I did go through some occupational therapy, as well as physical therapy and vestibular therapy during my 'initial recovery' (the 2.5 months I was home). In my case, it was focused on dealing with the double-vision.
My wife is a special ed teacher and did the best thing she could possibly do for me. She left me the hell alone. What I mean by that, is that she did nothing for me unless I asked or it was understood between us and the docs that I should not be doing myself. For the first couple weeks at home, cooking was no-no, so she or our daughter-in-law fixed my meals unless I ate cold foods.
If I attempted to do something, she did not interfere and explained to the others in the house not to interfere (if I had not already snapped at them, I'm sorry to say). In this way, I pushed myself appropriately hard to recover while having to be honest about my limits.
To really illustrate: the day she brought me home from the hospital, after two weeks in ICU and a mere night in a regular room, she walked ahead of me to the door, opened the storm door outward and stood there. And waited, neither of us knowing for sure if I could climb the five steps to the porch. It was a very big moment in my recovery. I love her to pieces for this.
So, what I am trying to say is to not to get too carried away adapting. Your body should respond to the challenges its given. If it does not, then adaptations are certainly called for. I certainly do not discourage bathroom safety rails - i was very nervous the first few weeks. I'm also aware that 35% of adults 50 and over who break a hip, die. So bathroom safety is a really good idea.
I'm eight months post, and I am still a slow start in the mornings. I used to be a morning person - up and ready to go. These days I generally need a lot more time, in part because it takes me so much longer to eat and such. Sudden light changes, especially from light to dark, require adjustment.
Tod
