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Hip replacement pre/post operation pls

(1001 Posts)
silverlining48 Mon 14-Feb-22 09:25:47

Cutting a long story short I have (at last!!) been given a date for a new hip. It will be my first proper operation so feel relieved and happy but nervous ?, All I was told at the hospital was it would be a 48 hour stay.

I don’t know anyone who has had this done and wonder if anyone with experience has suggestions or advice about what they found helpful either before or after the operation or useful aids, or anything about the whole process.
Thanks ?

silverlining48 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:47:57

Sorry to hear about your bad night Susie. We are home now so hope fir a better one tonight. Trouble was I was so uncomfortable as hip and leg were achy and painful. I had been walking but not so very much, I just didnt know what to do to get comfy.
It was 7 or maybe 8 weeks since my op and suppose I shoukd expect the odd adverse problem, and not expect to be fully recovered so soon.
I hope your op goes well Fanny, and yes good idea to mention this very informative and supportive thread fir all those seeking advice and support as I was, way back in February. and to all who wait, all will be well, its a very successful procedure.

silverlining48 Thu 09-Jun-22 13:55:41

Just wondering why this is already half way down the active list with posts if an hour ago, when its only just been posted a few minutes ago.

FannyCornforth Thu 09-Jun-22 14:14:54

Oh! Don’t get me started on that!
I’ve raised the issue loads of times, as have others.
HQ just deny that it happens.
Some threads don’t even show up in the Active List at all!

FannyCornforth Thu 09-Jun-22 14:21:22

Yup. It’s not moving hmm

silverlining48 Thu 09-Jun-22 16:03:16

Giving this another try to see if this is still ignored and wondering why this happens.
Where will this be on the active list? Here goes.....and send

silverlining48 Thu 09-Jun-22 16:07:22

Well it’s in the top 5 active now...wonder fir how long.

GrannyLaine Fri 10-Jun-22 13:01:24

For all my hip hop hipsters out there, this is for you!

silverlining48 Fri 10-Jun-22 15:07:29

I like that GrannyLaine. [Smile]
Just back from a physio appt. and was given even harder exercises after practicing getting into a bath ( yoga mat) via a chair before trying ti get back up and out.
She suggested practising fully dressed without water in case I had to call the fire brigade to get me out. I can see the sense in that. I have one last appt. in 4 weeks, she has been so very nice. I will miss her encouragement.
She told me to sleep however I like, with no need fir a cushion between the legs etc, I can sit and kneel down or try to. Stretch carefully down to my toes to try to put my socks on, I can cross my legs..... basically dump the precautions. She saud it will take at least 6 months befire it heals and feels right, so 8 weeks on, I am doing ok. Feeling rather happy.
Would be even happier if my other arthritic knee hadnt recently started playing up and if my feet werent so swollen and my big toe still after over a year is so painful, but one thing at a time.grin
I have seen the light at the end of my hip Journey and thank everyone who has been so supportive and helpful to me and to so many others, and cant believe this is now one of the longest threads on GN. Nearly 900 posts.
Good luck to those who wait fir their new hips, we have all learned so much, more than we knew at the start, so can be of help to anyone who needs information and advice.

silverlining48 Fri 10-Jun-22 15:16:43

Yet again, this hasnt been added to the active posts list....dont understand why.

silverlining48 Fri 10-Jun-22 15:27:08

Just tried to contact GN about both my above posts not displayed on the active list, Fanny you mentioned simikar problems. Did they not respond? I am not very tech so got nowhere but feel rather annoyed about them being ignored.

FannyCornforth Fri 10-Jun-22 15:33:04

No. They said that it wasn’t happening.
I’ll link to the relevant threads later.
I’m not sure if they know what to do about it; and MN always takes priority as it’s so much bigger.
I have to be extremely careful about what I say grin
Love you HQ! smilewink

silverlining48 Fri 10-Jun-22 16:13:04

grin

Whiff Fri 10-Jun-22 16:43:24

Silverlining have been following your journey along with all the other hipsters. Luckily I don't need any bits replacing yet.

I totally agree about some old threads at the top of the forums list. I happens on other forums as well. Also adverts appear as if they are a new thread. Had one deleted today after reporting it to GN .

Will carry on reading all your journeys . ?

silverlining48 Fri 10-Jun-22 16:50:04

Thank you Whiff, and am pleased that your bits remain in good working order and long may that continue.

iPadGrandma Fri 10-Jun-22 17:23:38

Silverlining, I’m glad to hear you are making good progress. This gives me hope for my new hip, when I actually get it.
I was back at the hospital yesterday for a repeat set of pre-admission tests as the ones done in February had expired!
During our lunch which we promised ourselves afterwards, I realised they had not done an ECG this time, but did do one last February. I had two nurses as one went on her break half way through my appointment Another lovely nurse took over but I now wonder if the ECG was overlooked. Just something else to worry about now!
Fingers crossed I get a date soon.

silverlining48 Fri 10-Jun-22 17:32:51

Sorry to hear that but maybe if the ecg has been done albeit last time that would be sufficient . What I would want is an operation date because constant pre op appointments without an operation is surely a waste of time for everyone.
Why not ring the dept or consuitants secretary? That often works.

