Ask the RN Question:
I have been diagnosed with CLL for about five-years now. My treatment is watch and wait, and I seem to be doing well so far. I am 69 and have always been in good health, but for the past year or so, I have long periods (five-to-six days) with cold-like symptoms (tired, achy, no fever), and then days of feeling okay. Lately, I have tended to have more bad days than good. Is this common with CLL? Or am I just getting older?
Answer: Glad you have been doing well so far. Fatigue and muscle aches are very common symptoms as a result of having CLL. Have you spoken with your CLL Specialist about the increasing frequency of your symptoms, and have you had your labs checked recently? Increasing fatigue that becomes severe can be a reason to begin treatment. We have a good article that you can read about the Watch and Wait period and some of the possible reasons to consider treatment that can be found here:
