As some of you know, I've had (as with many others on here) bouts with extreme CRF (cancer related fatigue) and have struggled for the last year and some change with my energy levels.

I have posted several times on here for advice on this condition and due to the advice have been tested for my thyroid (still not testing in low range), testosterone levels (tested low, thanks Brian) and have had multiple blood draws to find culprits for the issue so far out of radiation. Where my life has been drastically changed by the cancer (I know, welcome to the club there) my quality of life has been so negatively affected by the fatigue my frustration levels have gone through the roof.

As a former athlete and younger guy, I prided myself in my physical conditioning before cancer. I still ran several miles a few times weekly, coached wrestling and continued to train myself and my boys in mixed martial arts. During treatment I lost 70lbs of mostly lean muscle mass and have had a horrible time putting that weight back on. After Brian suggested my testosterone levels be checked and found to be extremely low (125 where norm is between 225-1100 I believe) I was put on Androderm patches and was able to gain some weight back. The patches helped me to gain weight but also recover from physical activity, which would usually put me down for days afterwards, however had little impact on my energy levels to start with. My PCP believes it's my thyroid but due to not testing low, I'm unable to get on synthyroid to see if that helps relieve the issue.

As I am still on opiate pain medication, I found that I could take a few 5mg oxycodone tabs (not recommended by the way but I was desperate)along with coffee and I would be able to function for about 4 or 5 hours or so before crashing, usually very hard. I found myself in a situation where I needed to drive to Seattle (7hr trip) alone and getting hopped up on opiates just didn't sound like a good idea (I'm slow, I know). As a former Seattleite, I'm happily addicted to good coffee and never feel the caffiene boosts anymore, so I knew that I would not benefit from vivarin or tons of coffee (tried this several times), but needed something that would get me through it.

Enter 5 Hour Energy, (this is not a paid advertisement, I'll list the downsides to it here shortly) I had seen the tv ads and never even considered it before, however at this point I was willing to try it. After perusing the ingredients and being shocked at the amounts of B vitamins in it (not a good thing) noticed it wasn't full of sugar though so really thought if I had two handy I'd be able to make the trip.

Normally when I'm fatigued, I have a really weak feeling in my legs and they are rather shaky and I'm mentally tired, a few moments after drinking this truly awful tasting 2oz shot, the feeling in my legs subsided and I felt mentally sharp. I ended up cruising through the roadtrip without incidence AND in record time...without feeling jittery or anxious at all AND on only one shot of this horrid elixer. No crash, energy wise or vehicular!

In my week in Seattle I used it only one other time (to go shopping before making the trip back) and again, the fatigue/exhaustion issues faded from my legs and mentally. In fact just before writing this I was experiencing the crushing fatigue/exhaustion and took a shot and voila, energy. I had picked up a 6pack at Wally's for under $12, I think I paid above $3 per shot at a gas station.

Now the bad on this product. It uses caffiene ("equivelant to a cup of premium coffee", around 200mg) and a huge amount of B vitamins (3,6,9 &12) to deliver this energy. You can OD on large amounts of B vitamins if taken over time and not properly flushing your system with water and the effects of OD can be quite nasty, I'm sure there are people on this forum more knowledgeable then I in these matters and I hope for their input here.

To wrap this up, the product worked for me and is a better solution then what I was dangerously doing before. The other "energy drinks" like RedBull etc...I have no experience with but would like to hear if anyone has tried it and if it helps CRF. Until they get to the bottom of my fatigue issues or my body gets passed them, I've at least found a short term solution in pressing situations.

Please give me your input, but lets keep this civil to. I've admitted to abusing my pain meds here (dangerously so and I do understand I have an issue there) and that puts me in the idiot box, I know this so please save the verbal lashings.

Eric

Eric,
I can't comment on what is in this stuff, but I am glad you have found something that works for you.

I can totally relate to the fatique. For me the doctor's prescriptions was "get to the gym". Low testosterone level and all, it worked for me; but I was the only guy there with a PEG tube!

I was told the thyroid usually doesn't go haywire for at least a year and mine seems to still be holding its own.

Caffeine still works for me, at least in the AM, however a second boost of Sbucks at lunch only gives me the jitters, and while certainly awake,I sense myself being agitated, or short in attitude, probably not mentally pleasant to be around. (Some might say that is my normal state anyway, so Megan or someone else should offer the observations if my afternoons on a "push" of caffeine are real or my perception of how things are).

I would welcome finding an alternative that works. I too have seen the commercials, and now with reading this I am going to try it as well to see if it actually works. My hours at OCF are a far cry from an 8 hour day, more like 12-14, and I can't afford to just nap in the afternoon.

I don't know much about the downsides of B vitamins, and I thought they were water soluble so that ODing on them would be difficult, especially with those of us that drink tons of water all day long to deal with xerostomia. At one point in a doctors appointment, I revealed to them how much water I drink, as I am on the phone all the time with patients and more,and need it to talk let alone swallow, and the docs thought that it was actually detrimental to drink that much, as it flushed all the electrolytes out of my system. Clearly if this was true, I could drink one of those sports drinks to replace them, but chasing radiation induced caries all the time, I am reluctant to be rinsing my teeth in sugar water with regularity.

