Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

I had my first night yesterday without needing to inject my poor old sore tum and had I known I coukd have drunk some potion woukd have preferred that option.

I was speaking to the physio on Friday who said many surgeons are dropping the old ideas of precautions, the 90 degree rule and so on.
Some still stick to stockings and lots of strong opiates, and others don’t, it all depends on one’s particular surgeon to decide what he thinks best.
I think Susie is wearing the stockings and injecting, where I didn’t wear stockings which is why I was injecting. It’s a moveable feast and more and more are moving away from those strict rules but it does cause confusion.

I'm surprised that hospitals were discharging with large quantities of analgesics: they normally only dispense enough for a few days and then ask you to arrange more as required from your GP.
And also on the subject of medication, I've been pondering why some units prescribe oral blood thinners (I had Apixaban) and some prescribe low molecular weight heparin (ie the dratted injections) I've had a look at comparisons of effectiveness and there doesn't appear to be a difference. Given that I've yet to meet anyone who likes injecting themselves, there must be a reason. Cost? custom and practice?

Mine too. Aveline. I think chemists take them but they aren’t recycled even if boxes sealed,

I still have three boxes of opiates that I was given on discharge after my various replacements. I never took any of them. Paracetamol worked very well for me.
DS said I could make serious money by selling these unused pills! I don't know how to dispose of them though. Pharmacists don't want them and I can't flush them down the loo. So they're still in the cupboard!

I came home with 3 large boxes of opiates which I stopped after a few days, and took paracetamol etc instead. Just didn’t want such strong medication with their potential side effects and coped without which wasn’t hard.

Agree absolutely silverlining and moreover, being free of pain relieving drugs has made a huge difference to my energy levels. And because of that, I've been able to stop taking Lansoprazole....... happy bunny indeed.

I'll look forward to hearing about Hip School iPadGrandma

I recognise most of that iPadGrandma other than the hip school which was never offered. Had that been the case I might not have needed to start this thread.
Hope all those waiting get a date soon, and all I can say is that it is life changing and though some may take longer to recover than others we will all get there in the end. Being free from pain is wonderful.

I’m still here and following with interest. Fanny Cornforth and Travelsafar I’m pleased to read that you both have dates for your pre ops and surgeries.

My story so far is that I had a telephone pre op with a nurse on 24th February. She asked about any medication I was on, previous surgeries, allergies, health conditions, and that sort of thing. Oh, and my height and weight. The trouble is, she phoned me 2 hours and 45 minutes before the appointment time and it rather threw me as I did not have the list I had prepared at my side, had to rescue it from another room, and felt ‘all over the place’ during our conversation! I did manage to ask how far away the surgery might be, to which she replied ‘about twelve weeks’. Another surprise as I always thought these pre ops were done about two weeks before surgery. I was then asked to attend the hospital the following Sunday 27th February. On that day I had height, weight, blood pressure, ecg mrsa swabs and five phials of blood taken.

After all this, I was given a large bottle of Hydrex surgical scrub to be applied all over on the five mornings before op., before shower. And I have to wash my hair with it on days two and four of the five days. I was given antibiotic nose ointment to prevent mrsa, to be applied four times a day on the four days before the op. Then two bottles of Nutricia Preop drink to be taken two hours before arrival time at hospital on surgery day. Nil by mouth before that of course, only sips of water.

There was no information about the surgery or afterwards. A leaflet advised me that I would be on the Enhanced Recovery Programme.

I felt somewhat overwhelmed by all of this but somehow my husband and I managed to find a very good Italian restaurant down the road from the hospital where we enjoyed lunch. We managed to park outside, just as well as I really struggle to walk.

Sorry for repeating all this information which I posted much earlier in the thread, but I thought it might be useful for Fanny Cornforth and Travelsafar and anyone else awaiting surgery.
This is just my story so far; I have telephone Hip School (whatever that is) on 31st May, but still no actual date for surgery at the NHS Trust hospital in London which is looking after me.
It’s so good to hear all your stories.


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I’ve not posted lately as I have no real news - recovering and walking further gradually with no great issues. Wish everyone well in their recovery.
I attach the only hip joke I see regularly from friends undergoing surgery - seems to be widely appreciated:

Definitely silverlining.
I’m sure lots of us have been helped, and will continue to be.
27 pages!

I am pleased we are back on course. I started the thread because apart from an operation date I had absolutely no pre op information, other than it would be a 48 hour stay. It was my first proper operation and I thought there might be support on GN, and there was.
Thanks to all and hope this carries on helping others, as it has and is helping me. Go Grans.

Not hip, but a forehead incident for you. Apparently, when I was very small, my father stuck a rattle with a rubber sucker to his forehead to amuse me. It wouldn’t come off. When my mother eventually prised it off it left a large red circle which lasted for 2 or 3 days. My dad was in the RAF so spent the time trying to hide behind the peak of his cap. Explain that one to the CO!

I was going to respond to the childishly rude comments last night but, like GrannyLaine I thought they revealed a lot about the person concerned, so I decided not to bother.
One silly attempted disruption a thread of this length is pretty good going really isn’t it?!

.... and your 'normal' will be even better than it was SusieB50!

SusieB50- you really will and probably much sooner than you thought.

I just want to thank all you hipsters for the support, good ideas and yes the odd amusing comment. It is tough and I’m not a wimp usually but i don’t think I was prepared mentally or physically. I am fiercely independent and have coped with a challenging last 3 years, this op has floored me but I am determined to get back to normal ASAP !

FannyCornforth

I’ve just read back on the thread as I don’t post here that often.
Hip School sounds interesting!
Laine I cannot believe how out and out rude those previous posts were!
It doesn’t take much to shock me on here…but, really. (I’d better shut up.)
You responded very level headedly.

I think we saw true colours revealed there Fanny. Often happens late at night....

The funniest thing that happened to me after my op was that I sneezed and shot myself backwards off my two sticks. Luckily, I was in the bedroom and toppled on to the bed but couldn't help laughing. It was like something from a cartoon.

I have decided that when we go onto our second Hipster thread,
it should be called,
‘A Lot of Old Moaning Farts: Part 2’

I’ve just read back on the thread as I don’t post here that often.
Hip School sounds interesting!
Laine I cannot believe how out and out rude those previous posts were!
It doesn’t take much to shock me on here…but, really. (I’d better shut up.)
You responded very level headedly.

A bit Harry Potter-esque?
Good thing its faded, centre of forehead isn't exactly a cool look. You'd get a cocked eyebrow if you had to explain that in A&E.......
I get into all kinds of disaster if I drink and cook at the same time ??

that would be fabulous!

Funnily enough, I had a burn scar (in the middle of my forehead of all places) that was in the shape of the Nike swoosh.
Thank heavens that it’s faded now.
I was peering into the oven at some jacket spuds, and got too close to the metal rack.
I didn’t think to pull the blooming thing out to look at them.
Wine had been taken, in case you needed to ask. ??

Morning FannyCornforth Don't be put off Bonesmart, there's a lot of really good information there. It was only that one section........
I was looking at my scar in the bathroom mirror yesterday and it occurred to me that if I was a tattoo kind of girl (I'm not) I could have it done as the Nike ✔️ with the words 'Just Do It'.
Ha, poster girl for THR, there's a thought!

Thank you travels
I’ll let you know exactly what happens at my pre op.
It lasts 1 and half hours apparently.
I’ve never had an operation or been in hospital for anything before; so it’s all new to me.
Hope that you’re doing well travels

Pre op 4th July and HR on the 25th July.