Weakness and tiredness in palliative care Hiakai koe ki te manaakitanga whakamaene

It is common to feel tired and weak when you require palliative care. You might have low energy, poor concentration and motivation or feel emotionally low. Your weakness may mean you have less independence.

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Causes of weakness and tiredness

Several things could be causing your weakness and tiredness. These include:

  • uncontrolled symptoms of your illness such as pain, nausea and vomiting or constipation
  • infection
  • medication such as morphine or steroids
  • problems sleeping
  • weight loss or a poor appetite
  • treatment with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy
  • emotional causes such as depression or anxiety, feeling stressed or fearful.

Managing weakness and tiredness

If you are having problems with feeling weak and tired, you should talk to your healthcare provider. They might ask you to keep a diary to work out when you are getting tired and how it is affecting your day-to-day life.

If there are any obvious causes that are making you weak and tired, your healthcare provider will try to treat them. For example, they may try ways to:

  • manage your pain better
  • treat your constipation
  • give you antibiotics for an infection
  • treat any depression.

Self care for weakness and tiredness

Sometimes, finding a way to manage your day so you can use less energy will help. Several things can help you do this.

  • Get support with your plans from your carers and whānau.
  • Only do what is important and do it when you feel the least tired.
  • Pace yourself, prioritise tasks and learn new ways of doing them.
  • Delegate tasks to others where you can.
  • Balance your activity with rest.
  • Get some gentle exercise — a physiotherapist could help you with this.
  • Talk about how you are feeling with others.
  • Eat as well as you can.
  • Try to get good quality sleep.

Effects of sleep on health

If you do not have support people who can help you, your healthcare provider may be able to arrange help for:

  • housework
  • preparing meals
  • showering or bathing
  • dressing.

Your healthcare provider can also refer you to an occupational therapist who can work with you to manage your energy.