Well I’ve been back on a phased return for just over 4 weeks. Mon Wed and Fri between 4 and 5 hours. Everythings gone well I’m happy. Works happy I’m back. But also making sure I don’t do to much.
What gets me his I’m ok till I get home and after an hour or so the fatigue hits me like a brick. Worse though. I’ve done Tues and Wednesday this week. To see if I can manage 2 days together. 4.5 hours Tuesday and same Wednesday. Today I’ve nothing in me. So it’s back to what I’ve been doing since going back.
Gnasher listen to your body. You may think in your head your winning. But the body says different.
That’s what is meant by trial and error. Really there’s no other way to do it. You have to test your limits to how much you can do, how much is too much. And now you know, but you can test your limit again in a few weeks/months as you recover more
It’s amazing isn’t it how much a few hours at work can take out of you. I found the fatigue a lot lot worse when I went back to work part-time then I thought it would be. You’re doing the right thing by giving it a try and adjusting as required. As Lorraine has said you may not be ready for two days in a row right now that you can leave it a little while and then try again later. I never made it back to my full-time hours and I do slightly shorter days than a full-time person but I do manage two days in a row with a day off in the middle and then another two days with the weekend off afterwards. I find that works okay for me but I’m not going to lie I still suffer with fatigue and most evenings am wiped out.
Being quite stubborn I’ve more than once returned to work far too early after a bout of flu or Covid. Shattered and exhausted after my first day back I quickly realised that it would take me longer than expected to get back to normal, and maybe I should ease into it a bit. What you’ve had is far, far worse than flu, and the period of easing in will be far longer, but you will get there
I can have a full day, good energy, lots done, then ready for bed. I think, all I need now is a good night’s sleep and I’ll be fresh for tomorrow. Come tomorrow, I’m wiped for the whole day. I usually list in my head all the things I achieved the day before and that makes me feel better about the fatigue.
Great to hear you are managing to get back to work. Can I ask how long you had off?
I am 8 weeks post stroke and am due to hopefully start phased return end of January (it was supposed to straight after Christmas but I am just not ready yet) I can not even manage a shower or popping out to a shop without having to rest or have a snooze after due to the horrendous fatigue and over stimulation. It’s so hard isn’t it.
Did you ask for an extended phased return? I always just assumed a phased return was 4 weeks but I guess you do not know until you are in this situation. I am hoping my work agree with a similar model to yours Monday, Wednesday, Friday for a couple weeks then Monday, Tuesday with Wednesday off in between then Thursday Friday then hope to be back full time. It is just hard not to listen to your body when you feel okay you feel like you can do everything as you used to then it hits you a day or two later.
Hope it is continuing to go well and you have a little time off to enjoy a restful christmas.
@MrsG16 . I had my stroke on the 10/9/25. The main part of the stroke was it took my speech. This has returned but I struggle still sometimes if tired or stressed. But if I think before I say the words I’m ok.
Work have been fantastic with me and with no pressure from them. I decided to try and go back on the 19/11/25 on a four week phased return plan. This was set up by my work and again no pressure. Do what you feel you can do. Don’t overdo do it. And we will make sure you don’t and are safe. That return ran out on the 15/12/25. And I was told by them to keep on the phase return I would need a note from the Dr. No problem. Contacted him and a note saying I was fit to work. But on a phased return and to only do the hours I could.
Took that in on Wednesday and they are fine with it. I’ve also asked for my hours to be reduced to max 20. Again they have said we can sort that for you. But please only do what you feel you can.
So yes I’m back at work. Has it been hard. Yes. Do I get tired. Yes. Am I enjoying it. Yes. Loads of positives in going back. But you also need to think am I ready. And know that your employer understands your health issues.
I know that my previous employer would not have been so understanding.
I had a TIA in July 24 and I was off for 6 months, the fatigue was difficult then after that I had a really short temper, so it was decided that as Christmas is our busiest time, it would be best to return after it!
Good that you took that time to put yourself first.
