Things that made me feel better

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I thought it might be fun to focus on the small things that have made

me feel better in my first 11 weeks and see if anyone had any other

ideas to share.

Having Visitors - as soon as I could stand it, I started trying to go

out for lunch or have a visitor in for lunch. A couple of coworkers

came by and that was nice as well.

Watching Movies - I tried a few. One that I really enjoyed was " Roman

Holiday "

Reading - I really liked " Into The Wild. " A bit heavy but

inspirational. Also been reading these murder mysteries that have

recipes in them, a bit of fluff but fun.

Dyed My Hair - Cam, you were right. I was able to do this in the

shower at about 9 weeks. Color is a bit lighter than usual but so

what.

Getting a Hair Cut - Finally went this weekend (10+ weeks). I had no

problem leaning back in the chair to get my hair washed. However,

sitting through the cut and blow dry got a bit painful. I did get up

and walk around for a couple minutes in the middle. My hair is

shorter than it's been in years

Enjoying the Sunshine - It's not as hot here in MA so the warm sunny

days are welcome. I've try to get out on all the sunny days whether

it's sitting or walking.

Music - Did not feel like listening much when I first got out of the

hospital. Felt overstimulated by too much noise. Lately, I'm back

listening to some great music on my iPod - it's great on my walks.

Working - This may not be true for everyone. I started part-time at 4-

5 weeks. It's been great to have interaction with my team and

coworkers over the phone and to contribute to some critical

deliverables and client wins. Made me feel more like myself.

Finally, Camille, I read your post and I too was comparing myself to

folks on this board for a while. I finally realized that it wasn't

helping to try to match other's timelines. Seems like we all are

facing different ssues. I'm assuming we all came to the surgery in

different conditions as well - that may play a part. I guess my point

is that there's no right way to recover or exact timeline to hit so

you sound like you're doing great.

Take care,

[Guest guest]

HI ,

I didn't know you were in Mass...I am here in Lowell and Sharon is

nearby in NH. Where are you?

>

> Hi,

>

> I thought it might be fun to focus on the small things that have

made

> me feel better in my first 11 weeks and see if anyone had any other

> ideas to share.

>

> Having Visitors - as soon as I could stand it, I started trying to

go

> out for lunch or have a visitor in for lunch. A couple of

coworkers

> came by and that was nice as well.

>

> Watching Movies - I tried a few. One that I really enjoyed

was " Roman

> Holiday "

>

> Reading - I really liked " Into The Wild. " A bit heavy but

> inspirational. Also been reading these murder mysteries that have

> recipes in them, a bit of fluff but fun.

>

> Dyed My Hair - Cam, you were right. I was able to do this in the

> shower at about 9 weeks. Color is a bit lighter than usual but so

> what.

>

> Getting a Hair Cut - Finally went this weekend (10+ weeks). I had

no

> problem leaning back in the chair to get my hair washed. However,

> sitting through the cut and blow dry got a bit painful. I did get

up

> and walk around for a couple minutes in the middle. My hair is

> shorter than it's been in years

>

> Enjoying the Sunshine - It's not as hot here in MA so the warm

sunny

> days are welcome. I've try to get out on all the sunny days

whether

> it's sitting or walking.

>

> Music - Did not feel like listening much when I first got out of

the

> hospital. Felt overstimulated by too much noise. Lately, I'm back

> listening to some great music on my iPod - it's great on my walks.

>

> Working - This may not be true for everyone. I started part-time

at 4-

> 5 weeks. It's been great to have interaction with my team and

> coworkers over the phone and to contribute to some critical

> deliverables and client wins. Made me feel more like myself.

>

> Finally, Camille, I read your post and I too was comparing myself

to

> folks on this board for a while. I finally realized that it wasn't

> helping to try to match other's timelines. Seems like we all are

> facing different ssues. I'm assuming we all came to the surgery in

> different conditions as well - that may play a part. I guess my

point

> is that there's no right way to recover or exact timeline to hit so

> you sound like you're doing great.

>

> Take care,

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I'm in Newton. Moved here about 2 1/2 years ago from San Francisco

although I grew up on the East Coast.

Did you go to Dr. Rand as well?

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I thought it might be fun to focus on the small things that have

> made

> > me feel better in my first 11 weeks and see if anyone had any

other

> > ideas to share.

> >

> > Having Visitors - as soon as I could stand it, I started trying

to

> go

> > out for lunch or have a visitor in for lunch. A couple of

> coworkers

> > came by and that was nice as well.

> >

> > Watching Movies - I tried a few. One that I really enjoyed

> was " Roman

> > Holiday "

> >

> > Reading - I really liked " Into The Wild. " A bit heavy but

> > inspirational. Also been reading these murder mysteries that

have

> > recipes in them, a bit of fluff but fun.

> >

> > Dyed My Hair - Cam, you were right. I was able to do this in

the

> > shower at about 9 weeks. Color is a bit lighter than usual but

so

> > what.

> >

> > Getting a Hair Cut - Finally went this weekend (10+ weeks). I

had

> no

> > problem leaning back in the chair to get my hair washed.

