tired

prv

why am I so tired? I had bilateral masectomies two weeks ago. and I haven't even started chemo yet and I am exhausted. Is this residual cancer's effect on my body?

Mouser

Hi prv -- The cancer is gone; can't do anything to you now. But: you had major surgery 2 weeks ago, and your body needs to heal! Just being under anaesthesia takes a lot out of your system, and the longer you're under, the more it takes to recover. Then there's tissue healing... Because the scars are thin lines, we tend to think there's just a line of healing needed, but it's not. It's a whole plane! My surgeon says she "quilts" the area, and says that makes for better healing. I believe her -- but there's a lot of tissue-repair going on inside, and adhesions forming, and i don't know what else. I had a single mastectomy in August '08, and took 2 weeks off from work, then worked about 1/2 time for another week, and took it easy for a 4th week. And then i took the rest of the semester to get over the depression...sort of! Depression is exhausting. But so is the emotional roller coaster bc puts us on -- how many hard hard decisions have you made, how many choices between bad and worse, in the last few months? That takes it out of you too.

So yeah, i guess it is residual effects of bc ...And if you can possibly afford to, take it easy ... get physical therapy so your skin doesn't stick to the underlying tissues, so you don't lose range of motion or have painfully tight chest feelings. And above all, recognize you've been thru hell, and it's normal to be tired after that!

lovinmomma

Agreeing with mouser. Surgery is very tiring and will take it out of you.

makingway

I'm tired too. I thought I'd be up and moving a week after surgery-I mean everyone else seems to take it well...I didn't start feeling less pain until 3 weeks after surgery. And I still feel pain, numbness and depression. But, thank God I'm not feeling that skin burning sensation anymore. If I'm sitting still, I almost forget, then I move and the pain and numbness is there to remind me..then I get depressed. I saw a physical therapist who is helping me to move my arm. I haven't been able to since June 1st. I think I got lymphedema. I'm not sure if the lack of movement and pain is from the tissue expander or lymphedema. All I know is I'm getting this f#%$* thing out of me in 2 months! Is all I can do not to rip it out myself!

Give it time...it does hurt less

hollyann

Gentle hugs prv.....Unfortunately the fatigue is from the traumatic surgery...I have learned since my surgery 2 1/2 yrs ago that for every hour you are under anesthesia it takes one month to recover.....And also remember when they did the mast they took breast tissue and muscle so it takes a long time to recover....Be gentle with yourself and allow yourself to recover as long as it takes...Try not to rush as this makes it a longer healing time..........As for the depression, I truly believe this is our body grieving the loss of part of itself.......This too shall pass in the meantime there is always Xanax!.........

makingway...You may have Axillary Web Syndrome also known as cording.......Lymphedema does not make your arm hard to move.....Lymphedema (LE) is when your lumph fluid builds up in your arm and causes swelling......I am so sorry all of you are going through this.....I know how hard it all is and wish none of us had to go through this........ I didn't do tissue expanders I did the TRAM flap reconstruction on both breasts.....I was out of work for over 2 months and when I went back I was only part way healed but I had no choice...It took another 4 months after that for me to get back to somes semblance of normal.....I stayed swollen under and behind my arms for several months adn I developed cording which took over 3 months to really get it removed...The physical therapy was excruciating but I put on my big girl panties and gritted mt teeth and forged ahead...I now have full range of motion in both arms again......

It is a long and painful recovery we all go through but we all make it past it....I think I felt so much better once my drains were gone......Those were the worse things I have ever had to deal with...... Anytime you remove a part of your body it takes along time to recover......And this is MAJOR surgery not like a tonsilectomy or pulling teeth........And it takes a lot out of us.....

I wish you all a speedy recovery and much needed rest..............

Shaesallah

Hi  prv-

 I had my bilat on May 29th, and I am still tired and very sore.  At 2 weeks from surgery I was still taking naps and pretty much exhausted.  Even now I get so tired just taking the drive to the Doctors office and back.  Also I have noticed that the summer heat is harder this year.  You will get better!!!  Your body and emotions need the time to adjust to what you have been thru.     Remember we all recover at different speeds. 

 Gentle hugs

Shae