I think fatigue with a PE is common for a while, but given what you've been through with the breast cancer as well, I can't help but think the fatigue is not solely from the PE. My mother was treated for stage one breast cancer a couple of years ago and she was exhausted for a really long time after treatment. She thinks all the stress and the treatments just took a toll on her.

I'm sorry you're feeling depressed. Do you think that's part of it too?

Hi RMB thx for your reply.
I hit a milestone last week as it was a year on from when I took ill and I'm very down about how I'm still feeling so fatigued - I am a very determined person & I guess I thought I would be feeling better by now.
I have an appointment with my respiratory consultants early December & I think my CT results will show my left lung has hardened with my PE.
I just wish this extreme tiredness would improve.

I'm sure it's just a very defeating feeling. See what your doc says. I know after my PE I lost a lot of conditioning and I think sometimes that's part of the equation too, but I think you'll learn more perhaps with your appt in December.

Have you been checked for anemia, thyroid function, and /or for vitamin d and b12 deficiencies lately? It may be worth it to rule that stuff out as the cause. And I hope you don't take offense to this, but based on your age, could hormonal changes be part of that the fatigue as well? I've been in perimenopause for the last few years (I'll be 49 in January) and it has really done a number on my sleep, my energy, etc.

I'm not saying it's not PE related but just wonder if there's a perfect storm of things that have been occurring in your body that would cause some of this.

I wish you the best. You deserve to feel well!

Hi RMB
I'm through the menopause but I think I do need to go to my GP but up to the last time I saw her she just keeps saying it's a slow recovery, I honestly think I am tireder now that I was a few months ago. There's always the cancer worry hanging around in my head & the stress of all that's been going on must be affecting me too and hitting the year milestone has been very difficult.
I just wonder if I'll ever feel like I did before - as now I feel about 50% the person I was before.
Sorry for sounding very defeatist but I'm very sad just now.
Thx for your kind thoughts & wishes.
Elaine

I just wanted to tell you that I know what you are saying! I, too, am 1 year out and I'm still not feeling like myself. I can't imagine going through breast cancer treatment while recovering from a PE. You must be a very strong lady. I'm 64, so I think that might be one of the reasons I can't seem to improve my endurance. I still have lung pain and must repeat my mantra..."I cannot have a blood clot when my protime is 2.44!" daily. PE really messes with one's mind, and that's hard for me, too! We'll just all hang in there together and make it through this. Thoughts and best wishes!

Donna It can be good to hear you're not alone, if I'm being honest I'm probably more tired now than I was in the Summer but trying not to analyse as the worrying would drive you out of your mind. Sending you best wishes & hope you steadily improve.

Fa233 if you don't mind me asking what stage was your breast cancer ? I also had bilateral pe and was eventually diagnosed with renal cancer. I'm having a hard time getting off Coumadin cause my onc doesn't think my ca caused since I was stage one

Hi Hockeymom
I presented with a 19mm grade 2 tumour on my left breast - they reckon I had a small DVT caused by an overnight flight from Turkey and the malignancy caused the clot to get bigger - I knew for around 6 weeks that something wasn't right as I was very short of breath. Dr's have said the PE's done me a favour bringing my cancer to light. I was on Warfarin for 6 months, they were happy for me to come off as my cancer has been removed.
Still very, very fatigued.
E

Hi fa233,

I wish you the best of luck with everything. I was had b/l PE's this past September and even though I feel much better, I get very tired, especially by the end of the day. Docs said it takes months and months to feel yourself. It was a trauma to your body, clots not only affect breathing, it also affects pressures in the heart, pulmonary arteries and lung tissue. You need to give your body time to heal, plus your body had two major hits ... breast cancer also.

Take care and take it day to day.

Thanks Lucky4mom - We're all in this journey together. I'm dropping hours at work at the beginning of the new year & hoping this helps with the fatigue - I know I went back to work too soon and this didn't help but not an option for me not to work, financially or for my own sanity.

I think that any of the events listed by all (PE, cancer and associated treatments, age and depression) could all account for fatigue - I think the treatments and the damages de- conditioned all of us.

I'm almost 2 years post first round of PE and can't seem to re-condition to previous levels. I don't know which factor is most responsible but I think it is important to continue the struggle. I wish you continued motivation, improved stamina (even if only baby steps) and less sadness through more hope.

I am truly sorry to hear about your struggles. I cant even begin to imagine having breast cancer on top of PE. My thoughts are with you.