I’m so drained an constantly tired I feel worse now than when I was on chemo an radiotherapy , had my last herceptin 3 weeks ago , help an advice greatly received Thankyou
Hi Nikks
Fatigue is underestimated in my opinion. It’s hard to define but cancer fatigue is way beyond tiredness and lack of energy. It’s all pervading and the hard thing is that people think it’s just tiredness. You don’t say how long ago you finished either chemo or radiotherapy but the side effects of both include fatigue and can go on for many months.
You can try to work through the fatigue but that doesn’t suit everyone. Sometimes you have to listen to your body and do what it’s begging you to do: stop, rest, put yourself first and give it time. You may have to change how your life is organised, arrange help if you have children, but rest you must. If that means bed and sleep, so be it. If it means mindless tv bingeing without taking anything in, so be it. But please don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed. Your body has been through harsh treatment others can only imagine. Give it as much time as it needs to recover. I’d also suggest you ring your breast care nurse - they are there for us indefinitely - and take their advice, because they know exactly how much of a battering you’ve had. They may want to check your B12 levels again and see if your blood indicates any medical reason. But fatigue can also be psychological, your mind saying you’ve been through enough. Be kind to yourself and ask yourself what advice you’d give to a friend in the same boat. Then apply it to yourself (because I’m pretty certain you wouldn;t be saying ‘pull yourself together’).
Take care
Jan x