Anyone else who tries this stuff please post your impressions, I will also. If someone knows more about the B vitamin issue, I'd be interested in hearing it.

It seems that there is a problem with Vit B overdose:

http://www.acu-cell.com/bx.html

http://www.yohimbebark.net/vitaminb.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitamin_poisoning

Don, I too hit the gym, I've got a personal one setup in my garage with weights, heavy bag, speed bag etc. Due to low testosterone levels it takes me forever to recover from my workouts though.

Brian, the B vitamins are water soluble however with the dosages involved with people that take these drinks daily they don't drink enough water afterwards to properly flush their system and that's how they get into trouble with them. Ultima Replenisher is a sugar free sports drink that will help replenish electrolytes etc...

Thanks for the replies and input and the links Pete

Hey, it's a guy thing. (first thread on OCF I have ever seen with only male posters). Before Cancer, we were like the Energizer Bunny commercials, and suddenly after radiation we are more like the 90 pound weakling in the Charles Atlas ads of the comics of my youth. Very very interesting and I await Brian's evaluation of this energy drink. I have just been able to quit taking afternoon naps yet still am nowhere near my former energy levels. The gym does help. I did find this review on MSNBC that downplays the Vitamin B issue:
Does it Work? MSNBC
Don: I too am the only one in the gym with a PEG but I use it as an excuse to preach about early detection of OCF while in the steam room or shower.
Eric, your "abuse" was just recreational use back in the day but I never drove on them, just stumbled back to my off campus apartment.
Pete: Interesting links, I did like the wiki note that no reports of any death due to vitamin poisoning. I had always read that we have the most vitamin loaded urine in the world,
Brian, good to hear that I am not alone in going back to caffeine. I will ask to have my testosterone checked next visit with my CCC after my upcoming MRI.
Now all we need is for DavidCPA to join in and share his tips on regaining energy as he is biking just like before his cancer.

OK, my thyroid crapped out before my 4th month post Tx and one synthyroid pill a day takes care of it. So just like everything else associated with our cancer, it's Tx, our side effects and our recovery there are no hard and fast rules that we can rely on. I personally don't have much respect for the science behind the hypothyroid problem "cure" since it seems the range of acceptable TSH levels is too great when prescribing a dosage of synthyroid to bring you back in line so to speak.

Even with a few more years off my clock I still have a high energy level as I too work long 6 day weeks and I still am able to ride my miles (currently I ride between 70 and 100 miles each week) and at a pretty good clip. I can still keep up with many young punks (that's the jealously creeping out) who are half my age.

I feel for you Eric. Are you being seen by a Endocrinologists?

Charm, David, thanks for weighing in. To be clear, I didn't drive on oxy...at least not far, definetly not a 7hr trip.

I have seen an Endo, with not much success there. As you said, the range in levels is just stupid and without a base reading from before, who knows what "low" is and without a lower then low read...I can't get synthyroid.

I am hoping and waiting for the day when I'm no longer on the opiates and my energy levels are at least somewhat stable.

David,

What happened to you when your thyroid went south? I am ten weeks out and am still losing a little weight each week, although am eating, have shakey hands, get very light headed on occasion, always cold.
My family Dr is sending me back to the Oncologist to see if my thyroid was affected during radiation. My blood test came back very low in the THS department and I never had a problem before.
Do you think it is thyroid problems? I think my Dr said he believes it to be overactive?

WFC

Hey Guys,
I hope you don't mind me chiming in being a female and breaking man thread...
I went with my mom today to see her lymphedema therapist, Kim. I had printed out the posts in regards to the energy drink and read them to her as she was working on my mom. She said that not being a doctor she wasn't absolute but felt strongly that you should check with your oncologist before drinking any more of these drinks. She said that the chemo you received could possibly still be in your system and it could cause an adverse reaction. She then went on to tell me that a woman who had had breast cancer and went through her treatments successfully went and purchased some vitamins. She said the woman died soon after she had began taking these vitamins,all of her doctors got together and reviewed everything and decided they believed it wasn't that the cancer came back, I think she said all her scans were clear but because of chemo and vitamin she was taking - she had never cleared it with her onc first. She said that the doctors did a mass emailing to spread the word so I suppose it could be found somewhere on the net. (I would look now but I have to leave soon for a job interview.) I would definitely ask your MO prior to drinking any more of this. I would also think that with your being so exhausted that to consume that drink would be very hard on your heart. I know that my mom is still wiped out at times, but seems to be getting stronger and stronger. (I'm always afraid to admit that.) She's finally able to do a lot of the things that she wants to do, she has gone back part time to her cleaning business and when she comes home from that she just crashes for about a day and a half. I blame part of her exhaustion that she still has on her lymphedema, she really has a hard time moving her head around from her bi-lat neck dissection. Just a thought, her therapist has done wonders for my mom, and though she feels tired for a short time after her appointments overall I think it helps her regain her strength. Have you seen a lymphedema therapist after having your neck dissection? Mom had several who had worked on her, we finally found one that is fantastic and to me is like a miracle worker. Kim says that someone who has had a neck dissection should see a lymph specialist immediately after to assess their condition.
You are all amazing to me, I don't know how you push so hard day after day...Super Heroes!!
I hope your strength returns soon.
Donna