Coping alone after hip replacement

Are you in the UK? If so they dont usually send you home unless they are sure you can cope.

Your kids should be able to help a bit.,

Start organising now.....everthing at a level where you can reach without bending or stretching at first. As for the stockings I had to keep them on even though I was sent home with injections {stomach every day} I know people who have had a district nurse come in and help with them for the first few times. They dont come on and off every day {according to my surgeon}

I had a trolly beside me and I had the phone on it, a notebook and pen, some make up {most important} and a mirror. Magazines. You'll think of other things. The OT will give you a raised toilet seat, check your seat for height. Some people talk about a walker. I had crutches...no walker but I was told by someone else to ask for a trolly. {when I had my 1st THR} It was fantastic. I walked with crutches to the trolly, set them down, used the trolly to go into the kitchen to make a cup of tea or whatever and wheel it back again. Or to move things from one place to another, making sure the phone was on it LOL.

You should be able to ask the kids to help you......when they are out they can leave you a flask and some sandwiches covered and anything like that. I'm sure they could do a microwave meal for you at nights.

I found the stairs reasonabley easy once I remembered which leg went first LOL.

I only had my husband going up behind and down in front of me for a day and that was it.

I cant think of anything else ...I'm sure there are plenty of other things...if you think of anything ask

OH.....shopping online...thats good for time. Set theat up before you go in.

I dont know if you have long or short hair but mine is short and I was at the hairdressers {much to my husbands amusement}  the day before I went in.

You can also buy shampoos ...I got mine online. You dont need water so no bending. I sat down on a seat, you squeeze some liquid out of the bottle then lather it, then you towel it off. I didnt think it would work but as an in between hair washings it really helped. Also dry shampoo.

Love

Eileen

Sorry to hear about your disappointments. However ~ I sadly am on my own as well. Many folk asked: 'However will you cope on your own!?' I have found no bother at all ~ except when I drop my hadi-helper grabber on the floor. Having no kind lady to pick it up for me I quickly realised that one can use one of one's walking sticks to manoeuvre it about & pick it up on one's own.  the bottom line of my advice is: if you've managed to control 2 teenagers, & look after yourself ~ have absolutely NO concern about your ability to cope after your surgery.  All of the restrictions (no bending past 90 degrees; sleeping on one's back etc.) are a bit of a pain in the backside; but don't last long ~ & you'd need to adhere to them whether you had a bidey-in or no. 

Go forward & start the road to getting your real life back, with no worries.

All the best, John (Ross-shire Buff)

actually i would ask the physio, consultant, nurses anyone you will be conferring with to include your kids and to give them specific instructions eg by demo. look even the intimate wiping your children can pass you a folded flannel dipped in warm soapy water then refreshed for a rinse....really let them gain some nursing skills under your supervision....empower your off spring! 

Not quite sure how I will manage but determined to do everything right as I cannot afford for the op to go wrong as I need to look after hubby further down the line.

Trying to get the house organised now so I have everything to hand. I shall also do online shopping. No way would I cancel, it needs doing and the sooner done the sooner things will improve. Good luck x