How long does Fatigue last?

Hello SusiQ ......Fatigue is a peculiar thing isn't  it?  I had finished both my chemo and radiotherapy before it kicked in. I'd be walking down a street and my legs would just stop. If I didn't sit down at that point.....I would have collapsed. Then I'd come home and sleep most of the afternoon. It went on for months,gradually improving I suppose, but looking back it probably took at least a year before I realised that the intense fatigue had gone and now  I just felt tired. There's such a difference isn't  there? 

So yes, I'd say what you're experiencing can be normal.....don't let anyone try to tell you that now your treatments have finished, you should be ok again.......everyone is different. If you are feeling fatigue try to look after yourself by resting in ways that suit you. Plan your days to fit how you feel. So if you need one day active and the next rest, plan your week that way. For me it was morning activity and afternoon rest but I know some people have posted that they sleep late and get up at lunch time then do things.

I hope you feel better soon. It won't hurt to mention how you feel to your bcn or at your next check up. They may have suggestions that will help. Hopefully you'll feel less depressed knowing your symptoms are quite common. 

Take care. Karen

Thank you Karen. You have eased my mind x

Hi. 

I know what you mean. The fatigue just wipes you out. I've been seeing the occupational therapist every week for about 6 weeks and she's given me lots of information and help with coping with the fatigue and pacing myself better as before, I would crack on and do everything I wanted to do, then suffer for days afterwards. It's been a challenge changing my mindset to stop and rest even if I feel like carrying on, but I find it's really helping me. 

I've been on Letrozole for 9 months and that's been the worst thing apart from the joint pain. I've persevered in the hope that things will improve but now my oncologist is going to look at changing the tablets I'm on to something else. 

Hope you're feeling better soon. x

Hi SusiQ , you’re definitely not alone. I had very similar ‘active’ treatment - surgery, 3 weeks radiotherapy - and I’ve been on Anastrozole for just over 6 years. I went back to teaching on a phased return and had very supportive employers. But I could never face teaching consecutive days, my feeling at the end of the work day was like I’d been hit over the head with a sledgehammer. I’d be brushing my teeth at 6am on the days I went in (Monday, Wednesday and Friday), feeling nauseous and exhausted, thinking desperately ‘well at least I won’t be doing this tomorrow’. Then I’d put on my cheery face and go into work. I sort of coped for a while but eventually couldn’t face going in at all. I was forgetting important things at school (high needs special needs class) and scraping by with the paperwork on the days I didn’t go in. And feeling more and more anxious about it all. In the end I took ill health retirement, and it was the biggest relief to accept that I just couldn’t carry on. There were financial penalties of course as I’d intended teaching for another 5 years but I was lucky that it was manageable. 
Nowadays I pace myself, I do lots of physical activities as somehow I can walk for miles and I feel better for it, and exercise helps with my joint aches. But no early morning starts, and I limit myself to pretty much one activity per day. I’m rarely out in the evenings. But very happy with my life! 
Just to add (sorry for the ridiculously long ramble), when I was struggling with work, my GP ran a load of blood tests to see if there was another explanation for my fatigue but it was all normal. Could be worth asking for blood tests just in case. But I just think for some of us the oestrogen depletion (and other treatments of course) takes its toll. 
Love and hugs, HFxx

Thank you for sharing. It's good to know it's not just me x

Thanks for that Happy Feet. I think it is just about pacing myself, and not feeling guilty when I do nothing all day. x