Stamina after cystectomy

Hi Jane. Sorry to hear that you’re feeling exhausted after gardening. I don’t have personal experience as I’m only 5 months post op. But I think that your lack of stamina could be due to a combination of things. RC does cause a major effect on your body which quickly gets ‘deconditioned’ due to inactivity, even though you might have been fit preop. Your recovery might have been affected by the lockdown restrictions?? Also you are 5 years on from your surgery and stamina does reduce with age. Lastly your back issues might also be affecting your ability to do strenuous works in certain postures. May be it’s worth discussing with a physiotherapist and/or doing Pilates/yoga. All the best. X

Thanks Hopeful,It is probably a combination as you say.All the stress I have been under during the last few years hasn’t helped.I did do gentle gardening during the pandemic but recovery from the op was very slow.I was so weak and ill before the surgery it was bound to take a long time to get well again.It will be easier to commit to an exercise class once I have moved.My friend next door teaches yoga and if I move to the area where she takes classes I shall sign up.Mentally being in this horrible limbo state has caused tiredness too.It is a lot of loss all at once,mum’s death,my job,health,money and home once the house has sold.I’m sure things will improve once I have moved and am settled again.How is your recovery going ? Jane xx

Doing exercise classes would definitely help your stamina. Hope your house sells quickly and you move into a suitable home soon. My recovery has been smooth so far. Have had some irregular heart beat recently so having it investigated to be safe. Otherwise planning to go back to work at the end of March. 

Best wishes with your heart.I hope it is nothing concerning.I’m keeping my fingers crossed that more viewers will be round to look at the house now the weather is improving.xx

You've had a lot to contend with, apart from RC. There's also no getting away from it, we're all ageing. Around a couple of years post op, I think I felt fitter than pre-op, because I was doing more exercise. I took pride in what I could do. But now I'm sure I haven't the same stamina I used to have, especially when gardening, although I'm still pretty strong. Particularly this time of year, working outside is taxing - I find I can usually do more as I get used to it during my gardening season.

I do ballet and yoga and try to keep active generally, but I do perhaps pace myself a bit more these days. I do wonder if covid had any lasting effects, although we were fully vaccinated and had it fairly mildly. 

Perhaps when you get the move done, and the weather is warmer, you'll feel a bit better. 

Hi Teasswill,Yes age is catching up with me though my aunt is nearly 86 and fitter than I am.I’m fairly strong from looking after mum for all those years,pushing wheelchairs etc.I enjoy gardening so these heavy tasks are not boring but they are tiring.I’ve done a bit more pruning but looking at the thickness of the branches will have to see if my sister will lend me a hand to complete the job.I have to pace myself too but things get done eventually.I take before and after photos of some jobs to keep motivated and then delete them afterwards.I think that helps a lot mentally I started that during the cystectomy recovery period.Jane x

Hi Winkers, I definitely am less fit since the cystectomy, the chemo, the immunotherapy, the Atrial Fibrillation (that came with the chemo) and, as that  worsens, the breathlessness since being prescribed beta blockers. And, even though I  walk each day, I haven't yet got back to the distances or speed I used to do. It's now over 2 years since the cystectomy.

I feel the treatments caused more problems than the cancer in many ways. So perhaps I can't complain, as at least I'm still here. Plus some unpleasant things, that may have existed for years before the cancer,  have probably only become apparent because of the regular CT and other scans.

Over the past year or so, several different specialists have told me to be careful and not to over-exert. But I am fed up with all of that and how it makes me feel. So this year I am going to push myself to get fitter.

I'll take care, and rest as needed but have re-started more complex exercises and as spring progresses there'll be some gardening and decluttering.

I'm sure this will help me mentally as well as physically, I hope so anyway. Of course, as you say, increasing age may limit what I can achieve. But I hope to enjoy trying, at least.

Good luck with getting back your stamina too. 

Latestart x

Hi Latestart,I had no heart problems until recurrent Pericarditis in the 1990’s.The cardiologist said it was auto immune related as I had Interstitial cystitis and both can occur with SLE (Lupus) My Lupus tests were all negative though.I wish you well with your complex exercises.De cluttering does help mentally.Good luck with that.I find it is much easier to keep the house clean and organised now.It took over a year to sort out my mothers things but it was well worth it.Love Jane x

Hi Jane,

I’m one year on and although feeling well and able to take a daily one hour walk with no problems, (and it’s pretty hilly where I live)

Like you I do find gardening and using arms and upper body really tiring. Five months before my cystectomy I had a replacement aortic valve inserted via the femoral artery. I was moving from phase three to phase four of the cardiac rehabilitation programme when bladder cancer was diagnosed and I abandoned the programme. Because of the tiredness I now feel when in the garden I recently applied and was granted permission to rejoin the cardiac rehab phase four exercise sessions at my local leisure centre gym. Just one hour supervised weekly sessions using muscle groups you wouldn’t normally use. Small weights, rowing machine for upper body, treadmill and excercise bike for stamina. Age range of this group is from mid 50’s to mid 80’s so at 78 I’m towards the top end but coping well with it. I’m a month in and starting to feel the difference already. 
I noticed at the gym there some mobility sessions for older people that look very similar to what I’m doing. Might be worth enquiring if you feel the need to up the stamina a bit.

Hi Stapled,Best wishes for your cardiac rehab.I shall have to look into mobility sessions once I know where I’ll be living.I’m in a horrible state of limbo in all areas at the moment.Jane