👯‍♀️👯‍♀️Hips and Knees part 4 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️

Impressive stair Action by the way.

Does not dies…

Happy for you Mizuna. Enjoy your bit of a rest today, it dies make sense, but you are on your way. Hooray. 🥳

A surprise yesterday. Went out to a family gathering and found I could get in and out of my son's car painlessly, first time in years! 💃 I've avoided car travel for a long time because of the discomfort. Then walked up the stairs to my flat 'normally', without thinking, one foot on each step. Exactly four weeks since my operation. Will take it carefully today as I'll need a rest after yesterday's activities, but am well chuffed!

I'm down to one crutch but won't move to a stick for a while because the town is so crowded. The crutch at least shows people I'm not fast on my feet.

Mizuna, so much to catch up on, and so much we took for granted before.
Charleygirl5, I might give the kitchen sink a try for washing my hair. Not so far to bend.

greenmossgiel, the knitting group sounds lovely. Enjoy! I started one from a group of us at our allotments but I haven't been able to get to it for months. This Saturday we have our Allotment Summer Show which I can get to because there's a bus stop nearby. The knitters will be there. Can't wait to see everyone!

I have not had a bath for many years. It was like sinking of the Titanic and I had mega problems getting out and living on my own was not a good idea. I had to get rid of my bath and had a lovely shower installed with a separate stool. The water pressure is weak so I wash my hair at the kitchen sink where the pressure is excellent. We find a way around most hiccups.

Thats great greenmossgiel. You'' feel all the better for a change of scene and chat.
I'm feeling stir crazy. Been stuck in with DH who
has a slipped disc. He's a tiny bit better today, so far but there's no saying how he'll be later.

Mitzuna, there’s so much to look forward to, isn’t there? Even wee simple things like a soak in the bath. This afternoon , I’m going to the village knitting group. My pal will give me a lift. Missed the chatter and gossip!

Aveline, DH was offered a bath lift by the OT when he first came out of hospital. He didn’t like it at all and I agreed when I gave it a try. This was before my operation. I think even if we’d kept it, I wouldn’t have felt safe using it as it was raised electronically to level of side of the bath, one then sat on it and swung legs round, then lowering into the very shallow water. Swinging one big fat swollen leg round wouldn’t have worked!

I, too, long for a good soak! My shower is over the bath and I can get in and out of that but I wouldn't dare try lying down yet! Still, it's something to look forward to. 😊

Have you got a bath board greenmossgiel? I was given one after my first knee. I hated it. Scary. Eventually we had the bath taken out a a large walk in shower fitted. I love being in water and so appreciate now being able to go to Aquafit classes. You'll get back to warm water soaking eventually.

I do so want to soak in a bath, but I know I couldn’t safely get in and out of it. Our shower is over the bath, so hair washing has been done by dangling my head over the side of it. Feet washing is done in a plastic basin. It’s a case of a daily all-over wash at the bathroom sink. DH had been given a ‘perching stool’ by the OT and this is really helpful for me as well.

I know that the big items go back to the central store to be sterilised but I must check about my crutches, which I've had for nearly three years. If there's any chance of their being binned I'll use them on my allotment as plant supports. 😁

An unexpected bonus of this painful op came yesterday when I noticed that I can now stand up perfectly straight! I assumed that I was leaning a little, oof, because of age, had no idea it was my knee causing it. I feel tall again, like I used to be! 😂

Mizuna you were very lucky to have been given all you needed. It depends on which part of the country one lives as to what is supplied which is very wrong.

One hospital where I had my knees replaced used to throw out crutches, Zimmer frames, raised loo seats etc. I think somebody realised the money wasted so now they are sterilised and re-used.

It used to be the case that people had a pre op home assessment and lots of aids, but that has changed here now. I came out after 36 hours and had a raised toilet seat abd two sticks.
I coped as we all would.

Here in Cornwall we are automatically supplied with the equipment needed following a hip or knee replacement: a raised toilet seat, toilet frame and raised sloping stool. These are delivered to your home and collected once finished with. A shoe horn and grabber also come but we keep those. It's a system that works very well, especially as I live in a small flat with no extra storage space.

My commode which I had planned to use as a chair (90 degrees and all that) actually proved very useful because after a while I realised that if the potty bit was removed, it doubled as a toilet frame which made getting on and off so much easier. Used it for ages…
My walker was also used in the bathroom to help me in and out of the shower and served as a handy towel rail too.
I was delighted with my purchase at age concern charity shop. Both items looked brand new. £10 each. What’s not to like, everyone benefits.
Hope I don’t need it again but if I do I know where it is.

My shed houses my Zimmer frame, sloping seat, crutches and heaven knows what else. My loft is empty because I cannot safely get up and down although I have a sensible sliding stair, a light and the floor has been boarded.

Me too green moss
It’s up in the loft in its box waiting in case there’s a next time together with a walker and commode seat I bought before my hip Hop. Both proved useful .

It's the little things greenmossgiel!

I was sent home from hospital with a raised toilet seat. It’s a wonderful thing!

Something for me to think about Charleygirl. I do like my loo frame with handles though. I might get it back one day.

A few years ago I was fed up with my low loo seat so had both toilets changed and they are raised and feel so much better. At least if I had a hip replaced I would not have to have a raised seat. It was money well spent as was the stool for inside my shower.

I've only just given up my raised toilet frame. I do miss it but DH's need is currently greater than mine. He's got a slipped disc and in a lot of pain.