Recovering from Colostomy - Dealing with Fatigue

Hello. New to the forum and new to colostomy living. I had lifesaving colostomy surgery in March 2022 with 18 days in the hospital.

I woke up this morning with extreme fatigue. I've been tired off and on since surgery. It seems like about the time I start feeling like I'm getting my strength back, I will have what I call "a fatigue day". Is this normal to kind of bounce back and forth?

I have read that recuperating can take 1 week for each day spent in the hospital. 18 weeks for me. I still have a few more weeks to go.

Today caught me off guard. I was okay yesterday. Haven't been napping as much, hoping it would help me sleep better at night.

Passing good into the bag. Making sure I am eating/drinking. No pain, just tired.

Would love some words of advice/encouragement.

None of my family really understands the colostomy and recovery time and think I should be back to normal and out and about every day.

Thank you in advance.

You do you on recovery time. Everyone is different in that aspect. I don't really have fatigue days anymore, surgery March of '21, but I have days where I know I pushed myself a little too far. A week per day in the hospital? That's just gibberish because we all have different circumstances that we go through to get this sexy accessory we have in common. Good fluids, good diet, great desserts, build yourself back up, and enjoy each day that you're given.

Hello bsrobert.

Thanks for posting about tiredness as it is a subject that comes up from time to time and needs addressing regularly. 

It is perfectly normal to feel tiredness or fatigue after an operation. However, there are many other possible causes of fatigue or tiredness that are not necessarily directly related to having an ostomy. things like blood sugar levels, dehydration, salts, electrolytes, etc, etc.

It is as  well to check out as many avenues as possible as there might be a simple solution to you tiredness. 

In my own case I found that there were two different causes for the worst of my tiredness 1) sleep apnoea which made me generally tired during waking hours and: 2) very low blood pressure which occasionally caused immense and immediate fatigue, so bad that I had to stop whatever I was doing to lie down for a few minutes.

My GP at the time simply dismissed it as overwork, but once I had some checks done I found solutions. 

Meanwhile, I did write some rhymes about this aspect so I'll share one with you now !

Best wishes

Bill

TIREDNESS AND ILLNESSES.

I think UC, Crohn’s and IBS
will all link up with tiredness.
Also there’s some affirmation
of this with bowel inflammation.

If you lose blood through your poo
when you sit down upon the loo
then you should take some extra care
and watch for other symptoms there.

If lots of blood runs from your bum
anaemia can sometimes come.
In much research it has transpired
that this can make you very tired.

With such diseases comes much pain
which causes energy to drain.
And if it’s with you constantly 
you will tire consequently.

Chronic illness has some renown
for really dragging people down.
So if you don’t feel very well
within fatigue you may well dwell.

When your diet is not quite right
then you might lose your appetite,
and if you go right off your food
it’s likely you will be subdued. 

Illness can create the stress
to put you under great distress.
Then there is the loss of sleep 
where tiredness is what you reap.

These chronic illnesses aren’t kind,
they stress the body and the mind.
Because they are so difficult
tiredness is one result.

                                  B. Withers 2013

(In My Ostomy World. Book 2 p26)

Thank you. About 2 hours ago I asked my doctor to review my hospital records regarding sleep apnea. I vaguely recall 2 different nurses telling me that I have sleep apnea.

Praying it is something simple or just needing more time.
Today kicked my anxiety into a higher gear, which doesn't help with the fatigue either.

And one might add a "Silent UTI" to your list.

No real symptoms but happens in older adults causing many issues - one being tiredness - seems as though the Docs could easily check this out with a urine test before the many long, expensive tests. Reminds me of a Charlie Brown cartoon.

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Hello bsrobert, I had my surgery in March 2020 and I still have 'tired' days. It could be from so many things... surgery, chemo, radiation, menopause, heat, humidity, or just being silly and binge-watching Grey's Anatomy on a work night. LOL You are in the best place for friendly, helpful folks and great advice.

Hi Bsrobert and welcome to MAO, maybe have some lab work done to see if something is on the low side. My wife has hypothyroidism which caused bouts of fatigue. As for me and my ileo, my PCP told me to take B-12 which seems to help.

10 months since my surgery. It started out as multiple days a week and worked its way down to about one per week. Then, I just had a failed reversal and I'm back to a couple days a week. For me, I agree with Alex in that it's gotta be more unique on a case-by-case basis, and these are just my results. Here's to hoping we're both back 100% soon. Take care!

- Justin

I still have fatigue days, and I am years and years out from my last surgery. I suspect some of it has to do with when I get "blocked up." If things aren't moving as well, it seems to contribute to my tiredness. It sounds like you aren't having that problem, but your surgery wasn't very long ago, so just give yourself lots of time to rest and recover. I don't think people truly understand what an immense stress surgery and ostomies are on our bodies. I had that problem with my last relationship; he seemed to think I should be back to normal. But I know my body well, and I know it will never work as efficiently. I just need more rest now, and that is my new normal. I hope your loved ones can accept the changes you are going through and cut you more slack.

I had my colostomy surgery at the same time as you. I fight fatigue as well. I eat well, I'm hydrated, so it's not those. According to my ostomy nurse, it can take up to 6 months for your body to completely heal as I had the Barbie butt done too, but either way, it's a big change.

I am having severe fatigue every day and it makes me feel scared at times not knowing what is going on in my body. And I am stressing myself too much, having anxiety. Oh my, there is never an end, it is always something to be concerned about. Scary.

Hi there, I just posted to the forum this morning on hemicolectomy. I didn't fully understand what was gone from me, what was resting of my body and how much was left of me? I too go through a lot of fatigue days. Yesterday was such a day. I even feel nauseous and a tiny bit anxious because I don't understand the extreme tiredness and nausea. People on here seem to be well informed and although I don't post often, there are some great answers to questions posted by others that help me learn more. I had 2 emergency ops within 10 days of each other. I am 13 weeks post the last op. Thanks for posting your question, I don't feel as alone now, especially since you're 2 months further along the recovery road!

Caroline ‍