?‍♀️Hip Replacement #2 ?‍♀️ (Knees Welcome!) ?‍♀️

Ooo Charleygirl. I love a high toilet too. Always have, even when I didn’t have hip problems. Planned to do the same if we ever get around to having a new bathroom.

My garden shed is full of crutches, a commode, 2 walking frames and a bathroom chair.

Many years ago when I was refurbishing the bathroom I bought a higher loo because I had mega problems getting off the loo which was so low. I also bought the same height for the downstairs loo and it was a boon after my knee replacements and will obviously be there for my hip replacement which I think will be next on the list.

Just checked our spot on the active list and we were half way down with the older posts ( as usual).

I got my aids in AgeUK charity shops. Paid £22 fir new walker and new commode. Still had the cardboard wrapped round the legs.
Found the walker very useful fir getting into our shower and also as a place to hang my clothes/towels. Have seen walkers since for £5 in charity shops.
Well worth a look especially as there appears to be the bare minimum provided by hospitals. I got 2 sticks and a toilet seat. Not complaining of course, am very grateful my hip has been replaced. It was 15 weeks yesterday.
Fanny there is a special way to measure legs, belly buttons and ankles are involved, you might find it online. Its not as staight firward as one would think but suppose any way would give an indication.

Don’t worry too much about the post-operative pain travelsafar
I think more should be said about it to be honest but the emphasis is, understandably, on how the bone on bone hip pain goes instantly.

Regarding visits to the loo in the night, on reflection a walker would be an enormous help, rather than struggling with two crutches when we are half asleep, then having to prop them up whilst we are ‘doing our business’ in the bathroom.
I can though see why hospitals always whip them away at the earliest opportunity as we have to get used to crutches, including stairs before we are discharged, but in the early days back at home, the walking frame would be much safer, especially as I said at night.

I believe Amazon sell them relatively cheaply.

I remember my operated leg feeling heavy in the early days and my ankle and foot were a bit swollen but they soon went down.

As you can see from comments on here from those of us who are a few weeks and months on from the operation, that life does get back to normal !

I still feel very thankful that I only had to wait five months from seeing the surgeon, to the operation.
I did though pay to see him privately although the operation itself was funded by the NHS in a private hospital.

I think that I’m going to get DH to measure my inside legs today.
Just after the op, it seemed loads longer, but I’m not so sure now

Well take care filling the hole.
My operated leg is longer too and like you I feel it. Noticed it almost straight away post op and it remains the same 3 months later.

Interesting to read about leg length and gait. I know for sure my operated side is longer. I can't put both legs together and straighten them for any length of time before it gets uncomfortable and my default is to bend my knee on the operated side slightly to compensate. Walking too...I seem to have developed a definite wiggle which my pinned spine doesn't like. We were all told it can take anything up to a year for everything to settle down so maybe it still will. It does worry and upset me though.

It had to happen...I was excited about having moles in the garden...all part of our new country life.. until last night when out late night on slug patrol I put my foot in a mole hole and went flying. I actually landed on my operated hip and poor DOH was more upset than me (he witnessed the original fall that caused the labral tear etc). It was a bit achy so I had a hot bath and into bed. A couple of times I woke when I was lying on it but this morning all seems fine. I'm off to fill in the hole now. ?️

Travels... Very good news about the BM. I couldn't use the raised toilet seat ...it didn't seem to fit securely on either of them so although it was tricky I did manage without it. I lowered myself down with operated leg out stretched.. did what I needed to do.. then using my hands moved my operated leg to the side slightly and then put my hand on the loo seat between my legs and pushed up that way. I still do if I'm being lazy although my leg now moves under its own steam.
My whole leg was twice the size of the other one and because of that really heavy too. That went down in about a week. I took Codeine interspersed with paracetamol to counteract the constipation which did help. I found most of the time I could only sleep properly with my knees bent but that may have taken the pressure off my previously operated back. Well done for sleeping 6 hours...I could only manage between 20 and 30 minutes in the early days. I remember sleeping for 2 hours once and boy did it make a difference. You are doing so well...a quick to from the wise....allow yourself enough time to get to the loo once the senokot etc makes its presence known.

What a relief ?

Just worked out BM. Well done, what s relief!

