I haven't a clue what type of a bed pan would be suitable (safe!!) to buy after I come home. I'm having to cope on my own and I dread not being able to get out of my bed and acxropss to the bathroom in time in the night. I'm 75 and I also have nerve damage/numbness in my feet and lower legs so my balance is poor at the best of times. I'm not very good at getting out of bed quickly as I have to stand a while to balance myself so is there any hippie on her whose bougfht a bedpan for this reason and can recommend one please? Sorry to ask all these questions but I've only got a week to go.
Also a question about icing.Do you recommend gel packs or frozen peas?
Anything else?> I've got grabbers, an apron with pockets, everything up high,shoe horn, microwave meals,..it's the bedpan thing that's starting to concern me. Is there a flatish one if you can't move very well?
Dear Sarah
An internet search should turn up a choice for you and how about including a female urinal? I'm sure that would be a worthy addition and would save you many bathroom journeys!
Gel packs are so much better than frozen peas.
All the best, Richard
Could you consider a commode? I was dreading getting in and out of bed. I was given the most fantastic gadget in hospital, a bit of material knotted together which meant I could get in and out of bed as fast as before. You will be taught how to get in and out of bed before you go home.
You need a potty seat next to the bed not a bed pan. I also used diapers-Depends. Very helpful for me although no underwear the first week due to issue of pulling up from feet. I bought 3 gel packs so I would always have a cold one. At 8 + weeks, I still use to help with achiness and pain. Reacher is critical. Im shocked you don’t have help the first few days (at least) as it is very hard. At 70 I did not have the strength or endurance to do it alone. Hoping the best for you. Order that potty chair (Medicare?) ASAP!
Sarah if you are in the U.K. ring your district nurse. They should be able to get you a commode for as long as you need it, they do ones that are raised too. Using a bed pan on your own could get messy.
Good luck
Ann
Dear Annie
In the UK there is also the Red Cross. I got my raised toilet seat, shower stool and grabber from them.
Cheers, Richard
Sarah. All good suggestions from the group. Can you ask to go to a rehab for a week? Or do you have a church group that could help you out. I would definitely ask insurance for potty chair to put next to your bed.
I don’t have any suggestions on bed pans, although most people I know prefer the flatter ones for ease of use. If you are at home by yourself, maybe ask the doctor if there is a recovery/transition facility where you can stay for a few more days after being released from the Hospital until you get your strength back and able to feel confident about being at home solo. The first week is a bit of a challenge and was the toughest for me. I needed someone there to help a little, if nothing else just to reassure me. If you have any friends or family that could come in a couple times a day for a week or so to warm up your meals that would be good. Perdonally, I found the meds affected me a lot during the first week and I don’t think I could have stood there long enough to even warm up pre-prepared meals, let alone be able to figure out how to get them to a table with a walker that requires 2 hands just to stay stable. As far as ice, I prefer the gel packs. I got several so I could rotate them and still have a cold pack ready. If you’re not careful, frozen peas can thaw (eg you fall asleep) and can become a mess inside the covering :-). It sounds like youre thinking though the details. But it would be really good to at least have someone visit and check on you 2 or 3 times each day. I wish you the best. I’m getting ready for my 2nd hip replacement in early December.
Yes, the potty chair is an excellent idea. There are also raised seats you can attach directly to an existing toilet seat for when you transition back to a regular toilet. The added height is very important to being able to stand back up with a new hip, especially if your existing toilet is one of the low types. If you can add grip handles on each side next to the toilet that can be a big help. The leg and hip muscles will take a few weeks to start getting back to where they were before.
Oops what happened there?
Dear Ray
I got a couple of stand alone toilet seats with strong arms that drop over the toilet from the Red Cross that were very helpful.
Cheers Richard
Hi Sarah,
Have been following your posts. I am hoping that you might stay in the hospital a couple of nights since you will be going home alone. Do you have a leg lifter for getting out of bed? A portable potty to put near your bed? Wish I could pop in and help you.
Sarah, when I had mine a couple of years ago in UK. Hospital provided everything. Frame to go over toilet. Commode for downstairs in daytime. Soxon to get tights or socks on stool with arms to sit on. I used mine in bathroom and the handy grabbed which will become your best friend. Bedpan is gonna be hard to get on and off on your own.probably would be better to get incontinence pants like Tena or depends for night time. You should be able to get your pant on using the handy grabber to help get them over your leg etc. Good luck
Hello Sarah,
I am 2 weeks post-THR. and also suffer from peripheral neuropathy with the tingling in feet and legs as you describe. From Day 1, I have used the 'elevated ' toilet seat (commode) as others have mentioned. My bathroom is 7-8 steps away from my bed.
Of course, I had to walk slowly and balance myself carefully to use the toilet at night. To solve the 'not getting there quick enough" problem, I bought a good supply of what we call in the US, 'feminine sanitary napkins'---the thickest available. Before bedtime, I place the napkin inside my underwear. Since I still am unable to put on 'Depends' by myself, I continue to use the napkin solution at night.
I use frozen bags of peas simply because I find them to be more malleable. And as someone mentioned, having a helper for the first couple of days would be wonderful. Follow all exercises your medical people recommend. But do
not push yourself too hard. Your body needs time to heal. Good luck ; you'll do fine!
Dear auntiebean. I think it depends very much where you live what you are given. I was given raised toilet seats only in advance, the rest I had to buy. I was given a free fantastic lift leg into bed thing, a bit of material knotted, while in hospital and a set of crutches and that was it. They did offer to sell grabbers etc to us both at the pre op and when I was in hospital, Amazon is cheaper! I also asked my local surgery about help when I came out as I live alone and they said nothing was now offered.
Hi Sarah,
You will be best off with a commode next to you bed, which will probably be easier to get on from the side of the bed with your crutches. Your leg lifter will be your new best friend, and you will be surprised at how much quicker you can move once your bones aren't grinding together.Trying to get onto a bedpan would be an absolute disaster , firstly as you could injure yourself in all sorts of ways, and secondly, it would be very difficult to get out from underneath your bottom without any spills. That would be horrible for you. Plus, what if you needed it more than once in the night? The logistics of emptying it would be no fun either. If those pull on pant things are too difficult to struggle with you can get flat, square disposable pads to lie on. I used AGE UK to buy them last year for my mum, and they arrived the day after ordering and didn't cost much.
I definitely agree with you about the bed pan, but also wouldn’t a commode be hard to empty following a hip op if you’re on your own?