My doctor said that recovery moves in phases- one week after surgery you're questioning why you did it; three months later you think it wasn't so bad; and one year later you think it was a good idea. It really did take me one year to get my full energy and activity levels back.
I went back to work after the 12 weeks of FMLA and was able to make it through a 9 hour day with at least 1 to 2 periods of laying down to rest for 5-10 minutes each. I would go to the gym and do light exercises-mostly stretching, water aerobics, walking on the treadmill or elliptical machines a couple times a week. It was the middle of winter in Chicago, so I needed and indoor place to exercise. I went to physical therapy several times a week, too. I did not have enough energy for anything outside of work and physical therapy/exercise. I still spent the majority of my time resting at home. My husband did the housework and kept me company.
It was an adjustment for me, being home so much. I was used to being very active and involved in all kinds of events. Someone who had been through 3 spinal fusions in 6 months had told me that you find out who your friends are and she was right in that for almost a year, you cannot keep up with them. It's not that they don't care. They just don't understand if they have never dealt with a major, chronic illness that requires extensive recovery.
I had tremendous support from my family and church. My dad, grandmother, husband and my minister's family were at the hospital for the entire time of my surgery. My mom came for 2 weeks to live with me and help take care of me when I came home from the hospital. Members from my church came to visit me in the hospital and brought us meals for a month since I was not able to cook.
Comments