Chronic Tiredness

Eims
Eims Member Posts: 423
in Kidney Cancer #1

hi all,  how is everyone doing?  i just have a question....i have started suffering with chronic tiredness in the afternoon again....the last time i felt like this was before my op in january...am i worrying about nothing?  i have been taking vitamins and supplements but they seem to be having the opposite effect!!  any advice or info would be appreciated.

eims x

Comments

  • Bubbs21
    Bubbs21 Member Posts: 47
    #2
    Me too!

    I had my partial nephrectomy on Nov 7th.  Although the doctor cleared me to return to work full-time within 4 weeks, I was concerned about my energy level, so he extended my sick leave to 5 weeks.  Since my return I have had limited energy.  Since Christmas I have completed only 3 full weeks of work.  Most weeks have been 4 days, but when I push, I get sick or severe flank pain.  I always run out of steam before the end of the day.  Things I do:  walk every day, watch my carb/fat/protien intake, switched to organic meats, reduced significantly fried foods and process foods, no caffiene in my diet.   Not only do I tire easily, but my cognitive ability is much less than it used to be.  The good news is I sleep a deep and solid 8 hrs a night. 

    I have been told it can take up to a year.  It seems to be 2 steps forwward and one step back, but progress in the long haul.

    If you have any ureka's...I am open to ideas :)

    Cheers and be patient.

  • alice124
    alice124 Member Posts: 896 Member
    #3
    Chronic Tiredness

    Eims.

    While John is a good deal older than you, he has become a regular nap-taker since being diagnosed. That's held true since symptoms began (prior to diagnosis), after surgery, and throughout treatment. There are periods when the naps are longer, but the naps have become a regular part of his routine. I realize your surgery was in January, but it still was major surgery. Could you perhaps be pushing yourself too much? I would imagine with three young children, it would be easy to do.

     

     

     

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
    #4
    Chronic Tiredness

    Hi Eims,

    Have you had your B12 & B9 levels checked, I had my bloodwork checked just after the op and both had become very low with the stress. As it Is difficult to rebuild the B12 with over the counter supplements I am having Vit B injections to be reviewed after 4 months. It might be worth while having your levels checked. I take a green drink everyday with vit c that and plenty of water also helps. If that does not appeal to you there are supplement like COQ 10 or Olive Leaf Extract  that may help boost energy levels.

    I should say I take each of the supplements along with Sea Buckthorn and Curcumin. 

    I hope there is something there that may help.

    Djinnie

     

     

  • Eims
    Eims Member Posts: 423
    #5
    alice124 said:

    Chronic Tiredness

    Eims.

    While John is a good deal older than you, he has become a regular nap-taker since being diagnosed. That's held true since symptoms began (prior to diagnosis), after surgery, and throughout treatment. There are periods when the naps are longer, but the naps have become a regular part of his routine. I realize your surgery was in January, but it still was major surgery. Could you perhaps be pushing yourself too much? I would imagine with three young children, it would be easy to do.

     

     

     

    Thanks ladies for your input.

    Thanks ladies for your input.  I suppose I was kinda getting carried away with myself because I was doing so well.  I am getting cranky too.  I have just gone back to work too so it could just be the combination of everything.  I will try and get more sleep when I can and djinnie next time I am at the doctors I will ask them to check my B12 too.

    Eims

  • Galrim
    Galrim Member Posts: 315 Member
    #6
    Look for the origin in your mental health...

    I had returning streaks of fatigue, mentally and physically, for a long time after surgery. Nothing wrong physically a doctor could spot. All in my mind I concluded at the end. It took a full year before I was back to normal. Dont underestimate that having a cancer diagnosis backfires mentally from time to time and periodically wears you out, until you have really come to terms with your new you...

    /G

  • Texas_wedge
    Texas_wedge Member Posts: 2,798
    #7
    Eims said:

    Thanks ladies for your input.

    Thanks ladies for your input.  I suppose I was kinda getting carried away with myself because I was doing so well.  I am getting cranky too.  I have just gone back to work too so it could just be the combination of everything.  I will try and get more sleep when I can and djinnie next time I am at the doctors I will ask them to check my B12 too.

    Eims

    All the above advice is

    All the above advice is good.  Anaemia is very frequent in this situation and I suppose you've had your iron levels checked?  Do you know about your other levels - sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium?

    Another possible candidate is thyroid, but I imagine your's in under regular review.  If I'm presuming too much about your monitoring, then I would look at iron and thyroid levels. 

