Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

Hooray! The first of many I hope.

I was told I don’t habe a sore on my heel so didn’t use the cushion last night. Took a pill as usual and .. drum roll managed a nights sleep waking at 4.30 which seems to be normal for me these days. Feeling refreshed and relieved after a fortnight of insomnia.

I Thought she had only just come back, wasn't sure from where though. Oh dear.

Just to let you know that Fanny has been suspended again but I do not know for how long. That is all I know.

Good idea Aveline, always good to bear in mind,

Re your heel, when I was in hospital a kind nursing assistant filled a rubber glove with water to rest my heel on. It was soft and squishy and really relieved the pressure on my heel. The young qualified nurses had never seen anything like it. It was great trick by an old hand.

Back from hospital. Giant dressing removed, ( with some difficulty !) no stitches clips or anything else so it’s all held together with tiny bits of plaster. Is a long wiggly wound. Not attractive.
The mystery of that golf ball feeling has been explained as possible oedema ( yes, that again) and was told if I get the shivers to rush off to A &E immediately, or risk sepsis.

Just as I was starting to feel I am well on the way back, and of course so I might be, because there us good news, the sore looks like it has done and gone before things got nasty, which means I don’t have to sleep with one leg on top of a pillow any more. Maybe sleep may be possible now.

Seeing physio on Friday for possibly only the one appt (!) and then nothing more until end May to see the consultant.

In the meantime I have booked a night at a seaside hotel next week which will definitely cheer me up and give dh a break too. Oh I do like to be beside the seaside tra la la.
Greetings all hip hoppers

SusieB50 the trick with unloading the dishwasher is to strike the pose that golfers use when picking up a ball: you stick your affected leg out straight behind you and bend from the waist.
Easy peasy.

Silverlining hope all goes well at your hospital appointment and that they can answer some of your questions.

* silverlining * hope you get all the questions answered today . I know that I’m not sleeping as well as normal but my “nest” I prepare each night allows me to drop off fairly easily . Still waking several times for the loo, so probably a lighter type of sleep. I am managing to get my knickers and trousers on without too much struggling now so one small step…. !
Constantly using my picker up , sure I didn’t drop so much preop! Just trying to work out how to empty the lower basket of the dishwasher without bending down too far - my son or SiL has done it up to today but neither around . I know 1st world problem !
Going for a walk after a well earned coffee on my own -don’t think I’ll put my step counter on though too depressing!

My dd lent me a foam slope wedge affair which sits on the mattress head, and on that I carefully arrange 3 pillows with a fourth under my entire leg to keep my heel clear of the mattress (risk of bedsore! terrifying) and there is another pillow spare. Just in case. Of something. Certainly no room for dh, he sleeps next door.
Am sitting killing time before we set ff to hospital and have my questions lined up...
.1, do I or do I not have the start of a Bedsore, I can’t see as it’s my operated leg and dh isn’t sure
2, my feet /legs swelling so now on meds, don’t want to get worse
3. the golf ball debate, yes it’s still there .

So that’s it. Here’s to getting rid of the mahoosive dressing and onto the next stage if the journey.
Aveline, no I didn’t drop off to sleep, it never happens,

Silverlining48... I've just counted that I need 4 pillows altogether making a sort of slope supporting from the top of my head right down to across my pelvis. It's the only way I can sleep...I was with you last night though as I'd gone back into our bed as oppose to being on my own on the first floor. It was a disaster actually as I hadn't realised how many pillows I actually used and only had 3 and couldn't get the angle right...cue sleepless night for both of us even though he said it was lovely having me back in our bed. I probably overdid it yesterday in hindsight so today will have to be slower. Ladies just think how far we have all come in 2 weeks and give ourselves a pat on the back.... We're doing this.

Oh dear silverlining48 I'm hoping that you dropped off to sleep for a bit after your last post. If not, could you try to nap a bit? Sleep deprivation is used in torture for good reason- it's awful!
Have a smooth day hipsters.

Morning hipsters, it’s still dark and I have been awake since the early hours despite a zopiclone. Havnt had a half decent sleep in 2 weeks and don’t nap ? and wonder how I have managed but I have.so that’s success of a sort.
4000 steps isn’t far grannylaine it just sounds as if it might be more than it is basically take it at own pace and we will all get there.
Wishing us all a good day .

SusieB50 we all go through this at our own pace and you are very sensible to do what you feel is right with weight bearing. I don't have the foggiest idea what 4000 steps might look like but my body knows when I've done enough. We're all moving towards a similar end point but we've all come from different starting points.
You do you ✨

Charliegirl5 I do have aback up plan for the Ocado delivery - my neighbour down the road can come and bring it in if necessary . Silverlining great you have found a cleaner .
I feel quite a weakling against all of you ! I have walked nowhere near 4000 steps a day yet and definitely need two crutches sometimes even in the house still . I do find if I use one crutch that my posture is poor leaning to one side , so prefer to be upright and walking with two for a while longer . I haven’t had the “golf ball” syndrome so that’s a relief at least .

