Argh..I'm going to go crazy

[lph]

Aaaah - you poor thing, I feel for you. I'd be going crazy too if I were you. But no surgery really is a good thing! You don't want to mess around with a scalpel more than absolutely necessary, in my non-professional opinion, never know how things are going to heal.

But I'd be more worried about mental health than obesity Try to get out there and walk, even if it's just meandering around looking at the scenery. Can you swim? Lift weights? Maybe it helps if you think of recovery as a different kind of biking challenge, one that is challenging your patience and creativity more than your stamina.

[crazycanuck]

I will have to wait for clearance from the shoulder dr in terms of swimming.

I'm sure the beach will help

c

[margo49]

Visualisations.
I like those scenic ones with like wolves running thru the landscape. I had a cd with nice music plus wolf howls and snuffles and it's got me thru a lot.
I had a dolphin one too (on tape) that had a spoken bit before the dolphins that got me thru chemo.; pm me and I can give you names.
Reading books with lots of action pics in- either animals or people. Ditto National Geographic or Discovery Channel television.
This really works best if you are the kind of person that can talk herself into (and out of) things and lives in her head half the time anyway (or would like to or has to stop herself from it).
$0.02

[Tri Girl]

I don't know how to keep from going crazy, but I just had to say that you look so "stiff" in your leg brace. That's a monster brace!!!
Hope you heal up soon so you can get back out there. All this just as the weather was warming- drats! Hope you can still have some fun before the weather turns chilly again.

[OakLeaf]

Ouch.

Your PT really should have some suggestions for you on what, if anything, you can do for cardio.

If you can walk 30 minutes (! that's a long walk with an injury!) I don't know why you couldn't swim with a flotation board, flutter kicking your legs only until your shoulder recovers. Depending on where exactly your shoulder injury is, possibly you could do whatever that stroke is they used to teach in lifesaving, with breast stroke arms and flutter kicking your legs? Or a dog paddle, even?

I'm remembering from swimming after my ACL tear years and years ago, that I had a lot of trouble with foot cramps because I wasn't fully extending my knee. If you can walk on the leg, I'm assuming you can extend it to within 5 degrees, but you just have to remember to keep it extended while doing a flutter kick.

I wouldn't do unilateral resistance exercises though. Muscle imbalances are worse and harder to remedy than a little temporary atrophy, IMHO.

Sending healing vibes your way.

[bmccasland]

CC - strolling? Spring is always my favorite time of year, so maybe go for a stroll? As for keeping your mind occupied, any silly books you've wanted to read? Cat Who? series? Exercise your library card?

Here's some good thoughts to keep you from going completely stir crazy.

[mimitabby]

do some weight lifting with your non-hurt limbs? this burns calories too!
don't forget crunches. Figure out a way to do crunches that doesn't hurt the hurt parts?

[sundial]

Oh CC!! I'm so sorry you have to be (somewhat) housebound.

How about taking up a neat hobby like beading? Or knitting? Or better yet, painting?

I don't know how you walk any distance in that horrid contraption but I found that my balance is affected and if I'm on uneven ground--watch out! Plus with your arm in a sling, it adds to a balance issue. If you do work out, maybe a seated weight training program?

Your body is working hard right now repairing so it's using lots of calories. I wouldn't be so concerned about weight as I would your sanity.

Sending you lots of hugs ((((((((((((((CC))))))))))))))))

[maillotpois]

Wow, CC - you look like Robo cop - or maybe the bionic woman - with those braces and slings! Cool effect!

I know being laid up is awful - especially if you are just dying to get out there. My 6 months off the bike was pretty grim last year. But you at least have a light at the end of the tunnel, right? You have a pretty good estimate of when you will be back - when they reassess for sure you will be given a good time frame. So it's not a "never". And walking is great exercise - don't underestimate that.

For now, heal yourself!!