How long will I suffer from fatigue?

[takeadeepbreath]

I can also access research online at a university and I found several papers on how L carnitine can reduce fatigue and boost mood among cancer patients.

Most cancer patients are deficient in L carnitine and the research listed below all say that supplementation reduces fatigue – and improves mood.  

1. Safety, Tolerability and Symptom Outcomes Associated with l-Carnitine Supplementation in Patients with Cancer, Fatigue, and Carnitine Deficiency: A Phase I/II Study in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392406005549

The conclusion said “Most of the patients who received l-carnitine experienced improved fatigue, mood, and sleep.”  

1. l-carnitine supplementation for the treatment of fatigue and depressed mood in cancer patients with carnitine deficiency Ann NY Acad Sci, 1033 (2004), pp. 168–176

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1196/annals.1320.016/abstract

This showed that supplementation did reduce fatigue – and also depression.

1. Potential role of levocarnitine supplementation for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced fatigue in non-anaemic patients Br J Cancer, 86 (2002), pp. 1854–1857

http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v86/n12/full/6600413a.html

This paper looked at whether L-carnitine improved fatigue among chemotherapy patients and concluded it did – after one week, fatigue lessened among 45 out of 50 patients .

1. Efficacy of l-carnitine administration on fatigue, nutritional status, oxidative stress, and related quality of life in 12 advanced cancer patients undergoing anticancer therapy –

This concluded that L-carnitine did reduce fatigue.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0899900705002613

I also found a systematic review (the highest standard of research) into how L acetyl carnitine can reduce nerve pain/neuropathy with acceptable safety.

 Acetyl-L-Carnitine in the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0119479

I accept you can find evidence to the contrary but there is always contradictory evidence in medicine and it’s up to you to decide.  

However, this supplement is non-toxic and it worked for me so if you try it for a few weeks (when you should see an improvement), you haven’t got much to lose.  

[CyclingMad]

I've been looking into this quickly.  (I am a student and used my library access to search through research in journals.)  I've found a systematic review (the best quality of research - looks rigorously at many other studies that have been done) about therapies to support breast cancer patients.  One of the things they looked at was fatigue.

Acetyl-l-carnitine was looked at and the conclusion is that it is "not recommended for the treatment of fatigue due to lack of effect".  You can see the systematic review here: http://jncimono.oxfordjournals.org/content/2014/50/346.full

This doesn't mean that it might not work for some people - takeadeepbreath has obviously found it helpful - but there is not the scientific evidence to expect it to work for a significant proportion of people.  I won't be trying it.

I also note that it can have negative effects, reportedly worsening neuropathy (nerve problems) following chemotherapy of people with breast cancer: the original paper on this notes worsening symptoms and warns "Patients should be discouraged from using supplements without proven efficacy".  Source: http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/31/20/2627.full

[CyclingMad]

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@takeadeepbreath wrote:

This will get rid of your fatigue - research shows 90% of cancer patients showed an improvement after just one week.

It's a food supplement called Acetyl - L- carnitine wtih alphalipoic acid and you can get it on Amazon. 

It boosts the energy producing part of your cells called mitochondria and also improves your cognitive function.

I've been on it for weeks and it's totally banished all cancer fatigue - in fact, I have more energy than before and my mind is sharp. 

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That's interesting.  Do you have a reference for the research done on this?  I'd be interested to read more.

[takeadeepbreath]

Bettypoppit
let me know how it goes, I'm keen for as many others as poss to benefit.
Gill xxx

[takeadeepbreath]

I mentioned it when I signed up to a clinical trial at the Care Oncology Clinic in London and they said it was fine. hope that helps and let me know how it goes
gill xxx

[Penny47]

That Alpha stuff sounds good but I need to check whether it's ok with the meds I'm on-is there anywhere on line that tells us?

[bettypoppit]

Thanks takeadeepbreath (love your posting name) I think I'll check that out and give it a go.

[takeadeepbreath]

This will get rid of your fatigue - research shows 90% of cancer patients showed an improvement after just one week.

It's a food supplement called Acetyl - L- carnitine wtih alphalipoic acid and you can get it on Amazon. 

It boosts the energy producing part of your cells called mitochondria and also improves your cognitive function.

I've been on it for weeks and it's totally banished all cancer fatigue - in fact, I have more energy than before and my mind is sharp. 

[mary32]

Hi Sofadays

I am nearly 3 years from dx and I only really started to feel my energy levels were getting better towards the middle of last year. I had surgery and rads but no chemo and I suffered from fatigue and thought it would never get better. I worked through most of it but I would regularly have days where I was pretty comatose by 7pm. I am so much better now but even still if I have a couple of very busy/long days in a row then I do suffer for a couple of days after.

I was also mentally all over the place, couldn't remember things etc. I try to do as much excercise as I can, write reminders to myself on my phone app - don't know how I would manage without it, and I have found cognitve training really helpful - Peak is really good.

I suppose its just patience and helping yourself every way you can that worked for me.

I hope you both see some improvement soon.

Take care.

Mary

[bettypoppit]

Hi Sofadays, I finished treatment (wle, chemo & rads) March15 - so I'm a year+ on and I still haven't regained my previous energy and staying power. Although I'm fat and fifty+ lol a month before diagnosis I walked up Ben Nevis to the snowy summit but l don't believe I could do even a big hill at the moment. I could walk 10 miles in the peak district before, but currently I can just manage 4/5 miles on a beach! We are of course all different and will recover at different rates, but hope this helps - it is still early doors! 

[sofadays]

I know that fatigue is an expected side effect of treatment but for just how long? Had two lots of surgery, chemo, rads and a year of herceptin. Completed treatment in December and now back teaching. Couple of weeks ago I felt so much better but now shattered again. Have spells when I am just wiped out. So difficult to explain to colleagues friends and family and feel so inadequate. Anyone have any idea how long this will continue for?