What do you do, when you can't do anything????

I had surgery a few days ago, with general anesthesia. Everything went fine, I don't even have much at all in the way of pain, that aspect is all as expected.

It was very noninvasive, no muscles or guts or anything functional cut into. But I do have a whole mess of stitches to be cognizant of, and pretty strict restrictions on activity. I'm supposed to walk, but leisurely and not too long. No pushing, pulling, lifting, etc, which of course suddenly means I pretty much can't DO anything. 

Add in the brain fuck of anesthesia, appetite disruption, sleep disruption, routines, on and on, and my tried and true ways to deal are suddenly unavailable. I just didn't anticipate this, and it seems that the medical teams don't either.

So how do you deal with that aspect of recuperating? I mean, most of us plunge into the abyss, merely with a weather change and the climbing trip gets canceled, amirite?

I'm not exactly an athlete, but neither am I much good at being an average American old person, either. Getting outside, doing active things, even getting hot and sweaty in a gym are important to me now.

Ideas? And no, drinking and drugs aren't on the to do list. Neither is sex, not that I got anything going, lol!

How do you fill that huge gap, when the physicality that we all enjoy so much and, yes, depend on to stay sane, is suddenly not doable? I understand the necessity, and the big picture is great, but this is a battle I wasn't expecting.

I confess, this has also given me plenty to ponder, like why does our society keep kicking "mental health" into the corner, and insisting it is an entirely separate thing from the bodies we inhabit? Medical journals acknowledge that depression and other "mental" health disorders are a pretty big deal with surgery. But on the ground, it's punted right back out of the neurotransmitter and brain chemistry science department and into the patient's lap, or ignored entirely. 

Rant rant. I'm both brain bashed and bored, lol! 

Best, Helen

EDIT to add, for the curious, surgery was a much anticipated and long awaited breast reduction. And I've been on an antidepressant, ffs, so you think that'd be a clue for them to maybe consider.    

And yes, in fairness, I'll bring it up with the doc when I see her next week, but I think the diagnosis will just be Latin for suck it up, buttercup.

EDIT to add two, cantaloupes to oranges. I'll be able to see my tie in knot without leaning over! And my feet! I haven't had a straight down view of my feet for almost 30 years!   

Might I suggest walking as much as you're allowed, and starting a meditation practice. 

As an interesting tangent, if you're into psychedelic states of mind, holotropic breathwork is supposedly a way to get there without drugs. Could be interesting to explore that realm with all the time on your hands. 

Having ME/CFS I am exceedingly familiar with downtime. The last four years I have spent at least a quarter of the year nearly bedridden, and I have a couple years of being actually entirely bed ridden before that. 

Here are some things I wish some people had told me that I have found to be very helpful for me personally. 

There is better content on YouTube for free than you can pay for elsewhere. One excellent example is an Irish Farm which used to be on one channel called the Way Out West Blown in Blog which is now two channels-- Way Out West with Sandra and Tim and Way Out West Workshop Stuff. Both Sandra and Tim are utterly delightful and Sandra's explanations of farm goings on a long with Tim's consistently impressive inventions (he nearly has a complete railway along the farm going, complete with a well progressing train engine!) are simply delightful and not to be missed. 

I could provide a list of dozens of edutainment YouTubers if interested-- a recent investigation into a wind powered vehicle called Blackbird which can travel faster than the wind powering it from the channel Veritasium may very well be in order, as may be a deep dive into the Marble Machine X on the Wintergatan channel, an incredible marble powered musical instrument in constant iteration by a mad Swedish musician inventor who works on his machine tirelessly. 

Finding reddit communities you enjoy is helpful. For example there are various hobby subreddits I frequent, but I find that gaining perspectives from women on /r/twoxchromosomes to be one of the most consistently interesting and engaging subreddits. Ukraine war subreddits keep me up to date on the war days before news channels get the same info. Various frugal living subreddits consistently give me excellent life, diet, and financial advice. I spend a lot of time.on the climbing subreddit also, where I consistently find myself frustrated with a completely different set of trolls, which I guess is nice for a change. 

