👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees part 6 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

Three weeks seemed an eternity to me charleygirl and was I glad to have them out. However, five months later, amazingly, my scar is nearly invisible.

grammargran Stitches are supposed to come out 12-14 days post-op, sometimes as early as 10. Three weeks seems a long time (to me) for clips to remain in.

Both my knees were glued post-op, so I was lucky and could shower immediately. I felt able to do it safely.

Bea , I understood that stitches come out after around three weeks, but I guess everyone’s different . I had staples which came out after three weeks which was lovely - and I could shower and wash my hair!

I have recently had a check up at the dentist and I see the hygienist every six months,

Bea isn’t it too early to have your stitches removed? Or have I misunderstood?

Sealover, nearly there.

Hello Retired. Just to say Hope all goes well for you. It’s important to get health issues sorted prior to major surgery like a hip replacement.
It’s also important to get teeth checked beforehand too to avoid any possibility of post op infection,
Try not to worry.

Had my pre op assessment today, THR 4 weeks tomorrow. The atmosphere at the hospital (private, I'm NHS) was very calm and unhurried. Everyone I saw was lovely and reassuring. Issue with my BP which has been borderline for a while. Need to go on meds prior to the procedure, trying to sort this was enough to raise anyone's BP. Hopefully sorted on Monday. But, information overload, will need to sit and calmly go through it. I know I am very fortunate to have been referred there and I have a husband who is very supportive and will look after me. Shaping him up as to where things are in the kitchen, and he's asked how to use the breadmaker! Despite listening to hypnotherapy sessions on an App am still a big ball of anxt. Sorry, I know I've said it all before.

I had a phone call tonight to say that my blood test taken at the pre-assement clinic shows that my iron levels are low and I have got to go in two weeks time for an iron infusion. Then I will have to have another blood test done four weeks after that to check my iron levels. They won't do my hip replacement until these are satisfactory. Has anyone else had a problem with their iron levels?

bea that really isn’t good service and you shouldn’t really have to be ringing round trying to get your stitches taken out. Before leaving hospital on both occasions (nhs and private) I was given appointment dates to go back to the hospital to have the stitches out.
When my DH had his hip replacement I had to take him to the doctors to have the stitches out, but had to wait 2 weeks for an appointment. But that was 8 years ago and things were different then!
Good luck with the 8 o’clock scramble tomorrow. Does your doctors surgery use econsult? If so that might be easier than trying to phone.

Re the trolley which I’ve had since my fall nearly 2 years ago … apparently, I need training before I use it said the 2 physios… 🙁

Also I’ve spent hours on the phone trying to get a review with GP .. re wound site and bruising on foot - physios says there is a medical need before continuing with therapy and the district nurse is sick so no wound or stitches out - , I got an admin person who said I had to be triaged first😡
This is useless service .. went thru all my history etc .. was then offered a next Thursday call or, I call back @8am Tommorow… im the patient why am I being asked to do all this .. feel exasperated and shattered

Redcar, thank you, I will have a look at those trolleys.

Bea Don't worry. With a brain like mine, I have already forgotten most of your problems, and I doubt if I am alone.

grammargran

Oh Bea, my lovely, forgive me for forcing you to explain. Bigger hug than usual!

🙏 I do feel I’ve spilled my guts on this thread ..

Redcar I was given one after my last knee replacement and it was great downstairs. It now has pride of place on kitchen and would be a boon again if I had a hip replacement. I was hoping that minw would " see me out" but I do not think so.

teabagwoman That's an excellent idea, but I do not know if it would be allowed immediately after surgery. After my first knee, I had a Zimmer up and down stairs, and in those days, somebody popped to empty and rinse the commode.

The name of the company is CareCo and they have 3 types of trolley, plus loads of other disability aids.

teabagwoman and charleygirl my godmother, aged 99, and with new hips and knees has a tea trolley, specifically designed for indoor use, and stronger than the normal type that she uses to get around indoors. I think it came from the Care Company online.

Charleygirl, I speak from ignorance here as I’m waiting to see the orthopods to see if they will put me on the list for both hip and knee replacements, but would a three wheel rollator, instead of a walking frame help? I use one and can carry things on the seat if I’m careful. Would it be worth contacting the occupational therapists?

One can buy clip-on baskets for a Zimmer, but I feel they are narrow and better suited for glasses, a book, or other small items.

My sister in law has reached her six weeks post op following a hip replacement but she had her DH at least there during the evening and night as he still works. One DS lives across the road, so I do not think she realised how fortunate she was.

She is not very practical, so she relied on me a lot in the first 2-3 weeks. She desperately needs the other hip replaced.

I didn’t need a commode after my operation as I was able to get to the loo using the zimmer frame from the first night. I kept using the frame for weeks as I felt steadier on it. It’s certainly difficult, if not impossible, to carry anything when both hands are hanging on to a walking frame or sticks. Sorry I couldn’t come up with a solution to the problem charleygirl and bea.

Bea It is horrendous when you live alone and find it difficult to cope anyway without that "added extra."

Thanks Redcar, something to think about. Relative has similar problems to Bea. She is older, but incontinence can strike at any age.

Oh Bea, my lovely, forgive me for forcing you to explain. Bigger hug than usual!

…I’ve a bladder prolapse ..started in lockdown..had major spill in kitchen…since then, despite seeing wonderful community bowel&bladder nurses, my issue is bladder incontinence and literally have no control over the gush that happens…have done all the squeezes and keep doing all the clenches but issue remains.. regularly visit the loo , time my outdoor activities so its just another medical condition that’s in play so yes need commodes..they used to be so much easier to pull out and slide in when finished but the one that I have in bedroom is a low wheelchair type ..but its an emergency essential as are the Abena products…its a loss of dignity for sure…

Actually Bea, I was wondering the same as Aveline. I know everyone’s different with different issues and circumstances, but I only used a commode twice after my op & that was within the first 24 hours, otherwise I was using the zimmer to shuffle/sliver my way to the loo - what a relief, literally! It is tricky at first getting in and out of bed without assistance but it is doable and you soon learn all the little tricks that help. Honestly, that will be such a boost to your morale if you can manage it. Big hugs as ever.

Any chance of carrying on walking with the Zimmer right to a real toilet?