Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

Hello again hipsters, and welcome to iPadGrandma ?

So it’s all systems go for you now Susie! Good luck for Friday ☘️

I have eventually spoken to my surgeon’s other Secretary.
There seems to have been a breakdown in communication unfortunately
Anyway, for some reason he has been off for a month; but I now have another appointment with him (at the Nuffield this time) on the 25th.
If all goes to plan my op will be in June.?

Lots of interesting information on here. Thank you all

Goodness FannyC, you must be so glad to have eventually got an appointment, but it seems you have had a runaround, rather like I have.
This time next week I will be packing my hospital bag,
Wishing myself luck. Will keep in touch.

SusieB50- that's exactly what I had. All went very well. The spinal with sedation was lovely! I came too in the recovery room feeling like I'd had the best night's sleep. A great start to a good recovery.

Looking forward to hearing how everyone gets on, including possibly, anyone reading this who hasn’t posted.

Another small step along the way Fanny, let's hope when you have your consultation on the 25th that you then have a firm date for your surgery. Have you been able to make plans for care for your husband while you're out of action?

I have really enjoyed reading all the helpful information. Thank you.
Best wishes for the forthcoming hip replacement surgeries.
Just waiting for a date for myself!

Does anyone have a particular item/aid which they w ould hate to be without or don’t have it but wish they had it I still have not had a chat about what is needed with the hospital.
I have crutches litter picker and shoe horn and a plastic bag on the car seat. Feeling like there must be something that I have missed.
Any last minute advice? Yes, I am panicking.

Apparently you should get all that equipment on your discharge from the hospital, a raised loo seat is also provided . I have a shower stool still from my late husband - not sure when you are allowed to shower yet . My SiL has lent me a sort of triangular large pillow which she says she found useful to prop up with .

You seem to have all bases covered silverlining48. Have the crutches been adjusted to your correct height? The physio will want to check that. Can you pinpoint what it is that is making you feel panicked?

Fear probably GrannyLaine, my first proper operation and overnight stay in hospital since having my dds over 45 years ago.
The crutches, litter picker and shoehorn are mine, so will just get a toilet seat from the hospital. they said i shoukd hire from simewhere if i want anything else but I dont know what i might need. Dont want to get loads of stuff if i can manage without. I assume i can stand and wash myself, clean teeth etc at the sink.
My dd thinks my armchair is a bit too low and slopes slightly. She says we shoukd buy a new one, but we really dont need one, or have the space, husband trying to raise, but legs arent square on. Did anyone need/buy a special armchair? Apparently sine surgeons have lots of rules and others dont. Not sure which way mine goes.
Also have extensive oedema and a query of necrosis which scares me. Assume all will be resolved afterwards.
I tell myself this is a straightfirward bread and butter operation and people just manage with whatever chair they have.
Basically i dont want my new hip to pop out if i bend to get out of my slightly too low chair. I am rambling; 6 days to go still, so need to keep calm and carry on. All will be well.
where are those big girl pants?

Ah those elusive pants!
Did you decide against an additional cushion to raise the seat height of your chair? Its really important that your chair is comfortable, as in the early weeks you'll be sitting a fair bit. Might it be worth giving the physio department a call to get some advice? It might put your mind at rest on the matter.
Fear of the unknown is understandable, you are placing yourself in someone else's hands. In a week's time you'll be the other side of this, hopefully telling us all about it

Will use a cushion and maybe roll a towel to bring the back of the chair to the height of the front. Physio didn’t know if my surgeon follows the Precautions or not so unable to help.

Surely, as far as the chair goes silverlining, that shouldn't make any difference? It's far more important that it is comfortable for you and that you can get in and out of it with relative ease?

What a vast difference between an elective procedure and an emergency one. I fractured my hip on Sunday morning, was in hospital by mid morning and in surgery on Monday at 9am. Apart from the usual pulse/temp/bp etc the only pre-op procedure was an X-ray and a visit from the anaesthetist. I was discharged after 3 days with a zimmer and Occupational Health had delivered raised toilet seat, perching stool, bed rail and large foam cushion to my home.. No stockings, just a supply of Dalteparin injections (anti coagulants) and that was it. It was the middle of January 21 lockdown so I had no visitors in hospital or at home and to date I haven’t seen my GP.

