Documentaries definitely helped me too, but oddly enough, podcasts were my go-to distraction after my bone graft. Something about just listening without visuals made it easier to drift off if I needed rest. And you're right about patience—my swelling lingered longer than expected, and I had to remind myself daily that healing isn't linear. Eventually, things settled down, but it was a good lesson in not comparing my progress to others too closely... everyone's journey is unique.
Podcasts are a great idea—I hadn't thought of them as a distraction, but it makes sense. And you're spot-on about the swelling taking its sweet time. I remember feeling anxious because mine seemed to hang around way longer than what I'd read online. Had to keep reminding myself that healing really does vary from person to person, and comparing myself to others only made me more stressed. Glad things eventually settled down for you... patience really is key with these procedures.
Podcasts definitely help pass the time, especially when you're stuck at home recovering. But I wouldn't necessarily call them a distraction, at least not for everyone. For me, podcasts actually made me hyper-aware of how slowly things were progressing because I kept mentally tracking episodes—like, "wow, I've listened to three episodes already, why isn't this swelling down yet?" 😂
I totally hear you on the anxiety though. I remember reading online experiences and thinking my healing was way off-track. Eventually, I just stopped Googling altogether because it was making me more anxious than helpful. Sometimes too much info can be overwhelming, y'know?
One thing I'd slightly challenge is the idea that patience alone is key. Yeah, patience is super important, but proactive communication with your surgeon can also make a huge difference. I learned the hard way after sitting around stressing about prolonged swelling—finally called my doc, and he adjusted my post-op care slightly. Turns out a small tweak in meds and icing made a noticeable difference. So while patience matters, don't hesitate to reach out if something feels off.
Glad things eventually settled down for you though. Healing really is a journey that's unique to each person...
Totally get what you're saying about podcasts making you hyper-aware of time passing...I had a similar experience after my gum graft. Thought I'd binge-listen to distract myself, but ended up counting episodes and stressing even more about my healing timeline. 😅
And yeah, Google was NOT my friend either. I fell down that rabbit hole of comparing symptoms and recovery timelines—definitely made my anxiety spike. Eventually I just had to step away from the screen altogether.
Interesting point about communicating proactively with the surgeon, though. I tend to second-guess myself a lot, so I'm always hesitant to reach out unless something feels really wrong. But now you've got me thinking...maybe I waited too long last time. Did your surgeon seem annoyed when you called, or were they pretty understanding about your concerns? I've always worried about being "that patient" who calls too often, y'know?
My surgeon was actually really understanding when I called—said they'd rather I reach out than sit at home worrying. Honestly, most docs probably prefer proactive patients over ones who wait until things get worse...so don't stress too much about being "that patient."
