Finally finished chemo and feeling so low!!!!

Hi Wilmaone,
I think what you are feeling is very normal!! You have been throught a huge ordeal and the chemo just wears you down but don't loose heart, soon you will have your positive head on again! I am just a year beyond my diagnoisis last April, did the surgery first, mastectomy with immediate reconstruction Ld Flap, axillary node clearence, chemo and radiotherapy. Felt very low when chemo was finished, began rads and was grand until about week 5 when stiffness in all joints and bones kicked in! Radiology Onc said it was accumulation of treatments just hitting me. Finally when rads finished I became quite nuerotic with all the aches and pains I had even after clear scans. I just felt terrible low physically and mentally but as the weeks go by I feel so much better. I think when you are feeling low, just go with it and do some nice things for yourself. I really thought I would be jumping through hoops when I had my last chemo but it was quite an anti-climax and have spoken to many others who felt the same. It doesn't last you will be glad to know. Make little goals for yourself that your energy levels will allow. Don't push yourself and please do not be hard on yourself. You have done great getting to the end of your chemo so well done!!!! Soon you will be starting the next phase and it will not be as severe as the chemo!! Keep eating well and drink plenty of fluids to help you with getting the chemo out of your system. Maybe try and start getting out for little walks and gradually build yourself up if you have not already started. These were just things that I really found helped me so maybe they might help you too? Anyway you mind yourself and well done and keep us up to date with your treatment.
Lots of good thoughts and energy!!!!
x x x[quote="wilmaone":3jynv6cj]Hi all

Finished 6 rounds of chemo TCH on thursday,and the happiness i thought i would feel at having chemo behind me just hasnt come quite the opposite!!!Is this normal?

I feel i shouldnt complain as i got though it with not too many side effects,worst being not able to eat for week after.Im not one to ask for help as i feel id be giving in.Have a month to get sorted before mastectomy and reconstruction in early may,need to have my positive head on but just cant seem to find it.

Has anyone else felt like this
Help[/quote:3jynv6cj]

Hi

Also did six rounds of TCH without much incidents family all thought it was brilliant when chemo was finished but I felt so low and drained had surgery about four weeks later last November took about two weeks after to start feeling better. I think the chemo effects get worse as time goes on by the time it finishes the effects are worse. I have had 33 rads now finished six weeks ago and I am starting to have some very good days.

It will get better but you have been completely battered by chemo and I bet you have been keeping a brave face for your kids. Time to be selfish and try to look out for yourself it will be worth it in the end.

Remember there are lots of survivors out there. We can do it!

Take care x

Hi Wilmaone;
I'm sitting here looking at your post and am amused thinking back to when I finished chemotherapy in September - it was such an anti-climax!!! Don't get me wrong, I was so happy that I was done chemotherapy but I think there was a little part of me that thought I would be skipping out of the day ward, being cheered and waved off by all the staff, with the sunshining brightly, birds singing - just like the end of happy-ever after movies! Yes, I tend to suffer from an over-active imagination!

So I guess the answer is that it is so common to feeling a bit low after treatment; my own philosophy is that we are so busy just dealing with diagnosis, surgery and treatment that it doesn't hit some of us until well after the fact. I spent all last Thursday bawling my eyes out for absolutely no reason - and by the next day I was laughing at the state of myself!!

And maybe you need to talk to someone about your experience outside of family and friends - I started going to our local cancer support centre and councellor only this year and find it has given me great perspective and support. Jesus, I reckon by the time I feel I don't need the support centre any more, I'm going to be an expert in gardening.

I agree with the other post when mentioned getting out for a walk - it is super to just clear the head and it is so beneficial to your overall health.

Take care, hoping all will be well

Hi ladies

Thank you all so much for taking the time to send such lovely replies.Helps so much to know that how i feel is normal.

Encee you describe exactly how i had also imagined i would be leaving the day ward last thurs!!!
I think a combination on holding all together for my husband,kids and family and never really letting anyone know how i was feeling all way through finally caught up with me.I've been an emothional wreck not too mention physical one for the last few days.

Thankfully im starting to feel human again today.Need to build up strenght for next stage in may.Im having mastectomy and diep flap reconstruction done together as it doesnt look like i will need rads which is great!Downside i've been warned i may not make my sons communion which was the whole reason i did chemo first.Hes my eldest and first grandchild on my side to make it so the tought of not being there is killing me.

Ok will stop rambling on and go with one question.Has anyone any suggestions on how to get blood levels back up as hey were low and need to be checked again in 2 weeks.Veins are also in bits you could play join the big bruised dots on my arm!!!!

Again thank you all

xx

Hi

My blood level also were very low at the end of chemo the nurse suggested eating almonds and walnuts, also not to drink tea straight after eating as it affects the bodies absorption of nutrients. Not sure if it helped but my levels were well up when checked! Veins are still in a sad state every herceptin day involves several attempts some nurses say arm exercises work some say it makes no difference.

I think one thing cancer thought me is how to put on brave face for family and friends but I am learning now that sometimes I need to let them know how I feel. Still waiting for feeling like jumping through hoops which like you didn't happen after chemo, surgery or radio but a few weeks after I wanted to go out with my husband for a few drinks and really enjoyed it.

It's a very long and very hard road but it does get brighter. The thoughts of missing the communion must be very hard but there's a chance you will make look at what your body has put up with already.

I wish you the very best and hope you will keep us updated with your progress. Look after yourself xxx.

Hi all,

Little update,looks like surgery will be 24th april.Not sure how i feel glad its happening sooner rather than dragging on,but at the same time TERRIFIED!!!
I think more so about how i will feel about myself after and also my husband.I know this shouldnt be the important worry i do feel a bit vain worrying about looks rather than making sure i rid myself of this disease which i am glad about.

Am feeling stronger mentally so hopefully i can hold it together.Will know for definate on tues when i get bloods done.On the upside although i will miss my sons first confession(probably not a bad thing could be a long night!!!!!)i at least should make the communion.
Also one other question when does taste return to normal?Can tolerate food again but taste is still off.
Hope your all doing well
xx

Hi

Well had my first dose of Herceptin yesterday without the chemo.All went smoothly apart from 'hunt the vein'game!!!

That feeling i thought i would have at last chemo came yesterday as i realised when leaving the hospital i had huge grin on my face and was the happiest i have been in months.It was so nice going home not waiting for the rotten side effects to kick in!!!Today for the first time since november i felt like Me again,i enjoyed food again,have managed to stay up past 8 o clock(having not slept during day!!!!)Im so enjoying the little things in life right now.I have a long way to go yet but can finally see light at end of tunnell.

I am so gld and thankfull i joined this message board as it has helped me so much in understanding BC aswell as just knowing we are not alone,as well meaning family and friend are they cannot understand.

Thank you all so much
xxx

That is fantastic, so happy that everything went well, and it's great to see that you are in great shape! You won't feel your Herceptin treatment flying, please God it will continue to be good to you!

Take care & big hugs x

Hi wilmaone

How are you? Just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your surgery I hope all goes well and the recovery is quick enough for you to enjoy the communion. Take it easy rest as much as you can.

Thinking of you xxx

Hi Madge1

Thank you for your post,unfortunately bloods were too low for tomorrow so looks like next tues instead.Just waiting to hear.

Eating all round me now i have taste back so hopefully they will be back up.

Thanks again will keep ye posted

xx