Do you snore? Do you have sleep apnea? Don't forget you have been through a lot and it takes a long time to recover. Is it possible that when you exercise you're over doing it a little? After my step-father went through his treatments for prostate cancer he was always tired and the doctors found that he was lacking iron...one little iron pill a day makes a world of a difference for him.

good luck and keep us posted

All of us that have been through these treatments and have posterior oral anatomical changes, or chronic sinititus, are candidates for sleep apnea. The only way to know if this is part of your issue, is to go to a sleep center and get wired up for the night and find out if you have it. I was very surprised to find that besides my low thyroid, that I have severe sleep apnea, which is a direct result of the anatomical changes in the back of my throat.

Hello all,
With regards to sleeping and overcoming the miscellaneous aches and pains associated with cancer treatment (and aging) I occasionally take Advil PM. I tried Tylenol PM but find the Advil PM to be more effective with the aches and pains. I know the PM part is nothing more than an antihistimine but it is very effective for me. Nothing like a good nights sleep.

My thyroid function has also been fluctuating and they are testing it regularly and often.

Have they continued to check your TSH levels. They changed my meds twice and I still wonder some days if they have it right. IMO the science behind finding the proper dose to correct our thyroid imbalance is akin to throwing a dart blindfolded.

I don't remember where I came across the term "radiation fatigue" but I remember reading that it often lasts about a year. I'll have to do a search on that. I'm almost 1 year from end of tx and get totally wiped out by the end of the work week. I try to do some yard work and stuff on my days off but can't do anywhere near as much as I plan on and end up feeling like I wasted the day. Hopefully it will pass and we will all get back to something like "normal".

Re: thyroid - you will find that most doctors don't really understand thyroid issues and rely exclusively on the standard tests (tsh, uptake, etc.). Radiation to the neck area will almost always have effect on the thyroid gland (the radiologist report described mine as "incredibly tiny"). The real test of whether your thyroid levels are OK is how you feel, irrespective of the test results. And, the usual thyroid supplements (Synthroid, Levoxil, etc.) include only the T4 component. Armour Thyroid (a natural vs synthetic product) contains both the T3 and T4 comnponents. The synthetics rely on the pituitary gland to convert T4 to T3, so if there are pituitary problems, it doesn't happen or doesn't happen in sufficient quantities. There is literature available out there that discusses thyroid issues, including fatigue.
I am 4 years out from end of treatments. All subsequent tests (PET, CT, MRI, blood work) have shown no cancer. The fatigue continues and seems to have gotten worse in the last few months. My GP prescribed Ritalin, but it had no effect. Further research suggests supplementing with testosterone (Androgel, etc.) so I'll discuss that with my GP later this month.
Most importantly, don't give up, don't lose hope, and continue to work with your docs (you may have to "lead" them regarding thyroid), but remember the three most dangerous words in medicine....."you're the doctor".

David,

Our bodies are uniquely different like snowflakes and I agree and have posted before that I don't believe doctors truly understand how to correct thyroid problems. That said I was pretty weak for at least a year but I found that when I resumed my biking that I really had just as much energy, perhaps more desire, than I did pre Tx. I am 2 1/2 yrs post now and I can easily work a 15 hr day and when I go home yes I'm tired but heck I'm 61 now so maybe that's just normal for me. Bottom line, try aerobic exercising and get those juices flowing.

I was into weights and tons of yardwork, even hand bug my garden last year. I still get tired and I have been post tx for over a year,\. But I am in recovery from that blasted anneurysm surgery and I still might have 1 more to go. I was even drinking muscle milk which my son drinks for mass build up. Now I have to start over. THey say as long as you have things to do you won't die. I have years of work yo do to get this body back

None of my bloodwork has come back yet and I went to my Oncologist yesterday to get more done and to have a lump checked out in my mouth. I have my ENT appointment on Friday and my PET scan on Monday. My oncologist really didn't have an idea about the fatigue saying unfortunately that there was no "magic pill" that she could give me to make it go away. She's doing a check on my testosterone levels though...I hate the fact that they dismiss it so quickly though, I had to ask her about the testosterone first before she even thought about it. The good thing to come out of the appointment was that she doesn't think that the lump was cancerous (thank god) but ordered the PET just in case, it's been 5 months already so I'm due anyway.

I don't feel like I overdo any of my attempts at exercise, I'm well aware of where I am physically so I really go easy when I workout. But even when I just have a busy day I"m going to pay for it days afterwards.

The sleep aids don't work for me and I refuse to take ambien anymore because I do wierd stuff when I take it (apparently I've seen ninjas according to my wife) so I refuse to. I don't know about the sleep apnia though...it could be.

I started to take energy supplements now though just to try out, I need something because my quality of life just isn't even close to good due to this. I can deal with my disfigurement, disability and the overall "new me" but the fatigue is really getting to me.

I'll keep everyone updated, I'm a bit scared about the PET though, if the lump is cancerous I hope there is something they can do.

Thanks for all the feedback guys

Eric, you have the same problem with ambien as I did. I told my Dr about the effects from Ambien and she said I guess I should have told you. Hell, it's a wonder I didn't fall over , I have a split entry, I could have very easily have fallen over the wall that leads down the 1st fight to the basement. The shirt I slept in ended up by my front door and the 1st time in the bathroom. Heck with that stuff.