Hi, I am my mums carer who has AML and she is struggling with fatigue. Most of the time she is slumped in a chair or lying in bed not able to do much, it is very difficult to watch and feel so helpless. The stairs are the worst for her as she is so breathless. Her nurses try to encourage her to do exercise and build muscle strength but how can she when she has no energy to do so and probably needs a blood transfusion? Any advice or suggestions are welcome!
Sorry to hear about your mum. Fatigue can indeed be a massive challenge. My Specialist Cancer Nurse (SCN) said the exact same thing. The less we do the more we lose muscle mass the harder and longer the recovery.
I ended up in a wheelchair for 4 months following my second Stem Cell Transplant and could only walk very short distances with sticks…… stairs was a mystery only done in all fours. My SCN told my wife she had to show tough love and to make me get up every morning, have a shower sitting on a chair and dressed…….. this wiped me out for most of the day for a good few weeks but slowly things improved……. this takes time and determination by everyone involved.
Blood transfusion could help so do check this out with her team.
