Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Overcoming exhausting fatigue

3 replies

RiveterRosie · 22/08/2020 12:41

I hoping for advice and your experiences of overcoming fatigue, caused I think by a major operation followed by further illness.

I had major surgery (a Whipple procedure) this time last year and thought I was recovering well - regaining strength, more energy, spring cleaning, cooking, looking for a job etc. I knew recovery from such major surgery would be slow but was patient and could see and feel my recovery. Then in July I developed sepsis and was taken unconscous into hospital and was admitted for a week. Since then I feel as if I am going backwards.

I am so tired that everything seems like a major effort. I sleep about 11 or 12 hours a day but feel that I could sleep longer. Even basic hygiene has gone out the window - drying myself after a shower is physically exhausting so I put off showering, and I'm often so tired that I don't clean my teeth before I go to bed. I realised today that I have been wearing the same clothes for a week - a misshapen tee shirt and some old jeans - I'm just too tired to open drawers and find clean things. I used to be a clever, astute person but now my head is filled with grey fog. Everything I used to do that gave me pleasure tires me out, even reading more than a couple of paragraphs in a book. I'm looking for a job but am worried that I won't have the energy to do it properly. Every day I feel more tired than the day before.

I'd appreciate any advice and personal stories of how to help myself recover from this.

OP posts:
Blankblankblank · 22/08/2020 13:36

There’s a link for the sepsis trust on here so you can, hopefully, get some support. So sorry you have been so unwell, I have M.E and have to be careful with my energy and what I do or I end up having a crash and can’t move, very similar to what you describe. On a bad day my head is so foggy I couldn’t tell you my phone number. It’s really awful to feel so exhausted so you have my sympathy. I hope you feel better soon Flowers

www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/treatment-and-recovery/

AtrociousCircumstance · 22/08/2020 13:44

If you need more sleep than 12 hours, have it. Go to bed even earlier and give your body that extra bit.

How’s your diet? Cut out alcohol and sugar if you can.

Are you taking tonnes of vitamins? I hope so. High dose vitamin C can really help on top - have a google.

Acupuncture can help with fatigue - even if you don’t believe in it, maybe try it out and see (Covid allowing).

Meditation helps with deep rest and brain states which activate the parasympathetic system.

Flowers and Brew and Godspeed a full recovery for you.

RiveterRosie · 22/08/2020 21:28

Thank you both for your suggestions. The link to the sepsis information was especially enlightening.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page