Obviously, my anxiety issues have been kicked into over-drive the closer my surgery date, May 24th, gets. My husband is required to be away from home on frequent business trips and his trips are scheduled months in advanced and its rare to have him home for 5 consecutive days. So that means there will be periods that I am at home alone.
My son will be coming by in the evenings after work. I have a daughter who is an RN and a WOCN (Wound care, Ostomy, Continence Nurse) who lives 3 1/2 hours away who will be here day of surgery Thursday and will leave Sunday. She is a new mother--bonus get to see my grandbaby! She is doing what she can considering the distance and her available time she can take off work., I live in a rural area--closest neighbor is over a mile away.
Surgeon said I would do fine and I felt good about that UNTIL learning a few things from folks here who have experienced post-op at home. Even my nurse navigator is a bit surprised that my surgeon was okay with the plan. I sincerely hope that I can do just go home and take things easy and care for myself. A skilled nursing facility might be an option (I have good insurance), but the nurse navigator said it was something they rarely recommended for THR patients.
Has anyone on the forum gone the skilled nursing facility route?
Hannah if you dont mind me asking....how old are you and how fit before surgery?
I had my husband with me the first week. By the next week upon his return to work, I was quite capable of getting myself food, water, ice etc. by using my walker. The big things like getting in and out of the shower were a NO until his return to help me. So it was sink bathing for me.
Have all your meds at your beside. Besides the post-op exercises...REST.
We have a tv in our bedroom. That helped. I stayed in bed mostly due to lack of a high enough chair elsewhere AND it was just more comfortable.
Good luck to you. Keep coming here for all the support you need. ♡
There is no way I could have managed without help 24/7 for weeks. My husband brought me my meals, the mail, tv control, etc ... I had to have help just getting in bed - couldn't lift my leg. But there are some tricks to do that. And of course, if I dropped anything, I couldn't bend over and pick it up. Get some grabbers! I had several all over the house. I also had to have help dressing. I didn't drive for 7 weeks, til I was using a cane. My recovery was very slow - I had a lot of pain. I'm facing a revision soon. Looking back, I probably should have gone to a rehab facility to spare my husband !
Since your insurance could cover it, check out the option of a nursing facility.
Even though I am in very good health, I did need someone at home with me for at least the first couple of weeks. If he needed to be out (picking up anything we needed, etc.) a neighbor came in and kept me company. I know of other people in my area who don't have someone that can be with them, so they opt for rehab for a couple of weeks. When I went to a presurgery program, future surgical patients were told that rehab is best if they are going to be alone.
You are having major surgery and don't know in advance exactly what all your needs will be.
60 years old and fairly fit. I do have slight neuropathy in my feet, but with shoes on is not bad at all. Plenty of disposable bathing cloths on hand--definitely not going to try out my bathing bench unless I have help.
I am probably just extremely jittery about the surgery--absolutely no way I can know how I will respond to it. I have had 4 C-sections and wouldn't really think anything about abdominal surgery, but THR surgery has me a bit freaked out--plus I am 30 years older!
Think I need to get on Amazon and order more grabbers!
I got home on a Wednesday for hospital, had husband there until next day when he headed out of town....he drives truck. He was back Friday late morning. I was able to use walker and get my good drink, etc. Used grabbed to get dressed, they are a much needed item! I am 2 weeks post op and even though he is gone 3nights a week,I've had no issues. We are in the country, closest neighbor is also a mile away but havent needed tbrm. Wassble to shower alone starting Thursday with use of hand bars. You should do great!
Went home. Wife a huge help the first few days. Then get up and do it. Got to move anyway right?
I did. For the first week. After that my husband was around at night. And I had a few visitors. I felt well enough after 2 weeks that I was ok on my own but frankly felt better having someone around for the first 4 weeks. Someone to drive you to the store and to physio after 4 weeks.
I'm just 2 weeks post op today, and my patience is at zero!! I was terrified of the recovery process, more than the surgery. I'm supposed to go back to work next week.....office desk job. But so,scared I'll screw something up and end up back in hospital. Just listen to your body, if it hurts don't do it!! First few days are the worst. Gets easier every day after that!
I wasn't nervous at all for either the surgery or afterwards. I prepared as suggested (food that was easy for my husband to make, throw rugs put away, checked doorways for walker, etc), but didn't realize how drained I would feel. I didn't have a lot of energy in the beginning and it took time to walk to bathroom or anywhere else. I also couldn't reach down to wash/dry my foot on the surgical side so my husband helped with that. Fortunately we have a walk in shower but I wasn't allowed to use it until after staples were removed, 10 days after surgery for me.
Thanks for taking the time to reply. The energy drain. . .that I remember from a past hospitalization--a few steps, and felt like I had run a marathon.
Thanks Kathy! I am so glad I found this forum. I am surprised though that you are planning to return to work at three weeks post-op. Are you going to do part time at first until you build up some stamina?
I'll ask my physical therapist Friday if he feels I'm definitely ok to return. If so, then yes, will go part time the 1st week and see how it feels. I'm definitely nervous about messing my hip up so I will be extremely cautious!!!