When you’re sick, the last thing you want to do is spend time with your family members. It can be hard to feel comfortable around them when they are healthy and able-bodied while you are in pain or recovering from surgery. You might find yourself wanting to hide away at home instead of seeing them because it feels like a chore instead of an opportunity for happiness.
The following tips will help make sure that once you’re well enough again, everyone will be ready and looking forward to spending time together.
1. Look Up Recovery Tips For Your Ailment Ahead Of Time
Being in pain is not just physically painful; it also feels emotionally and mentally draining. When you feel like this, the last thing you wish to do is look up medical procedures or follow along with your doctor’s instructions for aftercare. You might find yourself wanting to skip the recovery tips altogether because it’s simply too much. However, it is very important that you follow all of your doctor’s orders and tips to recover as quickly as possible.
If you feel like this will be too difficult for you, try looking up information online ahead of time. There are plenty of websites or apps where you can look up your ailment and discover how common it is, learn about the causes, find out about treatment options, and learn ways you can feel better faster.
2. Stay Busy After Surgery
The more you stay active after your surgery, the less likely it is that you will suffer from any major side effects or complications. It’s important for you to follow your doctor’s orders regarding physical activity after your procedure. Unfortunately, this can be a hard task for some people because they like to rest and avoid doing anything after surgery.
Although you’re having to take it easy, this doesn’t mean that you should just sit around the house all day either. Get creative and try out different strategies such as:
- Taking short walks outside.
- Doing some light housework.
- Doing work or chores around the home that you can do from your bed.
- Going for a drive with the family.
3. Make Yourself Comfortable While You Recover
Your comfort is just as important in your recovery as your doctor’s orders. It can be discouraging when you’re in pain and feeling awful and the last thing you want to do is spend time with people who will judge how sick or unable to move you feel.
Whether you need help walking around the house, getting into bed, using the washroom, or moving around with crutches, there are plenty of people in your life who would love to help. However, if you don’t have a support network, you could ask your doctor for a referral to a home nurse.
You can also ask friends and family members if there’s anything they can help you with. If you’re feeling well enough to do it yourself, there are also plenty of ways to make your recovery more comfortable:
- Use pillows to prop yourself up and positioning your body the right way.
- Light housework (dusting or vacuuming, for example) can help with joint pain.
- If you’re on a liquid diet, try making some fruit smoothies to drink.
4. Plan Ahead Before Your Next Appointment
It can be difficult to remember important dates or appointments when you’re feeling sick. You might even find yourself avoiding looking at your calendar because you don’t like thinking about how much time you still need to recover.
Before heading to bed, take a few minutes to write down the date of your next appointment on a piece of paper or in your planner. You can then place it somewhere you’ll see it every day, such as on your fridge or bathroom mirror. That way, you won’t forget to go and will be reminded that it’s coming up soon.
Also, take this opportunity to write down any questions you still have about your recovery. When you’re feeling better, it’ll be much easier to make sure you don’t forget to ask your doctor anything.
It is very important that you take care of yourself after surgery. This includes following your doctor’s orders and staying busy. You should also make yourself comfortable while you recover and plan ahead before your next appointment. If you feel like this will be too difficult for you, try looking up information online ahead of time. There are plenty of websites or apps where you can look up your ailment and discover how common it is, learn about the causes, find out about treatment options, and learn ways you can feel better faster.