SusieB50 Sun 12-Jun-22 09:54:09

Good morning all sorry I haven’t been posting recently. FannyCornforth not long now !
It’s interesting that I have almost forgotten how I felt the first few days , rather like childbirth ! My hip is fine now but unfortunately have felt quite unwell following a flare up of my asthma . Normally it doesn’t bother me at all - last flare up was over two years ago after the death of my DH . So steroid tablets and I’m so breathless which is preventing my walking any distance. DS thinks it’s time to put me down !! My hip is the least of my problems. I have another physio appointment this coming week , but don’t think I’ll bother about practicing getting into a bath ,haven’t had a bath for years -my friend who also lives alone got stuck …. !!

Aveline Sun 12-Jun-22 09:59:54

I think it's such a good sign when you forget about your new hip. Sorry to hear about the asthma though.
I wouldn't dream of trying to have a bath and am grateful for our walk in shower every day.
I was a a hotel with a spa last week and absolutely adored the inside outside hot tub jacuzzi thing. I could walk down into the blissfully hot water and luxuriate floating in the fiercely bubbling water. There were underwater ceramic loungers. Just a wonderful experience. If only I could do that every day. (Mind you the other ladies stared somewhat rudely at my knee and hip scars!)

iPadGrandma Sun 12-Jun-22 12:26:42

Silverlining,thank you for suggesting that I contact my surgeon’s secretary. In a post-appointment letter from him earlier this year he gave me his secretary’s email address, if I had any questions. I thought that was really helpful as, over the weeks following, I had one or two. So I emailed his secretary and did not receive an acknowledgement, let alone any indication that she had made any effort to find out the answers to my fairly simple, I thought, questions.
I was quite upset not to even get an acknowledgement and I have been put off contacting her again, silly though that sounds.
I think I might make another effort to contact her this week as I have now had my second lot of pre-admission tests, three months apart, and still no date for surgery. This has made me much more anxious than I have been all along and I don’t really know why. I guess I am totally unsettled (and can hardly walk, even with two sticks).

SusieB, sorry to hear about your asthma flare up. I was diagnosed with it at 52 and have had four hospital admissions over the years. You are probably on a short course of high dose
Steroids (Prednisolone) and they used to make me feel absolutely awful, disorientated and hyper. My main symptom was an uncontrollable cough, never mind the low peak flow. I do hope you start to feel better over the next few days.
I am glad the new hip is doing well!

silverlining48 Sun 12-Jun-22 17:59:07

Aveline that spa sounds wonderful. What a shame people stared at your scars, unless they were admiring your dexterity.

Susie sorry about the asthma but yes, we are 8 weeks in now and old hands almost. I have swollen feet/ lower legs and a dreadfully painful big toe which isn’t getting better but very happy with the hip. I tried to get into the bath clogged this morning and while I got into it once I started bending to sit I changed my mind and got out again, I still don’t trust too much bending and twisting.

IPadGrandma why not phone the hospital and ask to speak to Your doctor’s Secretary. They should put you through and if you have to leave a message you can, or sometimes another Secretary can help with your query or at least pass it on.
It’s a poor show that you had no response before but there may be reasons, who knows. In the meantime take care and fingers crossed you get a date very soon. I understand how difficult not knowing is, but it can’t be long now. I hope!
Last resort is PALS patient liaison service at every hospital who can help.

Fanny not long now, wishing you well.

silverlining48 Sun 12-Jun-22 18:00:14

Susie I was clothed not clogged, smile

Aveline Sun 12-Jun-22 18:19:03

Silverlining - glad you clarified that!!

GrannyLaine Mon 13-Jun-22 08:18:10

Good morning hipsters, I'm sorry to hear of all your trials and tribulations on the road to recovery / path to surgery.

The bath thing is interesting: I used to love languishing in the bath with a good book but as my hip became more painful, it was no longer a pleasure. We're lucky to have a separate shower cubicle so that worked fine for me and felt very safe post-operatively. At some point we realised what a HUGE saving a water meter would make and now we're very conscious of our use of water. Our water bills are a fraction of what they once were. I simply don't use the bath anymore except for bathing toddlers and other unwieldy things that need washing.

GrannyLaine Mon 13-Jun-22 08:24:26

Last resort is PALS patient liaison service at every hospital who can help.

iPadGrandma I agree with silverlining that if you get no joy with the Consultant's secretary, this is a really good idea. It flags up where the system is wasting time and resources and it could possibly speed things up for you. I've used them before to have a review of the urgency of an operation for one of my DGC and had a very positive outcome.

FannyCornforth how are you feeling this week?

FannyCornforth Mon 13-Jun-22 08:26:12

silverlining48

Yet again, this hasnt been added to the active posts list....dont understand why.

I haven’t caught up yet; but I’ve just seen on my I’m On list that this thread has just been posted on - an yet again it isn’t appearing on the Active List.
It is such a shame, because unless you are already on the thread you can’t see it.
It is a really valuable resource for anyone who is the same situation.
I will report the problem to GN. (Again)

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