Hi all, still waiting for operation date (since September 2014) - booking clerk says it should be this september.
Just wondered about the bathroom on arriving home - I understand no shower/bath until clips are out. Is a stool advisable to lean on for washing?
Regards
Paula
Hello Paula sorry you are waiting so long. I was able to put in a walk in shower when I knew that the hip would need doing. Stepping into a bath is problematic. The occupational therapy should help ypu with a perching stool. But you are right the would must be ketp dry till clips, staples are removed. In my case it was stitches and I had to wait 14 days
The up side of the long wait is you can get orgainsed ready for coming home
I am now 9 weeks post op and doing well
Hi Paula, I got a perching stool on loan from occupational therapy and find it great. You can sit and do upper body strip washes without bending. I would definitely recommend you ask for one! They are height adjustable and occupational therapy get them all adjusted to the correct height for you.
You should also get toilet seat raiser and I have a frame for one toilet too which is very useful. I got a trolley from them too for taking food from the kitchen to the lounge - invaluable.
Good luck.
Your hospital should put you in touch with social services. You will need possibly chair raisers, bed raisers, loo raisers, stool for shower - generally they are very good and as I had a loo downstairs and upstairs they gave me 2 loo raisers. In hospital they may offer you grabbers to buy and I would buy a couple so you dont have to lug them around - great for picking things up when you cant bend. Make sure you also have lots of comfy pillows too as these can be used to support your leg in all sorts of ways and give you a good night sleep. Good luck too!
Where are you Paula? my Consultant said it had to be done within 18 weeks. When you look on the internet that is the Governments guidlines too for this operation in the UK.
Hi, thanks for reply. I am in north wales and was told waiting list would be around 50 weeks. My request to move things along via GP - Declined not considered urgent!! Relying on pain killers more and more. Life on hold.
Regards
Hi Paula a grind from Wales was told same so elected to go out of area think he went to Bristol
maybe you need to go back to the drs and ask for more painkillers, I went a few weeks ago and naproxin and orimorph were added to my codeine and paracetamol. Having said that I was told the same as you 4 years ago.
Hi Paula, I was able to have a shower from day 2 as I had waterproof dressing. If you have a walk in shower at home you will be OK even with a small step in. Hope this helps but occupational health will be on hand to advise you and provide any aids you need x
Hi Paula ... you will be so well prepared just by asking here in this forum ... I could take a shower ater staples were removed ater 14 days ... by that time I was used to the washing at the sink, believe it or not ... I was so worried about the not-being able-to-shower - Just have your hair washed on a regular base - to me that made all the difference .... I live alone so had visiting nurse come in to help me daily for the first 2 weeks - then 3x a week for another 2 weeks (to dry my lower legs and feet !!!) - Gid bless and big hug from Holland
Oh Paula you sound at the end of your tether. don't worry you will get lots of help, as others have said you will be assessed and your home too. I had my rthr April this year I have to tell you compared to the pain you have now, when you wak and find that pain gone it is wonderful, the discomfort I had ofter the op was nothing.
The Occupational Therapist will make sure all the aids you need are installed,
i will give you a little advice, get 2 grabbers if you drop one you still have an emergency one. Always keep your grabber flat on an bench or surface, never prop it against something (it will fall down) do the same with your sticks when you get them
I found re-usable ice packs very usefull, if my thigh was aching or my leg swollen, elevate (wrap any ice pack in a cloth so you dont get frost bite) very quickly you get releif and with regular use the swelling goes down too. We are not talking pain here, but mild discomfort.
I had a waterproof dressing, if I had been careful I could have showered. However I have a shower over the bath so just in case I am waiting and doing a strip wash still. I had no clips or stitches just steri strips no discomfort at all when removed.
I just wish you had an earlier date, September is a long way off I send you huggs xxx M