ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Post-Treatment => Topic started by: Dantheman on April 23, 2007, 06:45:05 pm
-
Hi everyone,
How long have post surgical folks been troubled by fatigue? I've been progressing very well but this past weekend I feel like I ran a marathon and am totally wiped out. I really didn't do anything too physical or anything. Stood for a while at my son's pinewood derby and went to church.
How long does it take to have some what normal stamina. I'm a litttle over 2 months post op.
Dan
-
HI Dan,
sorry to hear you are running into the fatigue issue... as many of us also run into it.
there is a brochure re: Brain Tumors and Fatigue that was penned by Nancy Conn-Levin and Dr. Peter Black. It seems that regardless of type of tumor (ie: malignant and benign) and pre- or post-treatment, fatigue is a common thread with brain tumor patients. Here is the link to the brochure. You will need Adobe Acrobat or Reader on your computer as it is a .pdf file:
http://www.modularmisfits.com/forums/files/Brain_Tumor_and_Fatigue.pdf
I know I found it rather helpful as it discusses the issue of fatigue and also offers remedies to help conquer it.
I cannot directly answer your question but I hope this brochure helps in some way.
Phyl
-
2 months is about time i started work again ... I would come home after work .. and go bed ! .. I was dead .... all I ever did was work .. and sleep ... work and sleep ... I does slowly get better .. for me it was about 6 months before I felt sort of "normal" .. and a year later before I was BETTER than I have been in years... and today (about 20 months) I worked in the garden and fished ALL weekend .. no issues ! ;D
-
Dan: the brochure Phyl suggested tells it all, it really helped me through this. I still get fatigued, especially after work which has been gruelling lately (we've been down several people due to retirement, vacations, etc. & the workload has doubled !!!). This weekend I walked, did some swimming, sat out in the sun - when I got back to my place I ended up taking an hour nap, couldn't keep my eyes open. I'm 10 months out !!!! Take it easy buddy, no marathons for awhile....... Nancy
-
Big Fatigue lasted for about 8 months for me, after that it got progressively better. One morning I woke up and I felt just great, like a switch. Weird. Now, two years and four months later, I still get the fatigue, but only when exposed to a lot and prolongued noise, or do too much. I keep away from both! :)
Things will improve!
Ciao, Lorenzo :)
-
Dan, I am 65, surgery 12/05. At 7 months post op, I was in full swing helping my daughter stage, clean, sort and pack her three story household for a move. I was amazed at the energy level I had gained since that third month when I was wiped out every afternoon.
Every day brings slow improvement until one day, there you are, back in the force again. ;D
-
I think it's wonderful that some get over the fatigue totally in time. I haven't from my treatment although some things are better... upon reflecting on this topic i wonder how many actually lessen their fatigue simply because they've altered in some way what they do and how they do it in order to have less BF (big fatigue).. and after a while you forget how you used to do things as you now have a new norm. :)
Still, I am sure post treatment fatigue does get better lol....
W.
-
Most AN post-op patients experience some level of fatigue at some point but, as usual, that can vary with each individual. I had big-time fatigue immediately post-op as my body healed from the trauma of a 9-hour, invasive surgery and the after-effects of the anesthesia. I recovered within a week and haven't looked back. Now, almost 11 months out (of surgery), I feel pretty much as I did before I even knew I had an acoustic neuroma tumor. According to my doctor, my blood pressure, pulse and other vital signs are very good, especially for a guy my age. He said he wishes all his 'older' patients were as healthy as I am. I like this doctor! :)
I'm retired and while I don't sit in a rocker all day by any means, I do have the luxury of avoiding the usual stresses of most jobs, which admittedly is a likely factor in my recovery. Aside from the fact that I was fortunate enough to not experience any real complications following surgery (retrosigmoid), I was also highly motivated to 'come back' and do the things I liked to do, before the symptoms of my AN kicked in and drove me to the doctor. I just had a busy week-end that included physical activity and a fairly late night out at the theater. I had no real problem 'keeping up' and didn't doze off, even once. ;) I move around a lot and walk a few miles at a local park as often as possible, which has helped both my balance and my stamina. I also have a positive outlook and have remained determined not to allow my AN experience to define my the rest of my life. I'm a firm believer in prayer, a positive attitude and a willingness to do what's necessary to regain my health.
So, far, so good. :)
Jim
-
Windsong, Your point is well taken. It is true; as time passes we each adjust to our environment. The important part is to not look back. Getting older plays a part in here, as well as reaching a new normal. So my recovery is satisfactory. My energy level is as good as I can get it. I have empathy for someone working hard to provide necessities for life.
-
Ah, boppy, I do too.
Right now I find I am mired in fatigue after wrestling with a word document lol :'(... at least I am hoping it's only fatigue or a brain blip.... and not permanent post treatment loss of how-to-switch-format-of-book-for-publisher lol.... )for some reason I keep trying to do it with sequences I used in the late 80's and of course they don't work with word today... grrr.....
geesh....
i know it's late but when i get going when writing, time passes... so bf (big fatigue lands on me)... hopefully my An brain gets in gear tomorrow or I'll have to call someone and ask how to do it lol.....
W.
-
I never heard that fatigue was a pre surgery problem. I have had less energy lately but I have attributed it to the stress of worrying what to do.
-
I agree with Phyl. Read "Living with a Brain Tumor." I am 2 1/2 years post linac and still get tired. After reading Dr. Black's book I now 'get it." I am my own worst enemy and need to learn to pace myself, otherwise I collapse for a couple of days. I hate it but it could be worse. Anyway take advantage of some much needed rest, you might get out of doing the dishes one night. Just kidding, but listen to your body, it knows for sure. Once I get some good sleep I feel so much better.
-
I had extreme fatigue prior to surgery in fact looking back I was plagued with it for years. I just thought it was the stress of having young kids. However by the time I had surgery I could fall asleep anywhere, I was taking daily naps and had to have my 12 hours every night. None of which is easy when you have 3 children.
Post surgery I finally felt awake! I no longer needed naps, I wasn't as tired ALL the time. My family noticed a huge boost in my energy level. That 4 cm tumor was sucking me dry for years.
I had fatigue for about 12 weeks after surgery. The docs said to expect one week of fatigue for each hour of anesthesia. I was out for 20 hours but about 12 weeks post op I got up one morning and my energy was back. It was awesome and I haven't looked back since.
-
I too had problems with fatigue pre-surgery. I needed to sleep at least 9 hours at night and couldn't wait for an afternoon nap.
I'm nearly 4 weeks post-surgery so fatigue is still a problem right now, but it seems to be getting a little better each day. Of course, right now it is taking a lot of my energy to deal with the balance issues.
Linda in WV
-
In the two years preceding my diagnosis my hearing was so shot that I turned to loongg days and nights of reading. I practically ate the books, big thick novels, and series. Then, wham! I started dozing off in meetings, and in the chair, and anytime I rode in the car. The "thing" must have started growing fast. I still didn't know I had extraordinary symptoms.
Now at 18 months post op I am back to my normal sleep routine, still don't eat devour reading materials though.
-
for those attending the ANA Symposium, this may be worth bringing up to the physicians that will be doing workshops and 1-1 meetings..... We know it's a major factor with all types of brain tumors (malignant and benign), so I'd be curious to see what they say. I'll try to mention/ask about it while I'm there.
Phyl