Managing your own recovery
From listening to what other people have told us, it can be difficult to work out what to do for the best, in terms of helping the recovery process along after you get home. Many patients are surprised and frustrated by how long the recovery process can sometimes take. Some unfairly blame themselves for "not doing enough" or "not trying hard enough" while others tell us that "trying to do too much" can knock them back and sap their confidence. It's important to strike a balance.
In this section, we've included some information and advice on some simple things you can do to help you manage:
- tiredness and fatigue
- exercise and build your strength
- cope with breathlessness
- increase your ability to do more
There are a variety of locally run programmes in the community to help people return to exercise. A variety of schemes can be accessed without a health professional referral; follow the links below for examples for the London boroughs of:
- Southwark
- Lambeth
- Lewisham and Greenwich
- Bromley and Bexley
If you live outside of these areas, your local council's website should have information on your local opportunities.