My surgery is six days away so how bad is it day one...I get out of the hospital Thanksgiving Day and I am coming home to my 16 year old grand daughter to help me. She is only staying till Sunday...will I be okay on my own pretty much after almost a week?
Everyone is totally different. I was ok, others aren't.
I have had no pain since the surgery. And I have been managing pretty much on my own since two days after the operation. Some help from friends, but a lot of preparation ( and on line shopping) went into being able to do that. But others have not been so fortunate. So it's impossible to predict. Hopefully you will also have an easy time of it. But I'd recommend stocking up on soups, breads, fruit and juices, and having some frozen meals in stock. You may not have a lot of appetite, but eating is important.
If you can enlist some friends and neighbours, use them wisely. Some household tasks will be beyond you no matter how well you feel. Vacuuming is usually recommended as avoided. Anything that requires bending and stretching too. If on your own, use texts too- people need to check up on you for a bit to ensure that you are ok. Accidents can happen, and there are some potential risks from surgery even a week or so later. DVT, for example.
I'm sure others will have more suggestions.
Good luck with it. It is possible to manage alone, and many of us have to, but you do need to be very careful, and you may need a fall back plan. In the UK we would have some social services etc., to help, but I'm not sure what is available in the USA. - and I think it is mostly available with insurance.
I shopped till I dropped today....it is 3pm here and I have been shopping for groceries etc since 8am. Took the dogs for the groomer so they are done...bought plenty of cat food and dog food to last two months..I feel ready.
When you stand up does it hurt? like the bone..I know that spike thing is down into your bone do you feel that or just pressure?
I have insurance that is covering 100 percent of everything right now. As of Jan 1 of course that will be history they are raising the price till I can't afford it. So, I am sure that after Sunday I will have home health care probably 3 hours a day as well as a nurse checking on me once a week...
You will be expected to get up and walk first day. The pain is controlled with painkillers. My mum stayed with me for a week and i realy needed her, especially getting into bed and basic household stuff ie cooking and cleaning.
I got an infection so was knocked back a week. Am now 8 weeks post op and just walking without a stick.
Sleeping at night is hardest thing
Good Luck! You have to think passed the first few days and first couple of weeks. First of all what approach is the dr using anterior or posterior? While you are in the hospital they should keep you well controlled with pain meds. I had my husband to help me, the first week was tough for me, ok two weeks but everyone has their own pre op and post op experience. I had to use a step by my bed to shimmy into bed ( our bed is very high) and hubby had to lift my leg the first few days to get it on bed. Be prepared to sweat at night and pee a lot. I wish you well, so many will be coming with input and rocketman has documents to help through all phases, a collaborative effort of experience from many he put together, it will help you.
Make sure you have all the equipment you will need and if you are alone you may need the " grabber" in each room. Tell people where you are from that helps as well.
You will be amazed 2-3 months out how well you are doing, I know it sounds like a long time but once the healing really progresses you will be amazed!
All the best! xoxx Annette
p.s. I felt pressure if I didn't stayon top of my meds... you sound ready!! You will need a " bedside commode" for your bathroom, insurance should pay for it.
Thank you Annette, I have grabbers, My dr sent out a prescription for a bath chair and I have a potty chair just in case I need it..I think I am prepared...
Got one already, about three months ago some one was selling a fairly new walker and I bought it but he wouldn't sell it to me unless I took the potty chairs also..they were new....so I took them gave one away and kept one.
Hi! My husband is now 4 weeks out and has an infection. They say its just superficial now and are going to wait two weeks and checkback to see if its gone. If its not they will cut out the infection and all should be well. Can you share anything about your inffection?
I would imagine sleep would be hard. My bed is really high off the floor and I do have a recliner to sleep in if I can't get in bed...more than anything I dread the first step and I really dread the compression socks he said 14 days.....booohooo
SO sorry for your husband Jacqui and for you as well heatbrads husband I hope you both get over them fast
Hello morningangel, I for one can tell you that when I got to my room after surgery they had me get up out of the gurney and walk to the bed. I was a little bit scared to but when I got up I couldn't feel the pain I was having in my hip for so long before surgery, nearly brought me to tears and I was amazed. I did hurt from the procedure after all it's a major shock to the body. Will you have anyone else to help you and check on you ? Do you have a walker and how will you get the meds and groceries you will need ? Hopefully you don't have any stairs.
Pain is managed through the meds that will be prescribed. I am day 2 post op. I can get around with Walker, take a shower, let the dog out in a fenced in yard.
Everyone will be different. For me the pain is very manageable. The referred pain to my knee is gone. I sleep well. My orthopedic surgeon told me that less is more for the first 2 weeks.
I opted for the anterior approach which is less invasive. Which procedure are you having? Are you in good relative health? Do you have a good positive mental appraoch to the surgery. If you answered yes, you should be OK.
My husband had his surgery 4 weeks ago and was doing fine after a week, but he did need some help from me. You will not be able to change your compression stockings on your own and I think thats probably one of the biggest things. He hated them and really looked forward to the breaks when Id take them off for him.
Using the bathroom was very difficult due to the pain medicine stopping you from making a bowel movement. I would urge you to get some medicine to help with that since you wont be able to get around in the beginning.
Youll do fine!
I don't feel anything at all. Or to be more precise, it feels just like it used to - "just a hip".
A higher bed is actually better than a lower one - I also have a higher one. Lower ones put more pressure on the joints to get in and out of. Like not having low chairs- the same principle. I find a leg lifter helped a lot too. I'm getting to a point where I don't absolutely need it now, but the last week it was really helpful.
Cats are pretty easy, but remember you can't bend down to put down or bring up bowls. You need to raise the bowls up or you could dislocate the hip feeding them! Dogs are more complicated. I'm guessing a smaller type? Bit either way, how well trained? The dog must not jump up on you, or it could knock you flying. Or get under your feet. And needs to stay away from any snuggling on the chairs or bed because it could lean against the wound - the scar will be covered, but believe me, pressure on it just for a second will hurt. A lot. My border collie went into kennels, and is only coming home tomorrow - despite the fact he's very well trained, I wanted to be 100% confident in myself before he came home.
I had muscle pain on day one after my surgery it was nothing compared to the pain I had before the op and the pain meds are great
I agree with the constipation bit that was the worst for me start taking mild laxatives as soon as possible and drink plenty
I have plenty of groceries and I will have someone from Thursday when I come home till Sunday. After that I will have home health care come in plus people in and out of here I am sure. My kids are fighting over who is driving me to surgery and home...
Posterior and I just watched a video...shouldn't have done that geeeze...good health overweight but lost 25 pounds before the surgery. Other than that I am in good shape...2 days and you could walk to your door to let the dogs out...that is the main thing I need be able to let the brats in and out, get a sandwich and go potty
I am sure he will give me something at the hospital and tomorrow I will stop and pick up something ...I am having eye surgery next month so tomorrow a quick trip to Dallas to measure my eyes for a cataract surgery and add a stint...December 27th