Sunday, March 8, 2009

Handy Things to Have Around After Surgery


The vapors, the vapors!

We can only aspire to be as peaceful as John White Alexander's muse during our recovery. A few things that may help:

  • A couch. See above.
  • Comfy pants. I suggest drawstring. I tried elastic waistbands but they were very uncomfortable.

  • Comfy underwear. No need to elaborate really, just make sure they're big enough to go over the incision (and above it for me) and they're not tight--think "granny" here.

  • Comfy food. I've been endulging in lots of my favorite feel-good delights. I figure my body needs it (as long as they're not too naughty) and I may as well enjoy my time sitting around.

  • Good books. Ever wanted to read War and Peace but never had the time before? Yeah, me neither. I went to my favorite used book store and got some good mysteries. You may want a quick read and nothing too serious at first. On a related note...

  • Mags. I loaded up on some gossip magazines--yeah, I know they're disgraceful, but they're entertaining!

  • Ipod. I loaded up some episodes of This American Life (hey, it's a free download every week) and also some good tunes. I ain't the first to say it: Music is cathartic.

  • Pillows. Now, it all depends on the individual and that individual's furniture but I found that I needed large square pillows to support my lower back while sitting (and you'll do a lot of that).

  • A helping hand. I can't emphasize enough how much this helps with both physical and mental recovery. I was lucky enough to have my boyfriend home with me for four days after I was discharged from the hospital. It helps tremendously to have someone around to prepare meals and take care of domestic chores so you can focus on resting.

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