Couch Days

This view is an all too familiar one: blankets, pillows, TV, coffee table. It’s what I see from my couch every day. That’s what a lot of us have resigned ourselves to seeing day in, day out. Needing to rest more is an unfortunate reality of many chronic illnesses.

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6 years ago I was where I didn’t want to be: staring down two brain surgeries. After the second one I woke with complete right side paralysis. At that point I knew things were really going to change. It took intensive rehab to get my fine motor skills back and to learn to walk again.

Today I’m living with my girlfriend, building a support network of friends, family and Dr’s. Trying my best to build a life for myself, even if it wasn’t what I thought it would be. I thought that would include study at a community college but I had to drop out due to a horrendous flare that lasted a month. Now I’m chasing a new diagnosis of Fibro, along with trying to balance my other illnesses. This isn’t where I thought my life was heading 10 years ago.

But most days I’m on the couch. I have my favorite pillows and blankets. I’ve also figured out the correct distance between the couch and coffee table so I can set dishes down when it’s too painful to sit up and do so. Most days my dog will join me on the couch too. She has learnt to do deep pressure therapy without me having to teach her, so we spend up to 30 mins a day on the couch with Cas laying down my torso, applying pressure where its most needed. It’s becoming part of our routine. I have to admit the warmth and snuggles help so much.

There is only so much Netflix I can watch before my brain shuts off, so I’ve taken to storing a basket under the coffee table with needlework supplies so I can craft lying down. This helps immensely. Crafting gives me a productive outlet for those days I’m stuck on the couch. I also read a lot. I could build a coffee table and possibly an eight seater dining setting out of my To Be Read pile.

Okay, that may not be your thing. You may be a reader, a gamer, a cook, a writer. Please do not let what you enjoy go stagnant while you find your way through chronic illness. Let that be the thing that brings you a sense of normality. We need to be able to hold on to those small joys where we can.