Hi all, hope you're doing alright today. I have a burning query and suspect it might be of general interest, so here goes. I'm two months out of surgery -- TORS and bilateral neck dissection -- without radiation or chemo found necessary, and am managing by myself now, which is enormously gratifying. Even so, more than 90 minutes outside my home and I'm totally exhausted. I'm curious as to why. Nor can I follow my usual activities indoors -- like work -- as I can't seem to concentrate for long. 'Where's my stamina gone?' I'm asking myself. I know everyone's post-operative experiences differ, but how long should it take to restore stamina? Two months, six months, a year...? Is extreme fatigue every day just part of 'the journey'? Thanks for reading and for any responses.
I've had similar, base of tongue resection and left beck dissection mid December 2021 & more tongue surgery 1 Feb. No chemo or radiotherapy. Treatment is over now but for some MLD for lynphadema in my neck but I too get ridiculously tired. I can get up, shower, eat breakfast and then I'm so tired I'm like a grizzly toddler. Really struggling to focus for work. Wondering when I'll get my mojo back!
Two months from surgery are still early days. I have not had the surgery you have had but with what you write you are doing really well, managing by yourself already. Well done this is great. I know we are all different and everyone responds differently because of their own personal circumstances of what treatments they have had and things like health status on recovery. I know just having a cancer diagnosis made my mind preoccupied with worry and anxiety, this alone I found exhausting and made my concentration levels low. Plus all the new things I had to do for my self care could take time for me to work through. I was for sure fatigued for quite some time - over 18 months. This was me as I did have a lot of healing to do after many procedures. I think it just takes time for us to build up our stamina as our bodies need time for healing first. We get there. I don't think we really know how long this will take exactly. If you have any concerns remember you can always talk to your health team.
I am now 9 weeks post a right maxillectomy with no radiotherapy or chemo. I was in reasonably good health prior to this after recovery from a left maxillectomy in 2019 when I did have radiotherapy.
I am the same as you still struggling with stamina. I am definitely improving and week 7 was a breakthrough but still after a few jobs around the home or a bit of shopping I am done in for the rest of the day.
I thought I would improve a lot quicker as I did not have radiotherapy this time round but it is not to be. It’s 2 steps forward and one back.
You would think my past experience of recovery from cancer ops and radiotherapy would have put me in good stead for this time around but not so. It’s 2 steps forward and one back.
I know last time it did take me at least 6 months to get back on my feet and it was 12 months before I was back to my normal self so realistically for me I should allow at least this much time.
Best wishes for your ongoing recovery, you will get there.
I was advised by a doctor friend that although you may physically recover quite quickly from surgery the consensus is that for each hour you are under you should allow one month for the body to fully recover. In my personal experience I have found that to be a slight over estimate, but I deliberately went out my way to take exercise ASAP and flush the chemicals out my body before even the stitches were out! It probably is a good rule and with you just 2 months out of surgery which must have been quite a few hours long I would say have patience!
Peter
See my profile for more details of my convoluted journey
