What to wear and pack

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Help everyone.

Getting ready to go in for my THR.

Will be 5 days in hospital followed by 14 days at re-hab.

No-one will be close enough to bring anything in for me,and as I  live alone no-one would know where stuuf is anyway.

So I have to get my packing right first time.

I had asumed dresses and skirts would be easiest,but at pre-op was told loose trousers or tracky bottoms are better for physio. I thought those would be too difficult to get on and off.

What do you all recommend,and what is your experience ??

Thanks everyone for so much good advice and support.

Getting close to my deadline now ( no pun intended)

Joy x

 

2

Hi Gloria dont worry about packing anything really, you will be up every 2 hours walking the ward, and dont really need to change, then sleeping, then up again for a few steps then speep again, getting used to the new hip and the pain of getting on and off of the bed, but all that is over after just 10 days, and the stitches are out.

Best of luck I have had both mine done and really got my life back.

Keep in touch.   Ian.

3

I found that a high protien diet worked very well, gave me a taste for smoked salmon and king prawns a bit pricey but I feel well worth it with avocado pears that are on sale now, even when hard are totaly useable from the shops, not like the fresh ones I used to eat in SA now the feel of them from the shops is confusing, but I guess they pass gas over them like banannas to ripen them quicker, anyway the hight protien diet of King Prawns worked for me and they are low in calories too, and tastey too with a little Mayo or Tartar ...I have lost a little weight and thats all good too from eating more seafood.

I am still on the mend even after a year... Ian.

4

Hi Gloria! Yes loose pants and shorts are best for physical therapy as you will be lying down doing your exercises and maybe even get on a stationary bike. They will help you get your shorts on and also will show you how to put them on yourself. I was in rehab for two weeks after my surgery. If you get in a bind you can always call the nurses to help. Prayers that all goes well and that you have a speedy recovery! Hugs, 🤗🤗 LD

5

Hi, I wish you all the best. I took loose t shirt type dresses into hospital, much more comfortable than trousers or shorts. I could do the exercises easily in those. I'm now 8 weeks post op and walking fine. Since my op, have only been wearing dresses and skirts, partly because it has been hot, but also they're much easier to put on. I recommend a pair of slip on shoes that aren't too tight, because you probably will have swollen feet at some point. Hope it all goes really well for you.

6

Other thing is if your cold nature like me, pants are best!! These places can be very cold!! 😨😨. To me, I just think you might show ur undies more wearing dresses & skirts, 😜 but that's my opinion. I wear dresses now if I know I won't be needed for physical therapy at home. But again I get cold so I wear pants!! Best of luck!

7

For my last surgery, I didn't need much in the hospital, as I just wore their gowns and used their free toothbrush, etc. I did use my phone and charger and hairbrush, eyeglass case, things like that. Since you are then going directly to rehab, you'll need to bring much more. I'd just pack everything you even remotely think you might need. Take some loose dresses, comfy-stretchy pants, shorts, long sleeve shirts, short sleeve shirts, plenty of underwear, comfy sleeping clothes, everything. A big suitcase (hopefully on wheels) takes up about the same amount of space as a small one. 

Make sure you have a grabber/reacher which you will need at the rehab. If you need to wear pants, people at the hospital will help you put them on. At rehab, one of their jobs will be to help you learn how to dress yourself with the restrictions. The reacher tool is very helpful with putting on pants. And you need a sock aid to help getting on socks. Bring plenty of big, warm socks with you. The bigger stretchier kind work best with the aid and will keep your feet warm.

I will be having surgery and in the hospital for a couple of days and then on to rehab. Even though I have people to bring me things from the house, I plan to take everything I might need, just to avoid having to describe to the others where the things are.

It is very helpful to have sturdy, rubber-soled shoes that you can slip on and off without having to bend down. Those can be hard to find, so another tool that I found indispensible is the very long-handled shoe horn, which you can use standing up to help slipping your feet into the shoes. You may have some swelling of your legs and feet, so make sure they are roomy.

Best of luck to you gloria!

8

Well .. there are a few considerations ....comfort, whether you get the night sweats (which were really 24 hour-sweats for me) and practicality.

I got the hang of the 'picker-upper gadget' for dressing pretty quickly, so I used flannel sleep pants or sweat pants much of the first two weeks. I brought a pair of loose jersey slacks for travelling home or when trying to 'posh up' my look a bit 😊.

Because of the sweats, I went through a lot of t-shirts. So bring extra if going that route. And I found wet wipes very useful to freshen.

I actually bought a new pair of slip-on shoes with expandable sides to accomodate swelling - and needed them. The swelling at thigh, knee and feet was quite pronounced. And, it is good to have new shoes to avoid the previous 'wear' patterns which may adversely affect your gait later. However several people have posted that they found crocs handy.

If you have an Ipod or similar device with ear buds to play music, I found this very helpful. Ditto my phone on which I could interact on this site, email, etc. It is also useful for setting alarms for exercises and meds.

I use xylitol mints or gum o keep my mouth from drying out as meds aggravated this condition for me after surgery. Don't forget any regular meds the hospital won't provide.

I couldn't read (no concentration) but others found this helped them to pass the time.

And of course your usual bathroom kit with moisture cream and lip balm.

I think you are smart to have the extra days as you live alone. It will help you establish a good routine with good support available to help and to motivate du ring the first 10 days (which are tough, but not impossible).

