Feeling wiped out

Hi Valleyside. I am three months ahead of you with op, radiotherapy etc. It is so tough to feel the way you do but I remember thinking that I would never get back to feeling some sort of normality. Firstly never underestimate the effects of general anaesthetics on your system. They take a long time to recover. Radiotherapy seems so easy when you are attending for treatment but I just had little energy, my boob was uncomfortable and I just fell so fed up. On top of that I wasn’t coping with Anestrozole. I am now on Letrazole, early days but will wait and see. Although I have stiffness after sitting and on waking in the morning, my energy levels are so much better. I haven’t had any pain in my breast for some time so just hold tight. I think things will get better but worth bearing in mind I am retired. It must be so hard going back to work.  Be gentle with yourself and I am sure you will eventually start feeling better. My radiotherapy finished in November and it was March/April before I started feeling normal. 

Hi Valleyside

I'm three months ahead of you, surgery in October, radiotherapy in December wiped out in January and Feb! I gradually got some energy back in March, which improved a little in April and again this month. I'm 60 and work full time, on reflection I should have taken more time off but I was determined to push through ( again I'm not sure why now.)  I used my holidays to reduce my work week by a day a week and had an agreement with my line manager that if I need to take some time off to manage my fatigue I could and still can - there were a few days when I just stopped at lunch time and napped the afternoon away. I'm not back to my pre diagnosis energy levels  and still find outings or late nights exhausting. I do find my sleep hasn't really recovered, which I'm  sure contributes to my tiredness, I'm not sure if the anastrozole is to blame along with my new bone aches. I'm still getting quite a lot of breast pain but I have been reassured that this is normal. However I would say I am gradually improving its just a lot slower process than I assumed it would be. You will get there, things will get better. Be kind and patient with yourself, save your energy for what you really want to do and say no more. 

Thank you for your helpful reply xx

Thank you for your reply, it helps to know that what I’m going through is pretty normal xx