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

You are right Charleygirl, bare minimum aids/info is what most get but that’s what we are here for. With all our joint experience we are a font of knowledge and I am still so grateful for all the helpful information and support I received when I first posted.

My surgeon insisted staff have me ice in hospital. Plastic bags inside pillowcases. Not sure they would have if the Dr hadn't told them to.

Agree just loo seat really is all you need.
I didn't have ice in Hospital for my Hip, unlike my knee. Then they send you home with a knee ice thingy. Which has water in it, you just keep in the fridge. For a knee invaluable, Hip tbh you shouldn't need it.
Agree shower mat, something to help get your leg in bed, dressing gown belt will do it, grabber the right height seat and "Bobs your Uncle" that should do it.
Just time, patience and this thread, to answer any questions you might have
Best wishes to all Hipsters.

I have had both knees done at different times and I certainly was not offered ice in hospital and zilch to take home.

MY neighbour has had new knee surgery privately and she came home with lots if things including a complicated strap on ice thing fir her new knees which she lent me fir my hip but there was no way of fixing it. Luckily I didn’t need it as the hip didn’t swell up.

silverlining when one has surgery done privately one pays for everything and she may have been "talked" into thinking she needed it.

I personally think that one needs more gadgets post a hip replacement because of the risk of dislocation. Sure, one can injure a knee but mainly by falling flat on it!

Charleygirl5 I don't think it works quite like that for private healthcare, certainly not when its funded by private insurance. A total care package is offered by the hospital & includes any equipment required. My needs were assessed post operatively and was given just what I needed for my recovery period. Fair to say that it will vary between providers.

Sorry I was being a tad facetious.

Within 30 seconds my one-liner above went straight into Last Day and close to the bottom.

Morning everyone, I'm now 2 weeks away from my THR.
I'm now thinking about what to take with me. A nightdress or shorty pyjamas?
Which would be easier in terms of access to the wound? Comfort? Going to the toilet etc?
I'm probably only going to be in overnight so I suppose I may just change from the hospital gown into my going home clothes.
TIA

You'll want to change into your own nightie after the op. How long will you be in for? I was in for three nights so had several showers etc and took in two nighties (and pants)

Hello Linda
Definitely a nightie. You won’t be able to put on shorts and pants that easily.
Coming out the next day sounds a bit swift. Is that what they have told you?
I felt really rough the next day and wouldn’t have wanted to come home. Mind you, I was dehydrated and had to have a drip.
You will have to do physio too and practice with your sticks and going up and down stairs.

Nightie and pants probably though I went from my hospital gown to my own clothes when I went home. Suggest a dress/skirt for homecoming .

I was out so fast I only managed a breakfast before discharge good Friday morning. They closed the whole hospital fir the Easter weekend! ?

Thank you everyone.
The consultant told me it will be just overnight if I can go up steps , go to the toilet etc.
A relative of mine had her THR in same hospital . She stayed in 2 nights because her pain wasnt controlled.
Nighties it is then. I need to buy a couple more.
I did read on Bonesmart about one lady arriving at the hospital for 6.30 surgery and she was back home by 11 am. This was in America. I was a bit shocked at that.

If you are not wearing slippers going home please have sensible shoes. If lace-ups, buy elastic laces and make sure you have your long-handled shoe horn nearby. If wearing slip-ons you may still need your shoe horn.

I would take a couple of nightdresses and maybe 4 pairs of knickers as you do not know how long you may be in the hospital.

In theory you should be discharged using a pair of crutches but it could easily be a pair of sticks. Hopefully it is not a Zimmer frame because that was very difficult to fit into my small car after my last knee replacement.

Have you got microwavable food or do you have a DH who does not need a map to find the kitchen?

Time flies, you will soon be home.

