Trying to think of how I could not totally waste time off after surgery.
or useful coping strategies?

...but a good one.

1) Be hugged (gently)

2) Find a shady place in nature to sit and soak in the beauty

3) Tell people what to do - requires cooperation and understanding from others
(ex: I had to relocate an elderly relative from Chicago to Orlando. I was able
to direct the 800-GOT-JUNK people and the Movers without lifting a finger.)

4) Soak in a hot tub or shower - with candles and music

5) Pray or Meditate


OK, so these things aren't what we really want to be doing, but they don't hurt.

You think like I do: I hate to waste time doing absolutely nothing. There is so much that has to be done and nobody seems to want to help out. And when they do, it's done "half-a$$ed". Do you think we are "Type A" people? Sometimes I wonder if pushing myself so hard is bad for my recovery. I see a Psychologist to help me with the feelings of uselessness and low self-esteem. I should be able to let others do for me and not be so tightly wound up, but I am, and have always been like this. (Family issues, not TOS related).

When I was recovering after surgeries, I had a coloring book that I would color in. It took 2 years to complete the book, but I used the pages in a collage that looks really good! I had foam tubing to put around each marker to make them easier to hold.

go on walks (which they highly recommend)
watch movies
sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Listen to audio books, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Check out new music.

Watch television (documentaries, movies, tv series).

Learn how to use voice recognition software (dragon, etc.).

If you're comfortable tapping your fingers, you could explore various music programs on the iPhone or iPad. They have good sounding drums, piano, etc.

can you use dragon to surf the net?
or is it for typing?

Don't know. You'd have to research it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=can+...o+surf+the+web

The first hit is a youtube vid that says you can.

I'm not that familiar with the program btw.

Thanks all for your replies. Those were some good suggestions...I am thinking about the period after
the surgery but before things have healed up in particular...

and especially also work related things you could do before a full recovery period as opposed to isolated activities...like from months 2-6 type of thing?