The nana naps are sneaking up on me!

Jacki,  I still have the handout of notes on Energy Conservation from the OT in rehab.  They're so sensible & easy to follow in everyday life.

 But it totally tips upside down the usual belief that we keep running on the energy we have available & then collapse in a heap of fatigue when it runs out.  Rather, it says think of energy as money in the bank .... which you store up and keep.

 Like you plan your activities for the day with plenty of rest periods which you take BEFORE feeling tired. They don't have to be long.... just stop & do absolutely nothing, go blank in body and mind.  In those times you're actually storing up your energy as if you're putting it for safe keeping in the bank.   It even suggests you do things like splitting activities into two parts... with a brief blank rest period in the middle.  So doing half the dishwasher, then coming back later to finish is spot on.  But, BEFORE, you feel fatigued.  Even maybe taking a break between showering & dressing.  Each person gauges their own program according to their own fatigue level.

  Believe me it works.... & it's an approach which can be applied in anyone's everyday life. ...  but not on the detailed & intense scale which would follow major medical treatment.  Interestingly,  quite a few of my friends, who have no serious medical treatment issues to rehabiltate from .... have grabbed the notes on Energy Conservation to do just that.

To be frank, I'm puzzlied why rehab is considered a normal part of post-medical treatment in heart surgery & conditions, but, with breast cancer women seem to be largely left to deal with issues on the grounds they're inevitable...so just suck it up.  I have a theory, it's because there's a higher proportion of men who are treated in the cardiac world.... but it's mainly women in the breast cancer world.    

Jacki,  I still have the handout of notes on Energy Conservation from the OT in rehab.  They're so sensible & easy to follow in everyday life.

 But it totally tips upside down the usual belief that we keep running on the energy we have available & then collapse in a heap of fatigue when it runs out.  Rather, it says think of energy as money in the bank .... which you store up and keep.

 Like you plan your activities for the day with plenty of rest periods which you take BEFORE feeling tired. They don't have to be long.... just stop & do absolutely nothing, go blank in body and mind.  In those times you're actually storing up your energy as if you're putting it for safe keeping in the bank.   It even suggests you do things like splitting activities into two parts... with a brief blank rest period in the middle.  So doing half the dishwasher, then coming back later to finish is spot on.  But, BEFORE, you feel fatigued.  Even maybe taking a break between showering & dressing.  Each person gauges their own program according to their own fatigue level.

  Believe me it works.... & it's an approach which can be applied in anyone's everyday life. ...  but not on the detailed & intense scale which would follow major medical treatment.  Interestingly,  quite a few of my friends, who have no serious medical treatment issues to rehabiltate from .... have grabbed the notes on Energy Conservation to do just that.

To be frank, I'm puzzlied why rehab is considered a normal part of post-medical treatment in heart surgery & conditions, but, with breast cancer women seem to be largely left to deal with issues on the grounds they're inevitable...so just suck it up.  I have a theory, it's because there's a higher proportion of men who are treated in the cardiac world.... but it's mainly women in the breast cancer world.    

Jacki,  I still have the handout of notes on Energy Conservation from the OT in rehab.  They're so sensible & easy to follow in everyday life.

 But it totally tips upside down the usual belief that we keep running on the energy we have available & then collapse in a heap of fatigue when it runs out.  Rather, it says think of energy as money in the bank .... which you store up and keep.

 Like you plan your activities for the day with plenty of rest periods which you take BEFORE feeling tired. They don't have to be long.... just stop & do absolutely nothing, go blank in body and mind.  In those times you're actually storing up your energy as if you're putting it for safe keeping in the bank.   It even suggests you do things like splitting activities into two parts... with a brief blank rest period in the middle.  So doing half the dishwasher, then coming back later to finish is spot on.  But, BEFORE, you feel fatigued.  Even maybe taking a break between showering & dressing.  Each person gauges their own program according to their own fatigue level.

  Believe me it works.... & it's an approach which can be applied in anyone's everyday life. ...  but not on the detailed & intense scale which would follow major medical treatment.  Interestingly,  quite a few of my friends, who have no serious medical treatment issues to rehabiltate from .... have grabbed the notes on Energy Conservation to do just that.

To be frank, I'm puzzlied why rehab is considered a normal part of post-medical treatment in heart surgery & conditions, but, with breast cancer women seem to be largely left to deal with issues on the grounds they're inevitable...so just suck it up.  I have a theory, it's because there's a higher proportion of men who are treated in the cardiac world.... but it's mainly women in the breast cancer world.    

I am probably not as bad as I was over the last eight months. I like  I learned from her that you do things to conserve energy before a bout of fatigue hits.   In other words, you conserve energy in the times before it runs out so it runs out less frequently & less intensely. Excellent advise and appreciated.

I am happy to go with it these days. My naps in a positive light taught my kids to also be a little bit more dependant of me, especially if it hit when they got home from school. Cheers Karen

Hi, Jackie.  I had open heart surgery in March (just before being diagnosed with breast cancer!).  But the rehab assistance afterwards was really helpful... especially as fatigue is a big problem, too.  An occupational therapist gave me guidelines on what's called energy conservation.  And they really worked.  I learned from her that you do things to conserve energy before a bout of fatigue hits.   In other words, you conserve energy in the times before it runs out so it runs out less frequently & less intensely.    The thing I've noticed about the world of breast cancer is that there's not the same rehabilitation provided to deal with the aftermaths of treatment.    I still follow the techniques that the OT taught me.

Kids are great. I got given a single recliner and many a time I have woken to have been laid out and my blanket thrown on tucked up. Opening my eyes to see my kids still going about their usual thing is one of the best views in my world. Nice to meet you Robyn.

If this is the worst of it then thats just fine with me. I have to admit that once I give in, afterwards I feel pretty good. Nice to meet you Donna