Ideas for convalescing husband please

cornerstone13

Hi, not sure if this is the right place .........

Three weeks ago, hubby had planned heart surgery (still a big shock) and is now off work for 4 months recovering. Before his surgery he was extremely active, playing tennis four times a week, walking around 4 miles a day, cycling and so on - and we hope that eventually he'll get back to that kind of level as he's only in his mid 50s.

Already, he is getting bored - there's only so much day-time TV a man can watch, after all; he has to take things slowly at the moment and a 15 minute stroll is about his limit. He hurt his stitches laughing when I suggested jigsaws !! And museums and theatre are not really his thing.

Has anyone been in a similar situation and does anyone have ideas for gentle, cheap trips out - he really would prefer to be out and about rather than stuck indoors but must take it really easy. We live 30 miles south of London, have a car and of course, being MSE, we'd prefer free or low cost.

Thanks

beverleyhills

Researching Family History can become quite addictive.

Money_maker

Ashdown Forest must be near you, thats always nice (for when the weather improves).
Tricky this time of year. Has he ever tried jigsaws?
How about a DS with brain training game?

squirrelchops

Model making!!!!!!!! Is he into anything 'arty'??

this man at work was going to be off for 3 months after an Op so for his Secret Santa i bought him a paper aeroplane making kit. Thought he could toment his wife with planes then!!!

cornerstone13

Thanks for these. We have lots of countryside round us which we've been strolling around recently. We also have a DS with the brain training game but his concentration isn't back to normal yet so he found it quite demotivating (not only does he physically feel about 96 at the moment, but Dr K thinks his brain age is similar !!).

I was wondering about exhibitions or shows at Olympia or similar, if anyone knows a good place to get free/cheap tickets - that would easily fill a day.

squirrelchops

Tesco Clubcard vouchers are good for days out. With their deal to make the money on the voucher x4 you cna often get free entrance.

Crap_with_money.com

Hiya,

my dad had a qudruple by-pass a good few years ago, one of the things he took up was swimming. Although, to be fair, initially he wasn't actually allowed to swim, he had to make do with just walking from one end of the pool to the other - gave the added resistance of the water, so obviously was a bit better than just walking! Then eventually, he moved onto swimming breadths, and then his normal lengths!

Obviously for that one you'd prob need to check with his GP if he was ok to do that yet!

floss2

Go to your local Council leisure centre & enquire about their cardiac rehab group....he may need to be referred from the hospital, but then he will be aided to gain his stamina & fitness again, to allow him to start exercising

margaretclare

I've just been through something similar - DH now back in hospital today for knee reconstruction tomorrow. This was a crisis that blew up last October when he developed a knee infection which went to septicaemia and he nearly died.

We've been a bit limited because of (a) District Nurses' daily visits to put intravenous antibiotics into a line in his chest and (b) difficulty getting into our car. He can only get in the driver's side but, with a stiff left leg, getting in and out has been very difficult and tiring. Nevertheless, we've managed to get out quite often - for a pub lunch, to go out just sitting on the sea-front watching the birds and the seals.

DH uses his computer a lot and talks to people around the world using Skype. He doesn't watch a lot of daytime TV and when he does, he usually falls asleep over it!! Just moving around on crutches has been very difficult and tiring.

There are lots of lovely historic places to visit, and even if you only take a picnic and go and sit in the car in a beauty-spot, you have lots of possibilities.

lolababy

How about taking up fishing. Stress free just make sure your both wrapped up.

ailuro2

A Nintendo DS console, with brain training, mystery village etc. Borrow games from family for it. He can pass hours calmly and get better quicker if he's not allowed to exercise yet. It's lightweight too, so if he's a bit tender he should be able to hold it no problem.