Coping alone after hip replacement

Forgot to mention I also do the juicing and it was very helpful! I was able to walk around the kitchen with one crutch after a day or two and get it ready myself .

 

My friend lives alone and over here the hospitals have a Rehab Center next door and you have the option of going there for a week.  You have meals brought to you and have Physical Therapy several times a day.  It's pretty much all you'd need...4-5 days until you can get about with your walker at home.  Make your bed on the first floor sofa if you have a 2 story house.  You won't be able to drive for a couple of weeks, so a neighbor or relative has to do shopping and pick up meds.  I had the dreaded stockings to prevent blood clots and once you're puttering around, up and down, you can take them off.  Depending on your build, you can get them on yourself if your stomach is not big.  Also, they will give you an injection, pre-loaded, for your abdomen to prevent clot from forming and traveling to lungs or heart. That's for 5 days. Positioning is important and they will teach you.  I knew a guy who did not follow instructions and was up walking before he should have, drove, and his hips ended up unevenly healed and he had an odd, twisted walk from it.  He had been drinking on a motorcycle and got hit by a car.  That's how his hips got broken.  When he needed revision 20+ years later, he made sure to follow directions!

Sue you only have to read all these posts to realise we all get very different advice...wear stockings, no stockings, self injection, no injection, 5 days ..i had 28 days.....do whatever you're told and listen to your own body...accept all the help you can until you can do without....or until it drives you bonkers!!

 

Sue, I can see why you are concerned, but your children will step up when it comes to it. My children are much younger than yours and were so amazingly helpful. I hope you will be pleasantly surpirsed. There are some things you can do now:

Agree now what things each child will do each day, and ask them to have a few trials so you can see if there are any issues or problems that need ironing out.

Pre book shopping and make sure you have them on hand to put it all away on a designated day each week.

Resolve to stay in hospital for as long as possible. You may not want to do this, but it is the safest and easiest place for you to be, every day you are there and being cared for is one less day you need to be worry at home.

Increase your cleaner to come in daily for the first two weeks at least if not longer. That way your house will be clean, and she can help you by getting you a cup of tea etc and she/he is there for you should you need anything.

Pre book shopping to include ready made salads and sandwiches for your lunches when you are children are most likely to be out.

Set up a tea station and everything you need in your bedroom by your bed. There will be days early on, when you will not want to move. Make sure you have a charger for your phone, medication, tea, lunch and water every day by your bed. Ask your children to replenish everything in the mornings before leaving.

You will need lots of grabbers to pick up everything from crutches to things you need, you will need at least a few around the house.

Order prepared juices in advance, if you like juices. The effort in the early days will mean you probably won't have them otherwise.

If you have your lunch, drinks organised first thing, and a TV, ipad etc you will be fine day to day. Do you have a walk in shower? If you do, buy a perching stool and you will be fine. I was showering alone by day four.  Also order some sticky shower mats, at least three or four so you do not slip, and make sure you have extra towels to dry your crutches as you will need to take them with you in the very early days (I did anyway!)  

You will find your own way and routine, but if you can step up every available help....the hardest part will be the first seven days, so if you can plan to have help even for that period of time it will be much better for you.

Sue, I have only just seen your post.  I had my operation in November and coped entirely on my own.  I didn't have anyone coming into the house at all.  I arranged to see the district nurse at the Walk In Centre to have my stitches out.  Shopping was delivered to me.  I started to go out for walks the day after I got home, obviously not far that day but gradually going further.  It is possible to do it if you are determined.

good luck

Joan

Hi Sue,

I had my op on Wednesday 3rd Feb and got home on the Saturday - my hubby managed to get 2 days off work so I had help for first couple of days and after that I was on my own. For me the thought of doing a lot of things on my own proved to be worse than actually doing them! I agree with others on the forum about organising things before you go in for your op. There are lots of things that you can do to get round problems - here's just one of the things I did - I attached a mini carabiner to a thermal cup that I could then hook onto a lanyard with a mini carabiner - this meant I could make a cuppa in the kitchen and take it back into the lounge when I was using 2 crutches. I also used a small cross bag to put my mobile in so that it would be with me no matter where I went and if I had any problems or got into difficulty I would be able to phone someone. Take time to think about what you'll need and where you'll need it and set everything up while your still mobile. Dressing using the helping hand is ok - just practise and take your time - you'll get the hang of it quickly! Stay positive and you'll be fine!

Hi Sue you can do it alone, before surgery, prepare your house of tripping hazards, lift r rugs , get shoes, and anything that you can't by with a walker, clean everything up real good before you go in, get your mess put them by your bed, your can set an alarm to take them in middle of night, stock up on easy things to make in your refrigerator , put all your toiletries in your kitchen the sink is probably higher , get a toilet seat that rises , and put that on before your surgery , I did it all myself, and go to rehab they will show how to work your new hip. So when you come home no worries, also do all the bills before you go in, because you will forget the first month. Good luck

Hi Sue, I saw your post from a year ago.. I'm 41, single mum with children aged 6 and 3. I'm due to have a hip replacement in 3 weeks time. I have a nanny for them during the week, but no-one to look after me at all, and no weekend help either. Would you be able to give me an idea of how much help I'll need for me, and how long it might be before I can be alone with my young children post op? Thank you so much, its all happened so quickly and I'm pretty overwhelmed, and male surgeons have no idea what it's like to be a single mum with an absent ex husband (he lives and works oversees so he can't help out).

thank you so much. 

sue, i have just had a hip replacement (3 weeks ago) . you really do need someone at home to look after you as the other comment below says. i understand your plight as my 2 adult daughters who live at home have been difficult, however i still do not know how i would have managed without the help from 1 of them. Sit them down to explain the help you will need.