I’m 5 months post chemo and on Herceptin until May. I had a very hard time on Taxotere and had extreme fatigue/joint pains all the way through culminating with being in hospital for a week after the last cycle.
I’ve done really well since and my energy levels have come on in leaps and bounds, even the oncs have said I look so much better than I did back in early July.
However, this past week I have felt really fatigued and tired. TBH, I’ve felt a bit jaded since the clocks changed as well (I’m in Scotland so not a lot of daylight). Last weekend we had an American friend here with his girlfriend for a Thanksgiving dinner which was a bit like a Christmas dinner and I feel as if my body couldn’t cope with the rich food, hence the tiredness that’s plagued me for this past week. I was really constipated Mon/Tues as well. This has made me decide to be very careful over the festive season.
I suppose I’ve felt as if I’ve gone backwards, so any suggestions would be welcomed. I may be starting a new job second week in January so will need all my energy and concentration.
Whilst you are waiting for your fellow forum users to reply with their experiences I thought I’d mention the cancer backup site to you.
It has a specific section related to coping with fatigue, which you may find useful. This information can be found by using the following
web address:-
Im at the same stage as you, on Herceptin until May, i do could spend all day in bed. Im back at work , asingle parent of 3 kids, and could see Christmas far enough! All the extra work and stress is doing my head in! I also seem more disorganised and have memory loss!..Cant get to grips with what ive bought and what i still need to do, and 2 of my kids still believe in Santa, and the tooth fairy (forgot to come last night…oops)
Hi cherub & Jill
i went on a bcc course the other day, part of this course covered fatigue. It surprised me to learn that post surgery & treatment fatigue can last anything from 6 months to a year. To be honest it made me feel what i have been experiencing is the ‘norm’ after treatment, the lack of concentration, can’t be bothered, memory loss, being over emotional amongst others was all quiet normal. The amount of times i thought i was going mad when i couldn’t remember where i had put things or what i went in the shop for or even where i had parked the car! I must have looked a right fool stood in the car park trying to remember where i had parked the car, not which isle, which part!! What i am saying is it is normal, I would definitely download the information above, when you read it you will realise you are not going mad after all!!
Louise xx