dncergrl53
07-28-2008, 01:37 PM
Hi all. To get this board moving in a different direction, I thought I would start a thread about what to do while you are recuperating from foot surgery. Upbeat, happy activities are welcome. I really enjoyed my recuperation. I have never and probably will never have again, the opportunity to be healthy yet lie around for weeks on end. I was able to get through my to-do list of stuff I normally never have time for.
Books: When You Are Engulfed in Flames (very funny and a light read),
Activities: Writing letters to old friends, knitting a fabulous scarf (imitating those gorgeous, pricey ones), organizing photos, cleaning out the junk drawer, filing and ditching papers, organizing bill system, filing medical expenses, rolling bags of coins, waiting for the cable man (plumber, electrician, etc.) to come, writing Christmas card envelopes, cleaning out e-mail, organizing computer stuff.
Books: When You Are Engulfed in Flames (very funny and a light read),
Activities: Writing letters to old friends, knitting a fabulous scarf (imitating those gorgeous, pricey ones), organizing photos, cleaning out the junk drawer, filing and ditching papers, organizing bill system, filing medical expenses, rolling bags of coins, waiting for the cable man (plumber, electrician, etc.) to come, writing Christmas card envelopes, cleaning out e-mail, organizing computer stuff.
Sponsor
donna 77
07-28-2008, 02:09 PM
I've been doing watercolors on a pre stretched pad for my husband's office, (he's a dentist so I did a really fanciful one of the tooth fairy in a molar barcolounger) sodoku, crosswords, watching all the movies and tv shows I've never seen because I've been too busy the last 18 years (my oldest son is 18) doing on line financial paperwork for my son's admission to college, read alot of Dan Brown, James Patterson, Nora Roberts, also read Kite Runner, very haunting, sorting thru the endless stacks of dvd's cd's and junk in my son's room so he is all organized and ready to go!
Now that I can move a little better on the roll about crutches combo I've cleaned the burners on my stove, made 10 batches of homemade spaghetti sauce to freeze for when I go back to work etc.
Now that I can move a little better on the roll about crutches combo I've cleaned the burners on my stove, made 10 batches of homemade spaghetti sauce to freeze for when I go back to work etc.
badfeet51
07-28-2008, 04:16 PM
I did all the normal boring stuff such as reading books that I had been waiting to find the time to read, watched tv for countless hours, talked on the telephone, and was on my laptop quite a bit too. I went through 12plus weeks on the sofa with hardly any activity on my feet. I am once again going to be sidelined as I am having surgery Aug. 27 and will be nwb for many more weeks. I want someone to give me some NEW ideas of fun things to do. I knit and cross stitch but I want something different. By the way, the down time for me was not that bad. It was a little boring after a while but it certainly was not unbearable. I sorta enjoyed it. I actually had an excuse to be lazy...... lol
dinkles
07-28-2008, 04:24 PM
I spent one entire day watching nothing but I Love Lucy reruns and another day was M.A.S.H. and another day Leave it to Beaver. I did 362 word finds in the five weeks I was off. Read to many magazines to count. Sat on the floor in my bedroom closet one entire afternoon going thru files and shredding paper (of course, getting back up off the floor was a challenge but getting down was easy). I worked out from my couch using and ABS of Steel tape my sister brought over and I modified the exercises to what I could do from the couch (not that it did any good with my arms or tummy but at least I was doing some sort of exercise). Listened to my iPod a lot of the day.
I hadn't thought of rolling my coins but that I will save for when I am off again in a few weeks (have to have another surgery).
One thing I learned for sure and will go out and buy before my next surgery is a cell phone or cordless phone so I can keep it next to me. Getting up and down to answer my phone was a pain.
I also spent a lot of time on my laptop searching the internet and doing computer games (my nieces and nephews were very envious of me having the time to do that one).
I hadn't thought of rolling my coins but that I will save for when I am off again in a few weeks (have to have another surgery).
One thing I learned for sure and will go out and buy before my next surgery is a cell phone or cordless phone so I can keep it next to me. Getting up and down to answer my phone was a pain.
