If You Are Able, What Do You Do To Get Out And Socialize?

[cleo]

I'm unable to work due to pots and sometimes feel socially isolated. I know I'm fortunate to have my husband and grown kids but there are times during the day that I could talk to a wall.:-) Am just wondering what everyone else does for social interaction.

[Bigskyfam]

Hi I'm slowly easing back into work. Nowhere near the same as before I developed pots. I went to community events that were close by, free or cheap and had a restroom and places to sit. I developed pots in the fall. So through the winter I went to the gym for cardiac rehab and to the knotting store and learned to knit( great sit down activity) I'm hoping to revamp my prior activities like car shows,farmers markets,church and community activities as time goes on. Even though I'd make it there sometimes I couldn't stay and that's ok... I tried. Spring is trying to get here.. So ill have my birds and garden. My kids keep me busy too.

[Katybug]

I mostly do lunch or dinner with my friends when I feel up to it. My friends are very understanding of my condition, so if I have to cancel they are ok with it. Sometimes they just come over to my place and we order food so we can hang out but it's pretty stress free for me. They are also "animal people" so they often will go to see my horse with me and we grab breakfast or lunch on the way to or from the farm. A few of us have also started trying our hands at gardening (I'm ok with sitting in the dirt and getting totally gross since I can't stand or aquat to do it), so lately we've been checking out new nurseries together. My stepfather also belongs to a wine club so I go to dinners at some of the members houses that we are close to as a family (I can crash on their couch or in a spare bedroom if I need to without embarrassment). I also try to take my dog to the local parks when I can which allows me to occasionally meet a new person....often other dog owners or people who have their kids at the playground cause the dog is a kid magnet. My neighbors are also friendly so on nice days, we are often outside and will chat with each other. My immediate neighbors know I'm sick so if they see me at 2 pm in my pjs bringing in the trash can or something, they make a point of sticking their heads out and making sure I'm ok. That's not socializing per se but it makes me feel like I'm not alone or isolated. I also eat at my mom's once or twice a week.

I Don do bars/clubs anymore because the environment is way too overstimulating. I also don't do baby/wedding showers. I find there's usually too many unknown people and the whole prim and proper routine doesn't work for me anymore.

[Mamawithpots]

I understand how you feel! I have been on bedrest for a couple of months and pretty much only leave my room to go to my dr. apt's. It's been difficult to say the least. I mostly communicate on the phone or computer. This forum has helped me not feel so alone in what I'm going through. Good luck to you.

[TCP]

I'm afraid I haven't been able to work for some time and now don't socialise at all. The only time I leave the house is to go to the doctors or hospital appointments. Sad but true. I haven't had any proper treatment for the autonomic dysfunction and therefore haven't really picked up. I am trying to get the funds together to go to London and see a specialist.

[Becia]

I cannot work at the current time, and it seems lately the only reasons I leave the house are for doctors appointments, but I do go to church at least once a week (I sit in the youth room above the family life center and listen to service, being down in the environment is too trigger filled), and afterwards I usually try to go to lunch with friends and the grocery store. Sundays are a big out day for me, as it's usually the hardest day of the week. I kept getting reminded of what my father said to my grandpa one time about going to church when you don't feel good: you can either stay here and not hear a message and feel just as bad, or you can go to church, feel bad and still get to hear good things. Kinda a warped way of my thinking, but I know when I don't feel good where I can go while I'm there to recouperate, so it's always worth a try. Some Sundays are better than others (last Sunday I got to drum with the band and sang a solo, a rare feat lately, but I'm paying for it dearly this week), but at least I give it a shot.

I try to go to events, such as a basketball game or a track meet kinda sporadically, and doing these I have to gear up for in advance. I went to a track meet Friday and spent Saturday trying to relax and rest. Sunday did me in this week, so I am taking a week off of schooling stuff, don't have anywhere to go other than therapist appointment on Thursday. Might try to go to church on Wednesday for a meeting if I feel up to it and get a ride, but if I don't make it, it's fine.

[LastUnicornLady]

I've always been an introvert, so socializing has never really been a priority of mine, but I don't want to become a hermit, either. I usually try to get together with my friends on days where I don't have to do anything later. That's a big one. And also when I know I wasn't doing much the day before. I usually try to pick something like going to a quiet coffee shop or cafe, and we stay away from noisy restaurants. I also like seeing movies with them, because all it involves is sitting. (Though getting up is not as easy as it sounds.) And church has been a big thing for me. Many days, I struggle to get up early enough to go, because mornings are the hardest times for me. But I am so happy when I do go and feel alright, so... it's a toss-up.

[Becia]

I'm pretty introverted too, unless its an activity I like/love, like my music, my sign language, bike riding, hiking. I think with me the problems I'm having dealing with not being out in the public now, is the fact I used to be able to drive, and just pick up and go if I wanted, and right now, that ability has been taken away from me (my keys were taken in July after my diagnosis, and no clue when I might be cleared since I do pass out very easy sometimes). Now I have to live by someone elses schedule, which for the most part is okay, but there are times I am literally in tears, because I need a different surrounding other than my home. Yeah, I'm going to different parts of the house, am able to go downstairs to the basement and hang out for a bit, or sit out on the porch (screened in back porch) for a change of scenery from the living room or my bedroom, but I get so sick of it. I used to walk the local cemetary and look at the history and the artwork displayed in the statues... I long for those walks again.

I see a new neurologist on the 21st, and my GP wants him to clear me to drive. Part of me thinks he'll be like "yeah, go ahead!" because he doesn't know my case fully (only met him in the hospital in February), and that part of me will be like "is it right to go ahead and drive or not, because I'm still having so many POTSy issues". My friends, the ones i live with and who took my keys, have told me that if he clears me to drive, they still may not feel too keen on handing the keys over because I wasn't making the best decisions before they were taken... I was still trying to drive and do stuff, and I nearly wrecked my car more than once. I would pull over if I was having a problem, to let the feeling pass, and didn't get over fast enough... well, I did, but nicked a sign pole in the process.

As much as I want to be out and about, maybe for my safety, I should be a hermit. Thats not the only dumb thing I've done pre-diagnosis... I dunno.

[cleo]

Thanks for all your replies. I think maybe the only good thing about having pots, if there is a good thing, is it makes you appreciate everything. Yesterday I went to a book group that I didn't think I was going to be able to go to and even though I didn't feel well I was so happy to be there. I even appreciate being in the supermarket.

Breccia, I took risks too driving when I first developed pots. Looking back I realize how fortunate it was that I never caused an accident.

I hope everyone starts to feel better. Being stuck at home is'nt easy.:-)

[TCP]

I think you are right. When your life style has been pared down you do appreciate the little things that 'normal' people take for granted.