Following treatment for a certain illness, some people feel weakness or fatigue. It could be a side effect of the treatment or due to other factors such as your environment.
Fatigue feels different for each person. Some people will just feel weak, but weakness is often just one part of fatigue. In some cases, you’ll get better after treatment ends, but for other people, the fatigue can last for months or even years.
Symptoms of Fatigue
People with different conditions describe fatigue in many ways. Some may say they feel tired, weak, slow, weary, exhausted, or worn out. You may feel like your body lacks the energy to concentrate and that you have little drive to do anything. You may also feel like your arms and legs are heavier. Fatigue can also cause you to lose sleep or sleep too much. Other symptoms include feeling moody, sad, irritable, or frustrated.
Check your diet. To help your body recover, you need to stay well-nourished. Not having sufficient nutrients in your food could add to symptoms of weakness. Consult your doctor about your calorie and nutritional intake. They may want to recommend a dietitian who will exclusively take care of your nutritional needs. You may be asked to stack up on vitamins or supplemental electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, or magnesium) to help reduce your symptoms.
It is not possible to use lab tests or x-rays to diagnose or show your level of fatigue. The best way to find out more about your condition is to describe it adequately to your doctor. You can describe your level of fatigue as mild, moderate, or severe, use a scale of 0 (no fatigue) to 5 (extremely fatigued), or compare your current state to other times to provide some context.
You can also:
- Take short breaks to rest or nap. 30 minutes or less will do best instead of a longer nap during the day, which could make it harder to sleep at night.
- Walk or engage in moderate exercise. It helps to talk to your doctor about the right exercise plan if you’re afraid you’ll strain your body.
- Ask your loved ones to help with the things you can’t do at the moment.
- Try to get 7 or 8 hours of sleep each night. A healthy sleep routine will go a long way to help you find the energy to spend during active hours.
- Avoid caffeine
- Avoid exercising very late in the evening.
- Save energy for the things you want to do.
- Spread tasks and activities throughout the day so you are not under the pressure to do everything at once.
If you must report to work, let the relevant people at your workplace know about your fatigue. If it is possible, ask to work from home so you can pace yourself. Prioritize the tasks that require more attention when you are feeling energized. Don’t be afraid to ask for day off from work if you have to. When you are very fatigued, it can get affect your productivity, so it is in the best interest of your employer to help you. You can always ease yourself back into work after sick leave.