My goal was to get back to my life as soon as possible. Keeping in mind that I'd had somewhat major surgery, my body had taken a beating and overexertion was to be avoided meant that I felt like I was treading a fine line.
I was only in bed for about 2 days after the surgery. So I had surgery on a Thursday, and got out of bed and got dressed on Sunday to sit in the back seat of the car as my husband drove my daughter to the airport. Then he and I went for a short walk since the weather was gorgeous. That was quite enough for one day. I was whacked.
The next day, my husband drove me to and from my hairdresser appointment for a shampoo, cut and blow dry. It felt great. That was it for the day. I just sat inside, listened to the radio, couldn't concentrate enough to read and fiddled on the computer. This was to be the extent of my activities for about 2 weeks.
For the next 10 days, I found I could basically do one chore a day. I wasn't up for visiting with people or even talking to them over the phone. Communication was by e-mail and I gave friends sporadic updates. But if I did some grocery shopping, then that was it. I was tired.
For the first week, I either had a nap or just a lie-down each afternoon. And still slept 8 or 9 hours a night. And when I stopped napping and resting, I still had a really slow period in late afternoon. I just faded around 4 or 5, picked up for dinner and early evening and then often had to force myself to watch TV in order to stay awake til 10. Then I'd sleep til 7 AM.
Exercise is recommended and I did exercise before the surgery, but the tiredness was overwhelming. And then it became a vicious cycle. I was too tired to exercise and the lack of exercise meant I was always tired. I wish I pushed myself to do some exercise earlier.
My sleeping also got intermittent. I could always fall asleep right away, but now I was doing what often happens - go to sleep, wake at 4 AM and lie awake for an hour or two. My usual tricks of meditating, concentrating on my breathing weren't working - they still aren't. I don't want to resort to sleeping pills, so I'm not sure how I'm going to get over this. Happened again last night. And this was after a LONG, 10 km walk yesterday - I was sure that would have guaranteed me a good night's sleep!
It is now 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery and we have almost no social life. I am too tired at night to do anything so any socializing that happens occurs during the day when I might meet up with a friend for tea or lunch. I am up to 2 chores or outings a day now, but then that's about it. I've heard that some women go back to work a couple of weeks after surgery, and I can't imagine it. I'd be a basket case. Perhaps they have to, and that would be rotten to be in that position.
So I'm working on getting my life back, but I have a ways to go yet.
I was only in bed for about 2 days after the surgery. So I had surgery on a Thursday, and got out of bed and got dressed on Sunday to sit in the back seat of the car as my husband drove my daughter to the airport. Then he and I went for a short walk since the weather was gorgeous. That was quite enough for one day. I was whacked.
The next day, my husband drove me to and from my hairdresser appointment for a shampoo, cut and blow dry. It felt great. That was it for the day. I just sat inside, listened to the radio, couldn't concentrate enough to read and fiddled on the computer. This was to be the extent of my activities for about 2 weeks.
For the next 10 days, I found I could basically do one chore a day. I wasn't up for visiting with people or even talking to them over the phone. Communication was by e-mail and I gave friends sporadic updates. But if I did some grocery shopping, then that was it. I was tired.
For the first week, I either had a nap or just a lie-down each afternoon. And still slept 8 or 9 hours a night. And when I stopped napping and resting, I still had a really slow period in late afternoon. I just faded around 4 or 5, picked up for dinner and early evening and then often had to force myself to watch TV in order to stay awake til 10. Then I'd sleep til 7 AM.
Exercise is recommended and I did exercise before the surgery, but the tiredness was overwhelming. And then it became a vicious cycle. I was too tired to exercise and the lack of exercise meant I was always tired. I wish I pushed myself to do some exercise earlier.
My sleeping also got intermittent. I could always fall asleep right away, but now I was doing what often happens - go to sleep, wake at 4 AM and lie awake for an hour or two. My usual tricks of meditating, concentrating on my breathing weren't working - they still aren't. I don't want to resort to sleeping pills, so I'm not sure how I'm going to get over this. Happened again last night. And this was after a LONG, 10 km walk yesterday - I was sure that would have guaranteed me a good night's sleep!
It is now 3 1/2 weeks since my surgery and we have almost no social life. I am too tired at night to do anything so any socializing that happens occurs during the day when I might meet up with a friend for tea or lunch. I am up to 2 chores or outings a day now, but then that's about it. I've heard that some women go back to work a couple of weeks after surgery, and I can't imagine it. I'd be a basket case. Perhaps they have to, and that would be rotten to be in that position.
So I'm working on getting my life back, but I have a ways to go yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment