Health

Ways to Make Recovery Easier

I know that there are times in life that you are not able to as active asyou would like whether due to sickness, pregnancy bed rest, chronic illness, surgery or accidents. There still are things that you can do to make the most of this time.

I had surgery a month ago and am still non-weight bearing. This eliminates a lot of things that I can do, but not all. Fortunately, there are now knee scooters that work better than crutches. B

Plan

First, if you can plan for this, such as surgery, pregnancy or any illness that you know you’ll have bad days. Plan as much as you can in advance.

Make Meals Ahead

I always try to have freezer meals made ahead. But, when I know I have surgery coming up or for pregnancy I stock up. I make as many freezer meals as I have room to store. If you don’t like to cook, you can pick them up in the store. Now you can even get your groceries delivered. Also, kids can cook. Have a list of easy recipes that they can make. They feel capable and love that they can help.

Kid Boxes

I like to keep some things that they’ve never seen to keep them occupied. Even dollar store play doh or new coloring books can keep them busy. Keep a new book you can read to them while you are lying down. Spend time with them. Kids value times one on one more than anything else. Talk to them, listen, play a game, just be with them.

Minimum Maintenence

You won’t get everything done. You’ll have to learn to be tolerant of that but things still need done. The main things are dishes and laundry. Everyone has to wear clothes and eat. But, you can make it easier. Use paper plates. Or eat finger food that you can use a napkin. Have a load of laundry done and have it brought to you to fold. Another child can sweep. It is amazing how much children can do to help but don’t hold them to your standards. Make them feel appreciated.

Depression

It’s very common for anyone to become depressed after enforced bed rest, injury, surgery, chronic illness or any time you are laid up for a while no matter the reason. It is easy to have a poor me attitude. No ones likes being laid up and a lot of time you’re in pain. I allow myself 5 minutes. to feel sorry for myself. Then I pick myself up, put on a smile and try and be optimistic. Read uplifting books, pray and talk to others. Lean on God. Don’t isolate yourself, that makes it worse. You have more to give than you think you do.

What tips do you have for down times?

I need to apologize to you my dear readers. I’ve been missing for far to long.  I’ll catch up and tell you whats been going on.

Recent Surgery

I have Charcot  or CMT as I’ve said before. I also have neuoropothy and both have spread to my hands which makes it difficult typing. I had surgery a few weeks ago for Syndesmosis.  Since the Charcot has crushed half of my ankle bones the tibia and fibia had pulled apart. That is syndesmosis and the dr drilled holes in the bones and pulled them back together. I am also non weight bearing on that foot which means a knee scooter or wheel chair. Unfortunately, using my hands that much really reeks havoc on them.

The Best Laid Plans

So, I’m off my feet, mostly in bed so my leg could be elevated and I should be able to get a lot done right? That’s what I planned. You know what they say about the best laid plans. I’ve been in pain, ( not thinking straight),  foggy from pain meds (very foggy), or just no words at all would come together.  I’ve felt isolated, unable to go anywhere alone and very  dependent on others.  I hate being a burden  and not being able to help my family with barely anything.  I’ve had to regroup, make plans and follow through. I need to be thankful for the things that I am able to do. I did my daughters hair and makeup Saturday night for prom. Prayed and read with my children. Held my grandbabies. Look for the good. It’s hard.  But it’s the hard God gave me and I must do my best.

Your Hard Things in Life

This isn’t something most of you will deal with but you will have other things. Everyone has hard things in life.  What hard thing is in your life right now?  Depression, relationship problems, finances, health? Each of you have something that is a struggle. It’s hard to do the right thing all the time. To pull up your boot straps and work.  There are days when it would be much easier to watch tv all day. Read a book. Play hooky in life. We have so many manners of escapism available today. Put on your big girl panties and do it.

Blessings

I heard this song by Laura Story and was blessed. It reminded me that God’s way are not our ways. He doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we think they should be answered. The days I think He is silent are days He still hears my prayers. And He hears yours every day.  So when the hard things come how do you deal with it?

 

My children and I went to the library, shopping and to lunch last week. It took many times longer than it should have, because of me. Every time we stopped my cam walker had to go back on. Then off to drive. Every time someone went in to get a scooter or go get the wheel out of the trunk for me to ride in. Last week I broke my right foot. My good foot. The one without charcot. Now I have two bad feet. I feel incompetent. I feel like a burden.

Its not the first time this had happened. Multiple surgeries, hospital stays, and several pregnancy bed rests, I learned feelings are not facts. Here are 10 Things to Remember When you Feel Like a Burden

Worth

1. Your worth is not determined by your to do list that you check off. Your worth isn’t determined by who you are not by what you do. 

