I've been working around the clock for two weeks straight (end of school year is crazy) and finally had a chance to rest. For two days I could barely do anything, is this normal?
Fatigue: I've been working around the... - SHARE Metastatic ...
Fatigue
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Wintervt
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Hi Wintervt
I think anybody who pushes themselves like that needs to crash. I also work in a school. We finished Friday. I kept doing things until Tuesday, when I slept a lot thru Wednesday. As long as you start to get your energy back I think you’re fine. I also think it is mental stress as much as physical. Thursday I broke out the vacuum and carpet cleaner and did 2 rooms.
Good grief...no wonder you’re exhausted...remember you’re not Superwoman!!
Rest up and have a pamper
Barb xx
You can’t see my cape from here! I am getting ready to fly across the pond. Want to leave things habitable for the pet sitter.
I have a massage and pedicure appointment tomorrow
That is a great idea. I’ve cut back on massages due to finances, but they are so therapeutic. Enjoy. Pick a fun color for the pedicure!
Hi Jade,
No wonder you are shattered. You have been run ragged at work lately!
I would spend some time resting. Do you ever take Epsom salt baths? If not, I would highly recommend a nice soak with some essential oils, a good book and some soothing music. I hope you feel better soon.
Sophie
blms in reply to
Ditto on Epsom salt baths
Wintervt in reply to
Plan on an taking an Epsom salt bath today!♥️
Yep. Ibrance bests you up. Rest when you need it. You must listen to your body
Working full time is exhausting and to add our diagnosis and meds it triples the exhaustion. There are days I feel like I can’t even get up but I do. I’m still learning to slow down and read my body when it tells me to stop and relax. I recently purchased an infrared heating pad (thanks to this group) and I find it so soothing and provides back pain relief.
Hopefully you are off for the summer.
Usually I’m good about taking breaks but there were so many things to take care of. I’m going to sit down with my boss and ask for a modified schedule. I’m taking a few weeks off this summer to enjoy time with my family.
xo Jade
I think it's normal too. Yesterday I worked 14 hours, today I crashed. I won't work like that too often. As long as you get your energy back, your most likely fine.
Hi there,
I'm a teacher too. I set limits. I try to get as much done without completely exhausting myself and just spread the packing up my classroom a few extra days. The way I deal with being on Ibrance (which makes us very anemic) is to make choices about how I want to spend my energy. For instance, I spread parent-teacher conferences out over 2 weeks and do some conferences via FaceTime or Skype. I give myself more time to open and close my classroom. I do this with exercise too. On schooldays, I don't do vigorous workouts. On weekends, I plan my day around recovery after my swim workouts.
It took me about 9 months to figure this out, but I rarely push myself to exhaustion any more. I sleep better and have less pain. Also, I think my body adjusted to being anemic. I have become more assertive so I'm not pressured to more than I can do.
You did the right thing, scheduling massages and spa treatments, even a mani-pedi helps with recovery.
Hi Merma,
I work in our central office now and have a little more flexibility with my schedule but the end of the school year is brutal, as I am the school district’s curriculum director. I honesty don’t think I could manage if I still taught. You are amazing! I hope you have a restful and relaxing summer!
xo Jade
I don't know how anybody with mbc manages to continue being employed full time! And teaching is full time to the nth power! Most of the teachers I know are more eager for the end of the school year than the kids are! About 7 months into living with mbc and working I went to a bc retreat and met about 6 other women with mbc--done of them were still working outside the home and they encouraged me to really think about what was most important in my life. I called Social Security the Monday after the retreat, was told I could not apply for disability until I had actually stopped working, so I put in my notice to "retire" early and on the first Monday after I stopped working, I phoned Social Security and got an appt for the very next day to apply. That was in November, 2004, and I've not regretted it for a second. There are some people that I miss, and I miss the pre-cancer me who could get so much done but I don't know where I would find the energy to even show up at work much less do it all....... I don't whether it is cancer or cancer treatment, but I've had moments when it feels like a wave of absolute exhaustion knocking me over and making me feel as though I need to take a year long nap! And I've had it "easy" compared to many others, with bone mets that have not caused me symptoms, and comparably easy hormonal treatment. Just going to the grocery store sometimes saps my day's worth of energy. I don't always cook dinner or do much else besides keeping the pets' water dish full. So......I think those of you who still manage to stay employed really are Superwomen! (And teachers, nurses, cops and firefighters are super people without cancer! And the heroes among us!)
You are obviously a long-term survivor, which is encouraging. I have not worked since 2001 because of a fall. I also have post-polio syndrome and was told after the fall that I would not be able to work again. I am amazed when I read about how people keep working with mbc while also being on meds. I suffer from fatigue and cannot imagine working! However, even if I am tired, I will try to go out, even if it is only to a store to take a walk and move my body. Because of the polio, I am not able to exercise, so I do what I can. I congratulate all of you who keep going, but you do also need to know when to rest.
in reply to needabreakfromcancer
When I first met my oncologist last year (two months after I was diagnosed) and told her I ran my own pet sitting and dog walking business she encouraged me to keep working. Part of me wanted to pack it all in as I didn't see the point in continuing to work with this disease hanging over me, but I took her advice and have carried on. I'm glad I did, as I feel so much better working. It is something that helps me to feel normal. Cancer takes away so much from us. But my job is something that has not changed. Walking for miles each week also does me the world of good both physically and mentally.
Sophie
Julie2233 in reply to
I feel exactly the same. I still work full time, it gives me purpose and normality.
