Is it normal to feel constantly exhausted 6 weeks after total nephrectomy?

Hi - from reading others' posts on here (I didn't have a nephectomy) they will say that it's a major surgery and therefore you have to give yourself ample time to recover.  6 weeks is not long .

I would say that your fears for your children are completely normal and I can relate.   For me, this got better as time progressed (months/years), but then I had an excellent response to my treatment which makes it easier.  

Totally normal, 6 weeks is no time at all, give yourself credit for walking as much as you do, although that is probably shattering you out. I had nephrectomy last June and it took me about three months to get somewhere near my usual self. I recall the nurse telling me I would not feel completely back to my old self for about six months.

From recollection after about six weeks if I went out with my wife shopping I would need to have a nap afterwards it would wipe me out. 

It will get better and it will be easier but when you return to work make sure they understand you are still recovering and may need some leeway. I really wish you the best.

Everyone reacts differently because we are all individuals and we each have different levels of stamina, pain tolerance, etc etc plus of course every single surgery is different from any other, because no two bodies are exactly the same.

Three miles a day walking, at just six weeks in, sounds a lot. I wonder if this is partly the cause of your exhaustion. At age 65, even without surgery, I would find three hours a day walking to make me very wiped out... although I probably easily do that at work and more without realising it, as I work in a busy village store and mostly alone; which perhaps is why I get home every night feeling wiped out!!!

The general advice is that complete healing can take up to 12 weeks, whether from keyhole or open - the internal healing is going on for this long, and your body will still be striving to send healing energy to the parts that have been damaged by surgery, which will take a lot out of you physically. 

Try breaking down your walking into bite-size pieces - half an hour at a time. If you are walking 2 x half hour a day, and feel less exhausted, give it another week or two and then increase to 3 x half hour a day...and so on. 

I went back to my work at 6 weeks but I recall I felt very tired after each shift for the first month or so, and I would lie on the bed for an hour or two before my shift so as to be rested before shift. And I needed that time on the bed! I no longer need to do that, six months down the line. I didn't get a lot done other than work, in those earlier days, and even my two days off were spent mostly on and off the bed and not doing anything more active than walking the dogs.

I would say that the exhaustion you are feeling, is pretty normal, or at least to be expected. The hot-and-cold thing is likewise fairly normal, I would think. Your body is in the early days of repairing itself. I still have times when I feel very hot in bed but I just go with it and if it saves me a hot water bottle or putting the heating up, that's a bonus! I also feel colder than I used to when sitting indoors in the daytime, but I am 65 and it could be a combination of a change in my blood flow and the fact that the insulation underneath my park home is probably nearing the end of its life! 

Re: returning to work - contact your manager and ask whether they can adjust your hours or your tasks, for the first month or so. I believe they have an obligation to do this for their employees, under these circumstances. Otherwise, if they absolutely cannot, you are within your rights to obtain a further sick note from your GP. Most employers would rather have an employee, recovering from major surgery, present on reduced hours than absent completely for a further four weeks! 

I was off work for five months after a partial nephrectomy so 6 weeks is not long enough I would say. I went straight back to training for a trail race after 3 months and that caused long term fatigue, so I would caution against doing too much too soon, tho I understand that’s easier said than done. Also reading what you wrote at the end, it could also be that your fatigue is linked to your mental stress and trauma, so perhaps therapy could help? So much good luck to you at this time, it’s a big journey your on so be kind to yourself. Xx

Actually also remember to involve Occupational Health ideally when you return to work - they can work with both parties to introduce accommodations and make your day easier - I reduced hours, had shorter shifts and breaks every two hours. If your employer doesn’t want to accommodate such ideas speak to MacMillan as they can advise you - they pointed out to me that I’m / cancer patients are protected by law, and that’s worth thinking about. 

Thank you for your response. It’s good to know that I’m not alone in the way that I’m currently feeling. ️

Thank you for your response. I am going to speak to my manager about the possibility of a phased return. I work full time in a primary school and am 1:1 (or should I say 1:3) with 3 children that have a high level of needs. 

Thank you for your helpful advice. 

I’m not sure whether my emotional state is due to the exhaustion, or the shock of finding out about having the tumour, my kidney removed and then finding out it was cancer? Probably a combination of both. Also, I have never been offered any sort of support (even a leaflet), so I decided to join this forum to see if other people were experiencing the feelings/symptoms I am. I contacted my GP this morning to be told the next available appointment is the 2nd November! 

Sorry to hear that. Yes this forum is great and was key to my rehabilitation and set me on a course of investigation and learning. 1:3 sounds tough! Good luck

I had a radical nephrectomy about six weeks ago followed by an infection and I cannot even stand for more than a few minutes and I can only walk a few meters at the time. I saw my surgeon yesterday and he said I could expect to take 3-6 months to get back to “normal”. I was advised to take things steady as my body had run the equivalent of several marathons during the op and my recovery. It’s very frustrating and boring but I am trying to take things one day at a time. I hope you start to feel better soon and regain your strength and zest! 
All the best.