Extreme tiredness following removal of tumour from colon

[Lycidas]

On 31 January 2023, my wife had surgery to remove a tumour from her colon. The surgeon said the operation was successful.The colon parts were successfully joined. A decision about the need for chemotherapy depends on the results of tests that are still awaited. My wife is now experiencing extreme tirednessI. know that extreme tiredness is common after major surgery but I wondered if anyone had discovered a way of alleviating the condition or of hastening recovery from it.

[GCCA-Survivor Administrator]

Hi Lycidas,

Thank you for posting on Colon Cancer Connected. I hate to hear that your wife had to have this surgery in the first place, but I am glad to hear that she is doing well and it was successful. I've gone through some of this experience myself as I have had a partial colectomy and spent eight days in the hospital and lost 44 pounds. It is draining. And during the hospital stay you're not doing a lot of great eating and it's just overall stressful being on the pain meds at all.

I also had a lot of fatigue as well. While I was at home healing, I tried to eat good healthy meals, but I was also trying to put some weight back on. So, I was getting a lot of carbs with the pastas and the sauce is associated with that. But I think the biggest way I got some energy back was actually moving. Going for short walks and eventually long walks. Riding my bicycle on nice days. But I was always trying to do something physical to get my heart rate up and the blood flowing. They also tell you after any major surgery that walking is essentially good for the recovery process. So I would say get out and get moving. Even the smallest steps can help fight anxiety and the doldrums of post surgery recovery. I was a very active person before the surgery so it was definitely a positive for me to get back to something normal as far as a routine.

Well, that's my two cents on trying to alleviate the “extreme tiredness.” I hope your wife has an overall successful recovery and finds a beneficial way to get her energy back.

l also hope your wife doesn't have to endure chemotherapy. I was stage 4, so it actually metastasized to a different area from the colon. I had to do the chemo. Eventually a clinical trial was able to help me be here today👍👏. I hope she can avoid that and her recovery is just from having had the surgery.❤️

All my best to you and your wife. Your wife is now a survivor👏. That's a good group to be in considering.

Thank you,

~Tom, GCCA Survivor - Colon Cancer Connected Site Administrator.

Just a reminder - this group is here to offer support, share experiences, and offer our thoughts - but this is not medical advice, and you should always consult your medical professional(s). Additionally, for all emergencies, seek urgent medical care, never delay.

[Snowdrop1234 in reply to GCCA-Survivor]

walking is definitely good advice. I had bowel cancer surgery in January and now have an ileostomy (hopefully temporary). I started walking each day after about 3 weeks and found that fresh air, change of scene and gentle exercise was great for my recovery and mental health. It was a good way of measuring my progress too. I noticed small improvements in distance, stride length and how upright I was. Things I probably wouldn’t have noticed so easily if I was just pottering at home. I hope your wife makes steady progress and a full recovery soon.