Tiredness
Tiredness Having had local recurrence in May 05 followed by mastectomy/ancillary clearance and chemo, I am still experiencing complete exhaustion. Recovered very quickly from surgery, but gave chemo up in the end, as I had so many side effects. My bloods have been normal now since last November - a year ago now, but I just can’t get my energy back at all. I am taking Arimidex and due to night sweats, never get a decent nights sleep, so I am obivously sleep deprived. My life has just changed completely, from being outgoing, enjoying a social life etc., all I want to do now is sleep. ALso had to give up work, as I just could not cope any more.
Any suggestions as to how to get my energy levels up again, would be much appreciated
Birgit.
Fatigue Hello, Birgit - this is one of those contentious areas! I would seriously ask your doctor (a) to investigate your iodine levels and (b) look into melatonin to help you sleep. Not sure that blood tests normally cover iodine.
There was an interesting discussion about Black Cohosh for controlling hot flushes on another forum, in which it is stated “just because black cohosh fixes hot flashes in about 80% of the women who take it, doctors thought it was because of an estrogen effect. It isn’t. There is no phytoestrogen in black cohosh. Susan Love wrote about it in her latest book . It works on the thermostat of the body–the hypothalamus. No estrogen at all. Even the Vicki Davis study on transgenic mice didn’t find it had an estrogenic effect.”
This link is to the Mayo Clinic’s take on fatigue, which is worth reading:
mayoclinic.com/health/cancer-fatigue/CA00032
Otherwise all the usual suggestions - good plain food, as much exercise as possible, rest if you feel you need to, try not to worry (Hah!).
Black Cohosh Hi Phoebe
Interesting what yous ay about black cohosh. I’ve been on it for years, as the flushes first started when I took Tamoxifen. However, my consultant is adamant that I should not take it as my CA was highly oestrogen receptor positive and I have also a slighly enlarged liver, and apparently studies have shown that cohosh can affect the liver.
I used to have a lot of isoflavonoides in my diet from soya, beans etc. , but been told as I had a recurrence despite Tamoxifen etc. I should not take anything that might have even the slightest amount of plant oestrogen - so back to the drawing board. Have also tried Melatonin, but the sweats still woke me up several times and then I just felt completely groggy the next day.
All my (helpful!!) consultant could suggest was anti-depressants. Just don’t want to take yet another drug with side effects, so back to square one, as they say. I try and eat very healthy with loads of fruit and veg and not too much red meat/dairy etc. and I keep active by swimming 2 - 3 times a week and a lot of walking, so try to ‘tire’ myself out, but sleep is constantly disturbed. Could also be that I am still fighting all those ‘midnight’ thoughts about the future - don’t know whether 1 year past treatment is really long enough to get over the shock and trauma of everything.
But thanks for your kind words.
Birgit
Hello, Birgit,
I do so understand about the “midnight thoughts”. Treadmills are nothing compared to them. It was interesting to read your experiences - while you were taking the Black Cohosh, did it work for you?
If melatonin was not helpful, how about valerian?
I feel it takes far longer to regain “normality” after treatment than is generally indicated. My oncologist said to allow six months before reckoning that the effects of chemo had dissipated, and it can take far longer. If you have had operations as well, the body has even more to overcome.
I wonder what other people have done to cope.
Tiredness Hi Phoebe
Yes, I did take black cohosh and a host of other menopause supplements for about 6 years. Some were more helpful than others, but I can’t say that any completely alleviated flushes, although perhaps affected mood etc. I tried all the following:
Sage, red glover, evening primrose and a host of combinations incl. isoflavonoides. Also tried Bach flower remedies and one that I found particularly helpful Australian Bush remedy (womens essence)Some worked for a little while, then my body got used to them and I tried something else.
Have just started taking Nytol herbal (which includes Valerian, etc.) as a light sleep remedy, not much good at present, but will let you know how I get on.
Birgit