Fatigue, anything proven to fight it?

[pcfred]

I'm tired of being tired! Changed my eating habits, more fruits and vegetables, vitamins, etc. no relief in the fatigue, is there anything that really helps?

[Hidden]

Exercise.

[Pianodude]

Exercise really helps me. 1 or 2 brisk walks for 30 minutes seems to improve my fatigue.

[SPEEDYX]

Exercise and have a purpose and goal everyday...I work full time which helps a lot!!!!

[6357axbz]

Regular aerobic exercise

[noirhole]

Low hemoglobin may be an issue resulting in low oxygen to muscles and tissue causing fatigue. Easy to determine with a blood test.

[GoBucks]

Exercise. At the very least walk once or twice a day. Getting on a bike or elliptical machine even better. Add some weight training even better. All easier said than done. But your mind is a very strong machine. It can make you want to stay in bed or it can force you to get up and go workout. Choose wisely.

[tango65]

You could discuss with your doctor about ritalin and/or provigil, These medicines in a low dose may help with the fatigue. Exercise is helpful, these drugs should be used along with exercise.

[arete1105 in reply to tango65]

In the past I was on ritalin and ended up being wired and tired.

[LearnAll]

Only one effective solution: Exercise..Exercise Exercise...Walk..Walk..Walk a lot.

[Dett in reply to LearnAll]

LearnAll, does this apply to men with low-grade anemia from treatment? Husband tries to walk at least an hour each day, but he says he’s exhausted for at least a couple of hours afterwords.

[pcfred in reply to Dett]

Exactly! Some of us can't really exercise, and get tired just walking around the house. I have blood clots, on xarelto, I walk as much as I can, try not to sit too long. I have to force myself to walk and try and do things.

[fluffyfur in reply to pcfred]

Look into the exercise bands hun and try and do 8 reps of various exercises with those.

[LearnAll in reply to Dett]

I think physical activity increases blood circulation ,thereby causing more circulation in muscles and forms new blood vessels ... improving muscle strength and functioning. On the other hand, physical activity also stimulates bone marrow and that can translate into

increased red blood cell production. But, when we are on lupron, we develop anemia and lose muscles , so physical activity should be titrated slowly up and according to how much a man can tolerate. As times goes by, the post activity tiredness starts becoming less and less. I walk 5 miles a day and it does help me. I do the walking in 10-15 minute segments throughout the day and fit-bit measures my distance and calories.

[Dett in reply to LearnAll]

Thanks! I’ll try suggesting husband break up his walks into smaller increments. I wish he would do some strength training, but he really hates it, especially after so much muscle loss.

[London441 in reply to Dett]

Dett, after ‘so much muscle loss’ as you put it, he needs strength training more than ever. I assume he is on ADT? Even more essential.

[LearnAll in reply to Dett]

If he does not like lifting weights..there is simple solution which I use. On Amazon, one can buy wrist bands and ankle bands (1 lb, 2 lb, 4 lb etc) and wrap on wrists and ankles and then, walk. This method combines cardio (aerobic) and some strength training (anaerobic). One has to take more precautions as weights can be hard on joints.

[Dett in reply to LearnAll]

Good idea. I’ll suggest it.

[Boywonder56 in reply to LearnAll]

I have a 140lb weight tied to me ...my wife....couldnt resist stealing j.o.h.n. act...😁

[Lettuce231 in reply to LearnAll]

What you say is true LearnAll,

it took me a longtime to build up my stamina to be able to walk any distance without exhaustion. My wife and I, along with our collie, walk at least an hour every morning, it's good for the soul, you see so many wonderful things in nature. When we first started walking, I could barely manage 10 or 15 minutes, then I needed to rest, but now after the walk I get on with something else during the day.

I hope that pcfred is able to experience the same feeling of some physical normality as many of us here have.

Take care.

Phil

[LearnAll in reply to Lettuce231]

That's fabulous. Its like nature walk. Walking side by side to your family creates more bonding. Its time to feel and appreciate beauty of nature as you put it. At the same time, we reduce lupron fatigue and improve heart function. You are right that as we push ourselves...with time our capacity gradually increase for more physical activity. Another benefit is not only that blood circulation improves but also the movement of lymph gets faster...eliminating cancer cells from lymphatic system. Keep moving Bro !

[Life5 in reply to LearnAll]

Hi.... how many steps on an average do you walk? My dad on Zytiga+pred has started walking since the past one week- he was initially doing 10000 steps a day but is now somewhere at 8500 steps per day - any idea on the recommended steps ?

[LearnAll in reply to Life5]

Life.....I remember my "Zytiga Days" that my energy level was demolished to the extent that I could hardly walk my minimum 10000 steps a day. American Heart Association recommends that to keep heart health good, a person should walk 10000 steps every day.

If your Dad is having difficulty completing 10000 steps a day, he can add some yoga stretches while he is lying in bed. It helps me a lot ..tightening and releasing muscles. Also, it does not put strain on joints.

[Life5 in reply to LearnAll]

thanks a lot - he can usually complete the 10000 steps unless it is a particularly humid/hot day... i will recommend yoga to them - thanks

[LearnAll in reply to Life5]

There is something more I would suggest for your dear Dad....Ask him to do Pranayam. What is Pranayam..its a type of Yoga where the goal is to saturate your blood with maximum oxygen. Cancer cells are different than normal cells..in fact they are weaker and more fragile than normal cells. So If you suddenly increase Oxygen level in your blood , many of them can not adjust and just Die.

