Taking a short break

[IanAG]

Hi, I’m 58 and had a bypass 8 years ago. I also have heart damage from carbon monoxide poisoning. I get angina Pain almost daily, on top of which I have chronic fatigue syndrome, the combination of which has left me practically housebound and unable to exercise.

We’ve been planning a short break -3 days - away to a nice hotel mainly to give my wife a break. But as the date gets nearer I’m beginning to wonder if this is such a smart idea. I feel under pressure to please her, but in my heart I don’t feel safe being away from home and my local hospital. I feel that just making the effort to get dressed and sit down in a restaurant would be too much for me. Yet in my head I’m quite excited about the idea of taking a break. So I guess it’s head vs. heart.

Does anyone have any experience or thoughts?

Ian

[Ticktock61]

Hi Ian

It’s like everything else in life the fear is usually worse than the actual event sometimes it’s great and sometimes it’s not BUT unless we try things we will never know . You may go away for these 3 days and thoroughly enjoy it and find you were more able than you expected. Confidence is massive and once you’ve been and found out you’ve enjoyed it you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it before now.

And sometimes in life we have to do things for others and it sounds like your wife deserves a nice break so get your mindset right go and enjoy your break and plan the next one

Pete x

[Chappychap]

You absolutely must take this short break. Your wife deserves it and you'll love it. Indeed, once you've seen what tremendous fun it is, hopefully you'll plan a much longer break!

[bruceDavid in reply to Chappychap]

I always enjoy your outlook on life chappy

[Fortepiano]

I agree with the above posters. I do understand the fear of being away from the hospital 'mother ship'. My husband had severe heart failure and I felt very afraid and wanted to wrap him in cotton wool and keep him always close to medical help. However, he felt the reverse and wanted to live as full a life as possible, so for his sake I overcame my fear. We have had wonderful experiences together and I realise he is absolutely right.

Staying in your house turns into a vicious circle where you become afraid to leave your self-imposed prison. I hope your hotel break is only the start of venturing out into the world again.