Did you manage go straight back in full time? Did the fatigue and mood improve at all when back to work?
I myself am also struggling with severe low mood and depression on top of everything else but my employer noticed this at a back to work meeting and am lucky to have been signed up for counselling sessions from my employer.
Hi @Gnasher I had this on my first attempt at returning was fine for the time usually a 24 hour shift with a good sleep break but once I drove home literally threw my stuff down and flopped into a chair for around a 4 hour nap.
This time round a better work environment has helped, we are full throttle for Christmas and go all out for the kids. This year we have additional nuances , needs and complexities with the kids and yesterday almost beat me. around 300 miles of driving, serious professional meetings, Christmas shopping and health appointments in one shift was absolutely done last night, woke up early today as fell asleep ta 20:00 last night but feeling fine. I’ve learned to not try and fight my body telling me I’m tired, realise too my fatigue is when stress starts kicking in.
This forum is so reassuring to read about how others struggle with fatigue. I had my stroke on 22/10/25 which took my speech so was incredibly fortunate that this was only temporary, I only struggle now when tired. This fatigue is something else isn’t it? I do one task and have to rest I foolishly hoped that this would have improved but I think it is celebrating the small victories and listen to your body instead of fighting it. Happy Christmas to everyone x
@Nanag you are a stroke baby yet in recovery terms. Give yourself time. The fatigue will improve but you also have to manage it. Take rests when you need them & don’t overdo it on your better days. You often pay for that later down the line.
No, I went back o n a phased return where I did M/T/W for week one, then T/F/S for week two then four days for the next two weeks, then full time,but my manager checked in on me regularly, as for low mood, because I’m a Postman, being out on delivery in the countryside and among my customers was really beneficial, I wish you well with your recovery and do make the most of your counselling, it can be really helpful, I recommend getting out into nature as much as possible to boost your mental health.
My stroke happened the day before yours. I too was hopeful to be ‘better’ by now than I am.
As @Mrs5K said, it is difficult to stop yourself pushing through when you have okay days as you feel like the old you would have. This will then knock you in a few hours or the day after or a couple of days after and you will think back to what exactly made you feel so tired. It is difficult not to overdo things especially this time of year!
I’ve always been into my sports,gym and my job is physical too but the fatigue absolutely wiped me out and I couldn’t believe it,It’s just not me to go to bed at 1pm etc. I’m now about 5 weeks into my phased return and getting better every week. Get the rest needed and you’ll get there,best wishes.
Getting out into nature does help. I am lucky to live near the coast so trying to go for little walks along the beach or a park but the fatigue and low mood gets the better of me and I do not go as often as I should be at the minute.
A 4 week phased return seems brutal but it’s the way it is unless you push for an extended one. I am a secondary school teacher so hoping once I get back in the classroom with the kids and other staff it helps give me a focus.
Must be pretty busy for you at the minute but hopefully you will get a little break over Christmas to recharge.
Me too,I live on the banks of the River Mersey and my rehab was headphones on,plenty of good music,a 40 min stroll to the coffee shops on the prom and eventually returning. It’s not the hills of Betws y coed which I frequent but it certainly done the trick for me on the early days when I was struggling. Hope the new year is kind to you and everyone else on here too and further recovery goes well.
Hi Gnasher. Sounds like you are making steady progress. My Stroke was September 2024. I was off work around 9 months. Worked through phased return and am now on full time hours but not working a full diary yet. It has all proven to hard for me and the fatigue is horrific. I usually sleep 10 to 11 hours over weekends and 8 to 9 during the week and am still always exhausted. I will try dropping a day at work to see if 4 are more manageable. Since my Stroke I have been getting Hemiplegic migraines and have been to hospital 3 times with them in the last year. I reckon they are brought on by fatigue and my incredible light sensitivity. Keep going, you dont know your limits til you test them but listen to your body and pull back if needed. It’s a slog and you will have set backs but improvements will be achieved. Just takes time.
I usually list in my head all the things I achieved the day before and that makes me feel better about the fatigue.
