I have got to the terrified stage! Seem to be in a state of perpetual fear.
Anyhooo went to hip school today which was good, only 3 others there and they were all significantly older than me (I'm 57). The OT said that all the precautions should be for 12 weeks (????!!!!!) yikes - I'd been thinking 6. I did ask her afterwards and she stuck to 12 but said if my surgeon saw me at 6 weeks and ok'd things like sleeping on side/driving etc that would be fine.
Also I had thought I'd be in two nights, but it might be three. Hubby says just stay if they want me to as the more instruction, help and rest I get the better. He's probably right.
Have a really busy time between now and Monday, sorting out Mum and Dad in their care home (dad was taken to hospital on friday and they kept him till yesterday). All becaue the district nurses couldn't change his catheter and made him bleed! Then his sodium level dropped while in hospital. Poor thing - he's 94 and there are just too many plates to spin. Dad's going to miss my visits as I live 60 miles (just over an hours drive) away and won't fancy doing that journey for at least 4 maybe 6 weeks.
Then the kids and grandkids will come down for a final "kids day" on Saturday before the op. Four under 5's!!!!!!!
The good thing is I won't have too much time to dwell...........................I hope
Sorry you are going thru this terrified stage....I didn't have that as I did not go to these blogs before my hip replacement,,,,I only talked to 3-4 people who had the anterior by my surgeon and read up on the anterior procedure and read up on the surgeon and that was it....when I finally made the decision and I was on the fence not wanting to do this surgery, too much pain in my whole body already with OA, Fibro and the surgery shock worried me....but I did it. And went in not knowing all the negatives I now know.
So I don't know which is better, know too much or go in knowning only good comments......
Well, good wishes and hope it all turns out pretty good for you. j
Yes, the days before surgery seem to be very full, Being apprehensive is right and normal, this is serious surgery and your body will feel it and need some care and consideration for a few weeks. If you are one of the vast majority then the inconveniences of the next few weeks will be well worth it.
Good luck, take all the help on offer, prioritize your own recovery when you get home and work towards the new phase in your life. Remember, every one is different and rehab is a process not a race. Direction is more important than speed so the question is not 'What could Joe Bloggs do at this stage' but 'How much more can I do than this time last week or last month'.
I was exactly the same 6 weeks ago. The surgery was fine, spinal anaesthetic also fine. Yes the recovery period is longer than I had hoped or anticipated but patience is what is really needed. Enjoy the grand kids. Good luck and let us know how you are getting on. I think everyone feels anxious. Certainly many comments about that here and I posted something very similar prior to my surgery.
thats very true Ross, well said. we all go through tge same apprehension, but believe me its tge fear of tge unknown, when you wake up after surgery you will wonder why you were worried, I have walked arpund town for a few hours today (7weeks) although with crutches but coukd not have done that 7 weeks ago. Will be thinking of you, all the best.
Sorry got cut off. What I was going to say was that I am now able to walk far better than pre surgery and don't have that awful grinding bone pain. Do the exercises, follow the instructions and take all the help you can.
i found (as you will be) keeping busy is a good thing- not too much time to dwell. I was the youngest (49) by about 30 years when I was in hospital and age is definitely is on our side. I was up and about, including stairs by day 2 without a walking aide. Back home now, the hardest thing is taking if easy. Yesterday I did way too much including washing, vacuuming and even got my son to drive me to the local shops! I was pretty had it last night.
each day is a challenge as I I so use to being active. I know it's just a short time but when you are living it, it is not always easy. Forums like this are great.
This is a great site to be on for information, personal expereince and support, please refere to it when you come home...it has helped me alot int he 6 weeks since my right hip replacement......good advice given so there is not much to add,but good luck and hope to hear from you with good news....Patricia from Toronto
Hi bordersgirl, Ithink everyone who decides to go ahead with major surgury gets terrified,just before,i'd never been in hospital before and at 64 was really worried, i tried to be upbeat around the family but i'm sure they noticed,but i've got to tell you the surgery is the easiest bit,you go to sleep and wake up with a new hip, i had general ,and epidural the epidural was done while i was asleep so don't remember it, when i came too had a thing called a pain buster tube fed into the hip and a cathiter in, which was kept in for a day after, the pain buster was in for 2 days, was able to get up day after surgery and within 3 days was going to bathroom and washing myself, was discharged late on4th day, sleeping i,ve found the hardest thing now three weeks since op, and still get up 3-4-5 times a night as sleeping on your back and not moving seems to make you ache, and not being able to do a lot is so boring ,was looking forward to a rest but now i hate it. Good luck with the surgery, hope it all goes well,use this website i've had good advise from people in the same boat.
I have slept on my non op side since week one, so had no problems really sleeping and slept on op side at 6 weeks, I know the first week was horrible sleeping on my back propped up.
Don't know if you will read this now before your op but just in case .......
I'm 67 and nearly 4 weeks post op THR on right leg. I was feeling very negative before my op as my husband is still in pain nearly 2 years after his op. I also have an elderly mother! I hadn't been in hospital since giving birth 40 years ago! 5 days before my op I had to travel nearly 200 miles to see a dear uncle as he was dying. Fortunately I got there in time. He was a day short of his 91st birthday and had been battling cancer for 9 years - bowel, lung, facial and prostate to name just 4! He'd had lots of different operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy but had complete faith in the NHS and faced every new complication with the words - no big deal! I suddenly felt really humble! Indeed, he was my inspiration! When my husband left me in admissions I had no fear as I walked down to the operating theatre! Maybe you can relate to this with a family member too. It so helped me!
I've been amazed with my recovery too! I can already walk farther than at any time in the last 2 years (with sticks) and am almost pain free.
My brother and my children have made regular visits to my elderly mother and my husband took me to visit after about 2.5 weeks! Do try to get others to share your load!! Your children are obviously older if you have grandkids!
Thanks for the encouragement Pat. One sleep to go now!
We are indeed the sandwich generation. Sadly I can't count on my boys to step up and visit their grandparents. Don't really know why. Anyhow I have to get this done for me as the pain is unbearable.
Don't think I'll sleep much tonight, got a 5am start to be at the hospital for 7!