Hi Rebecca,

I feel that it’s important to be compassionate with yourself, and not set expectations (eg I want to heal by x number of weeks, and when that doesn’t happen one might get angry with oneself and wonder what is wrong). Different people take a different amount of time to heal, and it also depends with how each individual handles pain, a very subjective matter.

Also different people react differently to pain pills, sometimes being drowsy is the main side effect and definitely be careful when you’re doing daily activities eg having a shower (there is a risk of accidentally falling down) or handling sharp objects like scissors or knives (to prevent any injuries). Some other side effects may include vomiting and nausea, or constipation, and there are different ways of handling these side effects. It mainly depends on what your doctor prescribes for you, do ask the doctor or your pharmacist what side effects to look out for, and get some written information about the medication you are on.

Do take care.

Hana