    In general, the best remedy for fatigue is exercise but in your situation that's a time luxury you can probaby ill afford and in any case you doubtless get plenty of exercise from your current commitments!  The suggestions such as CoE Q10 and curcumin are excellent and a diet shift like Bubbs's is always good but maybe your diet is fine already?

    The diet side offers improvements without time-cost.  If you are able to find a little space of time for yourself, you can get a big payback from the sort of deep rest you get from regular practice of meditation (Transcendental or Mindfulness or Vipassana) or guided imagery such as Jerry White's MAARS cd.  It's both phenomenologically and objectively shown that properly carried out meditation is of more value than sleep in giving deep relaxation and rest. 

  • todd121
    todd121 Member Posts: 1,448 Member
    #8
    Me Too

    I have the same issue. I'm five months since my nephrectomy. In general, I just don't feel well. My RBC is a tad below normal, but my hemoglobin is ok (although just above the bottom) so my doc says it's ok.

    It gets complicated for me, because I have sleep apnea and have been using CPAP for over 10 years and suffered from tiredness before. The CPAP is not 100% effective I think. Another issue is that I'm in this drug study and "may" be on everolimus, which can have a side effect of fatigue.

    I'm afraid I don't have advice. I just want you to know that I also have this. I've heard others say they suffered from fatigue for months after their surgery. I remember when I had my appendectomy, it took me a few months to recover from just the surgery. Your body is recovering and getting used to 1 kidney.

    I know I'm not getting enough exercise. Some of it is time. Some of it is I'm just tired all the time and I move slower now since I'm tired, so I have more of a time management problem than I had before.

    Hope you feel better.

    Todd

  • Eims
    Eims Member Posts: 423
    #9
    Galrim said:

    Look for the origin in your mental health...

    I had returning streaks of fatigue, mentally and physically, for a long time after surgery. Nothing wrong physically a doctor could spot. All in my mind I concluded at the end. It took a full year before I was back to normal. Dont underestimate that having a cancer diagnosis backfires mentally from time to time and periodically wears you out, until you have really come to terms with your new you...

    /G

    Thanks boys x

    Thanks boys x

  • Eims
    Eims Member Posts: 423
    #10
    todd121 said:

    Me Too

    I have the same issue. I'm five months since my nephrectomy. In general, I just don't feel well. My RBC is a tad below normal, but my hemoglobin is ok (although just above the bottom) so my doc says it's ok.

    It gets complicated for me, because I have sleep apnea and have been using CPAP for over 10 years and suffered from tiredness before. The CPAP is not 100% effective I think. Another issue is that I'm in this drug study and "may" be on everolimus, which can have a side effect of fatigue.

    I'm afraid I don't have advice. I just want you to know that I also have this. I've heard others say they suffered from fatigue for months after their surgery. I remember when I had my appendectomy, it took me a few months to recover from just the surgery. Your body is recovering and getting used to 1 kidney.

    I know I'm not getting enough exercise. Some of it is time. Some of it is I'm just tired all the time and I move slower now since I'm tired, so I have more of a time management problem than I had before.

    Hope you feel better.

    Todd

    Thanks Todd....I really

    Thanks Todd....I really wanted to get back to getting fit too but I know I'll get there in the end.  I just got a bit freaked out because my mind has been working overtime for the last few days!!!  I know I need to chillax too but yep its hard with 3 young children...lol

    Eims x

  • Djinnie
    Djinnie Member Posts: 945 Member
    #11
    Bubbs21 said:

    Me too!

    I had my partial nephrectomy on Nov 7th.  Although the doctor cleared me to return to work full-time within 4 weeks, I was concerned about my energy level, so he extended my sick leave to 5 weeks.  Since my return I have had limited energy.  Since Christmas I have completed only 3 full weeks of work.  Most weeks have been 4 days, but when I push, I get sick or severe flank pain.  I always run out of steam before the end of the day.  Things I do:  walk every day, watch my carb/fat/protien intake, switched to organic meats, reduced significantly fried foods and process foods, no caffiene in my diet.   Not only do I tire easily, but my cognitive ability is much less than it used to be.  The good news is I sleep a deep and solid 8 hrs a night. 

    I have been told it can take up to a year.  It seems to be 2 steps forwward and one step back, but progress in the long haul.

    If you have any ureka's...I am open to ideas :)

    Cheers and be patient.

    Hi Bubbs 21,  I just wondered

    Hi Bubbs 21,  I just wondered if you are keeping fully hydrated, I ask because you did not mention it on your list. 

    Djinnie

     

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