Hi guys 2 weeks today since my Full Lateral Hip Surgery, my goodness had the rest of my clips out yesterday, hubs has taken pics along the way. Showering is a pain can't get any shower gel on it, i think i have washed my hair once with shampoo and con, but that was when i had my dressings on. i miss going in and showering as per normal i am shattered at the end of a shower. At what stage did you guys who have had Latural use shower gel that ran over your wound. Hubs cleans it the shower head so it is getting clean water. Also i hate laying on my back, 2 weeks today, 4 more weeks to lay on my back and then on my left side first i think to see how i get on. Hubs made me a well i call it a cheese like the hospital so i can keep my legs apart whilst sleeping. I knew it was going to be hard laying on my back. Still taking the injections in my tummy, which the Consultant explained to me why i was having the leakage to begin with. No more leakage. Building my muscles up with the exercises the physios gave me. We all have the save systems but we all experience ops differently. We got everything we needed for home, had to get the raised blocks so one of our chairs is 20 1/2 inches off the floor as they measure ones leg before hand. I would be lost withough the raised toilet seat such a godsend. Thank you all guys for being here for me x
Hello Daywalker! Here in the US I was allowed to shower after the first week, but I wasn't able to do so until I got a tub transfer bench/seat so that I could get into my shower. I don't have a walk-in shower, and couldn't lift my leg high enough to get in without the transfer bench. So on day 9 my sister brought me the bench and I showered with shower gel, and I still had the waterproof dressing on. When I no longer needed the dressing, and I don't remember exactly when that was, I was allowed to have shower gel on the incision, no problem.
Clingwrap is the answer when it comes to protecting where you stitiches are, and so they don't get wet.
Start at the bottom below cut, on you leg and then wrap tightly working up your body, make sure the last wrap around is tight enough so no water gets in, works wonders, keep scissors handy so you can use them to cut yourself out of clingwrap when finished.
Clingwrap is cheap enough and your husband can have some fun wrapping you up right around your body.
First time it was used on me was in hospital when I had a cancer surgery, wonderful to be able to shower without worrying about getting any germs into surgery site, they told me to take all the time I needed to feel nice.
Also in shower, a plastic garden chair works wonders, you can sit down under the flow of water, just be careful not to break you 90 degree's rule, you will need help getting out of chair afterwards though becaue of 90 degree rule.
Hi Daywalker I also had the lateral hip surgery, I used shower gel from day 1, once the clips were out and the dressing of, I just showered as normal ensuring that I was rinsed thoroughly😃😃😃 Never had any problems.
I know what you mean about lying on your back, I'm now 9 weeks po and couldn't wait to lie on my side again, however, I still can only manage a few minutes on my unoperated side, night times are still the worst for me, I manage a few hours sleep and that's it, can't wait to be able to lie on my side all night🙂🙂 Its now 3am and I'm wide awake, thank goodness for this forum!
Good luck with your recovery xx
I was able to showere properly as soon as the clips were out and the wound completely healed, but used using a baby showere crime Before that as my dressing was waterproof I had a quick sluice shower. We have a large cubicle so my husband put the perching chair in, I did not sit put found it helped to be able to hold on to something. Went back to the bedroom wrapped in towels and found a hairdryer useful for trying the bits, between toes etc, that are beyond the 90% rule.
Hi Daywalker ,
Wow, you are doing great !!! Staples are removed then ... You are right, it seems that we sort of get the same instructions (contradictory at times) but have our own experiences -
Is the scar closed and dry? When my staples were removed there were a couple of little holes not closed - so the nurse put dressing on it until they were healed -
so soap or shower gel didn't get in ... maybe you can avoid the scar area and use soap ??
Good thinking of husband to make you a cheese wedge .... I was lucky to have no restrictions on sleeping (one of those contradictions) -
Oh yeah baby, the raised toilet seat !!! I reluctantly returned it after 11 month (had 2 THR surgeries) -
Be gentle with your self - it is still so early in your recovery -
angel blessings to both of you
big warm hug
renee
This recovery is wearing - I am nearly 3 weeks (second time around), and showering normally, but, and it's a big but, this is the second time in the same wound but less traumatic surgery for me, so slightly different.
