18 months after end of treatment, I am still very low on energy, I get exhausted quickly.

[liz_crisp]

I also have chest pain which travels down my left arm and up to my jaw. This has been checked and my heart is fine. pain below my ribs is a problem too does any one else suffer this?

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Are your energy levels gradually and slowly improving since the operation, but still leaving you tired? Or have your energy levels got worse lately? I think it might be worth having your iron, vitamin B12 and other levels checked. Sometimes normal B12 supplements simply do not do the trick and you might have to have them given in liquid / transfusion form. Try a dietician, preferably a specialist dietician. I know others who do feel abnormally tired, and checking how much your body is absorbing nutrition, vitamins etc is usually the first thing to try.

Likewise, is the travelling chest pain recent? I wonder if this might be to do with nerves, which can take a long time to settle down after surgery, but generally sort themselves out after a year or so? Does it hurt when you move your body in particular directions?

Does the pain below your ribs seem to be within the rib bones themselves? Sometimes the ribs do get altered by surgical procedures, and again there are nerves that might get affected. Or is the pain seem to be in one of your organs or in part of your digestive system? Does it happen after eating food? or is it there all the time? Just to make things even more complicated, sometimes the pain transfers itself to another part of the body rather than the actual bit that is causing the problem!

All this is a bit speculative on my part, and my guess is that you need to have the surgeon check these things out for reassurance.

But you really asked whether anybody else suffers the same thing, so let's see what others reply!

[Biggles]

Hi Liz,

I am two years post op and still suffer from low energy, my last blood test showed i was aneamic but B12 ok, i have now been on iron tabs for 3 months better, but not a vast improvement on energy.

I also suffer an ache just below my waist (feels like stomach cramps if it was still there) when i do an amount of standing or walking which can become quite bad especially after eating and i have to sit down to let it subside.

[liz_crisp]

thanks Biggles and Alan.

[Bernadette]

Hi Liz, after 1 year I could hardly walk up the stairs, the problem was iron defeciency and I also have vit B12 injections. much better now but still not 100% as for pain in my ribs..yes everyday I know I have had an operation as my ribs pain me at sometime or the other, sorry rushing this answer Liz as I am off to catch a plane on holiday. Good Luck hope your energy improves

[liz_crisp]

Thanks bernadette, Do you take pain killers everyday too then? Have a great holiday.

[abreynolds]

Hi My names Tony

I Had the Op 4 years ago, and I still have no energy most of the time , also I have a pain in my chest some times. but what our bodies went through. I think we are doing great. Love to you All.

[yorkshirerose]

Hi Liz, I am 16 months post op, and I still get very tired, but blood test all come back ok, so I guess it is just a case of taking things slowly, as Tony above says it isn't surprising after what our bodies have been through. My ribs still give me a lot of pain, and my surgeon says this is oten a complaint. So all in all I think we are all doing pretty well XX

[Hidden]

Hi Liz, I am over 3 years post op, & still get tired, i never ever had a sleep in a afternoon but i am making up for that now