I am struggling a bit getting my bloodcount back up. I was dizzy for a few days. That is finally over now. I do my exercises in bed and only get up to use the bathroom. My temp goes up to 101degrees f then I take the tylenol and it goes down. I am allergic to most pain meds so I only use the tylenol. I feel quite nausea off and on during the day. I drink plenty of water and eat soup. Called dr who said everything is going well. I am 54 year old female living in America who had first thr done in 8/15/2016. Looking for suggestions and encouragement.
Hi there,
Going home aa little daunting because everyone knows what they are doing while you are being cared for in hospital.
I have naturally low blood pressure, but when they first tried to get me up and walking it was 78/38, I got to sitting on the edge of the bed, and became clammy, hot, dizzy (all those things!) So day 1 for standing failed, the same on day 2. Day 3, which also happened to be my 55th birthday, we just went for it and once I was up and took a few deep breaths I was on my way!
Trust me it gets easier every day, little by little there is more you can do, i am amazed how I am coming along. Example, last week we can out in the car, just to get out, it took me ages to get in, first getting my butt down into the seat, then gingerly dragging my legs in, this week, butt straight in, let's straight in! pain relief is down not to Just paracetamol.
Just keep telling yourself 'I can do this' and focus on what you will be able to achieve on your road to success!! Sending hugs x
I had my LTHR on 8/11, and I can't imagine how hard it must be to follow with second op so close. I know a lot of people do it, but I think it must be a scary thing to face. Hats off to you for coping with it.
We're all different, but I'd have to say that at 6 days I'd be crawling the walls if I couldn't get out of bed. I felt so much better in myslef once I was allowed to just get up and sit in a chair - so much more a part of the world. Also, it is just a little more exercise - exercise helps your body to produce haemoglobin.
If you really can't manage that (or even if you can) could you "pump up" the upper body exercise - do some things that increase exercise above the hip level? A lot of aerobic yoga movements that involve stretching and flexing the upper body (or the top half of some movements) through the arms, shoulders and neck/head will help provide just a little boost to your body. An example like slowly putting your arms out level (like you are an aeroplane) and slowly and deliberately stretching right out as far as you can reach in both directions at the same time; then slowly raising those stretched arms up, up and right over your head until they come together, then strteching straight for the sky - and then do it in reverse. Try the same movement but horizontally, from front to back too. And some light weights lifting for your arms will boost your circulsation a little too. None of that will cause any damage but will begin to make you feel better, and help that blood get on its way to normality.
Water and soup alone are also not going to be great for that bloodcount. In fact, too much water can actually have the opposite effect and decrease red blood cell counts! Substitute some things like real orange, pomegranate and apple juice for some of that water. The vitamins will help boost iron formation. You also need cereals, bread, dark green leafy vegetables, peas, lentils, beans and nuts to increase the folic acid levels. And obviously, unless you are vegetarian, red / organ meats are the ideal. Don't forget some eggs and/or milk for your vitamin B12 - really an essential on the list of things that will help.
I can't really help with the temperature thing. That's certainly something that is best advised on by the doctor, and if they are happy with this being ok, then I'd not worry about it.
I hope you are feeling stronger soon, and do let us all know how you are doing. Day by day if necessary. Thinking of you and hoping it won't be long before you are jogging around the living room - well, ok, possibly hobbling on sticks or crutches like the rest of us, but it's amazing how much better you will start to feel once you can get yourself up and out Take care, Beth
I had low blood pressure in hospital the first time around - I was sat up and started to feel really unwell, and managed to call the nurses. The second time it happened I was aware what was happening, so was able to get my body flat on the bed, and used my stick (cane) to press the button which was out of reach. It's not something I had ever experienced before, so it was quite a shock how it felt.
I found I did not take well to Tramadol, so for my revision they changed meto Codeine which seemed OK. With pain meds, it's a matter of finding one that works best for you.
Water will keep you hydrated, and soup is good and nutritious, so that sounds good.
I had my primary surgery a year ago now, with revision in January, and have just had one of my regular 6 month check-ups due to my misplaced insert.
Keep up the exercises, it does get better, day by day, very slowly - much slower that we were led to expect, we all wish it would get better much quicker.
You may need to eat more. Your body is trying to recover from MAJOR surgery and you'll need sufficient nutrition to help.
Don't be afraid to use pain meds, especially for sleep. Sleep time is when your body heals.
Thank you for sharing. Yes, I can do this.
Thank you for all the information on nutrition. You are right I have not been eating all those foods. Its just when I am so nausea I don't want to eat. I think small snacks of a variety of the foods you suggest is what I will do today. I will also sit in the other room today for awhile. When I get up to go to the bathroom I can use the walker to go around the house a few times. I am motivated now. Thank you for the support.
Thank you for your reply. I am allergic to so many of the pain meds they give me hives and make me itch. I have never tried a patch so I may ask about that.
Yes you are right I do want it to be better much quicker. Yes I had low blood pressure also. I was dizzy also. Im not sure what bp is now though. I have pt appt on Wednesday and they can take it for me. Thank you for your help.
Hi there glutenfree, I'm 58 and I'm 7 weeks
post op. Everyone heals differently and most
do well right off the bat. Not having any pain
meds is something that I could not ever do,
I'm to soft these days lol. Take your time and
don't you think you should be able to do everything
in the same timeline. You're already past the worst
of it and in no time you'll be able to get around easier.
Keep up with the exercises and know that it will be better.
Hi Glutenfree -
I found the fainting from the issues with blood count really scary after a hip replacement, and I would strongly advise you to make sure you have someone with you (right next to you, and being very vigilant) every time you walk anywhere for the time being. I fainted in the loo and on the way back to bed (a few of our friends on here fainted on the stairs) It should not be under estimated, and the effects of low blood count are an issue for lots of people, and are horrible to experience with the additional hip surgery, but it will pass.
Do all exercises in bed, or holding onto to something sturdy and with someone else, if you feel up to it. I didn't do anything for the first few weeks, I just did not feel well enough. It made no difference Gluten, nearly eleven months on my hip is perfect, and I walk and run and play tennis, but you have to look after yourself now.
I found rehydration sachets worked really well for replacing nutrients and salts, it generally made me feel a lot better. You can pick them up from any chemist. I drank them all day - along with some tiny bites of fruit. Anything else made me feel sick and worse than I did before eating. The soup is a good idea, and juices. If you can stomach it, some bread would be good, lemonade with the sugar which will all help your energy levels.
You really will start to feel so much better once the dizziness passes, but for now just take your time, there is no rush to do anything. Just rest, sleep and let your body heal. As long as you move from time to time to avoid bed sores, and do the odd exercise in your bed, that is all that is needed for now.
You will be feeling so much better in the coming days and weeks. Wishing you all the very best x
Thank you for the encouraging words.
Thank you for your reply. I am very careful about not falling. I have a commode right next to my bed if I need it. I have read the horror stories of falls and want to avoid that for sure. Yesterday and today I have had bad diarrhea. I think I must have picked up a stomach bug. I took 2 imodium to stop the diarrhea. Will see how that works. Temp was still a little elevated today. I definitely do the exercises in bed. I sat in the chair for 3 hours today and am very tired now. Thank you