The staff in hospital for me that lump thing was swelling...and it does feel like it's getting smaller every day. I'm glad we are all progressing.... You are all going to tell at me but I drove today...I didn't actually want to but when I phoned to see if I could get info on my physio I was 17th in the queue so I decided to see if I could get to the surgery. I tested getting in the car...pressing the pedal hard in case of an emergency stop and drive like I'd just passed my test. It's about 7 minutes away and I did get to sort it out. I won't do it again for a while.... Not least as DOH why ballistic. Tonight I've got wine too. The clue maybe in my name methinks.

I needed both sticks as we were on uneven ground and will be a bit longer until I feel confident with only one.
Here’s to tomorrow and another step on the road towards independence.

Silverlining48 you’re doing so well! Day 13 for me too and I walked a similar distance with one crutch. Had to lie down and nap all afternoon. My hip feels stiff with an ache at the front of the groin, but as I still have an external bruise I assume there is still internal bruising too.

Staples out tomorrow and I’m really looking forward to being able to have a shower!

Susie if you meet the Ocado man at the door using two crutches he may take pity on you. Tell him it is only a week since surgery and you really could not manage. It really is not a good idea to lift heavy bags.

Silverlining re sleeping- have you tried putting a few pillows behind you in bed and sort of reclining with at least 2 pillows between your legs? If you have space, I would also place a pillow on each side of you for comfort and also to stop you from rolling over when asleep.

But this one actually moves around, free. .... you seek him here you seek him there ...will learn more tomorrow.

Good news all round silverlining. To be fair, there IS a golf ball type thing in your new joint - your new head of femur! I found it took a while for that feeling to go, I guess when your muscles start to regain their integrity and strength. I don't feel it at all now.

I come with news, good news, my post on the local site has produced results, a cleaning lady who rang today and she will start next week for 2 hours alternate weeks. Ridiculously pleased. She seems very nice on the phone and I know I need to remember is she is not my friend to chat with, she has an important and very useful job to do, and I Need to keep out of it. Big sigh of relief when she confirmed she has been vaccinated + booster.

Day 13 and I had another lovely sunny bluebell walk this morning, still using two sticks 4150 steps and felt fine. I really think I am also turning the corner,
Hospital tomorrow re dressing and physio Friday to check all is well. I just need to be able to put my own socks, knickers and trousers on by myself and get back to sleeping on my side.
Actually sleeping at all would be good.
Had a shower and hair wash today, feeling nice and sparkly.
Be careful naughtyneine, it’s too easy to firget about bending etc, I have done similar and hope I havnt done any damage.
As a matter if interest I still feel that there us a golf ball or something else inside my hip which has to be accommodated every time I sit down. Bizarre.

Naughtyneine my goodness you are really going leaps and bounds ! I have to say I’m very cautious . I hope the physio will be happy with my progress on Thursday .

Hello all hipsters ! Day 15 and beginning to feel that there is life after a hip replacement! I’m planning a little holiday at my daughter’s in Norfolk at the end of May . I’m staying in an ABNB very nearby that I’ve used before as not sure I could cope with the sofa bed in their work room .
So something to look forward to .
I’m still very tired but sleeping better , only woke once in the night but awake bright eyed and bushy tailed at 6am !
My son and DiL ‘s cleaner has agreed to do just a basic general run through , floors, bathroom and kitchen for 1-1.5 hours after them each week . £20 though as she normally only does 3 hour sessions ! She apparently is very fast and efficient .
Upstairs is in throws of being decorated anyway . All very complicated and drawn out due to my husband’s death two and half years ago and then Covid lock down . Then my hip started getting bad and I couldn’t climb the step ladder !
So as long as the house is clean and presentable all OK with me .
I’ve ordered a food delivery from Ocado hoping the driver will come in and put the bags on the kitchen table for me .
Hope you are all beginning to feel that there is life at the end of the tunnel , and those still waiting - not too long now hopefully!

I hope I didn't open a can of worms re recovery in the first few days. I'm sorry if I did . I was off loading big time to you all... Yesterday after a proper sleep I felt like a different person...I managed the whole day without a sleep. I did rest in between 'jobs'....I unpacked 4 boxes and at one point there was so much spread over the floor and stairs I was trapped but I carefully manoeuvred my way out and after a break carried on. I can bend carefully if I put my operated leg out behind me..and that did help with the last couple of boxes. The highlight yesterday was I suddenly found myself halfway down the stairs having walked properly one foot in front of the other for the first time in months. It was a shock as I had done it without realising....I made a decision to carry on down the same way.... There was no pain at all. I'm still pinching myself about that. I've realised that the sofa is a big problem.... Having been pain free and active all day...when I sat on the sofa it was instant pain. So I'm sitting on a dining room chair for now. It really is about listening to your body isn't it. We repeated Sundays routine last night...bath ..meds etc and again I did sleep... There were a couple of awake times and discomfort but nothing like Saturday night. The muscle in my thigh still doesn't want to relax properly....I think that's going to take some professional advice to sort out but hey ho I do feel like I've turned a corner a bit. Yes I'm limping but again until I can find out how to remedy it I'll keep trying not to... This morning after a 'nip' to the toilet I unthinkingly crawled onto the bed on my hands and knees like I always used to pre injury and it was only just as I was about to swing my top half round that I realised what I was doing.... That could have been nasty. Lol. Keep up the amazing progress girls.... They bred them strong in our era didn't they....