So tired on Altima

[BrigidK]

Have been dealing with extreme shortness of breath since on Altima. Had some before but this is much worse. Am unable to do any small chore without resting afterwards. Anyone else with this problem?

[debi_babtkis]

I was on that 1 1/2 years ago and was very fatigued however not to the extreme you're talking about. I didn't have sob but all I did was sleep. I was only up for a couple of hours each day and once I started radiation I was even more tired. Maybe you need to get on oxygen or a new or different inhaler.

Debi

[JeanE41]

Have you checked with your doctor? There may be something more going on like an infection.

[jpoehlmann]

I have been on Alimta for 39 rounds -- going in for my 40th and final round of it in a couple more weeks before moving to a clinical trial. Over the past 2.5+ years, I've dealt a LOT with fatigue as my primary side-effect. It has gotten better over time, but there are some days when I simply don't have enough energy to accomplish much. When I manage to push it, however, and power through, I often feel better overall and my oncologist has recommended numerous times that I exercise more to overcome the fatigue, and that does seem to work. The shortness of breath issue, however, is a completely separate matter.

If you are suffering from shortness of breath, there might be something else going on. I don't know what you were dealing with PRIOR to Alimta, or how the cancer is manifesting itself in your lungs, so conjecture would be pointless. This is something that you absolutely must discuss with your doctor, however. Whether there is an inflammation issue that requires steroid treatment, an infection, or you are dealing with the byproduct of surgery or radiation, or whether you have a partially-collapsed lung for some other reason, there are MANY things that could cause varying degrees of shortness of breath.

Best of luck!

[BrigidK]

My oncologist is giving me a break from Alimta for a while. Scans at the end of August.

[FtB_Peggy]

Thanks for keeping us updated! Fingers and toes crossed!

[FtB_Peggy]

Wondering how you are doing?!

[BrigidK]

Doc took me off of it. Just laid in bed all day. No quality of life. Just started Taxotere. So far so good.

[FtB_Peggy]

Oh Brigid, how hard that must have been. Come on Taxotere - be the one!

Thank you for responding, holding you in my thoughts and prayers.