I've been reading this forum about fatigue and I suppose that what my husband Michael is dealing with is fatigue and depression. He's 22 days out of radiation and it's been a roller coaster. It seems that he sleeps more than he's awake. Last week he slept round the clock, melted down on Thursday, we met with his therapist and by Thursday evening he was much better. On Friday he went out for a while and on Saturday he insisted on vacuuming the entire house. I tried to convince him that I could help him - all to no avail. He slept most of Sunday. On Monday he cleaned both bathrooms and has been sleeping more so than not. He has a peg and is maintaining approx 2000 - 3000 calories per day. He's lost approx 50-60 lbs. Last week the oncologist said his blood work looked good and that in spite of feeling lousy, he would begin to feel better soon. I have been home intermittently w/him - I work f/t and carry the benefits. Friends have stopped in to see him. Today he didn't even bother taking his Zoloft (he was put on Zoloft after he was diagnosed). His therapist is coming over again on Friday, but if anyone has any feedback I'd really appreciate it.



Another question - he has really bad night sweats, wakes up soaking wet and during the day, in the hot, humid weather, he's cold. His hands are always cold.



Can anyone identify with this and maybe help me out?



Thanks so much

Fatigue is a side effect most of us who have gone thru rads have gone thru. It can last for a very long time (months, even up to 2 years).

Sounds like he may have a circulation issue. My only problem with circultation was my tongue gets numb and turns gray. Sounds weird and it freaked me out when it first happened.

The better your husbands nutrition, the better he will feel. Same goes for hydration. It does take about 4 weekd for most rad patients to start to feel a little better. It can take up to 2 years before an almost full recovery is completed.

Just remember, everyone is different and heals at their own pace. The worst is now behind you both, best of luck with everything.

I am fatigued like most of us and it's seems like forever this has been going on. bust it all day and collapse after a shower LOL

I suffer from extreme fatigue and exhaustion and am a year and some change out of treatment and surgery. I have good days and bad however find that having an active day or exercise puts me down for a few days afterwards. I'll lay in bed all day and really not get any sleep yet be awake for days on end sometimes. I have circulation issues as well a few weeks ago it landed me in the ER...I looked down and my hands were blue, the next thing I knew I was passing out and feeling like an idiot coming to in the ER...luckily my primary dr was working that day.

Has his TSH levels (thyroid) been check lately. It's a little to soon but a lot of us develop Hypothyroidism as a result of our radiation and the night sweating is one of many symptoms that can be attributed to Hypothyroidism.

Re the feeling tired and weak post Tx. That's also very normal. All of us recover at our own pace. Keep up his nutrition and let him get all the rest HIS UNIQUE body needs and he will slowly return to pretty much his old self.

Thanks everyone - your advice and feedback have been a huge help. We went to see the pain doctor today and he thought that part of the problem is that Michael is withdrawing from the fentanyl. Had been on 100, 75, 50 and then 25. He said the lower dosage that you go to, the more the withdrawal symptoms. He gave us a prescription for 12 and said that would ease the withdrawal. He also said that in his experience, that radiation from the breast up seems to cause more exhaustion than radiation in areas downward from the breast/chest area. I had wanted to have his TSH level and testosterone levels checked - he said the radiation onc would check them the next time she sees him. We see the medical oncologist next week and I'll ask her to check his levels. I'll As I type this, he is back to a horizontal position . . . which is okay with me.



Again, thanks so much to all of you. I continue to keep you in my prayers.

Georgette:
22 days out of treatment is not long at all!!! I slept quite a bit in the beginning. The fatigue confused me in the beginning as I would have enouch energy to tackle a project then be pooped for the next day or two. I think it's pretty normal, and over time it should get better. But I wouldn't worry about sleeping too much at this point.

Sandyst

Hello all - it's been a long week and today we went to Sloan Kettering for an appointment with Michael's medical oncologist. Good news is that he's now 160 lbs - has put on approximately 8 pounds - 4 lbs per week since last visit. She said that even though he feels lousy, that he's doing well. The overwhelming fatigue is caused by some of the residual effects of the radiation (he's now 5 weeks out of radiation) and the majority of the fatigue is depression. Why is that when someone tells you something that your spouse has told you numerous times, that when the other person tell you, your eyes light up with recognition and your spouse says "really - depression can make me tired?" When the student is ready the teacher will appear . . . I guess he didn't like me as a teacher, but at least he heard the words from Dr. Xiou and he listens to her. She told him that he has to slowly put one foot in front of the other - slowly - and begin the process of recovery. She also said that he needs to begin to work on accepting this life style change. He loved to eat, was a real meat and potatoes kind of guy . . . always hungry - could eat anyone under the table. His mouth is healed, slowly getting taste back but he doesn't have much saliva. Makes him not want to eat. She also upped his Zoloft to 150 mgs and wants us to call her in a week or two to let her know how he's doing on the 150. If need be, she'll up it to 200 mgs. When they took blood I asked to have his tsh level check - see if his thyroid is working correctly. The plan is that we go back on August 31 and he'll have a CAT scan of the entire body and an MRI on his liver. He'll have to go on a chemo maintenance program sometime around October - the Dioxil - either once every three weeks, or once a week for three times a month. This is because the cancer went from his tonsil to his liver and while the last PET of the liver came out clean, she said the cancer doesn't go away from the liver - it hides. I'm also going to make an appointment with an accupuncturist. I've read that sometimes they're successful in helping with the flow of saliva.

So we turn another page of this story, feeling a bit more positive and upbeat and I believe he is as well. Thank you all for listening. May God watch over you and keep you well.

Georgette

Hi georgette

well its baby steps at this time but the news looks good.I could tell rob stuff i knew as a nurse,but he never trusted my opinion until he heard it from the doctors or nurses it used to get me mad as hell but in the end i just gave up trying to explain things to him.If i wanted him to take something onboard i would mention it to the nurse or doctor and ask them to tell him lol

keep up the good work

love liz

Great news and lets pray the chemo will keep that liver cancer at bay.