotherapy at some point end of august/early sept. Not had meeting yet. Last chemo 2nd Aug.
Just starting to look into Radiotherapy stuff now to see what its all about (one step at a time stuff)
I’d just also like to say after seeing a few people saying about getting emotional etc. I’m not a crier by nature AT ALL and normally hold things in all the time, I don’t think this is particulary healthy really but it’s how I’m built.
The last few nights, despite having my SEs subside and being happy about that in the daytime, as soon as I turn the light off at night tears just course down my face, no real reason. Then I start thinking about all the bad things happening over the years and all woe is me stuff, and then I can’t sleep.
So its a reliefto hear that it’s not just a complete mental meltdown and a lot of people are having this crying out of the blue and uncharacteristically thing. Probably is our brains way of MAKING us deal with all the emotional upheavel this is, and it is no matter what face we put on it.
Probably best to let it happen and not try repressing it.
OAL, the Onc and radiologists at my hospital say that tiredness is normal with rads, although the degree varies from person to person, and that the worst tiredness often occurs in the weeks immediately following treatment. Perhaps it’s not so much the rads themselves as the energy your body has to put into repairing itself.
I do wish they would all sing from the same hymn sheet!
Hi
I think that is correct Mezzo, about rads making you tired AFTER they have finished. This certainly happened to me, and it is quite debilitating. I am learning not to do too much and to rest in the afternoon and get to bed early. Eat lots of energy producing foods too, but mainly it is the rest which helps. I think that everyone is different though, and you should just take it as it comes. chris x
I second that too Chrissy it defo hits you more the weeks after. I find most days im not too bad then I get a day where I feel very heavy eyed & if I close my eyes I feel myself dozing off Ive been having early nights as I find come early evening im completely zapped out
I’ve just been for an information session/pre-radiotheraphy session and the little video Q&A section said to expect to feel tired AFTER THE TREATMENT HAD FINISHED… so… don’t beat yourselves up ladies! Last tax Monday… planning session 5th Aug… but then 2 weeks holidays before I start! Yay! Jane
Hi,
Finished rads a couple of weeks ago, not really any problems whilst having treatment, one day very weepy (blame that on the tamoxifen)Thought I was doing very well when the tiredness really started to hit and have for the last week been sleeping for around 3 to 4 hours in the afternoon, then going to bed early at night and sleeping right through until morning!! Starting to pick up again, haven’t needed to nap the last couple of days so just take it as it comes, if you’re tired and you can rest just do it, don’t feel guilty, your body will let you know…
i’m waiting for my planning appt now-been told that the fitter you are when you start it the better it will be-started going walking bit this weekend can’t be bothered !!well-it is my birthday wayhey-x
so much for getting fitter then!! I thought i would be good and give up alcohol between now and ending rads. I had gone off it anyway and thought lets give my liver a rest. Went in for planning last week and the radiologist said-- rads has not effect on your liver at all, carry on!! I am back to fancying a drink again. It was so hard last night to abstain, but i think i will carry on for a bit longer. I would like to loose the couple of pounds i put on lying around in bed after my op before i start the tamoxifan. I refuse to diet or exercise, but i thought just cutting back the booze would help. It is a bit, one pound every fortnight. So i am trying to give it up till i reach my pre op weight, at this rate just when my rads finish.
will someone please tell me that it is not the booze making me loose wieght but my body naturally shedding the pounds then i can go back to life as I know it.
And I would not go for a walk on my birthday either, but i think they are right, people on here say making yourself be active helps. i am going to increase my drum practice, cos i enjoy htat.
Interestingly enough no one on here admits to smoking. That is the one thing my plannig said affects you during rads. i wonder if they is anybody on here secretly puffing but who dare not lift their head above the parapet.
Hi Richard
Just read your comment. Sorry that work are not being sympathetic with you - that must be very difficult to deal with. I think you have to think of yourself first though and if you are getting really tired maybe listen to your body and take some more time off to let it heal itself properly. I went back to work for 2 weeks but only part time before I started rads. Am having my last of 15 rads on Monday and have tried to work but have had to have several days off. I have now given up as I felt so rough last Thursday and very down/tearful so am not going to go into work at all next week. Work will have to lump it - my health is more important, however I have to say that they are being very good about it all.
Love Lynn x
No you are not being pathetic my radiologist said you feel worse after treatment because radium keeps working.
I have felt really tired and really sore and that,s after finishing two weeks .ago…
I try not to give in to it but have to as it is really exhausting.
Hi Linda , know the feeling am having no 20 today and the last one ??? but am so tired feel like I have a cold but guessing that’s fatigue only 7 weeks post chemo but having to force myself to do things so hope it improves over the next week or so … Take care xx
This post is a breath of fresh air to me, thank you for sharing your experiences, not that I’d want anyone to experience this, it really helps to know others have been having the same tiredness etc post rads.
I finished 19 rads on 19th November and still getting so very tired. Have bursts of energy some days them have to stop and rest, and then other days it’s nearly the whole day that I can feel wiped out, weak and lightheaded. Resting loads and drinking soooooo much water, I suppose I’m expecting too much too soon, just frustrating that recovery is slower than I would like!! :smileysad: :smileywink: x
A very useful thread! I finished rads just over 2 weeks ago (2 weeks and 2 days). Thought I was tired towards the end of rads but nothing like I am now!!! Extreme fatigue!
I have ms and am very used to fatigue but this is worse than I’ve experienced before.
It’s good to know it’s not just me!
Pat xx
Hello Ladies. I had a very small lump, which was removed in September along with three lymph nodes. Fortunately it had not spread to my lymph nodes. Dr said it was a very low risk one, congratulated me and shook my hand (wow was I happy). I finished 20 days of radiotherapy on Tuesday 20th December (yahoo). The Dr warned me that I would be tired for about two weeks. Since finishing the treatment I find that I can do all my chores in the morning but by about 12 noon I am exhausted. Its not the need to sleep, its more the need to just sit and rest. After my first week of rads I had lots of energy and then about half way through fatigue set in a few times (usually on a Saturday after spendng the morning shopping). I drunk gallons of water throughout treatment but since finishing I have been guilty of forgetting about the water, so I think that may be why the fatigue has set in now. Serves me right! I have a pint of water on the go at the moment.
I used 99% Aloe Vera Gel which I purchased from Holland and Barrett and it has been brilliant. I have suffered the ocassional redness after treatment, but it’s not been sore so I can thoroughly recommend it.
The Radiotherapists at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital were amazing, such lovely people. Since going through this it has put my faith back in humans again!
Happy Christmas everybody and here’s to a healthy and happy 2017. xx
You are so right rubycat, I’m not a very good patient and want to run before I can walk, lol. Have gone back to drinking lots of water and rest when I feel like it. Have a lovely Christmas. X