Hi, I’ve been experiencing fatigue the next day if I go out for a few hours e.g. shopping, chores etc. I hadn’t expected that. I’ve been doing the exercises and prior to surgery have always had a reasonable amount of energy, never really suffering fatigue. Looking around the web I’ve seen other people mention the same thing. And I haven’t even started chemo yet!
Has anyone else here experienced fatigue in the weeks following a mastectomy? Is there anything you’ve done which you found helps to aleviate it (one post I read elsewhere said someone increased their protein intake and it helped - haven’t tried it personally though)?
Hi Helm
Please dont expect too much from youself. Take each day as it comes. You’ve had a major op and it takes time for the anaesetic and drugs given to wear off. It’s also a very emotional experience you’re going through. Drink plenty of fluids and each as and when you feel like it. How are you sleeping? If you do feel the urge to Hoover, clean, iron etc ask someone else to do it and go out for walk in the fresh air instead.
Take care and look after yourself. This is your time to be selfish. 
emma xx
Hi Helm
I am almost 2 weeks on from surgery (WLE one side and reduction on both) and like you I am feeling very tired at times. I do little during the day when I am home alone. But on days where someone calls or I accompany OH walking the dog, I’m so shattered later. I sleep very well most nights so to still be so tired it seems peculiar. BCN warned of this fatigue but didn’t pay it much attention. I have seen some posts saying you should still stay active, but too much activity seems to jostle upper body that then aches more than when staying still. Not sure what to do for the best?
Take Care
JF x
Hi helm,
My mum had mx 6 weeks ago and some days she just sat and dozed all day. She was active before and took the dog out for long walks every night. Now she is doing smaller walks and building up to the longer ones. I had wle 2 weeks ago and like jf, I also get tired. I cannot contemplate work at the moment as one busy day is followed by a day of tiredness. I do try and go for a walk each day though to build myself up.
Take care
Sam xx
Hello everyone I think the fatigue is one of the worst s/e of bc. I had a WLE & SNB in March and was just getting over the fatigue, haematoma probs etc and getting my mojo back when rads started. Now 3 weeks after end of rads am struggling with fatigue again but worse than post op. this time it here really is nothing in the tank on many days, but particularly if I see friends or family and try and do ‘normal’ things - the next day I am wiped out just as you describe Sam. This radiographer said I am at the worst bit of post rads s/es and combined with the hormone treatment, it is to be expected. But… It is really tedious and I so want to move on and get my energy back. I guess we have to listen to our bodies and take each day as it comes. Bc really is a case of rethinking so much in life we used to take for granted.
I agree the daily light exercise definitely helps Sam even if you don’t feel like it. Fresh air and exercise really work in small doses. It’s just the unpredictability that is so tricky to manage.
keep going ladies. Small steps x x
Hi , feel same as all of you. Had wle and full anc removal tuesday home wednesday drain in felt fine. Washed floors today, put washing in and then in drier, had bath and now wrecked!!! Cant believe it im used to working 13 hour shifts on my feet. Hope this improves feel like a baby. Also feel guilty if im sat or laying down and family here. Think it annoys OH to, but he dosent say so.
Think bc changes you so much , perhaps the psychological effects make us tired i dont know just want to be back to the old me!!
Hopefully drain out monday got upset before cos brothe called around and asked wots in the bag?, showed him drain and he said ARRGH dont show me that!! So helpful, Have good day all x
Learn a new mantra: BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF ! some of you are only a short while after major surgery. Our grannies would have had 3 weeks in hospital on bed rest!!! Or more! BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF!
I’m 2 years post treatment and being gentle wiht myself was the hardest lesson to learn. If I could do it in bigger font, I would… but, please BE GENTLE WITH YOURSELF. You will have good days and bone weary days. You will think you are OK and then your energy will go as suddenly as if someone had switched the light off. You are amazing, but you are NOT superwoman!
Now then, all together now… BE GENTLE… etc etc
really…
please…
Jane
Lols listen to Jane! You’ve had a major op you really shouldnt be cleaning floors! You need to be very careful about lymphodema. Your arm will probably still be quite numb from your op and you won’t realise you’re overdoing it until its too late. Please rest and let your family do the heavy duty stuff, even emptying the washing machine. If you feel the urge go out for a walk It might be worth reminding your OH why you had the op in the first place! Sorry to sound naggy but you are precious and should be treated so xx
I have just had a lump removed on Tuesday 18th June 2013. I thought i was ok until today SATURDAY i still have no feeling on the outer skin but inside im sore. I have been doing the odd job nothing heavy but from today im taking it easy. I have started to feel tired and really sickly, i was going to start to cut my pain killers out but decided not to.
