I finished chemo in may, and the awful, dreary fatigue I’d been having lifted (thank heaven!) to weary tiredness instead. I thought that it would keep improving, especially once mx and recon were over and I could do a bit more and gradually build up to active again. But, mx and recon were nearly 7 weeks ago and I’m still shattered! I used to walk an easy 3 miles to work and back every day, do a full day at work, and have energy to clean up, cook tea, do some yoga… Now I’m still struggling with tired legs, no strength in my arms (obviously the node biopsy arm doesn’t carry anything heavier than a tea cup anyway) and feeling so knackered that I need a sleep most afternoons. I know my body’s been through a lot (and still has rads and tam to start soon) but I’d like some energy back. Am I too eager? Is there a good way of building back up to a normal level ??
Hi Ali,
I read somewhere that it takes us at least as long to recover from our treatment as it does to receive it. Somewhere else I read it can take about a year, and that actually it is normal to feel more tired before we feel better again.
Seven weeks is not long - especially as with the treatment you’ve had the recommended time off work is 6-12 weeks. It is frsutrating but you have to go wih the flow a bit, rest if you need to rest and choose how to spend your ‘spoons’ each day (google spoon theory if you don’t know what I’m on about!). It does get better, but it takes time.
As one of the annoying wotsits who worked all through my treratment, I’d say I was most tired in the early weeks after surgery (I too had neoadjuvant chemo) and was often tucked up in bed by 7 pm!
So, yes, you are quite normal!
Thanks RevCat, ok I’ll try for patience! Actually this morning it seems like a daft thing to worry about in the grand scheme of things…perhaps I only worry about being tired when I AM tired. People keep telling me how well I look, I sort of feel obliged to feel as well as they say, and that means doing things. It sounds churlish when they’re so relieved to see me looking better to say “yes, but I’m so tired…”
Right, enough of a moan. I’m off to polish my spoons, have a nice cuppa, chuck the grumpiness in the lake and have a nice snooze on the sofa 
Hi Ali,
I’d echo what RevCat said. I too am one of those annoying wotsits who worked (and ran) all through treatment. That was five years ago. Two years ago I had a delayed recon and it really knocked me for six. I was exhausted for the six weeks I took off work, and it was four months before that weariness you talk of went away. Almost to the day - it was like I got up one day four months after the op and suddenly felt myself again. So you just need to give it time.
Thanks Roadrunner, it sounds very normal then! I miss going out for a nice long walk, but maybe once those crisp winter frosts are here I’ll be out there walking
Hi Ali,
I just wanted to be another voice of reassurance.
I think you have to really recognise all that your body has been through the last what - 6 months? Probably more effort required to cope with chemo (which is largely invisble), surgery, all that new cell production required for healing, your heart and lungs working over-time, not being able to make use of nutrition, not to mention the emotional trauma.
My onc told me if would take me a year to recover fully from my first treatment - in fact I would say it took 18 months. I also worked through my first b/c. Lik revcat I was in bed very early, only went out in the evenings on special occasions and had to pace myself.
This time around, I am much weaker and less resilient (need to follow my own advice!!) I have been off sick since Feb. I set myself goals re. walking but my physio says this is not a good use of my energy and to build up core strength instead- what about some pilates or yoga?
You will need to conserve energy for rads so put away those spoons, put your feet up and relax? Try and eat well, rest and treat your body like its a temple. Be patient. It will come!
Take care, Rattles x
Thanks Rattles. I enjoy yoga, classes start again soon too, that’s good advice