im trying to think ahead of everything before I book myself in for surgery. I won't have much help as such at home as my husband works away Monday-Friday & my adult children have recently starting working 50 miles away & don't live at home anymore. I don't want to have to make up a bedroom from one of the living rooms if possible & am wondering if I might be able to manage the stairs when I leave hospital. Am I expecting too much or should I organise a bed downstairs just in case?
Hi Gossip,
Well, everyone here has their own views and crazily different advice from professionals, but:
Hospital in Devon would not release me till I could climb up and down stairs on the crutches. So i came home with the lesson behind me and went up two flights of stairs to our bed, if slowly, that night. And since!!
Make sure the height of the bed is good - mine was 17.5 inches and that was OK for the physio. Otherwise you can put blocks under bed legs!
Good luck
mic
x
good evening gossip ... I think you will be discharged from the hospital when you are able to do the stairs .. I live in a bungalow so I didn't need to ... make sure that your bed is elevatedhigher, so it will be easier to get in and out - do you have a toilet upstairs ? expect to make frequest visits the first nights ...
do you have a recliner or something similar downstairs ? am sure that you will get a lot of good tips and advice from fellow hippies ...
wishing you a good night for now -
Hi if you are on your own most of the week you might appreciate a bed downstairs to rest properly during the day I had on downstairs against my wishes for first three days I did use it as chair not as comfy. Stairs a bit nerve wracking first few times but can be done easier with one crutch and holding rail but difficult to manage spare crutch but you need both when walking on the flat again. If you have a Comfortable spare then no harm bringing it down you can always put it back after a few days. BTW I'm only 43! But 3 days was enough and th went up to sleep but sctually used bed to rest on for another week in the day time saved going ipstairs
Hi, could your husband or adult children not take some leave? My adult son took 3 days off work and slept here for 4 weeks, I couldn't have managed without him. The 3 days were the most helpful as i couldn't even carry a cuppa or get the ready made dinners i had prepared from freezer to oven to table! As to the stairs, i could just about manage the two steps they made me do before i left hospital, but fortunately i live on one level, perhaps a recliner chair might be okay to sleep on if you don't want to have a bed downstairs, i slept on mine during the day as the first few nights were so uncomfortable and disturbed. I know everybody is different but don't under estimate how big an op this is, you will need all the help you can get for a little while when you get out of hospital. Good luck.
Glad to hear Ur did so well so quickly Caroline so soon I'm only 49 but have been in so much pain exercise has been out of the question for last 3/4 years. I'm saving going upstairs now as it is. If I come down in the morning I bringing all I need so I don't need to go back up until bedtime & then I make sur ei have all I have with me also
Thanx renee. Don't have a recliner downstairs but have a very uncomfortable sofa that could be replaced with a recliner. Have downstairs bathroom with shower & en suite in my bedroom. If I could manage the stairs Id be happier. So I'll follow physios advice. Want to get all in place before I get my op. Still as terrified about op but the pain is taking its toll at this stage.
thanx Mic the bed height is really good to know. I'm so badly informed by my surgeon so needless to say I'm going for a second opinion. I try to do the stairs as things are as little as often. Come down in the morning with everything I need & go up at night the same way. My daughter has been amazing as she's a nursing carer but she's starting a new job next week 50 miles away
Hi I live alone and have stairs. Came home with 2 crutches on day 4 and quite capable of doing stairs. Physio game me lessons. Hold onto rail, and you carry spare crutch in same hand as the crutch you are using. No problem when you are shown how and easier than you think. I do have 2 toilets one up and one down
hi jennifernz my son only started work 2 weeks ago & my daughter starts next week & my husbands work is seasonal based. His busiest time is June/July/August/September. But I don't think I can cope with the pain til he can take time off. I've always been strong willed & strong minded & felt I didn't need help. I hope I can get over this like I did with breast cancer 10/11 years ago. My husband was there 200% for me then but he's changed jobs & works away during the week. I'm so scared about this op but reading all these posts makes me think do it NOW
Thank you ann. Glad to hear your doing well. I'm just a scaredy cat about booking in for the op & coping after it. I can't wait to me mobile again. Waiting for apt with 2nd surgeon so will know more then. 1st surgeon gave me no info. very disappointed
Usually they have you using stairs before you go home so may not be a problem. One at a time at first x
Hi Gossip,
I had my op on June 1st and i slept in a bed down stairs for the first week but it has been a waste of effort because I was able to do the stairs by the time I left the hospital. My husband was at home with me for the first few days but I could have coped on my own because before going to hospital I filled the freezer and fridge with ready meals. As long as you have access to a bed/toiled/food/drinks you don't need much more in the first few days.
