Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

Slowly and surely you are all getting there. Rome was not built in a day. You have all had major surgery as I keep reminding you!

The only thing I can add to what everyone else has already said is make sure to stick your bad leg out in front of you when you go to the loo

Grannylaine thanks for the advice re sticking my leg out as a golfer to empty the dishwasher. Another success! I fell asleep yesterday afternoon in my chair probably for at least a hour and a half and woke up stiff and uncomfortable, an hour on the bed is far better . Physio appointment today let’s hope I’ve been doing enough!! silverlining it’s nice to have something to look forward to, the sea air always boosts me .

Yay glad sleep has been had finally for you Easter hipsters. I adopted the leg out pose doing poop patrol yesterday. I probably looked like a pendulum bobbing up and down but I felt quite chuffed in the end. Mind you how I'm going to feel tomorrow when the pointer cross and the Cane Corso come home is another matter. !!!!!. I've got my urgent physio appointment through today at 1pm....but it's 30 miles away so having said I didn't want to drive again yet..... guess what... In going to have to... They are not doing zoom appointments so I'm between a rock and a very hard place. I really don't want to limp if I can help it so I really need to get professional help as early as possible. I've planned my route so as to make it as easy as possible and I'm leaving extra early too. I only hope that at the end of the session I'll still be fit enough to drive. This is what happens when you move to a new area and haven't made any friends to help yet. Lol. DOH...is having kittens about me doing it but is working and they are short staffed....so C'est la vie. Have a good day girls.

I found a V shaped pillow to be extremely useful- can make a really nice nest inside it! Didn’t have any pillow problems during my (enforced) time on the recliner as I could adjust the back to suit.

Katek excuse ignorance but interested to hear how you use the V pillow. Does your head go into the pointy end or on top?

Recliner sounds lovely, we had one from mil which was lent to someone else and never seen again.

Was thinking if my favourite aids, if we all contribute it might help those on their way towards surgery.

Bit of clear plastic which helps me get into/ out of bed ditto car
Long shoe horn x2 Ikea 99 p
Litter picker grabber
Frame round toilet which helps sitting down/ getting up
Last but not least the Raised toilet seat

I bought a walker which I never used til this week when it stood outside the shower, held a towel and I could get in and out safely( 8” step).

I liked all of the above and also found my sock puller onner thing very useful too.

If you are staying overnight in unfamiliar places maybe take a cushion with you because some chairs are really low.

Aveline I have a sock puter -oner but it’s a bit awkward as i have a very painful toe, and luckily my dh is now fully trained.
Cushion is a good idea charleygirl but I havnt been anywhere...not yet anyway.
Physio tomorrow , I have plenty of questions. Not sure if it’s my first and last outpatient physio.

I never had any physio after I left hospital. All was fine.

Will assume it's my first and last then Aveline.

Re the V pillow silverlining - I keep my normal two pillows and put the V pillow against them creating a nice gentle slope. I put another pillow lengthways inside the V pillow to support my back and head goes on outside of V. Very comfortable!!

Interesting how different things are in various places . I had my first physio today - nice young man but had a strong Greek accent which was difficult to understand through a mask . Anyway he thinks I’m doing fine , I have more exercises to do 3xdaily and another appointment in 10 days ?‍♀️, not complaining though as all help is gratefully received . Just heard that a friend of a friend who had a hip replacement a month ago has fallen and broken the femur of the said leg . Be very careful hipsters .

Oh no. Your poor friend. My surgeon was telling me about a lady who fell over her toddler and dislocated her new hip. Can't help wincing when you hear such stories.

A timely warning just as I was getting more confident, but sensible to be reminded. As I walked down a narrow oath today I was being extra careful imagining my hip cracking. Too dreadful to even think about.
My first and maybe last physio tomorrow. Are your new exercises harder Susie ? The ones I have are very basic and I have not done them regularly but walked every day.
Thanks katek. Sounds really cosy.
Will report back of course.

Naughtyneine, is it safe and/ legal to drive after hip surgery? Or am I taking you too literally?

