Question for Becky - Page 2

Brenda_D · 09-02-2008, 05:34 AM

Pink Girl, I would be interested to know the ages of those that have or had no continuing problems with fatigue and weight gain.
I think I may be seeing a trend where the younger ladies had less of a continuing fatigue problem, and the more middle aged, 50 and over, ladies seem to have had a harder time with it.

tricia keegan · 09-02-2008, 04:59 PM

I take arimidex and feel as you do...very tired most of the time. I do try to walk and swim about four times a week but it's hard! I think we really are all different, I lost a huge amount of weight during chemo but am now putting it on again bacause I'm always hungry! (Arimidex?)
I usually have never had a big appetite either.
Just wanted to say you're not alone!

PinkGirl · 09-02-2008, 05:31 PM

Thanks Tricia, misery loves company! I lost weight on
FAC because of nausea, then I gained on Taxol and
continued to gain during Herceptin. Now I am hungry
all of the time and have trouble exercising because of
fatigue. My onc. said that the Arimidex could be making
me hungry. Who knows?

Sheila · 09-02-2008, 06:39 PM

Pinky
I am in the same boat as you know....I do think it is the steroids, combined with menopause...aka the middle age spread....even with daily walking, I do believe I could eat nothing and my weight would not budge....I am more tired too, don't know why, but my nights are usually tossing and turning, hot then cold, thirsty then bathroom break....getting old is not for sissies!!!!
I weigh more now than when I was 9mos pregnant with twins...I topped out at 147

harrie · 09-02-2008, 11:20 PM

Ok you guys,
Now I am NOT posting this to make anyone feel bad or worse. I am not posting to brag either. This is the honest truth...
My energy level post chemo (I finished 05/07 and finished herceptin 01/08) is back to normal. I am over 50 yrs old and I eat a lot and am not very strict about what I eat. I snack a lot too. My weight is pretty much what it was prior to chemo. It never went up much. I exercise doing a variety of things, prob 5 to 6 x's wk. I love what I do when I exercise so it isn't something I have to push myself to do. My exercise is in moderation, no extremes.
I feel normal and great. Like I did before.
If I can help anyone to make suggestions, please, I would be more then happy to do so. Please don't hesitate.
We are all here to help one another.
HarrieCanarie....

Brenda_D · 09-03-2008, 08:19 AM

Lol Harrie, that blows my "trend" apart.
I'm happy you're doing well.

juanita · 09-03-2008, 05:27 PM

Hopefully you don't gain too much weight and become depressed about it later. Good luck eating healthy.

Becky · 09-03-2008, 06:33 PM

I figured I would post on this again. I just want to comment that everyone is different. When you figure that most of us had to get cut up, poisoned and burned to get cured of cancer, its no wonder most of us are fatigued! I felt that Herceptin was very tiring too. I did start to walk after rads but the main reason was reading the first release of data on the exercise trial (that reduced the risk of recurrence) so I walked and walked. It took over 2 yrs from my last Taxol (and Herceptin was over for about 6 months) before I attempted to run again. I had alot of neuropathy issues with my legs and walking is one thing but running was another (without being able to feel the feet, if running - one could easily misstep and break something. With walking, you can be more purposeful on where you put your foot).

I moved when about 17 months from surgery and on Herceptin. I was so exhausted I couldn't even get the house ready to be sold even though I was the one who wanted to move. My husband did it. The house sold in a day and then we had to find a house and pack and unpack. My husband should have shot me (although I LOVE my new house). However, the more I do, the more I can do. I love running so I love doing it. However, I can pack on the miles and nothing happens to the weight. Probably that I had the ooph and then went on Arimidex. I am about 15 lbs overweight and it won't budge. Running just allows me to eat a normal diet of about 2000 calories a day (and I run 25-30 miles a week. Last Wednesday I went 6.5 miles and Friday 12 (yes, twelve) miles but I guarentee, it only maintains me. I think I need to "shake things up". I eat the same breakfast almost every day and the same lunch and (really) do the same exercise so I think my body has learned to deal and be efficient. I am thinking of joining a gym to do some weights and use an elliptical or add in different things (still run but maybe 3-4 days of 15-20 miles and add new things every week from the gym (sometimes weights or this machine or class)). I have to plan food better too. What I eat is healthy but like I said - the same breakfast and lunch. Snacks and dinner are always different.

Just some thoughts when I saw this thread resurface.

PS - I will be 50 in December

naturaleigh · 09-03-2008, 08:38 PM

Pink,

Just for a little variety, try taking a dog for a walk, they are good company, love to walk, and many times will walk you!!

If you don't have a dog, maybe a neighbor has a dog that is not walked much. Ask if the dog can become your walking partner, it would benefit both of you!!

Good luck with getting your energy back, be persistant and it will come