How did you deal with Fatigue?

[Michelle]

What chemo made you especially tired?
How did you deal with this?
Did your doctors do anything in particular to combat this?

[Cari]

I think all my chemos made me tired--High dose Methotrexate; Doxorubicin; Cisplatin; high dose Ifofamide and Etoposide--Not sure if they actually made me fatigue or if the sickness that came along with them made me fatigue..
The funny thing though is that most of the medications given to combact the side effects would knock me out also so it seemed to be a battle that wasn't really won-in my case.  During inpatient times I loved phinnigan(sp) for nasuea--but I loved it because it knocked me out--as soon as my eyes would open I would push the button for more.
I was also given neupogen shots throughout the whole experience that was suppose to raise my WBC--which in turn give you more energy--darn little shots everyday in my are(and they hurt )  and lucky me I didn't have any response from them, but I have talked to others who have had them and they worked well--I was just difficult!
I use to feel bad because I would fall asleep anywhere at anytime when I was home---but it is something that you need to do--your body and mind are working so hard during this time that sometimes the best thing for it is to just shut down.  If you need to sleep---sleep, people who are visiting need to understand that if you fall asleep in the middle of a conversation it is nothing against them

[Cathy]

I was in bed a lot. Or in the hospital a lot.  I had a visiting home health PT who at least got my body moving a bit at home.  There was no other way to deal with fatigue but to sleep and go with what your body was telling you to do.  I developed a DVT in the leg and a clot in the lung because of the inactivity, but there was no way to help it.  Thank God I made it!

[Jeanne_C]

All of my chemo drugs have had the fatigue factor associated with them.  Adriamycin was probably the worse for me.  My Dr said there wasn't much that could be done regarding fatigue unless my hemoglobin fell below 8 which would mean a blood transfusion. Fortunately, this has not happened.  I can really related fatigue levels with blood counts tho, when my hemoglobin goes below 9 I have much less energy and stamina.

[Cari]

Oh Yea Jeanne--Blood transfusions---I LOVED THEM!!!!!  the first time I had one I thought Oh this is just sick-I think it literally made me sick to know I was having blood pumped into me---but half way through that red bag I looked up and smiled--it put color back in my face--I could get up to go to the bathroom without passing out--I had enough energy to wrap myself in my favorite blanket!!  Blood transfusions saved my life on more than one occassion!!!!  Glad you didn't have to have any Jeanne!!! and I hope others don't need it-but if you do-you are not alone!!  I had so many I can't even count--sad but true!
Thanks for reminding me Jeanne!  Hope you are well!!!
Hugs to you
Cari

[Mariana]

I was on high doses of all my chemo meds so I was fatigued from day one.  I was in bed most of the time because of the fatigue and because I was handicapped.  I ended up losing a whole lot of muscle tone ( generalized).  I just slept and laid in bed most of the time.  What did help me was that my dad would make me fresh juice every day...that gave me some pep.  But not much else.  Sorry.

[Rene]

Oh the fatigue. Probably the biggest side effect for me. All of the chemo's I had made me have it. My first dose of Adriamiacin put me down for a week, but the more chemo I had, the stronger I got. Wierd I know. I had a 1 1/2 year old at the time I started chemo and I made myself get up and take a shower, get dressed (bra included ) every day. I really didn't want her to be too affected by all of it. Towards the end, I've had little to no fatigue at all. I was always shocked when my nurses would ask me if I had been feeling really bad because my blood counts were so low. I started to take long walks every day even when I didn't feel like it. It really built up my stamina. My doctors really pushed me to be "the star patient" and I gave it a heck of a shot. It was funny because on days I didn't feel too good my family was surprised. I would say "Um excuse me I just had chemo today." And they would say "Oh yeah, I guess you did."

[Mary]

I've been asked by the wife of a current patient if I know of anything that will help her husband with fatigue and weakness. If anyone has any other ideas - please let me know. He's got a lot of treatment left to do, and he's not very steady on his feet.

Thank you!

[Tara]

Mary - I have a friend with MS that has terrible fatigue and they give her a medication for it.  I will find out from her the name of it and let you know.  Maybe he can try that.
Other than medication, I don't really know what to offer BESIDES what is already written.  Procrit helped a lot, until the headaches made that impossible, after that I had 1 blood transfusion that was AWESOME!!  Direct donation from my parents.... left me feeling great!!  Good diet and lots of rest helped.  If I had to bet, Zoloft helped some because depression can make you feel fatigued.  Also - I had a friend that made me get out of bed on Thursdays to go have a weekly excursion.  Beach, waterpark, pedicures or just ice cream.  I will never, ever be able to thank Melanie enough for that.  That was normally my "hump day" and I was able to get right on through the rest of the week.  Take one day at a time - I finally figured out not to worry about the chemo coming up in a week because I just might die in a car crash on the way to the clinic    Learn how to let some things go.  My friends and family took care of a lot of meals, we had a lady come in and deep clean once a month, I had a great girl come help with Conner during the week.  All of those things just added up - less work and responsibility on me, more time for me to just relax, let go and let God. 
I've been so fatigued the last few days, remembering all of this makes me want to call Mrs. Tammy (cleaning lady), Madeline (nanny) and my Mama & Daddy (I bet I could get a meal out of them)