We put the last of my ‘equipment’ in the loft yesterday. It’s about 3 and a half months since my operation. Have stopped counting in weeks.

It’s early days, I wasn’t well ( temperature swelling etc) for a week if so. It is major surgery so while it is successful recovery takes a bit of time and patience.
Think every day is one closer to feeling better . Take it easy, drink lots of water, move if you can and all will be well, this time next week will be so much better.

Good news about the BM! I have a toilet seat and frame and must admit I've kept it in situ even though it was my new hip's first birthday yesterday.
I'm currently staying at DDs on Gran duty and am really missing the handles as I struggle to stand up from her trendy but very low loo!

Mine is a wicker chair with the pot under the cushion so sadly can't use as you did but I will give it a go and see how I get on. I must be niaeve because after hardly any pain in hospital I thought I would be fine at home, bit of a shock really. It would seem to me they send us home too early when pain is least, it would be great to still be there with help and support about worries you have. One good thing have had BM this morning so feel more comfy in that area.

I initially got the commode as a suitable seat to follow the 90 degree rules set by the surgeon but it turned out to be really useful.

Travels sorry you had a difficult night. I was only given a raised seat too but had bought a commode which I found to my surprise could also work as rails fir support round the toilet. i just removed the little plastic potty and used the raised seat on and into the toilet. If you see what I mean. My dd told me most commodes work like that. Check
Yours to see if you can do the same.

Yes, I did have lots of pain Travels
My lower leg was black and blue, especially behind my knee. It’s still bruised now.
My upper leg was huge (I’ve got big thighs at the best of times)
It really swelled up and was very hard. And yellow!
I couldn’t fit into my chair that has arms.
It soon calmed down though.

I did feel absolutely dreadful for ten days -two weeks. I wasn’t really prepared for it at all.
I just felt ill, like post flu type of thing.
I felt incredibly tired and was only comfortable in bed.

I didn’t have any trouble at all moving my leg into bed, but reading past posts I think that I was the unusual one.

Recently I’ve had muscle pain in my stomach and chest, it must be because I’m walking properly now and using different muscles.

Yes anti sickness injection helped with that. I seem to have pain going all the way down my leg at the moment and it feels so heavy it won't move unless I lift it. Did you have this experience???

Good morning Travels
Oh dear, that toilet business does sounds awful.

Has the sickness stopped? I felt sick for at least 10 days afterwards; and a friend told me that her mom was exactly the same.
Wishing you a good day x

Its after 5am and I'm awake. 2 visits to the bathroom one at 2ish and just now. Both were horrendous I have raised seats but they were impossible to get off with out lots of attempts. The last time I really thought t would gave to call someone...note to myself take phone everywhere.....it was agony, so tonight I think I might use a commode and the carer will have to empty it in the morning. It has arms either side that I can push up on. ACS just gave me a raised seat no arms to go round the actual toilet, we had those in hospital and made it so easy. At least on a brighter note I did sleep a good 6 hours I would say on my back so feel better in that respect. Gonna lie in bed for another hour listening to the radio then make my way downstairs ready for carer and most importantly pain relief and laxatives, have got lactulose and gonna throw a couple of senna in the mix don't want to leave things too long in that area!!!!

Well done, I &needed help getting into bed for at least 2 weeks ) or probably more) so well done.
Sleep ? and keep in touch zzzzzzzz

Have got myself unaided into bed. My leg is giving me grief but I have taken 2 x 30mg codiene in the hopes they dull the pain and help me sleep. Good night everyone will report back in the morning

That’s interesting about leg and step length Susie. I know mine are different post op and am using shorter steps too as young gd took fewer steps than I did on a walk yesterday.
As for giving birth you forgot the brick part. Ouch! Double ouch!

After having a terrible time with the constipation, it was like giving birth! I found the best thing was Lactulose twice a day and senna at night . Sounds a lot I know but the codeine really bungs you up . You’ll need the codeine for a few days . Plenty of water ,veg and fruit. Pleased all went well . Onward and upward ! 15 weeks post op and I have been discharged from physio today . I think I still have a funny walk but he says it’s because I’m taking small steps . So I must extend my stride more . If after 6 months post op it’s still funny then he will remeasure my leg length but no point until then apparently.