Nightdresses are the best it is hard to pull knickers or pj bottoms up to begin with. I took two nighties some pants and dressing gown with me. Changed back into own clothes to come home, one of the nurses helped me pull my trousers up and i managed to get my slip on shoes on using shoe horn which i also took with me. Had two sticks. Spent 2 nights in hospital, they would have sent me home the next day but BP was too low but as soon as it was ok off i went. Good luck

Thank you for your advice.
I wear Skechers Slip ons at home and have bought another pair to take in with me. I feel safe and supported in them.
Aveline, I was surprised to read that you were able to take a shower so soon after your op. What about your wound? How was it kept dry?

LabradorlLinda Slip ons are ok but it will be awkward putting shoes on without the assistance of a long handled shoe horn. Still using mine 6 months post op and have one at front and another at the back door.
If you havnt got one and are close to ikea they are about 90p . So useful and I would quite like another for the car when I change shoes after walking. One upstairs too maybe. Can’t have too many shoe horns!
Re showers I don’t think I had one fir the first few days and was told when showering to be quick and not soak the wound area for the first few times. I didn’t shower every day anyway as a wash at the sink was sufficient.

I needed a chair at my bathroom wash hand basin and I still needed it for a few months afterwards.

I have used a stool in my shower since 2012 and I would not be without it.

You may also want a picker-upper upstairs and one downstairs but that is personal because the money starts to creep up!

We are here if you need any more tips.

The dressing was thickish plastic so didn’t really get wet. The wound about 10”. When I went to have the dressing and stitches (or clips ) removed there were none, the whole thing had been glued up. No leakage or weeping. Neither from me nor the wound.

I was in hospital for ten days as had to have iv antibiotics due to a history of Septic Arthritis last year and they sent material from op. for microbiology testing. They wanted me to remain on antibiotics until the results had come back.
Anyway, I just wore a hospital nightdress, a clean one each day, which suited me fine. And saved my husband any washing! Rehab team gave me another grabber, leg lifter and long shoe horn.
You certainly need more than one grabber , or at least I do, as I drop things in every room it seems. And more than one long shoe horn. They helped me take off my socks. That is something you can’t do easily on your own. My husband had to take mine off each night until he suggested I could try using my long shoe horn and it worked. And I needed a gadget for putting on socks but it only worked if the socks were loose.
I did not shower for a couple of weeks as I was really worried about getting my wound wet. I preferred to wait until the wound had healed properly which it did with no problems. The District Nurse removed 31 clips at home on Day 13.
Before my op I sent off for large body wipes which somebody had recommended. They were very good and I knew it wouldn’t be forever. I was supplied with a shower stool which was very good, height adjustable. The NHS Physio adjusted all my equipment, loo seats and perching stools so they were the right height.
I did not have any ice packs in hospital but the knee patients did. I have had no pain at all since the hip replacement, but was obviously on strong painkillers while in hospital.
My feet and ankles swelled on about Day 17 and that swelling lasted about 2 weeks. I was rather surprised that this had happened only when it did, but gathered that it was part of the healing process. They just went down on their own , no ice or anything.
I found having to sleep on my back for the first six weeks an awful prospect but somehow managed it.
The first few weeks seemed to go slowly but tomorrow will be 11 weeks with my new hip. Now I can start concentrating on starting treatment for my dental implants ……

IPadGrandma glad all is going so well after the difficult start. About the dentist do check about the hip and your septic problems, as a tooth infection may affect a wound. I might be wrong but wanted to mention.

silverlining no, you are spot on and if anybody has had a joint replacement an infection anywhere on the body must be taken care of.

A friend of mine has had a knee replacement and several years ago she had a nasty infection on her right leg. She did zilch about it until I informed her that blood circulates, she thought it whooshed up and down her legs and that blood never mixed! I almost gave up the will to live.

I had a really good padded and totally waterproof dressing on. Not bothered about getting it wet in the shower. I was scared at first then realised for the first time that I was standing without any pain in my hip. It was wonderful.
I did shower at home but not every day. I found 'Drench' wipes were great for a comprehensive clean on non shower days.