So you’ve made it through the hospital stay, you felt like you tackled your medical condition head on, you’ve waved goodbye to the endless beeping machines and jelly-like food, and now you’re back home. Now yes, this definitely deserves a sigh of relief. But hang on, so now what? Well, everyone talks about the surgery bit (okay, maybe a lot) but what about the recovering time back at home? Well, to be honest, that’s a whole new world of chaos
Actually, it turns out, coming home is when things get really real. And unless you’ve got a team of helpful relatives and a live-in nurse, there’s a lot of navigating to do. As nice as it would be to just instantly feel better after surgery, it just doesn’t work that way. So honestly, it’s about making the process much smoother and here’s how to do it.
You Have to Move Stuff Before You Move Yourself
Well, for starters, it’s best to know that post-op mobility is like trying to walk through quicksand. Everything feels heavier, further away, and entirely more complicated than it did before. For example, if you have a cute side table in the hallway, or any other piece of furniture that’s not usually “in the way”, well, it’s going to immediately become a trip hazard. Those stairs? Yeah, a cruel joke.
But honestly, before the big homecoming, the best thing you can do is rearrange. Ideally, you just want to get rid of clutter, push furniture out of walking paths, and make sure essentials are in arm’s reach. Meaning, you’re going to want to have snacks, chargers, meds, remotes, well, anything at all close enough to you.
Try to Batch Cook Before the Big Day
It really doesn’t matter what the surgery is; you won’t want to cook. Basically, standing will feel like a full-body workout, and lifting a pot might as well be entering a Strongman competition. That’s why it’s worth prepping meals in advance or getting someone else to do it for you. It should be easy enough, but just be sure to portion everything into easy-to-reheat containers. That way, you’re not stuck surviving on cereal and toast. Unless that’s your dream diet, of course.
You Need to Say Yes to Mobility Helpers
Sometimes the body just refuses to cooperate, no matter how strong your painkillers are (if you’re even lucky enough to get anything stronger than paracetamol, that is). But if moving from bed to chair or to the loo feels like climbing Everest, then it’s time to bring in some backup (and you most likely need it too).
It might honestly help to look into something like a portable hoist hire, and yes, it’s not only for hospitals or care homes either. So, if recovery means you need that extra bit of list support, then it’s seriously worth getting this. Plus, it helps to take off pressure for those helping you, too.
Give Yourself Permission to be (Temporarily) Useless
No, really, you owe it to yourself. Besides, you’re not lazy. You’re recovering. And yeah, that includes doing absolutely nothing when you need to. But really, healing takes up a surprising amount of energy. So if you’re falling asleep mid-text or can’t get through an episode without nodding off, that’s not a failure; you really need to think about it as progress instead.
But really, your only job right now is to get better. The world can wait, and yes, laundry, emails, and those random group chats will all be there when you’re back on your feet.