I also spent a lot of time on my laptop searching the internet and doing computer games (my nieces and nephews were very envious of me having the time to do that one).
nifty fifty
07-29-2008, 08:10 PM
This starts my 3rd week of recovery. The first week I was so excited to not have to work and just relax, but that got old by the end of the week. I joined Netflex movie rentals. They mail you a movie or two and when you watch them my husband sticks them back in the mailbox. I use to watch the series " Dark Shadows" when I was in high school (does that tell you how old I am) so I have rented the series to start watching this week. I have done the usual, reading,TV. and etc. I have also worked on my scrape -booking I have been behind on. My the way how do you get up from the floor when you have only one good leg to use???? Nifty Fifty
badfeet51
08-06-2008, 01:11 AM
I was hoping lots of people would write in about ideas from the couch since I will be facing about 8 weeks of the sofa after my surgery August 27th. This is a repeat of a repeat surgery for me so I know how tired you get after that first week of rest. So come on you all, I know somebody out there has the really interesting things to do they can share with us. I have books, television, movies, the telephone, and my laptop but looking for something else that requires minimal "thinking" due to pain meds. suggestions please???
Janesfoot
08-06-2008, 09:24 AM
I read many books, but the best one was "Water for Elephants". It was wonderful. I cleaned and organized the linen closet. It was truly a scarey place prior to the clean out. I caught up on correspondence, and it was great to re-connect with friends. I spent a lot of time thinking about what was good in my life and what I had to be grateful for. Thank you for starting this thread, I know I appreciate the upbeat nature of your request.
footsiedee
08-06-2008, 09:58 AM
heres this for an idea. (something i wanted to do but didnt,cause i was doing the other stuff.
buy a new organizer to update your address book. i bought one 1 or 2 yrs ago. now i need to fill it in. my next project. or start organizing health reciepts (and others) for next years taxes. go through the stack(s) of paperwork,and receipts on the home desktop and file them. throw away those things youve been meaning to read but never will (not the good stuff)
if you are a person of faith, relish this opportunity to spend some quality time with your creator. and in this age of technology and doing everything on a fast pace....maybe write a letter, sent it via snail mail. Dee
buy a new organizer to update your address book. i bought one 1 or 2 yrs ago. now i need to fill it in. my next project. or start organizing health reciepts (and others) for next years taxes. go through the stack(s) of paperwork,and receipts on the home desktop and file them. throw away those things youve been meaning to read but never will (not the good stuff)
if you are a person of faith, relish this opportunity to spend some quality time with your creator. and in this age of technology and doing everything on a fast pace....maybe write a letter, sent it via snail mail. Dee
shelleybutn
08-06-2008, 09:59 AM
well, here's a new one.........we got a new puppy 1 week before surgery! we were on the waiting list, he is an american mastiff (thankfully he is VERY sleepy). let me tell you, if we didn't have him, i probably would have stayed in bed the last 3 months. he actually made me get up to let him outside. i couldn't do much with him, but he made me go outside and sit.
other than that, nothing real new. rent a wheelchair and go shopping ;)
other than that, nothing real new. rent a wheelchair and go shopping ;)
donna 77
08-06-2008, 10:21 AM
I listened to all my old cd's with my portable cd player. On all those pain meds it was like revisiting the 60's! All those musicians sound really "heavy" when your taking those drugs! I was so spaced out it took me a week to balance my checkbook!
Hoppyfeet
08-06-2008, 11:16 AM
How about a mobile beauty therapist to visit? A manicure or facial makes you feel great especially as you can still lie down for the treatment!
flaggfish
08-06-2008, 11:29 AM
I'm looking at possible bunion surgery in the next 6 months with 6 weeks nwb. Here are 3 things I'd REALLY like to do, but never have time in "real life":
I like cooking and usually have a notebook with copies of cookbook recipes I use a lot. I'm REALLY sick of what I cook and would like to sit with cookbooks and magazines, coming up with a new set of recipes to try. Then I'll make a new notebook of recipes.
The next thing is that we have a roll-a-dex of our family and friend phone numbers and addresses. I would like to ditch that thing and enter all that info into my computer address book. Yawn. But it sounds great for the couch!
The third thing is to learn more about the graphics software I use in my work: Adobe Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator. The couch will be a great place to tackle those 5 pound manuals!!
I like cooking and usually have a notebook with copies of cookbook recipes I use a lot. I'm REALLY sick of what I cook and would like to sit with cookbooks and magazines, coming up with a new set of recipes to try. Then I'll make a new notebook of recipes.
The next thing is that we have a roll-a-dex of our family and friend phone numbers and addresses. I would like to ditch that thing and enter all that info into my computer address book. Yawn. But it sounds great for the couch!