It was hard when I started the meds because of the fatigue but that's improved. My colleagues are so good. If I need to have a quick nap at my desk they don't disturb me or comment. I can pass work load over if I'm under parr though at the moment I am taking on theirs. I also work flexibly, and that helps enormously.
in reply to Julie2233
Hi Julie,
I'm glad you can relate! I feel accomplished and so much better after a day at work. Even after I had first started treatment and was still getting used to everything I felt at my best after my busiest day at work than if I had spent the day at home resting. Whenever I would have time off I would feel more tired, which is odd! Now I actually find that I feel "normal" since the fatigue has gone. Whenever I feel tired now it is more of a normal sort of tiredness, if that makes sense.
It sounds like you have a great work environment with understanding work colleagues. Having flexibility is a big plus too. Being self-employed comes in handy whenever I need time off for a CT scan, to see my oncologist or for treatment.
Sophie
Julie2233 in reply to
I find that work has always distracted me. I don't have time to think about what's happened or what might happen. My colleagues all know about my diagnosis but don't think about it, I can tell by the things that get discussed in the office. They don't treat me any differently (apart from letting me nap) which is great 
Yes fatigue is definitely very different to even extreme tiredness. I enjoy being tired after a good day at work. I find being at home exhausting
You have had way more than your share of serious illness! I am old enough to remember the polio scares of the 1950's and I had several class mates over the years, and one teacher, who'd had polio and had some paralysis. One of my husband's friends has post polio stuff. It can sure linger........ I hope you do well with this cancer and move on to a more comfortable place than you've landed in right now. Some of us do well and live a long time and fairly normally. I am tired but not much else.
Thank you. I am so blessed to even be here as I had all three polio viruses, muscular, lung and spinal. It does concern me that Ibrance can cause pneumonia as my lungs are weak/damaged. I had initial paralysis but went to a grade school that had physical therapy for those of us that had polio. I also required a full spinal surgery at the age of 12 with two major surgeries. I could have died or been paralyzed. Again, I am so blessed to have had a wonderful surgeon. I now hope to join a trial here with Metformin and antibiotics. I just found about it today. There has been so much written about this and its success. Hormonal therapy doesn't respond to immuno therapy. I also am a borderline diabetic so really want to try this. Fatigue at this point seems to be my biggest complaint, but did start to get mouth sores, nasal polyps too. My other oncologist wants me to try another round of Ibrance, but my numbers went way up after two rounds so I would rather try the trial with Metformin and antibiotics. Take care and I will you well! I wish all of us well!
Jade, First of all you are amazing to be working! I was a teacher I know how exhausting that can be.
Now you need to rest and relax and enjoy your summer!
It has been almost a year since my mbc diagnosis and I dont think I have had a day without exhaustion. Yesterday my husband and I took our 3 youngest grandchildren to the pool. I could barely walk in the pool. So weak and exhausted that my husband had to take me home. This is not the life I ever imagined could happen to me. I know what you are going through. Hugs.
Patricia
A nurse from the Speciality Pharmacy where I get my Ibrance told me that such fatigue is normal and she hears that from lots of her patients. I too have a day or too where I can't do much of anything after even a busy weekend. If I give in to the fatigue and rest I am much better after. Her suggestion was to pace myself and rest between tasks in order to have more good days. It works. I try to rest every day, even when I don't feel like it . My body apparently needs it even if my brain says to keep going. Allow yourself the time you need to recover from your busy schedule.
Enjoy your time off! I’m a social worker in the schools so I’m only working 4 hours in the summer vs 34 during the school year...😀...a little break is good for us with MBC! Enjoy and relax this week!
I don't know how you do it, you are truly amazing! The emotional toll of social work would put me over the edge. Hope you have time to relax over the summer! xo Jade
really depends where I am in my ibrance cycle. i have noticed that i am markedly more tired/fatigued during my off week. Nurses tell me that's normal, mostly because your body is busy recovering & making more WBC.
Like you im a teacher. I work 35 hours a week at a head start including no breaks but like you I schedule parent teacher conferences and home visits within 2 weeks length of time. I get home I rest. Im out for the summer, but I work 4 hrs at a daycare love the hours. So just rest when you can and continue to enjoy work if that's what makes you happy. Happy 4th!
Yes - it's normal it's not what we are used to though. I have 2 teachers in my life and I know how incredibly hard your job is!
A friend of mine got a part time teaching position at a private Jewish school that pays well, good hours and course load, and alot of curriculum prep done!
Take care of yourself ♥️
I would think even if you weren't dealing with cancer you would be pooped. Take a few days to just rest and do some self care. You deserve it.
Kim
I have been painting rooms in the house and other things and then I crashed. Slept 12 hours one night and 14 the next. I’m usually really fatigued so when I feel good I try to do it all. It’s frustrating that we can’t do what we used to. Pamper yourself and read a book to get rested up.
Someone told me to imagine energy levels as a bank account. Each week your wages go in and that's all the money (energy) you have. You choose how to spend it, some expenses can't be avoided but others are a choice. If you spend all your wages on the first day you have to economise for the rest of the week and overdrafts are best avoided.
Sounds like you've been on a spending spree with your energy and need to cut back on other energy expenses 🙂
I find that I can push past my exhaustion and do things when I have to. My husband had knee surgery a week ago, so I’ve had to do it for a couple of weeks. He is starting to need less care and now I’m needing my afternoon naps. It sounds like you have done the same, pushing yourself way past the stage where you needed to rest. Listen to your body and take a week off before you begin your summer activities!
Thank you, Sandra! ♥️
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