Tiredness

Hi Lizzie. It's not mind over matter. Your friend is wrong.

When we have radiotherapy there is a part of the brain, the brain stem and the cerebellum, that get a low dose. This is why we struggle with radiation fatigue after treatment ends.

If you have chemotherapy on top it can have a residual effect for some time

It's a different sort of lethargy, too. It tends to come out of nowhere and poleaxe you.

I was OK by around nine months or so. There are plenty of people who take less time or longer....we are all different

I know my mate, Hazel, had to have afternoon naps for a couple of years.

Don't worry...it does get better. You won't be like this for long.

Thankyou Dani. You are always so reassuring xx

You are very welcome. There's so much we aren't told. Yes radiation fatigue is often mentioned but nobody explains it. It's tolerable when you know why it's happening. I asked my oncologist some time ago and he said it was because of a low dose to the Posterior Cranial Fossa ....good job I knew what he was talking about

Hi Lizzie

I found I was tired to for quite some time after my treatments.  I found my energy levels low  as well when my body was still recovering and healing. We are all different and it is best to listen to our bodies and pace ourselves accordingly. I found I could fall asleep at the drop of a hat post treatments.   No way was it mind over matter. 

Best wishes for your ongoing recovery

Nicky

Hi Nicky.  Thankyou for replying.  Can I ask at what point your energy fully return?

lizzie

Hi Lizzie

We are all different with what treatments we have in our own individual cases. It took me long time as I had multiple ops. I cannot say a definite time as my recovery was slow, but I got better bit by bit.  It is more important to let our bodies heal and recover at their own pace and not  worry if this takes longer than you thought it would. Just relax with things and remember you are doing well for what you have been through. It just takes time.

Nicky 

Hi Nicky

that is very sensible advice.  Thankyou  I think I am trying to rush things.  
Lizzie

Hi Lizzie. As Dani says your friend us definitely wrong. No one can state to someone  else hiw you should be feeling. Dani us right I am 3 years 6 month post treatment cit was not in September I managed to stop my power nap. I had 35 radiotherapy sessions  and chemo. So with all due respect to your friend unless she’s gone through it head n neck wide she’s clueless I U was fit befire treatment I had cycled 1100! Km in Spain unknowingly with tonsil cancer. Radiation fatigue is lije ni other tiredness it comes in waves listen to your body. I was having 3 naps a day at your stage that went on for at least 12  months then I learnt to power nap 20 minutes a day. I went to bed even if we were visiting friends I went to bed fully clothed snd slept. 
zyouve bern almost to hell and bsck so trust us in here. You’re doing well 

hugs Hazel 

Thankyou Hazel x

Hi Lizzie

I can only reinterate what everyone else has posted so far.  The fatigue you're experiencing certainly isn't a case of mind over matter - it's a physical response to your treatment.

For months I found I could take the dog out for a walk in the morning at a much slower pace than before but when I got home I just had to sit for about an hour to recover my strength.  And so it would go on through the day.  It was definitely a case of being aware of how I was feeling and learning to pace myself.  I'm not sure I can recall anyone who has been through treatment and not experienced fatigue.

The good news is though it will improve.

All the best.

Linda x