Two weeks to go packing my bag and

Thanks annedi 

Hi sarah

thanks. Well anything to help with the boredom. I hate hospitals and find them very hard to stay so  I have a mobile DVD player so will be taking some films in with me. I am taking my iPad so I can watch TV because the one on the ward was broken so probably still is.  all the usual stuff Tshirts & shorts. To wear in bed and during the day. ( easier for nurses to see if there are any problems if they can see the colour of your skin. ) I usually travel light so just a small weekend bag. Makes me laugh when I see folk arrive with big suitcases as if they going on holiday or staying for a year.    

Hahahaha im one of those people. I just need to take everythingm yeah i find it very difficult to concentrate in hospital especially when im staying there. Ill take as much as possible to keep me entertained i suppose. do you know much about if you can shower whilst in hospital?

When I was there last time I had a shower the morning of my op. ( take a hair  drier ) then depending on what dressing you have you might or might not be allowed one. I didn't have a shower and had to cope with strip washes. It all depends on your individual case and what the surgeon does with regard to closing your wound. I didn't want staples I have seen wounds stapled and didn't like the look of them so I went with melting stitches. Which means not getting the wound wet for at least two weeks. 

Do you think if i got staples id be allowed a shower? Iv already got two very larger scars on my left hip that were stapled and i want my new scar to match as it will be one the same side. It sounds of saying that but iv got ocd and it would make me very stressed if it wasnt the same. Although i dont think i could cope with strip washing. Do the nurses do that in the hospital?

I had staples, and showering was no problem, encouraged in fact, but you need a waterproof dressing.

Graham

Do you get given waterproof dressings automatically or do you have to ask?

I was given them automatically - they told me on day 2 that I could shower whenever I felt up to it - so I did - it felt wonderful.

The TED stockings are a real pain.  In hospital I got the nurses to help, at home, my wife was unable to move them, so I showered with them on, and she used a hairdryer on them to dry them in-situ. 

Graham

I will deffo have to try and go down that route. I get really made when i feel unclean. How exactly did you shower? Were you in the shower on your crutches? Sitting on a chair? Being held by someone?

It was a walk-in cubicle, went in using 2 sticks, left them outside the cubicle, there was no chair, but there were grab handles - but I was OK from the start just standing.  I am sure a nurse would have helped if I had requested it - but thankfully to prevent embarassment (no male nurses on hand) I was OK.

I was advised not to 'actively' clean the scar area, just let the water run over it.

I know what you mean - it felt really wonderful.  

Graham

Ahh right i see. Im not a 100% if i will be allowed to do that because when i get my op they have to move ny hips down so i dont no how its gonna work. But i seriously hope i will be able to shower.

Juat ask - they'll soon tell you.

Hi Loral so do I, I am dreading it happening again. Don't really want to go but I have to. I have had enough of the pain. The stiff sore muscles and the cold foot because the circulation isn't good and my knee is killing me almost as bad as the hip.  I will be so glad to get off these X pain killers. That is for sure.