The third thing is to learn more about the graphics software I use in my work: Adobe Photoshop, Indesign and Illustrator. The couch will be a great place to tackle those 5 pound manuals!!
akirka
08-06-2008, 12:50 PM
My 12 weeks on the couch were not as long as I thought they would be because 1/2 the time I was too tired and spaced out. Actually, I went back to work after 3 weeks and did 1/2 to full days in front of a computer so that helped. I liked reading Discover magazine, National Geographic - things that were academic (felt like I was using my brain) but the articles were not too long. Maybe games with your family like Outburst where you can just lay there and think of answers. If you have to lay on the couch right now, watching the Olympics will be a good distraction!
Abby :)
Abby :)
MasonQ
08-06-2008, 07:30 PM
I'm going in b4 surg to get a FotoFacial so I can molt in peace....
I'm just wondering what all they can do to me while I'm unconscious!! Would b great to get the twee lasered (ouch!!!) and throw in a little lipo, huh?!?
Planning on going thru my digital pics and putting them in those cool hardback photo albums you get thru ShutterFly or whoever. Great for Xmas!
I'm actually planning on being tippy on pain meds, not eating (combo too much trouble and taking Alli for the poo-problem) and emerging from the couch a couple sizes smaller! THEN I'll rent the chair and go shopping!!
Altho, if my husband doesn't get a reality check on what a beast this surg is, he will be sick of me in 4 days and put a pillow over my head.....
I'm just wondering what all they can do to me while I'm unconscious!! Would b great to get the twee lasered (ouch!!!) and throw in a little lipo, huh?!?
Planning on going thru my digital pics and putting them in those cool hardback photo albums you get thru ShutterFly or whoever. Great for Xmas!
I'm actually planning on being tippy on pain meds, not eating (combo too much trouble and taking Alli for the poo-problem) and emerging from the couch a couple sizes smaller! THEN I'll rent the chair and go shopping!!
Altho, if my husband doesn't get a reality check on what a beast this surg is, he will be sick of me in 4 days and put a pillow over my head.....
badfeet51
08-06-2008, 11:50 PM
I will have to be more specific in another post tomorrow but I just have to say now that you all have given me some of the best ideas that I have seen yet. Am absolutely going to do several of them. Post about some of them later. Thanks ever so much. lol at taking so long to balance that checkbook. Last surgery it took me over two hours to respond to a email i had received and I only sent a two sentence response. meds , wow...
stitcher8
08-07-2008, 12:15 AM
I'm getting ready for my surgery on Sept. 9 and I've asked my son (20 years old) to bring his Nintendo DS and the two Brain Age games home from his girlfriend's house so I can keep my mind occupied. Other than that, I am on the library waiting list for the latest Danielle Steel book. So hopefully, that will come through around that time. I'll probably do some Sudoku puzzles, cross stitch and watch TV. I signed up for a one to two hour class at church that is held once a week that helps us learn more about our faith. So I'll have some reading to do for that. And (who am I kidding), I am a baby when it comes to being in pain. I will probably take a pain pill and sleep a good bit of the time. This is my second toe surgery. The first one didn't work. But with that one I was taking a pain pill for the pain, Benedryl for the itching that the pain pill caused and for the first day or so I also took Phenergan to combat the post op nausea. And all of them "may cause drowsiness". I slept A LOT for the first couple of days!
footsiedee
08-07-2008, 05:36 AM
i have only been in this aparment building for 8 months, but never found the time to take one of my new neighbours up on their offer to get together for tea. now is a good time!
flaggfish
08-07-2008, 08:49 AM
I just thought of something else to do AFTER the first weeks when the pain meds have me zoned out: go through all my pictures from my camera that are sitting on my computer and not in my ALBUMS!
badfeet51
08-07-2008, 11:37 PM
i plan to really update my address book. It is actually an address box. A box full of pieces of paper with names and addresses , address changes, and etc. Probably a hundred or so. I am going to put them on a roladex along with phone numbers. May put them on computer but not sure about that. I think I will also keep a daily diary to read when I am depressed so I can see just how far I progress. Loved that recipe collection list. Think I may do that.
hurts2walk
08-08-2008, 12:20 AM
I plan on doing arm and stomach exercises when I am in the cast for the first three weeks after surgery..................that is the plan...haha.......I have backup ideas too.............Jimmy Buffet's book "A Salty Piece of Land" awaits me and I will crawl out on my deck and breath in every last bit of our nice days in Minnesota before the winter comes! Maybe I will take up bird watching!
music47
08-08-2008, 12:42 AM
While healing from my ankle fusion I painted a picture for each one of my grandchildren plus several others. I played the guitar a lot and watched movies. I fixed homemade soup and noodles in the crockpot. Time went by quickly as long as I stayed busy. My prayers are with you.:angel:
Hugs Nadine:)
Hugs Nadine:)