I am already showering normally, but my wound did not gape open this time. It's the blood thinners that contribute to the leakage (your tummy injections I suspect), and how well you get stitched up (or stapled in my case), first time around I had loads of leakage, I think he missed a staple out.
Trying to get off my back too - again I will be more advanced as my surgery was not so big this time. I can get on my non-operated side OK now for about an hour before it gets too much. Cannot get on the operated side yet. Total opposite of the first time around this, when I could only bear getting onto my operated side (but at the more normal 6 weeks+).
Listen to your body, it's different for everyone, and even the same body reacts differently each time.
So glad you find this forum as good as I do, I would have been lost without it.
Graham - 🚀💃
An excellent post, if I may say.
I also had full lateral THR and was allowed to sleep n my side from day one as long as I slep with a pillow between my legs. I bought a king size bed pillow and I fold it in half.
I've really had no restrictions.
I didn't have to take injections because I was placed on 2 325mg aspirin a day.
For the first 2 weeks I took a sink bath then I got into the shower but sat on a shower chair and thank God hubby washed my back legs and feet!
The hospital had given me some coverings that adhered to my skin and completely covered my incision. I believe I wused that until my strips fell off on my incision.
The first month can be a little troublesome but after that it's pretty much clear sailing.
Good luck to you!
Lyn cheers for your reply, we have all had some great convos on here if any of you want to contact me on FB let me know. Talking about clingfilm that stuff hates me, but with help from Nigella Lawson it can be held up and amost comes out straight when ones rips it. I saw a bar onece on TV when soem Bird i mean woman (as i am from London well i am a cockney bird) people were eating off ofher body lol clingfilm al over it, one way to lose weight. I have lost a stone since i have been home back on my Freshly squeezed juices every day x
Hi Carol my sis name. I know what you mean i hate it so much, my hubs made me a Cheese that is what i call it i woke up with one in the hospital, my hubs took the measurements it keeps my legs apart when i sleep x Carol if you want to contact me on fb let me know x
Great post Renee my scar looks great, i would be soooooo lost withought that toilet seat. The op was £15,000 money well spent. Was in a private hospital and my own room i do love my privacy, my kids now grown up came to see me after work. As you guys know one is not allowed to get out of bed 24 hours, i can no way go a pee in a bed pan, or on a commode, they changed my sheets everyday. I was not sick after surgery which was great. The put clean sheet on my bed and all my breakfast came up all over the place and i peed myself, well at least i went, then they had to change the sheet again with me in it. The joys of pain (Not), I hope you are dong ok, if you want to contact me on FB let me know would be great to keep in touch x
Clingfilm is the product of the devil. But did you know that if you fold the two semi-circles at the ends of the box it will hold the roll in place?
Michael
Re: Sleeeping on your back... can not do that and so I have perched myself up on a 40 degree slope made of pillows. My wofe is happier as I can't snore.
Michael
Ummmm, That should read "wife"
Hi, some more bits on thewebsite -
16 Medicines
17 Glossary
18 Complications
19 Technicalities
Not complete yet, but some additions.
Graham
Also changes in ...
1 online resources
4 pre admission
7 admission
10 Hospital recovery
15 When can I
Graham
Hi Day walker 100
After my hip replacement the plaster they put had a pump attached and
you wore this wee bag with the battery etc in it and I got the plaster of
after 7 days and my wound was completely clear and I could shower
with gel right away and was also free to shower with this plaster on the
next morning after surgery as you just disconnected the bag as the
plaster was showerproof cannot remember the name of the plaster must look it up tomorrow but I do know it was a trial the hospital was doing
and it was proving to be great regarding healing and no scar problems
Still wish my sleeping patern was as good as the plaster was lol
Think I am always going to be a nighthawk but at least it's a pain free
nighthawk but maybe someday 😴😴
Good luck to you and a speedy recovery
Enclosed photo of my waterproof dressing -
'Leukomed T Plus', size 10 x 25 cm
I was allowed to shower on day 2 when I could walk with sticks but without supervision.
Graham
I had th same dressing Graham they gave me loads. Can't buy them in the shops. i was gong to put a pic on of my staples but some may think it is a big much, 38 staples. My scar is looking so good. The bruising has almost gone around my scar, but my goodness as you all know we stay bruised inside for ages until it heals.