Forum Discussion

Megs04's avatar
Megs04
Member
5 years ago

Finished IV treatment still tired etc, why

Hi all, 
Just wondering if anyone has any answers.
I finished chemo last july, had surgery August, finished herceptin 3 weeks ago.
Im on taxomflin tablets since August for 5 years? 
Still tired easily, slight dizziness/light headed, weak knees and can get shakey if too much activity. Fatigue kicks in regularly. Dont get me wrong im getting better all the time.
So the question is does anyone know if this is recovery from treatment, still or the tablets. I thought i would be normal by now. 
Please dont tell me this is the new normal, i will scream
Anyway id really appreciate some advice

coping
Fatigue
herceptin
tamoxifen
  • Blossom1961's avatar
    Blossom1961
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @Megs04 Tiredness and fatigue can last for quite awhile. I finished my Taxol Sept 2018; Herceptin August 2019. I still get bouts of tiredness. I am not on tamoxifen but I believe it can cause fatigue. It will improve but it sometimes seems like it will never finish.
  • PV123's avatar
    PV123
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi @Megs04
    My timeline of treatment is different to yours but my symptoms are similar to yours.  I finished Paclitaxel in January this year, had surgery in February and started Letrozole in March.  I have finished 6 months of herceptin, 6 more to go.  

    I have had vertigo and dizziness since the last two weeks.  The oncologist does not believe that this is related to either herceptin or letrozole.  
    I feel very tired and fatigued, when I asked the breast surgeon she said that fatigue after surgery could last for a year.  
    I get lots of aches and pains, this is most likely due to letrozole.

    While I feel your symptoms may be related to your treatment, I would still run that by the oncologist.

    Good luck with everything.

  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    5 years ago
    Honestly I think it just needs time. Quality of sleep is huge. Looking at diet. Multivitamins. I was constantly needing rest. Herceptin dies have some heart impact and it improves around 6 weeks. Your body has been depleted. Nourish it. Care for it and it will get better.
    I also found out when I eventually was able to stop panadol for joint pain the fatigue improved. I've never returned to pre chemo energy levels but I've adjusted.
  • Megs04's avatar
    Megs04
    Member
    5 years ago
    Thanks everyone,  and yes Pv123 i was exactly where you are towards the end of chemo treatment. It does get better. 
    Im trying to work out what's causing what, i guess i need to give it more time to see as i am continuing to get better, just hope its not the tablets keeping me this way.

  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    5 years ago
    Tamoxifen can definitely cause dizziness, nausea and loss of balance.   It seems to improve a bit over time and alternative brands can increase or decrease side effects I have found.  
  • Megs04's avatar
    Megs04
    Member
    5 years ago
    Ok.thanks. its so hard to know what causes this.
    What brands gave you less side effects please.
  • Shellshocked201's avatar
    Shellshocked201
    Member
    5 years ago
    Hi Megs04, I finished chemotherapy June 2019, surgery July 2019, finished Radiation October 2019.
    I am not taking any hormonal treatment.
    Make sure you get good night sleeps as much as you can, your body heals whilst you rest and sleep.

    I currently still get very tired if I do to much, it’s very frustrating at times. I can’t do as much as I use to in one day , if I do to much I pay for it the next day, just need to pace ourselves.
    Sometimes I’m still having to rest on a daily basis, occasionally I have a short sleep depending on how much sleep I had the night before.
    Give your breast care nurse a call and she will be able to advise you, have some answers ,or give you suggestions.

    Take care, be kind to yourself. We will get there. Xx