| | Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 56 "OCF across the pond" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  "OCF across the pond" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 56 | Well, I'm back at work now. Because I'm an NHS nurse, I get a "phased return", taking 4 weeks to build my shifts back up to full time.
I did 3 shifts last week, 2 this week, 3 next week, then 4, then 5 which is full time.
I am absolutely knackered!! Truly, truly exhausted. I've still got quite a few hospital appointments too, cancer psychologist, 'head and neck' group, and tomorrow I have my fluoroscopy of my swallowing.
I'm on an early shift today 7-3, then rushing off 20 miles to have my new toothache checked out at maxillofacial.
Hopefully the energy levels will pick up????????
Mar 99 white patch tongue
Dec 11 white patch changed shape. biopsy neg
Sep 13 white patch ulcerated. Biopsy
Nov 13 diag Tongue SCC T2N2BM0 poorly Differ.
Dec 13 Hemigloss. neck dissect.Trach.Caldwell Luc (suspect cysts inside face, neg), teeth out. forearm flap, abdo graft
Feb 14 PEG tube
Feb/Mar 14. 30 x radio 60gy Grade 3 Mucositis, burns, hair loss, very ill. Nerve damage ear neck shoulder
Jun 14 *now* PEG out. Have lost 98 lbs in 1 yr. Anorexia. Dysphagia, liquids only. Dysphasia. Fatigue.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Makes me feel tired reading this! Do you feel better in yourself for being at work? Or does the tiredness take away any satisfaction you might feel about returning to your profession?
It would be great if you could phase yourself in even more gradually.
Amazingly I started to regain energy levels a few weeks after radiation finished but 1) I'm retired and don't have to go to work although I would love to 2) I had a less dramatic weight loss and less severe side effects.
If it's any encouragement I did notice the fatigue ebbing away and energy coming back a month after rads, possibly because of my huge intake of formula, milk and ice cream.
Hope you find lots of good advice here about going back to work:)
1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I can only imagine how tired you must be with that schedule, Estelle. I don't know how much of the weight loss you experienced was good or bad weight so it's hard to say but until you out some back on and break the metabolic cycle, you will be fatigued. Also, if your thyroid is bad, you would experience fatigue.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 56 "OCF across the pond" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP "OCF across the pond" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 56 | Mentally it is doing me good to be back at work. Not sure about physically LOL time will tell. Weight still dropping.
Mar 99 white patch tongue
Dec 11 white patch changed shape. biopsy neg
Sep 13 white patch ulcerated. Biopsy
Nov 13 diag Tongue SCC T2N2BM0 poorly Differ.
Dec 13 Hemigloss. neck dissect.Trach.Caldwell Luc (suspect cysts inside face, neg), teeth out. forearm flap, abdo graft
Feb 14 PEG tube
Feb/Mar 14. 30 x radio 60gy Grade 3 Mucositis, burns, hair loss, very ill. Nerve damage ear neck shoulder
Jun 14 *now* PEG out. Have lost 98 lbs in 1 yr. Anorexia. Dysphagia, liquids only. Dysphasia. Fatigue.
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