Massive difference, and what a lot of equipment. How come I have to hire mine. Hey ho, hope you are feeling much better Katek and if you don’t need that foam cushion and perching stool I am your woman ...
Seriously that sounds excellent service even though it must have been a dreadful shock.
I have had far too long waiting for a date allowing me plenty of time to worry about walkers vs crutches and still not allowed visitors, so nothing changed there. Hope you are doing well [ flowers]

silverlining48

Fear probably GrannyLaine, my first proper operation and overnight stay in hospital since having my dds over 45 years ago.
The crutches, litter picker and shoehorn are mine, so will just get a toilet seat from the hospital. they said i shoukd hire from simewhere if i want anything else but I dont know what i might need. Dont want to get loads of stuff if i can manage without. I assume i can stand and wash myself, clean teeth etc at the sink.
My dd thinks my armchair is a bit too low and slopes slightly. She says we shoukd buy a new one, but we really dont need one, or have the space, husband trying to raise, but legs arent square on. Did anyone need/buy a special armchair? Apparently sine surgeons have lots of rules and others dont. Not sure which way mine goes.
Also have extensive oedema and a query of necrosis which scares me. Assume all will be resolved afterwards.
I tell myself this is a straightfirward bread and butter operation and people just manage with whatever chair they have.
Basically i dont want my new hip to pop out if i bend to get out of my slightly too low chair. I am rambling; 6 days to go still, so need to keep calm and carry on. All will be well.
where are those big girl pants?

My DH had a visit from somebody from the hospital, occupational therapist I think, and they measured the height of bed, chair, toilet etc. and advised how to get out of the bed correctly. They could supply things to raise the height of anything with legs and fitted them to a chair. They can also supply perching stools and a small table with wheels but you probably won’t need that if you aren’t alone in the house. The raised toilet seat with handles to help him get up was very useful. A grabber was also very useful and also a shoe horn with a long handle. Hopefully you will get the same level of help and advice.

I forgot to say DH only needed crutches not a walker and was down to one crutch very quickly. We used to take a walk every day and would increase the distance slightly each day, remember you have to walk back again so don’t be too ambitious.

I think you have all bases covered re equipment. I was advised to remove any rugs or small items of furniture that could be trip hazards. I didn't have any of those but it seems like something to think of if you do.

Yesterday was 6 weeks since my surgery. Last physio appointment: she is so pleased with my progress that she has discharged me but with open access if I need advice or help in the next 6 weeks. Saw my consultant also yesterday which was so positive, very pleased with my progress and he took a lot of time to answer my questions. He was pretty surprised to see me walk in with normal gait and no sticks. There's really very little I can't yet do now: we had a walk yesterday into the village and back with no ill effects. Driving again now which is lovely. I have a follow up appointment & x ray in October and I presume I'll be discharged then. For those of you with the big day coming up, six weeks is such a short time. It was beyond my wildest dreams that I'd be where I am now. Your journeys will be different but you will be moving towards a time where the pain and disability is gone.

Katek at last someone has mentioned the elective list. My DH has been waiting for almost a year with two broken hips. There is a backlog of 150 on this list and they have just opened it up and started to do some operations, but the main surgeon has decided to go on two weeks holiday!!

Words fail me as to what the last year has been like and he still do not have a date!

Goodness me FindingNemo15 how on earth has your poor DH managed with both hips fractured? Did he have no emergency treatment?

silverlining I do not believe in spending money when it is only a short time you have to adjust something.

It will be difficult to stand to wash so if you are not given a perching stool by the hospital you can improvise with a kitchen chair + a cushion on it.

Do not buy a new armchair- put a cushion or pillow on the seat to raise it. It would be cheaper to cut up a pillow to fit and be comfortable than buy a new chair. It is only for 6 weeks which will fly by.

Try before surgery to get out of the chair without leaning forward to do so. Get used to using the picker-upper if you have it yet.

I have had bil. knees and still use the adjustable stool in my shower many years later- thank you Amazon.

Have a look on Amazon but please do not buy much, you will not need it.

silverlining what would be useful and you could make it yourself is a bath sponge on the end of a stick for washing feet etc.

GrannyLaine thank you for your kind comments. DH is not classed as emergency hence being on the elective list.

Words fail me. The money that has been spent on his falls, ambulances, four times in hospital would have covered at least one of his replacement hips, but no he is just left to get on with it at home.