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Fibro and cancer

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 3/14/2015 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone,
I had a double mastectomy in July. I did not need radiation or chemo but had 5 surgeries. I am struggling with being tired all the time and cold and sore. Has anyone had this and caused a fibro flare. Can anyone give me advice as to how to manage the exhaustion and soreness?
Thanks
Lisa
Posted 3/14/2015 4:59 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa.

I don't know how much help I can be but I've been through breast cancer. I had my first mastectomy in 2012 and my second last year. I did have a year of chemo and infusion therapy. The tiredness eventually got better but it took a little while. I still have some soreness around the area of my last surgery. The area under my one arm is so tight that it hurts sometimes. I try to do stretches everyday to help with that. I did not have reconstruction surgery.

My fibro did seem to get worse for a while and I am sure the stress and drugs had a lot to do with that. But I am much better now. I rest when I need to but I really make an effort to keep active. This helps me mentally as well as physically. I really believe in stretching to help with some of the fibro pain.

I'm sure your soreness will get better. It just takes time. I'm sure others will be along with advice too.

Gentle Hugs!
Posted 3/14/2015 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
It will take time, but it will more than likely get better. This is not from personal experience, but from my sister. The flare results from the surgeries, and happens with chemo and/or radiation. The body has been through a trauma, and is acting out, like a tired 4 YO.

As soon as my sister was diagnosed with leukemia and started on chemo, she went on a flare that never ended.
Posted 3/14/2015 8:51 PM (GMT 0)
I haven't experienced this but want to say I'm so sorry you ladies have had to go through this. But you both are strong and will come out feeling better.

Sherrine
Posted 3/15/2015 11:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you to all of you who is giving me support. I know it will get better. Some days are better than others.
Posted 3/15/2015 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry you have had to go through this. I haven't had cancer or a mastectomy, but I did have major abdominal surgery almost a year ago. I still feel like I am recovering. It is a slow process. I'm still exhausted and weak. I started a very gentle yoga program this week, and I was shocked by how weak I am. And by how tight and sore everything is.

I haven't been through what you have, but I can definitely see how you would still be recovering. I don't have any advice to help speed things along or manage them, but it does seem "normal" to me to still not be back to 100% yet. I have had many surgeries throughout my lifetime, and it always takes longer than the doctors say and/or I expect to start feeling better. I had a neurosurgeon tell me once that he felt doctors greatly underestimated the length of time for patients to fully recover. I was having a back surgery at the time, and he told me that in his experience, it seemed that most patients took at least a year before things really started to feel like they sere settling down.

Hugs- Austen
Posted 3/18/2015 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
I did have a double mast, 5 rounds of chemo with a severe allergic reaction to Taxotere. And 32 rads. Took me a year to even start to feel like myself again. My fibro stayed fairly quiet during that time. Thank goodness!!!!
Nap when you need to, don't worry about the dust bunnies. They aren't going anywhere!! smilewinkgrin smilewinkgrin
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