I was dx in Jan 2005, aged 47. Had WLE followed by mx. As am pre-menopausal had 2 years of zoladex and still on tamoxifen. Both drugs give you menopausal symptoms and as I’m now 50 I could naturally be menopausal.
I had a diep recon last Oct. The op was over 9 hours long and I’ve made a good recovery apart from some fluid under my ribs above my belly button. It’s been drained 3 times and keeps filling up so we’re leaving it alone to see what happens (I was fed up of being poked around).
I still get really tired - some days I wake up and my head feels like it’s fuzzy and thick and it takes me ages to get going. I often have a dip in energy in the afternoon but so far have resisted having an afternoon nap!
Does anyone else feel like this?
As my op was only 7 months ago could it still be related to that or is it the dreaded side effects of the drugs? Or am I truly menopausal now?
Have been struggling recently with feelings of fear of reoccurance. I thought it would get easier the more time that passes since dx. My prognosis was good but I still get scared. Is there a time after dx that reoccurances become more common? I suppose it depends on many different factors - I was grade 1, stage 2, I+ node out of 16, strongly er+.
Any comments?
Lots of love
fantan
Hi fantan.
I haven’t had a recon but can answer your question on recurrence. The first two years are when it is most likely to recur so you are well past that 
Even if you count it from the end of treatment (no-one seems to be able to agree on the timing) you should still be well past that point.
I wish I could say that you will stop worrying at a certain point but the truth is that most of us will continue to fret for years. You have to see this as a perfectly natural reaction and try to think of the positive side of your diagnosis and not the negative aspects; such as - grade 1 = good, er+ = good etc.
Just remember that we who use these sites do so for a reason. Mostly reassurance and kinship so you are in the right place.
Best wishes
Nicola
Forgot to say that I still get hugely tired over two years after. You are definitely not alone on that one.
Nicola
Nicola
Thanks everso for the reassurance and it’s good to know I’m not alone in being tired.
fantan
I was really worried cos I still get so tired and I was dx in Oct 2006!
Hi Fantan,
I had a DIEP last April, so 14 months ago - I’m have been on tamoxifen since September. I found I was still really tired until about April this year, so a year post op. My doctor told me this was completely normal and not to feel that I shouldn’t be feeling like this.
Since after April, I have been walking my boys to school instead of driving and also just doing more around the house - I used to take to my bed once I’d dropped them off. I have found that the more I do, especially the walking, the more energy I have. So don’t worry, you’re nowhere near a year post op - I hope after a few more months you’ll find yourself feeling a lot more active. Meanwhile, enjoy the lolling around if you can - I did!
Love,
Sally xx
PS - I too worry about recurrences, but I think that’s completely natural - after all, if it’s happened once why not again. However, I suppose I feel I’ll deal with it as and if it happens - can’t do much else, can we! xx
I was diagnosed back in 05 at age 31. I am almost always tired and have to really battle against falling asleep in the afternoon. I have the odd day when I feel awake and nearly normal. I had mast and chemo but no rads or hormone treatments so don’t understand at all why I am still tired. People around me are getting sooooooooooooo fed up with my yawning! Yawwwwwwnnnnnnn OOPS sorry!
Your not alone
Neenie xx
I was dx in Feb 06 and still get really tired and lethargic.
Thoughts of reoccurance come and go…sometimes I’m positive, other times negative. It’s never far away though.
Sheana
Hi another one diagnosed 2005, at age thirty one. lumpectomy, chemo, rads, zoladex and still on tamoxifen. I still find I am very tired. I have a four yr old boy and find it a real struggle somedays to keep up with him. I stopped working after my diagnosis, kind of had hoped to be feeling back to normal by now. On the whole i would say i am but energy levels are definitely alot lower than pre-diagnosis. Fear of recurrance is never far from my mind either, so it is reassuring to know that so many of us feel the same.
Hello everyone
Thought I’d update you.
Brought forward my onc check up so I could talk about my fears. He put my mind at rest and Nicola you’re right - the longer you go on the better.
Also had a chat with my surgeon and BC nurse who arranged for blood tests and guess what - my haemoglobin is below normal! So I’m back on the iron tabs and looking forward to a few steaks!
Thank you so much for all your comments, this forum has been such a support for me.
Take care all of you and as my dear sister in law keeps telling me - be kind to yourselves.
fantan xxx
YES! I get tired too [and low] DX 21st Dec 04, chemo/mast/rads Tam 05, second mast [tissue expanders] May o6 then exchange Dec 06. Small day surgery Oct 07 [Gynie] and now Aremedix…+ I work full time 12 shifts so I suppose its no wonder I get tired! I try not to think too much about recurrance… would love to chuck my job in but I am the main earner…hay ho!
Glad i found this posting i was DX Oct 2005 had WLE and sentinel node biopsy then mastectomy then chemo for 7 months 2006. I get so tired still and it upsets me. if i mention this to hubby and also the fact my joints ache he says ‘do you think its because your over weight’ I swear one day i shall be up for murder haha.
Rx