Hip replacement, living alone and with responsibility for pet.

cocoa

hi all lovely to hear how you’re all doing and Jane18 soon be back in the driving seat ! I’m making good progress furst walk outsude tiday day 10 just round the block checked my garden out lots cucumbers tomatoes etc lilies coming into bud ! Fed up tv but can’t concentrate puzzle books or reading yet . Wish I could sleep on side have tried pillow trick but get stuck ! Just waiting now fir. Wound to be sorted by nurses tues aft and I will be wallowing in shower I hope ! Husband getting good at cooking so hope he will carry on a bit with that ( boiled egg tiday and fish fingers for tea so I won’t starve !) good thing I made few meals fir freezer but been too hot to have those yet. But plenty salad . How you doin Zimmer snd Fran54?
@Cocoa

Jane18

Hi @cocoa, good luck with the nurse on Tuesday and hope the wound is healed. I remember that first shower, after 3 weeks, it felt like such a luxury. And well done on getting out for a walk. The first one can feel a bit challenging, but after that I found it got easier each day. At the moment like you dodging the rain showers.

Hadn't come across Planty before, @Zimmer, so that's a new one to try. Hope all the prep is going well for your op.

Jane x

Fran54

@cocoa

Hi glad to hear that you are getting out for walks. I have been out once but weather so changeable, so walking more indoors. Had the District Nurse in yesterday to do a wound check/dressing and everything seems okay ( which is a relief ). Had a few "ouch" moments with some exercises on Thursday so advised by hospital to stop some exercises. Hospital appointment tomorrow to have clips removed so hopefully all will be well. Good luck for Tuesday! Take care.

Jane18

For the first time for 6 weeks slept on my unoperated side last night, with a pillow between my knees. And apart from the night in hospital when I was so doped up with painkillers, it was the best night's sleep I'd had for months, as I was not sleeping at all well before the op. Even the cat demanding his breakfast at 4am didn't get me moving (yes, he's now allowed upstairs again and certainly lets me know of his presence!). The only thing was I found my back was very achy with the changed position, but that was eased with exercises.

Also out driving for the first time since the op. Only a short distance, but to the shops to pick up a paper and something for lunch and then to the park, where I managed a decent walk before the heavens opened again. Even managed to do a butterfly watch, as there were loads about today. So another important milestone to note. I've now booked a short break in September, so several weeks to practise driving and walking further.

When I reflect on how anxious I was before the hip replacement and where I am now, after only 6 weeks since the procedure, it makes me so appreciative of all the support I've received to get to this stage, not only from the medical staff and physios, but also from the community on this website, who have helped to guide me through the different stages and offer encouragement and feedback.

Good luck @Fran54 and @cocoa with your appointments this week and hope everything goes well.

Jane

Fran54

@Jane18

it must have been such a treat to be able to drive again which makes you so much more independent and booking a holiday is surely a bonus and something to look forward to. I had my clips out today and everything is clear so that is a bonus for me so now if all stays fine I can have a shower later on in the week! Got my first physio appointment on Wednesday, so now the hard work begins again! Gradually moving about more easily and even cooked my own dinner tonight ( scrambled egg ) which I love. Take care from one hippie to another🙂

Janlyn

@Jane18 it's amazing to hear you well you are doing and how positive you are about it all. I'm sure you'll be away for short breaks in the Autumn. You'll think you've done well, and then next year, you'll do it all again and so, so much better. It really is life-changing in a very good way. Take care, Janlyn

Zimmer

@Jane18 , @cocoa , @Fran54 you all sound very positive which is extremely motivating. Your recoveries sound awesome, and yeah I know you're having moments of frustration, who wouldn't, but you haven't let it get you down for long, so kudos to you all.

I have a quick question for you all, if you don't mind because I asked for gluing instead of clips or stitches and the surgeon said no problem and he also said that I would shower after 48 hrs! I know that everyone's different but nobody in the community has mentioned showering after 48 hrs?

I laughed about your husband's cooking efforts, cos that's probably all mine could manage, that's why I'm gonna stock the freezer up lol.

Busy getting my "area" ready, moving things around and trying to find the right sized block of wood to raise bits of furniture that are WAY too low. This operation is the perfect solution to get shot of things that don’t kindle joy too

Jane18

Hi @Zimmer, I had dissolvable stitches and steristrips. Although my dressing was waterproof, they said I should keep it dry, so showering was not advised. Having said that, I was able to have a shower at the hospital before I was discharged, as it was a walk-in shower and I could just keep my operated side away from the spray. But at home I have an over-bath shower, so it's more difficult to keep the wound dry. So I didn't shower till the wound was completely healed. But if they say you can, that's great.

I got an extra cushion for my armchair, as it was difficult to find the right size blocks to go under the legs. That worked pretty well but I can probably ditch it now.

Sounds as if you're all prepared. Good luck with all the pre-op appointments.

Jane

cocoa

hi at fran54 snd zimmer

I too had dissolvable stitches glue and steri strips despite the fact the hospital sent a note to surgery to remove clips etc after 2 weeks, only thing is I got terrible itchy rash but when looked it up coukd be anything from the glue to the strips to the surgeon !! your lucky had visit from district nurse !ihad to limp thru full surgery to see the nurse on Tuesday ! Anyway still couple bits to heal so change if dressing then back again next Tuesday ! Advised no shower etc till all healed. All getting easier had another walk out tiday . Latest prob is ‘running’ to the loo instead of spending a duration sitting on hard raised seat praying !! Husband progressed to egg and chips last night ! And he actually went to market and bought some cake and fresh fruit instead of the three B’s from Tesco- Bread, Bananas and biscuits . Glad I made some ready meals in freezer have now got bolognese ,a meat pie and several mince dishes in there but as I have home grown salad available am enjoying that ( hubby thinks rabbit food ) he lives in marmite sandwiches bananas and cake. Can’t wait fir a decent lasagne or fish dish ( more practice required for him) I get exhausted telling him how to do things . !! Anyway move on weather lovely still light at night , keep posting

Cocoa

Jane18

Hi @cocoa, hopefully all will be healed next week. I had to wait an extra week until my wound had healed completely, but after that all was fine, so it was a relief to be able to shower again (although as I have an over-bath shower, even with a step it was a bit scary the first time). It can take a while for your body to settle down with all the meds, laxatives and dietary changes, but sounds as if you've got meals sorted out now.

@Fran54, hope that first shower was good and that the physio was helpful. I had a few extra exercises after my second visit, but they have been helpful in easing my backache most of the time. Although I think in my delight at being able to get in the car again, I probably overdid the driving, so was very achy last night. Will teach me to pace myself, as @Janlyn and @JPT have found from experience.

Today I went into town for the first time since the op, to meet friends for lunch. I was a little anxious being on one crutch among so many people, but everyone was very considerate and it was so lovely to be back socialising 'normally' again, rather than just having visitors at home. So next week off to a movie - will see how I manage sitting for 2 hours, but they are comfy seats.

Hope your preparations are going well, @Zimmer. I know what you mean about getting rid of things that don't kindle joy. I also did a lot of clearing out before my op, so it was good to come back to a relatively uncluttered house. Hasn't taken me long to fill it up again, though!

Have a good weekend all.

Jane x

Janlyn

@Jane18 Well done for getting into town and taking a crutch. I remember taking a stick when I didn't need one but using it as confidence/protection in the crowds. And yes, pacing is probably the most important thing to remember, although often the easiest to forget!