My surgery is fast approaching. I see the surgeon September 3 and surgery should be two weeks after that. My ortho doc sent me home a few weeks ago to "get ready " I'm glad he didn't say to get my affairs in order, Lol. He told me to get the house ready etc. the same instructions I've read on here. I know the first two weeks are incredibly hard from what I've read. What I haven't been told or read anywhere is exactly how much you can do the first two weeks. I have questions , do you spend most of the day in bed those first few days , are you alert enough to watch TV or do you sleep most of the time ? How mobile are you? I'm sure I'll learn more from the surgeon, but in the mean time I'm driving myself crazy with questions!
Hi Lindy,don't get yourself in a tizzy,everybody is different you will be nothing like what you read about,and if you are look at all the knowledge of the Hip Hoppers so you won't be alone,let things happen and deal with it as you go along,listen to the Physios and the nurses,enjoy getting better,you will have bad days,we all have but the good days ahead are good,all the very best Love Michael.
You can get up, dressed etc and do indeed to move to minimise the risk of DVT.
you must do, if you possibly can, the exercises that the physios will have given you
you will be able to wash and dress yourself, having been taught to use the relevant aids in hospital
climb and descend the stairs having been taught in hospital
i went to the GP surgery at 8 days to have dressing changed, and again 5 days later to have clips removed. Hubby took me both times
socially I went out to a concert at day 8, escorted by my daughter and boyfriend, and a meal at 12 days
sleeping on your back is difficult, carrying coffee cups etc impossible until you are down to one crutch, in my case 10 days in the house
all cooking utensils need to be at waist height, cooking preferably done by someone else
it is hard work and we all progress along the same path at different rates
Hi lynda I'm 8 days post op and I'm doing good . My advice would be get everything at home in places where u can reach easily ie kitchen and clothing as bending a no no at first . Check your furniture good height and comfortable. By small bottles for shower gels etc as your new friend the grabber will be more able to pick up if u drop in shower . Definitely will not be laying in bed ! They get u up next day and I did hydrotherapy pool 2 days after which was amazing. I have been out for 2 walks . I did have really bad down day 4 days after op lots tears etc as hadn't realised how debilitated I would feel ! Pulled myself together had rethink re comfort etc and I'm doing good . Good luck
Hope any of this helps
Regards Denise
I keep hearing about hydrotherapy, but how do you not get your stitch area wet? I'm confused about how you do this? Thx
Most dressings are waterproof, or you wait until the clips are out and you are healed.
the sessions are usually run by the physios
Hi Lindy, let me remember, the forst two weeks, I have been there twice...Ok, you have trouble getting in and out of bed, and the pain is quite hard, so painkillers are a must, you can get out with two crutches, and you should do too, and if youo need to take a nap then do so, watch TV record stuff, keep up on this forum too as it helps with others going through it too, read a ggod book, if you read, and keep up with the excersise sheet, every three hours, foot pumps, leg presses into the bed, and butt clenches, and deep breathing, imagine that there is a mob of ants inside you rebuilding your muscles as you clench after the breathing...It works... and then its week 3 and you are a whole lot better.....
Keep in touch Ian.
Hi Lindy, as other Hippies have already said, you are worrying unnecessarily. I had my hip op done 8.5 weeks ago. Op Friday morning, out 9.30 Monday morning. No stockings, no catheter.
Recently widowed, so live alone, but had friend stay for a few days, but then coped alone perfectly well. Preparations are: clothes etc on shelves/drawers at waist level; this applies to kitchen equipment, saucepans etc. or even lay all out on spared bed, if you have one. Handy supply of loo paper too!
have a soft material bag with longish handles which you can hang around your neck to hold your phone, book, pen and anything else you MIGHT need wherever you go. This bag also useful if you go into NHS hospital for taking toilet things to bathroom with you.
Make sure hospital organise two perching stools - one for kitchen and one for bathroom and trolley to enable you to wheel food from kitchen to table while you using crutches.
One crutch after three weeks, nil after four. Driving 5 weeks.
virtually no pain just the discomfort everyone complains about when sitting, and quite stiff when getting up to stand after sitting, even now.
every good wish for your procedure and you will be fine!
