| | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Senior Member (100+ posts) | OP  Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 128 | hello, my dad had his salvage surgery 6months ago, and completed his radiation and chemo about a year ago. these last 6weeks he has been very fatigue.. his thyroid med (synthroid) was increased about 4weeks ago but his energy level just does not seem to have gotten any better.. he is also on the 50fent patch and takes a norco about every 4-6hrs.. we have an appt tomorrow with his ENT surgeon and med oncologist.. he seemed to be doing a lot better after the surgery then now.. he is never out of bed anymore.. i understand his body and mind has been through so much.. hoping to get more answers tomorrow.. any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. thanks so much
Dad-55 yrs..2/2010-DX/March 2010-Induction Chemo/35Rads 7weeks concurrent with chemo once every 3weeks/6/2010-Treatments completed-October 2010-Recurrence/December 2010-salvage surgery/clear Margins/July 2011-recurrence/weekly Erbitux treatments-5/30/12, last erbitux..
Painfree and rested 6/19/12
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Nicki, I answered this on another of your posts. The answer is the opiates more then likely. Fentanyl depressed the central nervous system (as does the hydrocodone in the norco) slowing the cardiovascular system...sometimes dramatically so in instances of overdose. This generally is the cause of fatigue...however opiates also cause insomnia and irregular sleep patterns and it also suppresses testosterone production in the body both cause fatigue.
He could also be suffering from PTSD, or CRF cancer related fatigue. Cancer takes a huge toll on the body emotionally & physically...but my guess is the pain meds as I had the same issues.
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Hate typing on my phone....
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 128 | Eric, thank you so much for your responses! i did not know that fentanyl is that strong and that much stronger then heroin! wow!
Dad-55 yrs..2/2010-DX/March 2010-Induction Chemo/35Rads 7weeks concurrent with chemo once every 3weeks/6/2010-Treatments completed-October 2010-Recurrence/December 2010-salvage surgery/clear Margins/July 2011-recurrence/weekly Erbitux treatments-5/30/12, last erbitux..
Painfree and rested 6/19/12
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,406 | Nicki, sorry your dad is going through this. I'm with Eric - if he's wearing that strength of Fentanyl patch it's a wonder he's even walking around! I was on a 25 and felt as if I were dreaming with my eyes open. Which isn't to say that some of those other things might be a factor.
I believe I also read somewhere that it takes a little while for an increase in synthroid dosage to "kick in". Such has certainly been the case for me.
Keep us posted.
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 128 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 128 | David, your synthroid dosage was increased as well? do you recall how long it took until you started feeling a bit more energy?
Dad-55 yrs..2/2010-DX/March 2010-Induction Chemo/35Rads 7weeks concurrent with chemo once every 3weeks/6/2010-Treatments completed-October 2010-Recurrence/December 2010-salvage surgery/clear Margins/July 2011-recurrence/weekly Erbitux treatments-5/30/12, last erbitux..
Painfree and rested 6/19/12
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