How's it going the, this recovery process...what have I learned?
1. When the Doctor says to elevate, that is exactly what you do. As a fellow recovereee says :-
"Gravity is a beast that can’t be fought, and as the blood rushes down to your broken place- you will surely do what the doctor says."
2. Crutches - probably great if you have a sense of balance. Reckon Suzie wouldn't have any problems with her dancing feet, me...feel as if every step is a step closer to oblivion!!
I want one of theses!!
3. Sleeping is glorious- if the pain lets you do it. Sleep as often as you can- both for healing purposes and even more for your mental well being. It passes the time!
4. Have to keep reminding myself that the house will be fine... It may be messy, and surely not how I do it all, but things will somehow get done. One of my mantras since I retired has been that it's my job to be 'house person' and take the strain of domestic stuff off Suzie - come a little obsessed with routine of when and how I do a certain thing, wash on Monday, iron on Friday etc.. It will all be there waiting for me, when healed. Chill!
5. Don't get discouraged. I thought I would have all sorts of time on my hands to read and rest and watch movies etc. But as time goes by, and low and behold- Ive done nothing worthwhile at all. Just lots of lying here...
What discourages me is that I find it really hard to lean on the zimmer, or against a wall, or whatever other household appliance I'm next to, while trying to concentrate on NOT putting that bleeding heavy, cumbersome bother of a foot down to actually do anything - especially if I have to potentially carry the end product.
I made sandwiches, and had the choice of standing in the kitchen and eating them, or finding a way to get them to the sofa...a) in a jug and b) wrap them in foil and throw them!!
6. Washing...baby wipes are a blessing :)
7. When ya gotta go, ya gotta go. Same goes for eating, bathing, dressing, and attempting to get from ANY one place to the next. Plan accordingly. Plan AHEAD. These simple tasks are not so simple anymore.
8. Emotions...I have been lucky so far, only 2 real episodes of downright feeling sorry for myself, why me, why cant I just get up and go for a pee without all this bother of hopping, bouncing, grabbing...( first one being outside the hospital and that was really just shock setting in).
Again, that fellow recoveree says it better :-
'If you want to cry, cry. I get it. All of us gimps get it. It’s absolutely no fun to be motionless and hurting. No fun at all. You think it will be a nice break from responsibilities, but you quickly realize that it is so much harder than any workplace you ever entered. Cry.'
Then, I thought about others I know who won't get better, won't get their bothersome caste off, and perspective comes flooding back.
9. If somebody offers help - TAKE IT!! Thanks J & D xx
10. Gratitude. Gratitude. Gratitude. Find it.
11. If you find a comfortable position...stay there!!
12. Take your pain killers...
13. Repeat to yourself: “This is temporary.” Keep saying it and remind yourself that this is truly a blip in time.
14. Remember that healing has its own timeline. It’s a precarious thing, really.
So far, my pain has edged away, hospital next week, then the next phase...
