As you go through cycles of chemo, your energy level will cycle as well, and you may find that fatigue is a problem for you.
Usually fatigue is the worst during the first few days after each treatment and your energy then returns after a week or so. You will learn your pattern after a few rounds of chemo, and this will help you plan work and social activities. Many people find that a good day with lots of energy is often followed by a low energy day.
If you’re looking for ways to stabilize your energy, consider this list of techniques I share in my book, Braving Chemo: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and How to Get Through It.
Remember that you can always use these energy boosting techniques to help you feel your best.
Energy Boosters
• Eat regular meals and snacks, with protein at each meal.
• Drink enough water, approximately one ounce for every two pounds of body weight every day (unless water is specifically restricted by your doctor due to a kidney or heart condition).
• Exercise—yes, exercise! Studies show that people who exercise throughout chemotherapy have more energy. Remember that you don’t have to keep up your pre-chemo level of exertion. Even gentle stretching or walking counts as exercise and is beneficial.
• Get enough sleep, at least seven–eight hours per night.
• Take naps when you feel tired, limited to 30–60 minutes long. Longer naps can make you feel groggy because you enter a deeper phase of sleep. Don’t nap if you can’t sleep at night.
• Breathe. When we feel stress, we often hold our breath unconsciously. This can lead to muscle tension, pain and fatigue. When you are tired, pause to take ten deep breaths.
As the months of chemotherapy go by, it is normal to feel more and more fatigued. Know your limits. Pay attention to what is happening in your body today and what you need to feel energized. Have you eaten enough? Do you need a nap? Fresh air? A hug?
Go get what you need. Allow yourself to slow down if your energy is low. Regroup and reassess. Do not place demands on yourself. When you are having a good day, go for it!
There is no right way to have cancer, no chemo rulebook. Instead, meet yourself wherever you are each day.
If you need some more help giving your chemo and your immune system a boost, check out my last blog post where I share an exercise to help you Befriend Your Medicine.
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