I know these ideas for things to do in the hospital are posted all over the place.
Maybe a good idea would be to put these in discussion called "Ways to pass time in the hospital" or something like that. People can add what they think or have posted elsewhere.

How about these to start the list:
1. Log on to Daily STrength
2. Computer games (I like Drop 7 on iPad/iPod, Free Cell, mahjong)
3. Decorating your IV pole
4. Netflix movies
5. Coloring
6. Walking hte halls if you're allowed
7. Decorating your walls with pictures, cards
8. Putting up an inspiration saying each day or every few days.
9. Reading if you can (I had a hard time concentrating)
10. Puzzles (the worse you feel, the fewer the puzzle pieces). Even kid's puzzles of 50 pieces might fit the attention span when you're not feeling on top of the world.

Phil,

Of course Therese has summarized the most important things. It's funny, I really didn't get to meet too many people, because most stayed in their rooms while I was running around the halls and getting yelled at.

In addition to Therese's list, I also pulled infantile practical jokes on the nurses and nurses aids. That was a great deal of fun as well.

One thing, on a serious note, that Therese pointed out is how your ability to concentrate disappears. There was no way I could read a book while in the "slammer." Absolutely no way. I did watch a lot of Animal Planet, and, as I mentioned before, have become very knowledgeable about the mating behaviors of Kodiak bears.

I never had music in my room, except when this great German guy and his students came to play and sing with me. That was a lot of fun as well. I also had my computer and a printer, because I did read some medical articles while in the hospital (but none about AML).

Be good bro. We are always here.

Cliff

I was actually able to keep working -- took a leave day whenever I felt like I was not being as productive as I should be. That did not leave any time at all for make work. I would think that surfing the web for information to help out your oncs might be a possibility. That oculd put you to sleep very quickly. Oh -- I did have an iPod that really helped when I could not sleep. Much better than the sleeping pills, my head gets messed up on tylenol ... I hate drugs in general. -- dave

I somehow find your posts here really amusing. Practical jokes on nurses, not reading in the slammer...it's all so true, and yet thinking about it from the outside, it just shows how surreal it is.

I was "inside" for about a month at a time, 4 times. 1st time (induction):
I couldn't read, but I did have patience to do some arts and crafts projects. I asked family members to bring me colors and canvas and wooden boxes, and I colored and decorated and it helped me escape and relax.

Other things I did:
- Work. Like Dave, I did work, through email and through Skype. It made me feel "normal". I even had a few work meetings in my room.

- Watch silly TV. I watched full seasons of Survivor and Amazing Race...

- Exercise. A friend brought me a folding eliptical trainer and I used it (while my platelets weren't too low and in days I had energy)

- Visits. BUT, only optimistic, entertaining people :)

- Reading: On my 3rd and 4th hospitalizations I did read books. Really really light reading

Okay so I was in the hospital for 5 week stretches and for some of those ready to scale the walls to escape. Here are the things I did.

1. Practical jokes on nurses and doctors, we had saline wars with those saline syringes, infantile, but fun.

2. Plotted elaborate escape plans.

3. Walked the halls and during quarantine for transplant had a stationary bike that I rode.

4. Learned how to knit on a loom, knitted numerous scarves, hats, and one blanket

5. Tv and movies, watched on my computer, although nothing serious or anything that took a lot of concentration.

6. Read books on the kindle, again nothing that required lots of brain power, as my concentration was pretty shot. And to this day I don't remember really any of the books I read, but they passed the time.

7. Wrote a journal to my daughter. Things I wanted her to know and things I wanted her to remember. Someday I will give it to her.

8. Wrote a children's book about cancer for my daughter, because she was 3 at the time and there are no good books about a parent having cancer for that age group. So I made my own. She still reads it.

9. Talked to friends and family on the phone and Skype. That helped a lot.

10. Had lots of visitors, only if they were well. I have a large family and they were good about having someone with me most of the time. That was really nice and helped alleviate the boredom.

In adddtion to the activities suggested by others, exercise to the extent your strength allows. I took stretch bands, light weights, and a small exercide ball with me on my second and third stays for consolidation. The hospital floors are hard so take a pair of comfortable running or walking shoes and socks.

Have fun.

Jonathan.

I definitely worked through my 44 days of induction. about 20 of them the pain was so immense I did nothing, but the other 20 when I was feeling better, work was so important to my 'forward' thinking. Since I was in septic shock and the ICU for 14 days through a consolidation round, I was admitted for both of my last consolidation rounds. This meant about 2 weeks each time admitted.

1) Work- even when I would forget something due to chemo brain, my colleagues were so polite and loving. they would just say - been there done that - when i re hashed an issue.

2) HBO GO. I watched so many great series. I was very emotional of course. I would cry at the sappiest things.

3) video games. LOVED THEM. I never had time to play them otherwise and here was a silver lining. NO ONE BEGRUDGED me playing some silly games for two hours.

4) Daily Strength. Going on this website. Even when I didn't post.

5) Skype calls with my family and showing them all the tings they sent me - all decorated in my room. I had a bag full of cards/ pictures and gifts that i would bring to the room each time I was admitted.

6) Making good friends with people on the hall.

ed

Well, I wish I could have kept my job, but I have not worked for income since June. I was an operations director for outpatient radiology and was replaced. My ideas to occupy time:
1. Completely redecorated my room
2.update a white board every day with "Cliff quotes"
3. daily strength - you all give me strength
4. Extreme couponing. I have my husband bring me circulars and coupons to cut to reduce home expenses
5. Light reading, though I did continuing education for my radiology credentials. Yesterday was on funguses (not a great idea this week) I may never go outside without a mask again.
6. My nurses visit with me during the day.
7. Watch stupid TV and Jeff Dunham videos, along with the twilight series, act like a vamp, watch the vamps.
8. Luminosity.com - so my mind doesn't go to mush??
9. I tried looking up mating of the bears, but have not found it yet!??
10. Tried selling my t-shirt idea "I'm not contagious, you are" to a company selling other cancer type products.

Great topic. I will be looking for suggestions.
Andrea

I also have a peddler I use several times a day and my bands for arm exercise.
Andrea

Andrea have you watched extreme couponing? The show?

I stayed for about a month as an inpatient for each round,so I stayed for five months....the hospital stay itself almost killed me. Besides walking,stretching arms and legs, and watching a lot of engaging movies and tv series, I talked with people,--nurses,caregivers,doctors,other patients, and when I was too weak, I just listened and smiled. I found it a great way to forget the pain.
I also read books about stress management, about body-mind-spirit and novels.each night, I would fantasize myself happily playing outdoor games with my daughter. That would send me asleep happily.

When I couldnot do this, I managed my breath,quickly first, then slowly,and then I fell asleep. Sometimes, i just focused on my breath, in and out,in and out for hours. Though it was noisy outside, I figured out ways to make me quiet inside.
Hope it helps.

Donna

Eddie,
I have watched the show. I am definitely not that over the top, I just look for sales on things I need and try to stack from there. I like to,write companies about what I like or don't like about products and ask for coupons. It usually works.
Andrea

Just wanted to see if any of you were getting notifications? Ed said his had stopped early in the year, and I have not been getting them either. I am thinking they turned it off on account of the site getting attacked. Staying up with things on these lists is definitely one way to pass the time. Take care -- dave

Andrea! I totally did the same thing. For some of those online promotions and coupons you have to be at the ready, and when I was admitted I was so at the ready. Sometimes I was the first caller. lol.

I, too, have not gotten any notifications on email threads. Perhaps a few glitches lately so I just check back in every few days or so.

Ed

All great ideas...for my 30 days X 4 I actually got a full semester done in college (online)...