The Beacon - let down
Morning ladies Got my Beacon magazine yesterday, love reading this, especially the stories of the ladies that have gone on to really achieve things since diagnosis. But the piece about fatigue this ...
Forum Discussion
It would help if there was more understanding and realistic expectations from others about the effects of treatment. Personally I found it helped to take the pressure off myself about what I expected too. Giving myself permission to go easy some days. Over 4 1/2 years since diagnosis I accept that I will never live life at the crazy level I used to and what’s more I don’t want to. I really do think putting yourself constantly under pressure to do what we think others want/need is a fast track to ill health again.
We were diagnosed with CANCER not a head cold. You don’t just get over that. I live life the best way for me now. It is not selfish or self indulgent but absolutely necessary for my health. I strongly believe that and will not feel guilt about it. Going for a walk if you don’t get energy from that is not beneficial. Doing more of the things that DO give you energy is what CAN work. Getting rid of the guilt, being kind to yourself and doing less of what drains your energy.
Personnally I do get energy from a walk if it is under my own choosing and not because someone else has told me I should or even because I think I should. My walks give me pleasure and a sense of achievement too, and that gives me positive energy. We are all different and need to find the things that help US.
My life before diagnosis was so busy I never had time to work out what I actually enjoyed doing for myself. I now realise that is not really LIVING. I walked around so ‘heavy’ with the load of never feeling I had done enough. Now when I feel that ‘heavy’ fatigue I know it is time to ease up and do something to recharge. Yes it is definitely easier to reach that hit the wall point now and I definitely know this is the point that I can not push past anymore. For me it is not so much because I have been too physical but that I have not been doing things that I feel good about.
No need to feel bad about it though, just recognise it is my reality check and time to look after me. I am very fortunate that the people who really matter to me DO (mostly) understand this too.
We were diagnosed with CANCER not a head cold. You don’t just get over that. I live life the best way for me now. It is not selfish or self indulgent but absolutely necessary for my health. I strongly believe that and will not feel guilt about it. Going for a walk if you don’t get energy from that is not beneficial. Doing more of the things that DO give you energy is what CAN work. Getting rid of the guilt, being kind to yourself and doing less of what drains your energy.
Personnally I do get energy from a walk if it is under my own choosing and not because someone else has told me I should or even because I think I should. My walks give me pleasure and a sense of achievement too, and that gives me positive energy. We are all different and need to find the things that help US.
My life before diagnosis was so busy I never had time to work out what I actually enjoyed doing for myself. I now realise that is not really LIVING. I walked around so ‘heavy’ with the load of never feeling I had done enough. Now when I feel that ‘heavy’ fatigue I know it is time to ease up and do something to recharge. Yes it is definitely easier to reach that hit the wall point now and I definitely know this is the point that I can not push past anymore. For me it is not so much because I have been too physical but that I have not been doing things that I feel good about.
No need to feel bad about it though, just recognise it is my reality check and time to look after me. I am very fortunate that the people who really matter to me DO (mostly) understand this too.