Adjust

2. You can learn to adjust for a while. Most of these are temporary. Bed rest, surgeries, broken bones, all of them are temporary. Look at the end in sight.

Grieve

3. Even if it’s permanent, allow your self a time to grieve and then move on. It doesn’t do you any good to continually dwell on it. But a loss is hard. You deserve to grieve, to bury the dreams that went with the loss. I always dreamed of learning to dance and do a 5k. Neither of those will ever be possible now.  I was sad. I grieved but I didn’t stay there.  I’ve had to learn to move on to live the life I have now.

Modify

4. Adjust and modify things that you can. I can cook sitting down. It’s not as easy but it’s do able. I use a grabber to reach things. I plan on things taking longer to do.

Do What You Can

5. Do the things you can. Even on bed rest there are still things you can do to help your family and run your household. Use this time to plan. I meal planned, scheduled housekeeping, goal planned, and wrote down what I wanted to accomplish and what i wanted my children to accomplish. I played games, read to my children and lots of cuddle time. They need to be reassured during this time.

Learn Something New

6. Use this time to learn something new. If you’ve wanted to learn something now is the time. You tube has videos for almost everything. Crafty has classes.  When you feel like a burden learning something new will up your confidence.

Use Your Time Wisely

7. I know the temptation to sit and watch TV, videos, or Hulu. It’s a way to forget your problems and be entertained. But it’s a huge time waster.  Try to spend your time on worthwhile things.

Plan A Project

8. Now is a good time to plan a project. If there’s a project you’e been  thinking of now is a good time to plan it. It gives you somethimg to ;look forward to and now you have time,. Plan all the steps, costs, where to get materials, everything you need. Then you’ll be a;; ready when your up and about. Just don’t jump ahead and slow your healing. Ask me how I know.

Help Someone Else

9. You can always help somebody.  There is always someone worse off and there are always ways to help others. There are many things I can’t go and get things for someone else but I’m a great planner. I can’t chase my grandson who’s a toddler but I can sit for my granddaughters. I have knowledge and wisdom to share. my children call me for advice, I can listen . There is something you can do to contribute.

Who You Are

10. Know who you are in God’s eyes. Your worth is on who you are. You are a child of the King. You are priceless in His eyes.  He know every hair on your head. He loves you more than you know.

Have you had the feeling that you are a burden and more of a hindrance than a help? Please share what you’ve learned through this.

Living with chronic pain can make me focus on everything I  can’t do.  I can’t go on the hayride with the kids. Or walk with them. I’ll never take dance lessons. I can’t climb stairs. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t. Since having a pity party doesn’t help me or anyone else I need to try to learn to deal with limitations in a positive way.

Accept Your Limitations

I am in a temporary wheelchair or knee scooter. . Temporary as in most of the year,  but hope that  it’s not permanent.  It gets very frustrating trying to get things done. I am over 6 feet tall so my cupboards are arranged for tall people. I’d like to stand for a little bit but I know that would actually set me back. Everyone has limitations in one way or another. I have to focus on what I can do not what I can’t.

Modify What You Can

I have limitations with my hands that prevent me doing a lot of crafts, which I love.  However, I do have a daughter that will cut out material so I can sew. I machine sew instead of hand sew since it is so painful.  Cook sitting down. I use a paper cutter instead of scissors.  And use a grabber to pick things up off the floor.

I’ve asked at my physical therapy for them to find new ways for exercises that I can do sitting.  I wrote about living with charcot.

 Pace Yourself

I find I have to take a lot of breaks.  There are  only do so many seated activities before I need to elevate my foot.  Learning to alternate between activities I use my hands for and seated ones have been trial and error.  Now I know how many breaks I need to take between activiteis such as typing or cooking. Then I need to do something different like read or watch a webinar.

Count the Cost

I know ahead of  time if I do this I won’t have enough that.  Choices I have to make daily, and sometimes hourly. The best way I’ve found to describe it is called the spoon theory.

Look for the Silver Lining

While living with chronic pain is debilitating in  many ways, in all things there is a silver lining if you just look for it. I would never have started this blog if I could go and do more.  Appreciate the small things.  I really have a pretty great family. They take me places, help me around the house. My kids have had to do way more than other kids for years. They’ve taken my place for younger children school activities when I can’t.  They’ve taken me to countless dr appt., tests and visited me in the hospital. And unfortunately, learned to sort pills, use nebulizers, change bandages and give meds in a pic line. I have a great family.