Hello there. It’s nearly a year since I had a short notice (4 weeks) partial nephrectomy.
The two big things I’m having to deal with are depression and a different tolerance for exercise, as well as issues with low energy.
Firstly with depression, it became critical recently and have an appointment with an occupational health expert this week who will make some recommendations hopefully to my employer, as work has been a lot to handle.
However I did listen to the excellent Shine podcast - Not your grandmother’s cancer show - three days ago and on their mental health episode they mentioned a study stating depression after cancer is really common not necessarily at the time of the operation but in the years that followed, especially if you had experienced trauma from life events beforehand, all of which I have had.
I would definitely be interested and very grateful to know if anyone else has unexpectedly experienced increasing depression a year plus after their operation and anything they did to recover?
Secondly exercise wise, it’s like my body has changed and no longer responds to running and exercise the way it did before. All understandable I know especially with the depression diagnosis, but I used to be able to run 50K and now can barely manage 5K, even with training.
I sometimes wonder if I did too much too soon after the operation which may have affected my energy levels long term, though again that could be the depression effecting everything.
So just also wondering if anyone else experienced a complete lack of fitness and energy still a year after surgery despite trying?
I also apologise if I sound foolish and ungrateful - I realise I’m lucky to be alive and able to get outside at all.
Ooo good luck with ur phone call...let me know how u go on ...well only if u want to share...thinking about u...just got my hospital leaflet out to see who I should ring..so ty for the kick up the proverbial button
