Forum Discussion
What is this? BC was all behind me
I have been doing really well. I mean really, really well. Diagnosed Oct 2015, surgery chemo, radiation, 12 months Herceptin all over by Dec 2016. Finally got back to work full time more than a year ago. Full steam ahead. Hot flushes - damn annoying - ever present and fluctuate in number from week to week, but so much better than before. Doing a demanding job that I love working 50 hours plus a week which I also don't mind. 32 kgs weight loss post chemo maintained. Neuropathy and osteo arthritis pain from taxol being managed. Did big OS trip which was great. Had port removed. Wasn't thinking about BC at all. It was in the past. All over. All done. Finished. So long and thanks for all the fish. Really everything was great.
Then 5-6 weeks ago I started getting tired and didn't quite feel like myself. This has since turned into fatigue. Knock-me-down-wipe-me-out-have-to-sleep-right-this-very-minute type of fatigue just like back when I was doing chemo. Dragged myself around for weeks and then was sent home from work because I literally fell asleep at my desk. Totally not the new me. Had to go on reduced work hours which is hurting my pay packet.
Blood tests show my billirubin levels are high but I am not jaundiced. Blood pressure 160/120. Stomach bloated but not firm. Still my GP thinks that it could all be nothing serious as sometimes liver function tests show weird things, my blood pressure has been on the high side in the past, and my BC was node negative, so we'll test again in 2 weeks.
Then today the cancer psychiatrist mentioned that a lot of women similar to me who are forced into menopause by chemo often report a return of the same exhaustion they felt during treatment sometimes 2 or more years after treatment. Really??? I have never heard this. I mean I knew that the hot flushes can linger or come and go for a long time, I also heard that some women never quite return back to the way they were, but I don't think I have ever heard anyone mention their fatigue had returned after they have enjoyed a long period without it.
Just wondering if this sounds right? Have others experienced a return of fatigue so long after treatment finished and after doing well for a period of time? If so, is there something that made it better or go away? I so need to get my mojo back. Any advice is appreciated.
P.S. I am really careful about what I eat (good, sensible food, low-no sugar, minimal alcohol), am maintaining good gut health with diet and a probiotic, have reasonable activity given my arthritis, and tests show good iron, Vitamin D etc etc.
Then 5-6 weeks ago I started getting tired and didn't quite feel like myself. This has since turned into fatigue. Knock-me-down-wipe-me-out-have-to-sleep-right-this-very-minute type of fatigue just like back when I was doing chemo. Dragged myself around for weeks and then was sent home from work because I literally fell asleep at my desk. Totally not the new me. Had to go on reduced work hours which is hurting my pay packet.
Blood tests show my billirubin levels are high but I am not jaundiced. Blood pressure 160/120. Stomach bloated but not firm. Still my GP thinks that it could all be nothing serious as sometimes liver function tests show weird things, my blood pressure has been on the high side in the past, and my BC was node negative, so we'll test again in 2 weeks.
Then today the cancer psychiatrist mentioned that a lot of women similar to me who are forced into menopause by chemo often report a return of the same exhaustion they felt during treatment sometimes 2 or more years after treatment. Really??? I have never heard this. I mean I knew that the hot flushes can linger or come and go for a long time, I also heard that some women never quite return back to the way they were, but I don't think I have ever heard anyone mention their fatigue had returned after they have enjoyed a long period without it.
Just wondering if this sounds right? Have others experienced a return of fatigue so long after treatment finished and after doing well for a period of time? If so, is there something that made it better or go away? I so need to get my mojo back. Any advice is appreciated.
P.S. I am really careful about what I eat (good, sensible food, low-no sugar, minimal alcohol), am maintaining good gut health with diet and a probiotic, have reasonable activity given my arthritis, and tests show good iron, Vitamin D etc etc.
22 Replies
- Hi there love great news about all of your results. It’s good you have you’re energy levels back. What a bloody relief for you. And I’m sorry to hear about your dad, Dementia is a tough disease to watch isn’t it. And now the stroke. It’s extra hard as youre thinking with your heart. The universe will tell you what the best decision is for him and I’m sure he would of told you what he wanted also, when he was able, so hopefullly that will help with your decision. Whatever you decide you willl know what’s right and the crew on here will support you either way. Big hug. Margie xx
- Hello @Nadi sorry to hear about your fathers declining health. Take care of you and your family
Vitamin B! Well what do you know. Best wishes for you and your family looking after your father.- Got you in my thoughts Nadi! Hope your Dad is comfortable
Take care - Glad to hear you're feeling better. Not so good about your Dad...it never stops coming, does it?
- Glad to hear you wre feeling better. Sorry to hear about your Dad's declining health. Take care. X
- Good to hear you're feeling better @Nadi. My mother just about force fed me and my sisters Vitamin B pills in our final year at school. She's a great believer in it! All the best with your dad. K xox
- @iserbrown, @onemargie, @Brenda5, @sister, @primek , @TonyaM, @jennyss
Thanks again for all your great advice and support. Mystery solved, kind of. It seems that my extreme fatigue was probably due to low Vitamin B. Doc put me on special Vit B capsules 5 days ago and I am feeling back to my old self. I never knew that low Vit B could affect people in that way. Still no further information on why my Billirubin was high, but it is back into the normal range now at the high end and my stomach has reduced in size so we are going to just watch it for a while.
Feeling so relived I have some energy back as yesterday my wonderful, beautiful father who has severe dementia had a stroke and I needed energy and my wits about me to make some hard choices about whether we intervene or not. Some hard days ahead. Guess this is really what 'life is all about'.
You ladies are amazing, thanks again for keeping me in check.
Nadine - @Nadi you’ve had such great advice from the crew so far. I’m 2 years today since diagnosis hot flushes stopped July last year but the fatigue still lingers. I can go weeks and feel great then have a fatigue crash and burn moment. Keep us posted how you go with everything love. Don’t blame you for not wanting to have more scans either. Big hug. Margie. Xxx
- @Nadi got you in my thoughts today! Hopefully you've made it to the 3 month check up. Something is bugging you and hopefully it is a bug! It would seem when we are unwell it hits our weak point and maybe that is an explanation for fatigue on top of a bug - but as someone said on here recently, we are not Doctors, so please don't let it go for too long so that you can get to the root cause and hopefully start to improve.
Take care and hope you have energy to post again later to update us! Hugs x
