So tired

Don't worry. It doesn't matter if you need to sleep. Sleep is a healer. Fatigue is one of the worst side effects of treatments because it drags on beyond the physical chemo and radiotherapy.  I can't tell you why it happens or why some people suffer less but I do know there will be very few who haven't experienced the feeling at sometime during recovering. In your case, your body has still experienced a big shock. A lumpectomy and axillary clearance is not an' only'. It's still a major operation with a lot of internal healing.

So please allow yourself to rest if you need to. Don't compare yourself to anyone else especially those who return to work easily. I used to get the same fatigue as you did this morning when you took a taxi. Suddenly I had to stop and sit otherwise I would have fallen. I tried, like you, to ignore it and was angry with myself at first but my OH realised that there was nothing we could do except accept and work around it. That's what we did ......we planned our days so we could stop for coffee or choose a supermarket where I could start the shop but go and sit while he finished and paid. Every afternoon I had a rest and gradually I had more energy and did more. In the meantime I had a blood test and actually I had deficiencies in B1,6 and 12. These effect fatigue too. Perhaps you could get them checked just in case?

I hope you start to improve soon. I guess you are waiting for the next part of your plan. Hope it goes well. Take care. Love Karen

Oh I know, Angua1, but 3 weeks after an op is honestly still early days, a general anaesthetic can take that long to fully leave your system. Listen to yourself, be kind to yourself and try to very gradually build those energy and stamina levels back up. Short walks will help but my advice is always to try and make them circular so you can shoot back home any time it all feels too much, rest up if you’re tired, listen to your body and respond to what it’s asking. You will recover, honestly! (And do do the shoulder exercises, you should have been given a booklet showing you what ones to do at each stage) 

Hugs xxx

Me too except I struggle to sleep. You need to remind yourself that you've had major surgery. Your body was filled with lots of drugs at surgery and now its trying to purge them and your body recover. It can take a while. Sometimes you just have to go with it, if you feel tired have a nap. You need to be careful to not over sleep in the day time as then you may struggle at night. Its still early post surgery and this is normal after what you have been through. It will pass xx

I agree with everything  everyone has said.  I had a mastectomy  and then axillary  clearance 6 weeks later.  All done by mid Aug.  Took ages to get over it..not helped by an infection.  But I'm fine now..give it plenty of time and nap during the day if you need to. Xx

Thank you all. OH says perhaps I’ll listen to you ladies. I’m on AB’s which are giving me a horrid taste. I’ve been doing my exercises  but ended up with a seroma which was drained yesterday. It’s the horrid guilt that I’m letting the family down. I stupidly tried helping my son decorating and it’s been since then I’ve felt so bad. 

Angua1 Hi I'm just joining the queue to remind you that you have had major surgery you possibly didn't feel like you had initially cos all the drugs lulled you into a false sense of security . For me it took at least two weeks for nerve blocker to wear off so ...pain free at first . 

You need to listen to your body and do what it is telling you rest when needed eat whatever your tastebuds want and drink lots to rehydrate . Certainly go for gentle short walks slowly building up .

Perhaps if you think about what you would say to hubby or son if they had major surgery then decided to help you decorate 

Ok nagging over hope you feel better soon I know it doesn't feel like you ever will but you will get there honest . 

Have a browse on some of the profiles of those of us further down the road than you .

take care 

Oh my! Not a good idea, that decorating (but I understand you wanting to help!) - just please do listen to your body, it’s been through trauma and needs you to be kind, whatever your inner thoughts tell you! You’re not letting anyone down; remember that if you ignore all this advice, the ‘crash’ of illness will be tougher to come back from. Recovery is a funny old stage, you need to know when ‘enough is enough’ and back off. It’s also the best way to help prevent seroma recurrences. 

Hugs xxx

Absolutely Moomy. I had 2 ops, last one was June. Finally, after falling down twice in 2 days, my husband actually understands now that although I think I'm strong and want to be strong, treatment does take its toll, even on the fittest and we do need time to get better. My treatment was done in a short space of time really, but it doesn't mean I am firing on all cylinders yet. I tend to put a brave face on it. Today I feel great as I actually got back to doing a little paid work. Lost confidence, but again that's normal.

Still early days. I’m at about the same stage. I can’t keep going all day and get tired easily. The BCNs don’t like the word ‘lumpectomy’ because they say it maybe sounds like no big deal - in fact it can be fairly major surgery. I know my op took over 5 hours! We need to allow ourselves to rest and 6 weeks is a typical recovery time not 10 minutes!

Had a lazy afternoon/evening and had the most delicious curry from the best local restaurant. I vaguely do remember about a nerve block so maybe that’s been a factor. Watching Clarkson’s Farm, which always makes me smile-and also because it’s the village where my sister lives. 
Tomorrow I will visit my mum and hopefully get a visit from my granddaughter who is 2 today.