These are some things that have helped me through some particularly hard times with my health. I've found television comedies to help quite a lot as well. The office, Scrubs, and Rick and Morty work for me, but of course you will have to accommodate to taste. 

And lastly I hadn't played many video games since childhood, but I found Mario kart and breath of the wild to be quite distracting and entertaining. Who knows, might be part of the remedy for you? Both are quite engaging as pieces of art also I think, and might be alone enticing enough to buy a Wii u or Switch. 

If not, though, then maybe spending too much time on these forums may help, as I am often known to do when my health is poor. 

I'm dreading the down time when I get my hernia surgery.  Stay strong.  Get some reading done!

Not too much experience, but I still go to the crag/gym if I've got the membership. I watch climbing and hang out. It sucks but I still get out. Congrats on the successful surgery H.

Best,

Cole

Sudoku, crossword puzzles, and getting out walking as much as possible got me through hip replacement last November. Also watching more TV than ever.
Just knowing that it’s a short delay for the better future.

Hoping you have a great recovery!!

Zelda BOTW for a virtual climbing fix!

May I suggest shitposting on MP as a therapeutic outlet?

Hope you're on the mend, H!

I second the suggestion of joining Reddit if you aren't already on it. There are endless rabbit holes there on any topic you could ever think of. There are also some decent climbing related subs on Reddit. Another option is creating a few alter egos here and stirring the pot a little. Any post about dogs or weed at the crag is bound to get a 10 page discussion.

Just finished Joe Kelsey's book "A Place In Which To Search".  Great read about exploring the Winds and summers in Jackson.  I've also enjoyed several books about climbing in the big mountains even though it is not something I've ever experienced.  "Freedom Climbers" is great.  PM if you want me to make a list.  Paging through Dave's book and dreaming of next trip to the City is always good for 30 minutes :-)

Hope the recovery goes well!

Hey, thanks all! I hit post limits yesterday, so couldn't reply, lol! But I really do appreciate it.

I don't exactly have a surfeit of focus right now, sleep is pretty fucked up. I think I'd be clear to drive a car (but don't actually know), but that's out, at least at this level of no one answering when ya knock on the door upstairs.

I did just get back from a walk. A stroll, really. Slowest mile ever. Not supposed to raise that heart rate lest I breathe and die. That also rules out, uh, other entertainment. Hell, I probably can't even pop popcorn, lol!

Whine whine whine whine whine.

It really boils down to get over yourself, be grateful for what I got, and just suck it up and behave myself.

And daydream of the time ahead of not behaving myself, like a proper old lady is supposed to, no siree, not behaving at all is the basic game plan!

Re City, I have hit that interesting place in climbing at a particular place. Sometime this past season, I sailed past 20 trips to COR.

I'm pretty darn close to out of stuff I've not been on, that's in grades that are feasible for me to flail on. The stuff the 9 year olds do. Except, for those old school uber easy gear lines, that are "trad" cuz they aren't bolted. But likely have next to nothing for gear, which means climbing with really capable rope guns who solo shit in my grades, but won't kill the old lady, either.

Some climbing trips to new stuff would be nice....once I'm past this and back together. Until it happens, it's still hypothetical, nothing is guaranteed. This is a leap of faith, and rather a huge one, at almost 66. But, my before I die list has take a run at whatever I can grab, while it's still a possibility!

Best, Helen 

How’s the cannabis situation in Idaho?

Colonel Mustardwrote:

How’s the cannabis situation in Idaho?

It's in Oregon. 

You see, it's federally regulated. By the FDA or whatever the fuck fed it is. HOWEVER hemp, good ol fiber hemp used for centuries, is a Department of AG item. They passed a fast bill for fiber hemp, after the embarrassment about five years ago when the state police stopped, searched, and confiscated a semi full of entirely legit fiber hemp. It was in transit from CO to OR. With papers from the Ag department. Need I say more?

