Have any of you struggled to regain your motivation? If so how long did it last? What did you do etc??
I am 4 months post chemo and 3 months post rads and I am really struggling with motivation and feel disappointed in myself for not achieving more things every day.
Its hard to explain, I do get up and get dressed every day, and manage the essentials like shopping, cleaning and work. I have plenty of time to do other things but find myself just ‘vegging’ the rest of the time. I didn’t used to be like this - I always had some sort of project or idea on the go but I cant seem to get started.
I feel fine otherwise, I’m not experiencing any anxiety or feeling low (I have suffered significantly in the past so know what to look out for?!). Im not sleeping in the same way - I used to sleep like a baby but Chemo and Tamoxifen cause night sweats so now only sleep for 2-3 hours at a time but I dont feel tired and have no need to sleep in the day to catch up.
Could it just be the weather and time of year? i.e. will things improve with the weather?
I am the same currently in bed with iPad no commitment till 2pm sleeping weird hours on Letrozole feel really detached from everything should be jumping with enthusiasm definitely meds hope it gets better
at the moment I’m doing exactly as you describe sitting on the settee reading the forum instead of other stuff! Like you I get up get on with jobs etc but if I sit for a min I grind to a holt. I focus on the important stuff, jobs etc but anything else I don’t have the motivation to do. I didn’t have chemo or rads so I can’t put it down to that but am on Letrozole.
I don’t sleep a lot so am probably a bit tired but I’m pretty depressed so its likely to be that. I have days when I don’t feel very down but don’t want to do very much, socialise, don’t have any energy and I struggle to concentrate on anything. I really have to force myself to do things so I’ve started yoga, volunteering and learning how to quilt but i could just do nothing!
I think from the outside people think I’m ok but inside I’m still trying to deal with everything that happened and am still waiting on recon so not all over yet. My treatment finished last May. You say you’re only 3 months on from rads which really isn’t very long at all. You’re probably still struggling with fatigue etc so perhaps rest is what your body is telling you you need.
If I could give you any advice set yourself just small things at first and see how it goes, sending you lots of love xx
One thing that seems to have been overlooked is that not only have we each undergone a physical trauma, with surgery, recovery and various treatments where the listed side effects always include fatigue, we’ve also undergone a massive emotional trauma. First Cancer!! I doubt there’s anyone who immediately is realistic and thinks ‘ok, survival rates are very good now.’ Everybody is conditioned to think of death. So we reel from that, then whatever results from surgery, then those horrendous treatments and side effects. Add to that emotional guilt for not being tough enough and as good as the next woman at dealing with it. Plus the burden we think we’re putting on out loved ones…
I could go one and on (yes, I know I always do) but you can add to this list yourself. Physical trauma + emotional tsunami = exhaustion.
Each of you seems to be describing what I now label fatigue and fatigue is very real: low motivation; sagging energy; poor sleep; restlessness; guilt; I should be able to… No, there’s no should. We will when we’re ready. So please be gentle with yourselves. We all recover at different rates. I’m trying acupuncture to find a bit more energy but I don’t know if it will help. I just keep hoping.
Wishing you each the very best in your recovery xx