Good morning everyone! I apologize if this has been asked before, but this is my first time in the post-op section. Last week I received my surgery date, February 6th (woohoo!), so I thought that I would head over to this section and start reading some posts.

Anyway, this may be a weird question, but what did you guys do at home during your recovery period? I am planning to take about 3 weeks off at work and I am hoping that boredom won't get the best of me while I am at home! I know I will have to go for walks during the day. I bought a sudoku book and crossword book and also a couple puzzles to do, but i think that will only last me a few days. What did you guys do during your time off? Are there any recommendations for iPad apps or television shows to watch? I am just worried that I am going to be stuck at home by myself with nothing to do!

I went back to work after a week (I am a desk jockey). Join a gym. Spend time there walking on the treadmill. Don't just sit at home. Once you are off pain meds, generally, you are cleared to drive. I had surgery Tuesday, came home Wednesday. Slept Thursday. Did half a day's work from home Friday. Went into the office on a slightly reduced scheduled on Monday. Went and did the grocery shopping on Saturday for my family but used some help at the store to load the car and get the stuff in side at home (made hubby and kids do that) due to 10 pound lifting restriction. I just went on with life.

I had mine a week or so before Christmas and felt way better than anticipated. I shopped, wrapped presents, cooked etc in prep for that. I did watch a few cooking shows and The Marvelous Ms Maisel on Netflix. The week after Christmas I cleaned out all my closets and reorganized drawers (husband did the heavy lifting). I got so much accomplished- couldn’t believe it! Good luck- hope you feel as good as I did!

Back at work in 4 days.

Recommendations:

1. Read this forum. Use the search bar. So much info and so many tips.

2. Drink your liquids.

3. Walk.

I'm taking 2 weeks off and know I will be bored out of my gourd!!!!

I figure I will take the dog on some short walks weather permitting, I've got a baby blanket I am crocheting too so I am sure I will get that finished.

And who knows, depending on how I feel, I very well might go back to work a few days early.

call me crazy, but i enjoyed having 2.5 weeks off from work. i binged watched a bunch of tv shows and relaxed. i was really lucky that i was only on pain meds for 3 days (which made me super sleepy). after that, i relaxed at home and with friends.

I did a lot of streaming. And I watched some old shows I loved so that if I zonked out, I didn't really miss anything. Friends, West Wing. Also watched the Kominsky Method, which is really good. Read a fair amount. Set an alarm so I went walking at least a bit every hour and a half or so - I walked around my row of town houses and every time I tried to go a bit father than before. Watched a couple movies I'd been meaning to watch on Netflix.

Whatever you do, stay off of Amazon. That definitely can become an expensive compulsion that takes the place of eating. LOL

5 hours ago, Diana_in_Philly said:

I went back to work after a week (I am a desk jockey). Join a gym. Spend time there walking on the treadmill. Don't just sit at home. Once you are off pain meds, generally, you are cleared to drive. I had surgery Tuesday, came home Wednesday. Slept Thursday. Did half a day's work from home Friday. Went into the office on a slightly reduced scheduled on Monday. Went and did the grocery shopping on Saturday for my family but used some help at the store to load the car and get the stuff in side at home (made hubby and kids do that) due to 10 pound lifting restriction. I just went on with life.

Thanks for your reply. My surgeon told me that I will not be able to drive for 2 weeks following surgery .. ugh! I meet with him this Thursday so maybe I should ask him again about the driving restriction.

5 hours ago, Wickedwinner said:

I had mine a week or so before Christmas and felt way better than anticipated. I shopped, wrapped presents, cooked etc in prep for that. I did watch a few cooking shows and The Marvelous Ms Maisel on Netflix. The week after Christmas I cleaned out all my closets and reorganized drawers (husband did the heavy lifting). I got so much accomplished- couldn’t believe it! Good luck- hope you feel as good as I did!

Thank you! It sounds like you were super productive! There is definitely some cleaning/organizing I can do at home. I will check out that show, I have been looking for something new to watch.

Glad to hear you felt better than anticipated, I am hoping for the same results! Thanks for your reply

4 hours ago, Jenwill630 said:

I'm taking 2 weeks off and know I will be bored out of my gourd!!!!

I figure I will take the dog on some short walks weather permitting, I've got a baby blanket I am crocheting too so I am sure I will get that finished.

And who knows, depending on how I feel, I very well might go back to work a few days early.

I am jealous that you can crochet! I have tried teaching myself several times and spent many hours, but I just can't get past the first row!

4 hours ago, Jendkopp said:

call me crazy, but i enjoyed having 2.5 weeks off from work. i binged watched a bunch of tv shows and relaxed. i was really lucky that i was only on pain meds for 3 days (which made me super sleepy). after that, i relaxed at home and with friends.

Nice! Any good shows that you can recommend?

3 hours ago, Ed_NW said:

Whatever you do, stay off of Amazon. That definitely can become an expensive compulsion that takes the place of eating. LOL

This is good advice that I need! I am terrible with prime - I have already set some money aside that I am saving in case something sparks my eye while I am bored at home lol

4 hours ago, notmyname said:

I did a lot of streaming. And I watched some old shows I loved so that if I zonked out, I didn't really miss anything. Friends, West Wing. Also watched the Kominsky Method, which is really good. Read a fair amount. Set an alarm so I went walking at least a bit every hour and a half or so - I walked around my row of town houses and every time I tried to go a bit father than before. Watched a couple movies I'd been meaning to watch on Netflix.

Good advice! Thank you! I will definitely set an alarm to go walking. I know frequency is more important than distance, but is there a certain distance that I should be aiming for?

1 minute ago, CeeCee2018 said:

This is good advice that I need! I am terrible with prime - I have already set some money aside that I am saving in case something sparks my eye while I am bored at home lol

A while back when I was spending too much on Amazon, I took my credit card off of their system. I set an Amazon budget and bought myself a gift card in that amount - and when it was gone, I wasn't allowed to Amazon any more until the next budget period. It helped.

As for walking - at first, just do what you can and increase it a bit each day. I think my SIL had be walking about ever hour and a half - starting from when I was in the hospital. I think we started with about one hall-length and got up to 6 loops around the hall before I was discharged. But the important thing is to do it.

i had taped a lot of shows ahead of time that i hadn't had time to watch: how to get away with murder, leathal weapon, etc. i also loved the marvelous mrs maisel on amamzon - first season is better than the second. if you want some brain candy - watch 90 day fiance - it's total garbage but it will get you hooked