Ali23... Apparently yes. Sometimes people need as much as 6 to 8 weeks but others can drive from 2 weeks. I had my physio yesterday and the physiotherapist confirmed I was fine. I made sure that I could get in and out of the car unaided and more importantly that I could do an emergency stop (stamp down hard with my operated leg). The journey yesterday was about 40 minutes and I ached a bit when I got out at the hospital but the actual driving was fine. I have been given resistance bands to use whilst doing my exercises... She was very happy with where I'm at 2 weeks post op. I don't have to use my crutch unless I feel the need for it. I followed on from the physio and did a big supermarket shop and by the time I got home I was tired and ached lots but realised I'd had no meds since Wednesday evening which I suppose in one way was a good thing...in that I can go longer periods without them. It's just after 7am and I didn't have a great night... probably about 2 hours in total. The spasms in my hip and back are what wake me up and I have to get up and move around/do exercises until they pass....by which time I'm more awake than I want to be.. I'm sure that will settle down as time goes on. Another change this week is that I am back on my HRT....I had to give up 4 weeks prior to my op and I really hadn't realised what a difference it makes to how I feel physically and mentally ( I have been on a very low dose .625 of Premarin for years). Prior to the op...I felt really low (not like me) I'd put it down to the pain etc but think some of it was down to no HRT. My DOH says I'm being hard on myself and not seeing just how far I've come.... Not sure that is true but I'm aiming to get back to acting my shoe size and not my actual age as soon as possible...

Good Heavens! A 40 minute drive followed by a big shop? No wonder you feel a bit tired and low. You'll have been awash with adrenalin so bound to have a bit of a reaction. Take it very easy today! You deserve a quiet restful day after all that.

I’ve been getting very tired. Still doing exercises and 4-5000 steps per day, yesterday I did 2 loads of washing and made a cake, had to lie down for two hours. I don’t have physio sessions and if I email them they never answer the question I ask. (“I am not using crutches on the stairs. Can I walk upstairs in normal pattern now?” “If you decide not to use crutches on the stairs have someone with you the first couple of times”)
My Fitbit tells me my resting heart rate is around 70 since getting home, it’s usually around 60. I’m not sure if this is linked to the fatigue.
Favourite gadgets: I used the leg lifter provided far more than I thought I would. I also bought a spare grabber for upstairs; as I live on my own it was very useful to have two when I dropped one on the floor!

silverlining the exercises are are a little bit harder but it’s mainly to get the muscle tone back . Obviously the large muscles around the thigh and hip joint are cut and they need to repair . I’m sure some of us have had more micro type surgery and muscles not so involved . I have a longish scar but very neat, think my op was a traditional type. There is no way I would be able to manage without a crutch or do a big shop yet ! I am also very tired still but looking forward to a bluebell walk at the weekend with family . The cleaner came yesterday and whizzed around . She will only do 5 weeks as a favour as she is fully booked but I’m very grateful . Physio also emphasised the importance of not twisting , bending low or raising my leg above 90 degrees still . I can start gentle swimming after 6 weeks ?

Hello again hip hoppers. I am feeling a bit chuffed because I rarely get a well done, but the sweet physio was impressed with my one stick no limp walk, it quite made my day.
I am allowed now to sleep on my side ( non operated) using pillow to support bad leg. How happy am I? Very!
However (naughtyneine) I am not able to drive fir 4-6 weeks from op and she said if less than 4 weeks insurance co, should be advised.
I have some more simple exercises and was happy I gave up the opiates in week 1.
She examined but couldn't find my ‘golf ball’ which was clearly hiding out but agreed area was swollen could be a blood clot thing so to watch for raised temperature, hot and red by the wound and weeping pus....etc etc sorry folks. It was undignified but necessary.
Thank goodness my wound appears quite dry.
I assumed this was my only physio appt but I will see her again in 2 weeks. Hooray, another day out.
We celebrated with brunch in a nice little tea shop, and a walk along the river. So nice to get out.

Now trying my new found skill courtesy of GG of attaching a photo...not sure if it will work this time

Not this river though, this is the Rhine. Eureka, it worked,