However,

> > sitting through the cut and blow dry got a bit painful. I did

get

> up

> > and walk around for a couple minutes in the middle. My hair is

> > shorter than it's been in years

> >

> > Enjoying the Sunshine - It's not as hot here in MA so the warm

> sunny

> > days are welcome. I've try to get out on all the sunny days

> whether

> > it's sitting or walking.

> >

> > Music - Did not feel like listening much when I first got out of

> the

> > hospital. Felt overstimulated by too much noise. Lately, I'm

back

> > listening to some great music on my iPod - it's great on my

walks.

> >

> > Working - This may not be true for everyone. I started part-

time

> at 4-

> > 5 weeks. It's been great to have interaction with my team and

> > coworkers over the phone and to contribute to some critical

> > deliverables and client wins. Made me feel more like myself.

> >

> > Finally, Camille, I read your post and I too was comparing

myself

> to

> > folks on this board for a while. I finally realized that it

wasn't

> > helping to try to match other's timelines. Seems like we all

are

> > facing different ssues. I'm assuming we all came to the surgery

in

> > different conditions as well - that may play a part. I guess my

> point

> > is that there's no right way to recover or exact timeline to hit

so

> > you sound like you're doing great.

> >

> > Take care,

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

No, I had Glazer at Beth Isreal Deaconess, Sharon had him though.

> > >

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > I thought it might be fun to focus on the small things that

have

> > made

> > > me feel better in my first 11 weeks and see if anyone had any

> other

> > > ideas to share.

> > >

> > > Having Visitors - as soon as I could stand it, I started trying

> to

> > go

> > > out for lunch or have a visitor in for lunch. A couple of

> > coworkers

> > > came by and that was nice as well.

> > >

> > > Watching Movies - I tried a few. One that I really enjoyed

> > was " Roman

> > > Holiday "

> > >

> > > Reading - I really liked " Into The Wild. " A bit heavy but

> > > inspirational. Also been reading these murder mysteries that

> have

> > > recipes in them, a bit of fluff but fun.

> > >

> > > Dyed My Hair - Cam, you were right. I was able to do this in

> the

> > > shower at about 9 weeks. Color is a bit lighter than usual but

> so

> > > what.

> > >

> > > Getting a Hair Cut - Finally went this weekend (10+ weeks). I

> had

> > no

> > > problem leaning back in the chair to get my hair washed.

> However,

> > > sitting through the cut and blow dry got a bit painful. I did

> get

> > up

> > > and walk around for a couple minutes in the middle. My hair is

> > > shorter than it's been in years

> > >

> > > Enjoying the Sunshine - It's not as hot here in MA so the warm

> > sunny

> > > days are welcome. I've try to get out on all the sunny days

> > whether

> > > it's sitting or walking.

> > >

> > > Music - Did not feel like listening much when I first got out

of

> > the

> > > hospital. Felt overstimulated by too much noise. Lately, I'm

> back

> > > listening to some great music on my iPod - it's great on my

> walks.

> > >

> > > Working - This may not be true for everyone. I started part-

> time

> > at 4-

> > > 5 weeks. It's been great to have interaction with my team and

> > > coworkers over the phone and to contribute to some critical

> > > deliverables and client wins. Made me feel more like myself.

> > >

> > > Finally, Camille, I read your post and I too was comparing

> myself

> > to

> > > folks on this board for a while. I finally realized that it

> wasn't

> > > helping to try to match other's timelines. Seems like we all

> are

> > > facing different ssues. I'm assuming we all came to the

surgery

> in

> > > different conditions as well - that may play a part. I guess

my

> > point

> > > is that there's no right way to recover or exact timeline to

hit

> so

> > > you sound like you're doing great.

> > >

> > > Take care,

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

I think you could have written my list too. Its a great idea for

folks to share on this topic.

The one thing I would add to the list was a daily viewing of

the " Ellen Degeneris Show " . I have always thought she was funny, but

I don't usually watch TV, and never during the daytime...but I found

that her late morning show coinciced with my late morning rest (you

know the routine, I would eat breakfast, shower, do my walking and

then be exhausted and have to lay down...whew!). Anyway, I happened

upon her show and I always got a chuckle out of her zany spirit and I

realized it was a good thing for me! I recommend it for anyones short

list of " lift me ups " .

I also found that I was happier when I put a big bouquet of flowers

on the shelf in my line of sight. I don't think they need to be

expensive....just flowers are my " happy flowers " . For me, tulips in

pink or purple, or daisys, or any combo with a bit of bright yellow

and deep blue/purple.

I also found that it was nice to arrange for friends to come by for

visits after I had been home for a week. I would just call up my good

friends and invite them over for a cuppa tea a few days in the future

and then I would have that to look forward to. I think it also helped

because they knew I had been through a big surgery and they were not

sure how/when visitors would be appropriate...so they were glad to

let me set the parameters. For instance, I can remember that while I

was still on the Endocet I took a tab just after lunch early

on...around 1pm. For some reason after that dose I always got woozy

and tired and I needed to nap for about 45 minutes....I would have

been useless to visit at that time of day if someone just dropped in!

I didn't go back to work until after 3 months, but I did surprise

myself by becoming an active participant on one of the boards that I

served on. After my brain started to re-engage it was nice to have

something to think about and I could do a lot of what I needed to do

on my lap top laying down. It kind of took my focus of me, which I

was more than ready for!

Thanks for sharing.

Take Care, Cam