What to do OS........when told to do nothing????

LilacLillie

I am week one recovering from my latest hospital stay. I am post op and have Pneumonia and Pleurisy.
I was told to have 2 weeks bedrest!!
I've never stayed in bed for 2 days let alone 2 weeks.
So I thought I'd catch up on stuff but..................................there is so much I just can't do

I thought I'd stick all my son's wedding pics in an album (Nov: 05), been meaning 'to-do' this for yonks, only I can't bend forward due to back pain. Tried to do it at the kitchen table but the kitchen is to drafty.
Then I thought I'd write and complete (another put off job) the cookery books my 2 son's have waited for 3yrs for. My hands are to sore from various needle insertions. So knitting is out as well. Can use PC for short bursts, untill hands hurt.

I have no patience for watching TV for more than 20mins at a time and can't concentrate on a book because I think I should be 'doing' more.
I hate relying on others and am missing going out. I'm getting 'ratty' with callers and visitors. Everytime I don't answer the phone quick enough someone comes round to find out why!
I'm not getting rest and am not used to being out of action.
What can I do constructively to stop this precious time being wasted?
I'm feeling low about being so idle and unwell.
There must be SOMETHING that I could be doing to make good use of this time..............but what????????
LL

Snow_Angel

First of all Lilaclillie :grouphug: ... you definitely need one of those! I hope you start to feel better soon.
I'm a physio student and on clinical placements I see a lots of patients who have the same frustrations as you. So, the first thing is to remember, you're not alone.
Also, you may think you can't do a lot at the moment, but you are managing to get up and sit at the kitchen table and work on your computer. Your motivation to get better is obvious so I think you just need to concentrate on what you can do each day, more than you could do the day before. But don't get disheartened if you have an off day...they happen to everyone!!!
I think you shouldn't worry about reading being 'not doing something'. It is doing something - it's keeping your mind active and it'll make you happy to get stuck into a good book. Don't knock the benefits of mental health on healing!
And when your visitors come, let them know you're feeling tired and could they visit another time. Or make an 'appointment' with them, so then you are ready for when they arrive. Have you got an answer machine on your phone? If so, don't rush to answer it, just let it ring through. And explain to your friends that you can't answer the phone quickly at the minute. I'm sure they won't mind you telling them and they'd be really upset if they knew they were causing you discomfort (inadvertently obviously!)
Other than that - try to be patient...difficult I know. I'm due to go for an orthopaedic op soon and for the last year or so I haven't been able to do any of the fun stuff I normally do.
Let us know how you get on x

lil_me

Sorry to hear you are poorly. I hope the time flies over for you, and you are better soon.

Jay-Jay_4

LilacLillie wrote:

What can I do constructively to stop this precious time being wasted?
I'm feeling low about being so idle and unwell.
There must be SOMETHING that I could be doing to make good use of this time..............but what????????
LL

But you're not wasting time, being lazy or idle you're following the doctor's orders to allow your body to recover from all the fighting it's had to do recently. You simply HAVE to cut yourself some slack here and realise that while you may feel like you should be doing something, you almost certainly should NOT.

You need to differentiate between keeping your mind busy and keeping your body busy which suggests to me that now is a perfect time to get stuck into some juicy books. Your only barrier for this is

can't concentrate on a book because I think I should be 'doing' more

but remember that if you do too much you're going to end up more ill and therefore incapacitated for even longer :eek:

Do as you're told!!!

lizzyb1812

Having had pneumonia I second what Jay-Jay has posted. You are NOT wasting time; you are right it is precious time - it's called convalescing and with what you've got/had you need it. This isn't a sudden gift of holiday, it's a requirement. Your body has been through a lot and you need to give it time to repair itself. I know it's difficult if you're used to being busy but you need to let it happen. And I'm sorry, but it will take a fair while before you feel normal again.

When I was ill but bored I found the radio a great help - it can be as light or as heavy as you feel up to, depending on the station you choose. If you want to read but your concentration is poor then look at short stories or audio books (I'm assuming someone can go get these for you as you mention people ringing).

It might seem frustrating but you can also spend some of this time dreaming and planning so that when you feel stronger you know exactly what you're going to do next. And please remember that you are under no obligation to do anything at all during this time - except to treat yourself kindly

HTH

lizzyb

fairy3

Hello and hugs

have to echo what others have said, your body will tell you what it needs when you listen to it, at the moment it's telling you it needs to recuperate and that may mean you have to shift your thinking. It's not easy for a busy person I know but as someone else suggested audio tapes, books and just the permission to give yourself some time and space are very constructive!

Also can you give your visitors stuff to do when they visit instead of losing patience (although it is easy, personal experience), they are probably used to you being a livewire so will be at a loss too, do you need a manicure? fancy a boardgame? toenails painting? feeding peeled grapes? Hallway vacuuming? why not? visitors are usually concerned and want to help and practical stuff helps them too.

I hope you are feeling much better soon and when you are you will kick yourself that you didn't exploit this time more bet you!

J
X

chardonnay_2

okay, as you can't write how about making lists of things to do etc into a dictaphone- so once you are better all your thoughts have been captured. better still allow yourself this time without guilt to get better and you will be rearing to go when your better.

exlibris

Try relaxation tapes/CDs. Relaxing helps your body to heal so you are not doing nothing.

Think what you would do if you had to stay in hospital for this recovery period. This may sound harsh but I do know what you mean. I am quite a lazy person, but I did find it hard to sit and look at the spiders webs which seemed to breed when I could't do anything about them.

I also endorse what everyone else has said especially about usinf visitors. Even if it is only to make you a cup of tea!

Whatever you do, don't be like an aunt of mine who greeted everyone who visited within three mins of walking through the door with 'No-one ever comes!' What am I a mirage?


PLEASE just take care of yourself!!

LilacLillie

Thanks everyone. Was feeling sooooooooooo fed up last night. People keep telling me what to do and what not to do and I feel I'm doing nothing!
We had Sky+ installed yesterday, seeing as I've never been able to work the ordinary sky (or the video) I thought my 'task' for today would be to look through the instructon book and see if I can't work it out. I can do that lying on the sofa.
Its my b/day on Thursday, the house is a tip and my b/day dinner at Carluccio's has to be cancelled. That is making me more miserable.
Along with an email from a friend today saying it 'Takes months to get over Pneumonia', so I should fly out to my place in BG. True that the air would do me heaps of good, trouble is the health care system isn't great , so I'm scared of being ill there. I'll wait for the 'all clear' first.
This morning I have been looking through reciepe books and thinking of menu plans, my heart wasn't in it though.
Even been thinking of writing next years Xmas cards (bought in Jan sales).
Thanks again for words of support, it has helped loads
LL