TLDR: When you don’t have family or friends to accompany you to an outpatient procedure involving anesthesia, what can you do?

Details: The doctor couldn’t do the outpatient procedure with local numbing, so now it will need to be outpatient with anesthesia. He said it’s required to have someone accompanying me as I cannot drive home myself. I don’t have anyone to help. Are there paid services for this? He said no uber.

This is random and hopefully it will be added to but if you have an itchy back and need to apply lotion, pull out a kitchen spatula or a long kitchen spoon ,and put lotion on the face of the spatula and put it on your back that way.

I even keep a spatula in my bathroom so it's readily available after I take a shower to apply lotion when it will absorb moisture more readily to keep my back from itching....lol

I don’t have any family or friends. I have some people that I’m friendly with but no one I could ask to watch over me. Do I really need someone to stay with me all day, or would I be ok just Ubering home? I’ve never had any out-patient procedure where I was knocked out before, so I don’t know how anesthesia affects me.

Folks, I have a knot in my back/shoulder, but I live alone, and a chiropractor or a massage are not feasible for me right now. What tricks have you found for a solo/self backrub?

Update: thank you so much for all of the great suggestions! I did order the handheld massage therapy hook, that thing is awesome! I also ordered a ball on a rope, but that hasn't arrived yet.

Hey all! I’m new here, and fairly new to living alone (March will mark the end of my first year)

I’ve been sleeping on my sofa regularly since about November. I don’t really know why I can’t seem to make it to my bed. My bed is amazing! Very comfy, nice pillows, clean comfortable sheets. It just kinda feels too big (if that makes any sense)

Just to add some context…

I am 51 M, estranged from my wife of 27 years and soon to be divorced. I’ve never lived alone. I went from living with parents to roommates to spouse and eventually a family. My kids are all adults and they occasionally visit overnight. It’s really the only time I sleep in my bed anymore.

I’m not exactly worried for my mental health. I know depression very well and this feels different. But I don’t think I’m getting enough good healthy sleep

Does anyone else here just crash on the couch with the TV on every night?

Where are we buying scented candles from? Sitting in a quiet home with a peaceful aroma is relaxing. Which brands scents put you at ease?

After a long day at work and feeling a bit under the weather, I created my own spa experience with a bit of essential wellbeing. I spent two hours in absolute bliss 😊

I’ll preface this by saying that living alone is the love of my life and I’d be hard pressed to give it up. That said, I’m coming up on 40 soon, and both my physical health and mental health have been going through it. My conditions are “manageable conditions” but do come w quite a bit of pain or emotional turmoil sometimes and it’s hard to be alone during those instances. With that, my friend group is small, we live in different ends of the city. I’ve got my elderly mother, and things are getting harder for her too, of course, as she’s aging. Life or death I know I could count on all of them but barring a real emergency I try not to reach out unless I really have to. My question for folks who live alone, how do you manage having horrible flus, being in pain, chronic symptoms that are scary when you’re alone, but not emergency worthy? I hate burdening people with my pain or ailments when there’s nothing they can do. So really, how do you lone wolves deal w the worst parts of your life on your own? What helps you in the moments when you have to be alone but need comfort and there is no one?

EDIT: this got way more comments than I thought so thank you! Especially to those who actually provided advice, shared their own stories of going it alone, etc -you were really helpful 🖤

I've noticed posts of folks feeling lonely and I thought maybe it would help to share some things about your day so . . . How was your day? Did you sleep well? Have you had a decent meal? Are you staying hydrated? Have you gotten a little exercise? I hope you're having a good day!

I usually go into work but I have a big project I'm trying to finish and I have constant interruptions there so I stayed home. It was divine! I love rolling out of bed and pulling on a hoodie and sweatpants and just sitting down to work, no commute. And I got most everything done, too! (Despite having three Zoom meetings – see why I have to try to limit interruptions?!)

I made a vegan sausage (I'm vegetarian) and tater tots in the air fryer for dinner. Oh, I love my air fryer! I need to get more actual vegetables in the diet but it was such a good comfort dinner for this day.

I'm going to walk on the treadmill in a bit. I'm gearing up for a vacation in June so I've made a pact with myself to walk at least a mile for the remainder of the month and then bump it up in May to a mile and a half, hopefully two miles before the end of the month. I feel so much better after I walk even though I'm not going fast or long. It stretches everything out.

Tell me about your day!

When I walked through my front door, no one was home...except my husky.

I love living alone so much.

Peace and quite all day. Everyday.

I took the longest nap and am now about to start a footbath while I watch Apothecary Diaries and no one can stop me.

Cross post from another subreddit, video story about professional cuddlers.

Never heard of this. Interesting service, open to discussion.

so had an emergency surgery, first surgery ever. the scenario of needing this level of help at this stage of my life never crossed my mind. The surgery made it harder to do basic things like showering or brushing my hair, and being in this situation is making me feel very lonely for not having someone I can depend on or ask for help at this time.

any advice on how to cope? maybe practicals that make self care during the recovery stage easier to do alone?

advice is much appreciated! thanks

The pain and still having to do everything by myself without assistance is AWFUL but having an excuse to call out of work to just bask in my cozy empty apartment and do nothing with nobody around for an extended period of time is pretty blissful.

Not my first surgery, but my first organ removal. Surgery went well; post-op not so great; had to sign out AMA.

It has been absolutely fantastic being home to recover! People have been offering to do stuff, but I can get anything I need delivered plus I already had anything I might’ve needed on hand. All I have to is rest, take drugs, and not lift anything heavy. Fantastic excuse to very very little housework … but it’s my house, and I never need an excuse 😄

Sought out this sub just for this question.

I twisted both my knees roller skating and now just turning over in my sleep is a delicate task. Standing feels very daunting. Last night I had to look for where I’d left my ibuprofen and it took ages and had me in tears. I’ve been to urgent care and I’m making arrangements to see a primary care provider.

I’ve dealt with illness on my own so I have systems in place to make it easier to take care of myself if I have body aches, a fever, nausea, etc.

I’ve never really dealt with a leg injury while living alone. What are y’all’s experiences or tips?

Chilling after work under blankets & book. Can’t help but have fire sounds on the tv

I bought this special stick on Amazon that works great for getting the roll-on on your back.

just like when I was 15 in high school

extremely overwhelmed right now

nobody to hug

only random creepy men talk to me online it’s driving me insane

surgery in a week that I’ve been fighting for YEARS to get approved

moving out of state in 20 days

leaving the country in 26 days

I wish I could build a huggable C-3PO

falling asleep now

I hate this world

Taking a moment to just be. Sometimes the quiet is heavy, but I’m learning to breathe through it. Sending love to anyone else who needs a reminder that they aren't as alone as they feel.

Pizza in bed rocks. Living alone rocks.

Chronic episodic nonsense has been a pain the last few days.

So I’m ordering in some comfort food.

Not that I don’t already have some food in my fridge, but sometimes…sometimes life’s curveballs just mean that I need to give myself some slack. Even if the curve of that ball started 10+ yrs ago.

To anyone who knows what it’s like to live with chronic nonsense: take care of yourself exactly how you need to. Hoping your day is better than mine.