Of course you will need also books/chocolates/computer/telephone/TV/radio/music/cross words/knitting or watever makes you pass the time.Your husband will be home on Sat/Sun to do help you. Don't worry too much...the hospital will not let you go home unless they think you will be able to cope, expecially if you tell them that you will be on your own most of the time.
Best of luck...when is your op?
Big hugs
Ella
Hi Gossip
You'll be fine!
As others have said, the physio will show you how to do stairs, and carrying the spare crutch as well. If they don't then ASK!
I came out of hospital to my daughter's on day 4 and she lives in a 2 up/2 down house with one toilet - upstairs - and very steep Victorian stairs. the physio said later that that was probably very good exercise for my thighs, which, like you, hadn't seen much exercise in a long time.
I had a large bag I could put across my body that I could put book / water bottle / glasses / anything else etc to carry up and downstairs morning and night. A friend of mine who had her second THR in January swears by an apron with a large pocket to carry everything. I agree with the other post that says to have lots of books etc. I got myself a complicated cross stitch embroidery to do - although you must get up and move about once an hour!
My daughter was off work for 3 days but then I was on my own, although she cooked the evning meal.
I could have managed though, and I'm 65. You'll feel better than now - that pain will be gone!!
Hardest part was getting into the shower - hers is over the bath - but we did it with me sitting on the corner and her lifting my legs in. We laughed so much!!
Have you thoguht about asking for help, maybe district nurse, to come and help you shower? It's worth finding out.
All the best, Martha x
if you Google post hip replacement or something like that there are some websites that show you the sequence for climbing stairs....one tip though is to have 3 crutches...that way you can leave one at the top so you don't have to carry it up...hospital physio will have you practicing the day after your op.....that was my experience and it was fine!
Hi again Gossip!
so welcome again to this world of contradictory advice, healthy, but also physios and surgeons with very different views, unhealthy.
Like I said earlier, going upstairs to bed is a good thing I believe, as excellent stairs exercise and yes also for a mid afternoon nap.Tthose muscles need exercising. Do have a spare grabber for upstairs tho, cos it always seemed in the wrong floor!
Mic
x
You will be taught how to manage the stairs before you leave hospital. I was issued with 3 crutches, one to be left upstairs so I could leave one downstairs, use one to go up the stairs and use the one kept upstairs whilst upstairs. I also kept my mobile phone with me at all times, never needed to call anyone for help but good to know I could.
You should be able to go upstairs from the beginning. In hospital you will be shown how to use your crutches by the occupational therapist to go up and down stairs. They will ask you about any handrails you have etc. For me it was one of the things I had to do before they would let me home. The other being pass a stool!
They should ask you about stairs and bed height, loo height what help you have at home at the pre op meeting. They will order the equipment you need and it will be delivered to your house. invaluable if you are on your own is a trolley so you can move things around downstairs. As your husband is away mond to Fri it's probable they will offer you a care package as you do need some help at home in the early days. At this pre op meeting you will meet nurses, occupational therapist, and your surgeon. this is when you sign the consent form.
Hi, Im sorry I havent read through the thread but I'm having computer probs.
I'm in the North East, discharged on the 3rd day and slept upstairs from the beginning. The physios will make sure you can do a flight of stairs before discharge. I had a trolly beside me downstairs and kept most things there so on the whole I just went upstairs to bed and downstairs in the morning. You will be taught how to do the stairs as well......Good Leg {unop one} goes to heaven and the bad one goes to hell both feet on the same stair then do te same again.
Good Luck
Love Eileen UK
Hi. I'm now 6 days post op. I'm also only 46! Firstly physios won't let you home unless you can climb the stairs and you have someone to look after you the first day. I was on my own effectively from the Thursday after coming home on Weds with my eldest son who stayed with me till husband came home. I stayed upstairs on the bed as this stopped me from doing stuff! Nurse and physio's come out to me at home the next day (thurs) and will do for once a week until they are happy with progress etc (Southend pct) my hubby went to work thurs & fri so did younger kids to school so a friend popped in, made me tea and lunch and hung some washing out. Rest is much needed and you will really need someone around to support you. Your surgeons don't deal with this side of things, it's your hospital rehab team that do. Friday my mum came to stay to help with younger kids and hubby is off all next week.
I hope this info helps. Please ask your rehab team what's happening. They should have sorted you a 'hip seminar info hour session' before you get your op so they can explain the whole procedure and answer any queries you have.
All the best
Westie 😊