Fatigue

Hi Juliemacca, I also had fatigue for months and months after surgery.  It gradually improved although I reckon it was over a year until my energy was back to the previous level.  It's frustrating too when you have a list of things to do, but have to give up early and have a rest.

Hi Julie,

it took well over a year for me to get my pre op energy levels back to somewhere near what they used to be, I still get quite tired and have trouble sleeping. I attended counselling as I was getting down and they gave me the same advice and also told me to hold back some energy for home, it's not worth putting all of your energy into your working all week, you end up with no private life. 

Its nice to know it's not just me having this issue, at 37 I sometimes feel like a bit of a fraud admitting I'm tired and need to rest.

xxx

Hi Julie, I finished my treatment (surgery, radiotherapy and brachytherapy) in early September last year and felt very fatigued for a good few months.  Although I was improving by early this year I was still feeling the effects enough to decide to retire from work in February.  That has helped a lot.  I still sometimes think I haven't quite got my mojo back yet.  You have certain rights at work as a cancer patient and your employer is obliged to make reasonable adjustments for you.  That might mean adjusting your hours, workload etc.  The macmillan team will be able to give you more info about that.  On the other hand you might want to talk to your GP about being signed off work for a while.  It's early days for you though and whennyou think about what you have gone through both emotionally and physically, it just takes as long as it takes.  The best bit of advice I was given was to stop and flop when I needed to!  Xx

Hi

The Maggie’s workshop sounds great. Fatigue is so hard to deal with and Arla you’re not a fraud. I describe myself as being like a toddler - I need my afternoon nap. 

I have been dealing with fatigue from cancer treatment for years now - diagnosed in March 2014 and 34 of the 61 months since then have been spent in active treatment with the remainder spent coping with the aftermath. I’m better these days at resting when I need to and saving my energy for the things I want to do. And I don’t want to spend it cleaning so I have a cleaning lady pop in two hours a week. Money well spent. If you can afford it, do it. It doesn’t have to be forever, there’s no shame and it will make your life so much better. The pleasure of coming home to a clean house is significant. 

Xx

I agree with , Arla your certainly not a fraud at all. Fatigue is probably something I find the most annoying and at times I wonder why I am effected by it so much, but we all must remember that its not something we can predict but can help to reduce it by being kind to ourselves. During treatment you kinda understand that your going to be effected in so many ways, but I think its after treatment that we can't figure out. It can hit anytime so you need to pace yourself, I think cancer has an aging effect on us and although we are young and feel we shouldn't feel the way we do, we have to respect it will have an exhausting effect. So one of the things I was told, " you don't have to do everything today" I think we have a change in priorities too. You look at life so differently. I find some of the best ways of dealing with fatigue is to not to try to do everything at once, take breaks and rest up, drink lots of water, water is important for helping with fatigue as dehydration has an extra effect. A good sleep pattern, well I think most of us have been effected by lack of sleep for one reason or another, so a cool comfortable bedroom really helps if getting too hot effects you. Doing something that relaxes you helps too just before bed. I was given an breathing exercise that helps a bit too just before bed. Plus don't fight the triedness, it sounds simple but you be surprised how many of us actually does that for many reasons. 

I feel the same about the tiredness. had my operation end Nov (early stage so no further treatment) but I underestimated how long it’d take to feel anywhere near normal in terms of tiredness. I (foolishly?) went back to work in late January, full time with shifts, in a physically demanding stressful job, and it was a mistake I think. I’m not sleeping well and went straight into the menopause which is driving me mad with night sweats and anxiety, it’s been too much for me and I’m struggling. Just hope I feel better soon. I thought once the initial recovery was done I’d be back to normal- nooo, not for me, not yet. Under lot of pressure at home  in various ways especially to work full time and also no belief that I have any right to still be recovering. Apparently I’m ‘better now’. I’m fed up! X

Sorry just re-read my post and it was so whingey, I know I’m lucky in the grand scheme of things. First three monthly  checkup later, think it’s getting to me xx

Hi worried45

Poor you! I think the check up pre anxiety is getting to you. I hope all goes well. 

Meanwhile, a big hug and loads of love my friend 

xxx

Thank you , a big hug to you too and much love xxx

Thanks for posting this. I had my op in December and brachytherapy in February and I’m still very fatigued. Due back at work on 1 April but that has been put back to 1 May. I will have a phased return and thank goodness I only work 3 days. I’m trying to do more and am doing gentle exercise at a gym but am pacing myself.