I really wish you well and don't worry about the surgery - that part is a breeze.

Hugs,

L

9

Oh Gkoria a lot of the tools ppl are talking about like the sock aide, the grabber, will either be given to you in the hospital before you leave or in rehab. I have 3 of those grabbers, 3 sock aides! Of course you will also b given a 3 in one commode, a walker...in rehab I got a wheelchair. And just recently I got crutches. I have an arsenal of medical supplies!! 😳😝. LD

10

Linda, here in the U.S., in the area where I live, you are responsible for getting many of the things, like grabbers/sock aids/shoe horns, toilet raiser, commode, by yourself. No one provides them for you. Perhaps in the UK things are different. Not sure where Gloria lives. They do make sure that you don't leave without needed crutches or a walker, but your insurance pays for the majority of the price, with you paying your portion. I know they have wheelchairs for use in the hospital and rehab, not to take home, though.

11

Annie I too am from the US and my first operation I went home with a 3 in one commode, walker, sock aide & grabber. When I dislocated hip and had to have a revision I got another sock aide, grabber, and since I had commode & walker, I was I need of the wheelchair so I was allowed that and came home with it cause dr put me on non weight bearing for 6 weeks. I also was given the aide to help me move my leg out of bed. I believe if dr orders certain things for you that are needed, they get approved. LD

12

Oh and yeah I now have 3 shoe horns! I had my first sock aide, shoe horn & grabber for years when I was given those when I was seeing military drs. LD

13

Glad for you! That is definitely not true in my area, though. They can order a walker, crutches, wheelchair, but not the other things. You are on your own. Best for anyone in doubt to check ahead of time to see what is covered in your own specific case, rather than to assume it will automatically become available when needed.

14

True. To be honest I never checked. I didn't know what I would need. But check your insurance. Good advice Annie. LD

15

Hi there.  I found a really good list of what to take to the hospital.  It is actually pretty complete.

THINGS TO TAKE TO HOSPITAL

1 SEVERAL PAIRS OF NON SLIP SOCKS  OR SHOES 1-2 SIZE LARGER

2 - SMALL DESK FAN

3- BACK SCRATCHER

4 - HEADPHONES  MUSIC

5- GUM OR MINTS AND LIP BALM

6 - POWER BAR TO CHARGE PHONE

7 - HAND SANITIZER OR SANITIZING WIPES

8 - MY OWN PILLOWS

9 - NIGHTIES AND DRESSING GOWNS

10 -  GRABBER FOR DISTANCE

11 - JUICE

I hope this helps.

Good luck.

16

 Thanks Annie

I like your comment"take everything you think you might need"  I am very much inclined that way!!

I have 2 packing lists.The hospital being private provides nothing except 2 prs of support stockings.I am advised to take crutches and a small clock (mobile phones not permitted) and everything else I will need but not to take unnessecary valuables(unnessecary advice)!! 

For the re-hab clinic indoor and outdoor clothing for 2 weeks,swim suits for hydrotherapy,warm bath robe night clothes.They said take grabber,long handled sponge,anything that will assist me.

I just worry that putting on trousers (and knickers) will be difficult.

I am probably over thinking things and it will be alright in the event.

No doubt just like packing for holidays some things taken are surplus to requirement,but the very thing needed most is left at home.

Some good advice from Linda too, I have just added gum to my list.

Don't have an ipod but have a new tablet which I am learning to use.

I can set my mobile for alarms as suggested.I think the restriction is about making calls which might disturb others.However there is a phone in the room with cost of calls added to the account,so maybe it is in the public rooms that mobiles are a no no.

I have awkward feet very long but thin ,any shoes that are long enough are too wide and fall off when I walk. Women's slippers are too small,men's too wide. Crocs are a great idea but again much too wide.

What a fuss pot I am about this.I have never been this concerned in preparing for anything before!!

It is the wretched 90 degree rule which is so scary.

Thank you to all the lovely hippies who have responded,you are the best!!!

Time moves on and in a few short weeks it will all be over,thank goodness.

Best wishes to everyone at whatever stage of recovery.

It is truly great to be able to share concerns with you all.

Joy xx

17

excuse spelling mistakes !!

This site could do with spell check!

18

Joy, you will get used to the 90 degree rule without much trouble, I'm sure. Your body will be very helpful in setting those limits! And pretty much everything is difficult after a THR, not just dealing with pants. It is up to the people in the hospital and the rehab to help you learn how to get those pants on and off. And how to do many others things you need for daily life.

Regarding shoes, having the right ones post surgery is really important. You don't want to slip. I'd go looking, if I were you and get some good shoes beforehand. I found these Skechers Sport Women's Good Life Fashion Sneakers after going to a giant Skechers store and trying on dozens of different styles and sizes. Got them a little bit roomy, and when wearing thin socks I can get them on and off without using my hands. I use the shoe horn when wearing thicker socks.

I have two pairs, one for inside the house and one for outside, and they were incredibly wonderful to have when I just recently fractured a vertebra in my spine. I know they will be great when I have my second hip surgery. Usually I wear Teva sandals, but have a hard time with them after surgery since I need to bend all the way down to the floor to fasten the velcro.

19

Here's a photo of the Skechers.

20

Clarissa from the naturalizers line is good too side zip can stay open while feet are swollen but zip up when back to normal.