I was told to expect to be on non-weight-bearing status for six weeks minimum, nine weeks maximum, which meant laying on my back in bed or sitting in a reclined position for a very long time. While it is hard to stay entertained, I am lucky because I love to read. I stocked up on used paperback books and kept my favorite not-terribly-challenging-or-time-consuming board game nearby so that when friends stopped by we weren’t just sitting there staring at one another after we ran out of news to share. If you are planning to undergo any kind of surgery where you will be limited in your mobility, be sure to ask your friends, neighbors and relatives for assistance and support during this time…it’s not a sign of weakness to need help after surgery. They all want to see you get better, right? I know I needed help with cleaning the house, changing sheets, doing laundry, getting groceries and mail and medical supplies, caring for pets, and with transportation. This is when I found out who my real friends are.
I borrowed a laptop from work and once I started feeling a little more alive, it was nice to be able to log-on and keep friends and loved ones up-to-date on my progress, and it makes for decent entertainment, too. At about 7 weeks, I felt like I was going to go a little crazy from lack of brain stimulation, so I checked in with work to see how things are going...and found out I had done an admirable job of setting things up so I did not have to be there! Anyway, other alternatives are game magazines, art supplies, whatever will amuse you quietly for a while. Pretend you are Rapunzel and that you are going to be held hostage in that tower until the prince shows up, so you best learn to entertain yourself.
And even though I am not a tough person and tend to be on the demanding side, I tried hard not to fight, complain, or whine out loud, as experience has taught me that behaving like that repels even the most patient of souls. Like Mama taught me, I always remember to say please and thank you, and be genuinely grateful for things people did for me along the way.
I borrowed a laptop from work and once I started feeling a little more alive, it was nice to be able to log-on and keep friends and loved ones up-to-date on my progress, and it makes for decent entertainment, too. At about 7 weeks, I felt like I was going to go a little crazy from lack of brain stimulation, so I checked in with work to see how things are going...and found out I had done an admirable job of setting things up so I did not have to be there! Anyway, other alternatives are game magazines, art supplies, whatever will amuse you quietly for a while. Pretend you are Rapunzel and that you are going to be held hostage in that tower until the prince shows up, so you best learn to entertain yourself.
And even though I am not a tough person and tend to be on the demanding side, I tried hard not to fight, complain, or whine out loud, as experience has taught me that behaving like that repels even the most patient of souls. Like Mama taught me, I always remember to say please and thank you, and be genuinely grateful for things people did for me along the way.
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