Hi Lindy,
By getting your house ready he means getting all the necessary equipment ready to help you; a raised toilet seat, preferably also a frame with handles each side to hang onto (the grand-children loved that and were so disappointed when it was returned), a commode, a gripper stick, a walking frame etc. I hired those things from the British Red Cross via my local hospital, you just give a donation. You will also need the appropriate height chair and a tall table next to your chair (Argos do a folding wooden one for £10 which I now use as a plant table). It's the right height for your cup of tea, mag, medications and anything else as you're not allowed to stretch when you first come home. You won't be able to sleep on your side for a few weeks. I used a boomerang pillow and a long pregnancy pillow to wedge me to stop me from turning, I'm a side sleeper and found sleeping on my back really hard. I didn't really spend any time in bed the first few days, sitting in a chair worked well for me, you'll be mobile enough to get up to go to the loo. You will feel really tired at first but will gradually start to feel better. If you're working ensure you take enough time off. I work in a junior school and was given two months off which was needed. When you return they must do an assessment to ensure that your working station is right for you. I was given a taller chair and a taller table, you mustn't suddenly drop down when sitting. Be careful when you do start going out when using friends loos / public loos etc. they will be a lot lower than you're used to. My big fear was climbing two flights of stairs, I live on the top floor in a block of 6 flats with no lift. Actually it was fine and I really felt I'd achieved something... (I wasn't even sponsored lol !). Listen to what your body tells you. If you feel sleepy in the day have a sleep. You will be sent home with medications which will add to your drowsiness but gradually these will be reduced. You're having major surgery so be kind to yourself. Good luck with it all. Remember however hard it may seem initially, it will be nothing compared to the pain you're probably in already. Always feel free to take a list of questions to your surgeon when you go into hospital. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. I wish you good luck and good health. You'll be absolutely fine !
Chocolate you make it sound like its the end of the world,
Poor Lindy getting such different posts and advice...
All those extra things that I never needed, or got, or was told to get either, I say, dont put yuourself in moth balls, it is just the Toilet Seat that is the main problem hight wise, and a recliner chair is a nice added extra, to keep your legs elevated.
I found that puffing yourself up in bed on a wedge of pillows and slipping down to a comforable hight is also a good idea.
Yyour six flights of stairs was however quite a feat...well done there, perhaps you are and older person, I am 54 and live on the first floor, but nobody needs all the stuff you have listed here...I only used my grabber rarely and that was mainly positioning the Sock gadget, and picking up the odd thing dropped on the floor in the kitchen, I was standing and cooking as normal from the day I was home.
Stop scaring people making it sound far far worse than it really is.
Kind regards Ian.
Ian, all points of view are valid and welcome......even yours😘
Ian,
I am 57 and merely shared my experience, it will be different for everyone. Getting a range of experiences is useful as everyone is different and will have different levels of recovery time. I'm a very positive person and haven't made it sound like the end of the world just
advice based on my own personal experience... I'm sure that it was taken in the right spirit by the intended recipient.....
dear lindy ---
wow, so many tips and good advice - We all share our own personal experiences and I love the way Chocolate wrote hers (really Ian!!!! you know I love you right?)-
you will have your own, trust me ... it doesn't mean much right now until you are in it ....
how about your pets? maybe you can get them used to the changes prior your surgery ?
take care -
big warm hug
renee
Hi Lindy,
after I got home from the hospital I really made an effort to do as much as I could so I could keep up my stamina so going back to a 9 1/2 hour day at work wouldn't be so hard. I used a walker/frame to get around the house and would do simple household things like meal prep and cleaning and dusting things at waist level. I had a freezer full of prepared meals that I would just pull out one at a time to thaw and serve.
My husband is retired and I really needed him those first few days after surgery. He would help me getting out of bed and the chairs, showering, etc. I would lay on the couch and read awhile, and then move to another chair, then to the bed. You have to find out which chair is most comfortable. We brought in one of the patio chairs because it was the only comfortable one for a few weeks.
You won't be totally laid out and you should try to do as much as you can and do the exercise sets 3 to 4 times a day. I know someone that never really pushed herself after a replacement and never really got back to normal. During the tough times remember that it will pass and the worst is behind you.
Even though there is pain and discomfort, I really enjoyed the time off of work and having an excuse to relax and rest if I didn't want to do anything. It was really nice to have the break from the rat race.
Good luck on your surgery and recovery,
Judy