Pranayam tecnique is simple. I just inhale air fully and then, rapidly exhale the air and keep repeating this for 2 to 3 minutes. He can do this several times a day. Physiologically speaking, the Oxygen saturation in blood skyrockets and that creates hostile atmosphere for cancer cells.

[Life5 in reply to LearnAll]

Hey thanks a lot - will surely advise him for pranayam - being in India we all have learnt pranayam and suryanamaskar some point in our lives...so wont be difficult for him to do it - I learnt the method using the thumb and finger alternatively to close each nostril while inhaling and exhaling respectively. Due to covid we check our oxygen levels regularly at home using an oximeter - my dad's oxygen levels have usually remained at 96, rarely touching 97. With the incorporation of walking to his routine - his last oximeter reading was 99 - i m hoping it killed those nasty cells

[LearnAll in reply to Life5]

That's good know. Son Worship in Morning (surya pranam) does provide some Vitamin D. I think the amount body makes by this method is not sufficient in Covid times.

One of the best ways to protect yourself and family is to take higher dose of Vit D

(1000 to 4000 mg)a day and keep Vit D blood level above 50 (below 100). Best wishes to you and your Dad.

[Life5 in reply to LearnAll]

thanks ... best wishes to you as well. Dad's vitamin D was last at 93 - he just got his annual shots of 5ml * 8 shots of 60000 IU cholecalciferol in nano droplet form (called Arachitol Nano) before his tests - similarly for B12 also he takes Orally Disintegrating Strip mecobalamin 1500 mcg (called Quicobal) - Is there is any difference in taking daily vitamin D tablets vs annual shots/dose ?

[LearnAll in reply to Life5]

As long as you are monitoring blood levels of Vit D and Vit B12, it does not matter whether you take Tablets or injections. Excessive amounts of B 12 harmful in people with prostate cancer.

[Life5 in reply to LearnAll]

ok thanks

[Hidden]

I felt tired all day today and i heard the gym opened, I went over and did my workout and the fatigue melted away! Its completely backwards, but exercise helps alot.

[Shooter1]

I use bathroom in basement and stairs between living area and there. Every little bit helps.

[Scoofer33]

A little levity for a serious topic:

“Many cancer patients are fed up with being told they’re sick and tired. I, for one, am not and I’m sick and tired of being told that I am!”

Paraphrased from Monty Python

[EdBar]

Exercise helps, I exercise daily, but fatigue factor is still there and some days are better than others. Sometimes it’s just the time of day, often late morning it will hit me for a couple of hours and then improve.

Taking 20-30 minutes to lay down and close my eyes and rest, not sleep, just rest seems to help. And as mentioned in another post Ritalin is used to combat fatigue in a variety of cancers. I believe it was mentioned in the most recent Cure magazine in an article about fatigue in cancer patients, so it’s not out of the mainstream.

Ed

[lespaul123]

Good old caffeine - via coffee or pills.

[Bodysculpture]

I notice you didn't mention exercise

Is there a reason why you cant ?

Exercise significantly reduces fatigue if we are consistent

Yiu are doing the right things from what I have read

All men I know with PC confirm it's been a massive asset to thier recovery

[keepinon]

Exercise, exercise, exercise. I workout 5-6 days a week. Absolutely no fatigue! All you need is the right frame of mind to workout, but may days it IS a struggle. Do it anyway!

[j-o-h-n]

Sleep........

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/02/2020 6:04 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

Sleep walking just as good ask Ed Norton

[j-o-h-n]

Open sewers...........to the moon Alice

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/02/2020 7:49PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

That's sewer side!!!

[j-o-h-n in reply to SPEEDYX]

Two needed for your side, three for my side......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/02/2020 8:25 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

Will take four I have added Willie Mays to my team

[j-o-h-n in reply to SPEEDYX]

I added Duke Snider and I'll take four and the awning over Ben's kosher corner Deli......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/02/2020 8:49 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

I'll take Duke Ellington and the A train!!!....no catching us!!!

[j-o-h-n in reply to SPEEDYX]

To play video just click on the name on top of the video

Parden me boy, but no passing us....

youtube.com/watch?v=FdrYYUu...(Not working as expected?)

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/02/2020 9:56 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

Three of the best but I'll take the Boswell Sisters and shuffle off to buffalo....cheek to cheek

[j-o-h-n in reply to SPEEDYX]

I'm taking the sleeping berth now.... dreaming about the Andrew sisters......

menage a quatre................ ciao

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Wednesday 09/02/2020 10:10 PM DST

[SPEEDYX in reply to j-o-h-n]

Sweet dreams

[fluffyfur]

I'm late to the thread but my husband is participating in a clinical trial for PC related fatigue. The "prescription" is walking 4 x a week, strength training with exercise bands 2 x week, and then ritalin at a low dose. He feels better since he started. The trial lasts 12 weeks.

[Lettuce231 in reply to fluffyfur]

That's a great opportunity for your husband, it sounds like a positive result already. If the rest of us are anything to go by, little by little he will get stronger and develop better stamina. When we stop and think what has happened to our bodies, it's not surprising that we feel like we've been hit by a freight train.

Let us know in 12 weeks time how he gets on, we will all be pleased to hear.

Good luck, next year he can look forward to painting the house from top to bottom, all that lovely gardening 😜, that's after the daily walk.

Phil

[fluffyfur in reply to Lettuce231]

😋😎

[Hidden]

Exercise is the easiest way...but I also have twin 7 year old kids...I think they keep me moving pretty good...And fishing.

[scarlino]

Fredhutch.org has some good basic exercises you can do at home. There are other sites as well. If you go to YouTube and look for exercises for prostate cancer you should find some videos to follow as well.