8days down the line from my hip op. Sleeping at night a real problem. And pain killers do not seem to make much difference. Will try napping during the day. I have a special toilet seat but how do people manage to go visiting. Is it ok to use the disabled toilets and are they high enough?
Hi Hilary I had the same problem sleeping in the early days and terrible pain kept me awake. It is difficult to sleep on your back. Try a pillow under the replacement side which raises the leg up and takes pressure off it. I was told to take a paracetamol if painkillers were not enough on their own. I was on Tramadol and after a week had to ask my gp if I could have higher dose to cope with pain. Taking paracetamol on top did help. Obviously you have to take care on the amount you take. Hope this helps.
They kept me in hospital for 6 nights because my wound was weeping . Returned home at tea time on we'd and was told to attend another hospital for check up on fir morning .i was shattered !
thought I had better use disabled toilet before I went home and surprise suprisev the toilet was normal height .!
tend to go before and after I tpreturn home been lucky so far
MaryMary
Hi Hilary.
just be careful with tramadol and especially codeine,they can lead to horrendous constipation..to the extent that I stopped taking any after the 2nd week.
The constipation was almost as bad as the op pain.
You just have to somehow get through those first 3-4wks from when things do slowly improve,and 6wks on you start to forget they ever happened.
Hang tough.
Hi Hilary. No visiting because of loo situation unless just short visits. Sleep propped up and buy a bolster pillow from dunelm. Sleep with this down operated side to stop you rolling over. It works and is quite comfy
Hi Hilary. I've used disabled toilets on shopping trips since my op & I've found some seem to be even lower than normal! At least there are bars to hang on to! It's only for the first few weeks. I'm 6 weeks post op now & manage ok on a normal loo.
Cant help with your sleeping problem as I'm on co-codamol which make me drowsy anyway. I have a nap during the day if I need to.
Its early days for you yet, it will get better. x
hi hilary, my OT told me that part of her job is measuring disabled toilets in public places and that most of them are not raised at all! i am nearly 5 weeks post op and have not yet been to a shopping center but i have been to other peoples houses and am very thankful to my mother for training me to have a camels bladder!
Hi, Some disabled toilets are higher than others, strange that, most have bars or handles to hold onto though. If you have to use one or if you are visiting, keep your operated leg out straight and use anything you can find to hold onto while taking the weight on your good leg whilst lowering yourself onto the toilet. I have had to do that a couple of times. Its a bit awkward but needs must! Good luck.
I think disabled toilets are mainly designed for people in wheelchairs. If the seats were raised they would really struggle. You'd think they could have a fold down raised seat or something. Hip replacements are so common nowadays there must be a need for them.
Tried the pillow last night and it easier. Many thanks.
Have today been on Internet and found all sorts of mobile toilet seats and have sent for one so will let you all know how I get on. Thanks