I go back next Thursday for the results and just keep thinking what ever I get chucked at me I will take in my stride as like many of you I dont want to go through this again, so what ever has to be done to stop this i will take.
Im am after some advice I am off work but only get SSP, where do i ring to see if im entitled to a top up on my wage?
Also how do i obtain my voucher towards my wig as IV been told iam going to have chemo?
Many thanks for taking the time to read my post.
Bev
ok il take it easy didnt realise might aggrivate lymphodema thanks melrose x Arm quite numb so hard to remember sometimes but will be more careful glad of all your advice. thankyou loads xx
Yes I agree with Melrose and Jane you must take it easy - I had WLE and SNB on 1st May and it was my youngest daughters birthday the next day and her party a couple of days later, I totally overdid it (the day I came home from hospital I was also hanging washing on the line and watering the garden too as I felt fine), then the fatigue set in and some days I felt like crawling around on the floor by 4.30pm waiting for my OH to get home from work to take over looking after the kids so I could go to bed! 10 days after my op I got an infection in my wound site and ended up going back into hospital for 4 days, lesson well and truly learnt and when I came out of hospital the 2nd time I did nothing but sit on the sofa, it was hard, I am such a control freak I hated having to rely on other people to do everything around the house, but I new I needed to do it to recover properly. Listen to your body, sleep and rest as much as possible and please don’t over do it!
amanda
Re: Protein
My Practice Nurse advised including protein in every meal to help combat fatigue and I believe that has helped me.
Hi Bev. If you contact the help desk here they’ll advise you on ssp I’m sure. With regards to your wig it’s early days. if you do need chemo you’ll find out all you need from the chemo unit and onc. Remember baby steps x
Hi have taken it more easy today but do feel lazy. Hopefully drain out tomorrow but still draining approx 100ml per day if not more so hope it can come out. Due to taking it more easy worrying non stop about how many lymph nodes involved so tearful now all visitors gone. (biop already confirmed lymph involvement so had full anc) Everytime i read something on here most people put no lymph involvement thankgoodness and so i get more scared. Wont have any of these results until 1st july which is 13 days post op!!! Thanks for advice yesterday have good evening everyone x
Hi Lois, I’m worrying about how many lymph nodes are involved as well, although not having ANC until Friday.
I asked my BC Nurse whether the path report said anything about the cells they’d found in the 2 nodes they removed when I had the mx and she just said they contained cancer cells, not micro or macro whatever, as others have mentioned. So I’m thinking the worst - but who knows, we might be lucky and none of the others are infected! 
I’m surprised they didn’t warn you about taking it easy because of the risk of lymphodoema. Don’t get carried away with the arm exercises either - slowly does it as it’s early days yet. Hope you feel better soon.
Annie x
Hi annie had op on general surgical wd or would still be waiting and went out of area for op. Therefore no nurses could give me any advice post op and physio didnt have a clue (young guy). Vaguely recall surgeon coming into recovery and saying couple of lymph looked inflamed, cant believe i have to wait 13 days for results as he originally said 7 working days but hes too busy to see me. Arm numb at mo, but doing exercises friend sent me who works in lymphodema clinic. (ones for when drain in). Surgeon was surprised i was so worried on day of op regarding lymph said it was common to have involvement and because he was removing all lymph he ouldnt worry so much. Easy for them to say, off food today again !! Hope your ok and appetite improved x
ps the two girls bcn have put me touch with both had lymph involvement one 6 the other i cant remember both over year down line both good. Met one whilst in hospital on wednesday she came to visit looked brill, felt brill x
HI back from long trip to hospital seen by surgeon for 2 mind said keep drain in , monitor and ring results in Thursday and theyl decide if can come out fri or monday!!! No results yet and hes not sure if theyl b bk monday that willl be 13 days post op. How much stress does that put on yourself and family! Feel so worried now as already know its in lymph, everything is so slow, how do people cope with this? Taking painkillers and going to bed . Hope everyone else feeling better than me, sorry for moaning!
for 2 mins not 2 mind!!!
Lois, we have every right to moan, we are all going through it, don’t be hard on yourself, sorry you didn’t get your results, what. bummer eh! I’m not even sure when I get my results date my 2nd wle, I’m think I will check with the BC nurse tomorrow. You must have one too, can you not ring her and tell her how you feel, they may put wriggle on for you . Hope you feel a bit better tomorrow. Sorry about the spelling ,post op brain methinks , take care x