Besides, I have a long standing adherence to using nothing whatever, for my own safety.

But I definitely was well aware of just how idiotic our legislature is, that would rather I have a prescription anti nausea med that does evil things, then just a simple joint to smoke, with a very long history of being about the best thing to do gor nausea, and pretty benign (if you mind what you're getting, these days). 

I'm (sorta) muddling along, doing mostly (sorta) plenty good enough, but thanks.

H.

I read a lot.

I sent a bunch of cams off to be reslung.

And I spent hours and hours with Google Earth/maps and Gaiagps looking for big or new routes to do.

I got a lot better at calling and texting friend.

I cooked quite a bit.

I did a lot of programming which I enjoy.

My wife recommends reading and crocheting 

I hope you are recovering well and keeping your mind busy. Once you are healed and clear to climb you can look forward to seeing your tie-in knot!!

I find that doing jigsaw puzzles keeps me occupied and focussed for hours and is a nice break from watching a screen.

I can commiserate as I am currently 10 days post-op from foot surgery. 

I've been ending up with an equal balance of reading, graphic art, and playing guitar.  Plus a large serving of youtube "edu-tainment" content that makes me feel like I'm getting smarter while I'm really just generating ad revenue. Oh an lots of Sunday NYT crosswords to trudge through.

 This is a sustainable combo for me *right now*.  In the last week I've finished up The Overstory- highly recommend if you find you make emotional attachment to trees.  Half way through Fire Mountains of the West, non-fiction about the volcanoes of the Cascades range which I'm finding SUPER interesting.   A $75 ukulele can be a great first stringed instrument to see if you catch the bug.  Getting refamiliar with Adobe Illustrator has also been a good use of time- redesigned my logo, making gifts for friends, etc.

Like you say- be grateful for what you have and stay both patient positive about your path forward.  And keep close to the people that you want to keep close.

Whenever I'm in a similar position, I spend all my money on gear to try and numb the pain.

Andy Shoemakerwrote:

 This is a sustainable combo for me *right now*.  In the last week I've finished up The Overstory- highly recommend if you find you make emotional attachment to trees.  Half way through Fire Mountains of the West, non-fiction about the volcanoes of the Cascades range which I'm finding SUPER interesting.

I've been plodding through The Overstory on and off for over a year now. I think I'm on page 75. 

You might enjoy The Big Burn by Timothy Egan, if you haven't already read it. 

Cooking?  What about making some jams/preserves/pickles?  Then you’re set for the winter season, or have some gifts for friends and family.  

Old lady Hwrote:

I did just get back from a walk. A stroll, really. Slowest mile ever. Not supposed to raise that heart rate lest I breathe and die. 

if you can walk, walk!  both the other half and i had multiple surgeries in the last couple of years, the type where they cut you open and sew you back up, and walking was a really good way to recover and keep some fitness.  i just broke my hand in june this year and kept a surprising amount of fitness via frequent day hikes.  no speed or high heart rate needed/involved, just long walks.  if you're already at a mile it'll be a short time before you're at two or three miles.  once you're at eight or ten miles three or four times a week you're styling.  living in a cool place with great scenery helps also ;-)

I love playing music. There’s many lifetimes of learning and expression in it.

Pick an instrument you’re familiar with or start something new. Learn a major scale on it and the chords for that major key (the chord are built from the notes in that scale). Then learn how to move that scale and chords for the 11 other major keys. Then learn the minor scales and chords (they’re the same as the major the just in a different place).

When your sad noodle around in a minor key. When you’re happy or want to get happy noodle around in a major key.

A small acoustic instrument is the most convenient. For example You can take a harmonica anywhere. But play what speaks to you.

It can take years of study to really understand your instrument. Where you can play in any major or minor key at will. But you can start expressing yourself right away and it just gets better and better. The more you learn the more time you can spend on it and not feel repetitive.