Finally have a date for my op and I'm worried about work and stuff...

Oh lady cupcake do feel for your dilemmas. I guess all of us waiting for the op start to think whether its worth it as we do make huge adjustments in adjusting to pain and limping etc . However as I'm at the other side now I realise whilst I was going to cancel the op I'm glad I didn't as I now realise how bad I was . Take advice from your surgeon and weigh up the pluses' and minuses and you will come to the right decision fir you.

In terms of employees rights you should not feel afraid to tell your employer but if you are on your probationary period you will have to check your contract.

Post op I did struggle with putting the white stockings on that I needed fir first 6 weeks but could do everything else except drive. So get organised with food in freezer etc or order from online.

It's is a scary thing but take comfort all of us on this site gave been there and this forum is really supportive. Keep positive and keep us posted . Big hugs

Hello

Sorry to hear of your present difficulties. I?m sure that it is difficult to take a detached view of what's best and it is perhaps presumptuous of me to put forward my thoughts!

If your surgeon says that you need a replacement hip then trust them and don't delay. It can only get worse and can cause other issues.

If your new employer does not understand your need they are not a good employer for now or the longer term. It is your long term health that you should be focusing on.

Well good luck for the future.

Cheers Richard

Hello

Sorry to hear of your present difficulties. I?m sure that it is difficult to take a detached view of what's best and it is perhaps presumptuous of me to put forward my thoughts!

If your surgeon says that you need a replacement hip then trust them and don't delay. It can only get worse and can cause other issues.

If your new employer does not understand your need they are not a good employer for now or the longer term. It is your long term health that you should be focusing on.

Well good luck for the future.

Cheers Richard

Hi ladyCupcake,

please make arrangements with someone to stay with you for the first weeks! There is very little you can do by yourself once you come home from the hospital.

I have a partner and he took good care of me, but he was out at work most of the time, during that time my friends took sort of shifts to come and look after me - making meals, tidying up and helping in all sorts of ways I could not even imagine I would need!

Good luck

Well glad to hear you finally got a date for your surgery.  I know its very hard when you have a job,  trying to get well and worrying about your job at the same time.  Im retired but i remember very well how hard it was to take off work when your sick.  Do you have any friends that you could have help you.  After my HR surgery,  i was lucky   that my daughter let me stay at her house for a week.  After that, i was fine to go home.  Im single so i did everything myself which really wasnt bad.  The therapist and nurse would come and change dressings, etc.    A veteran friend of mine has such pain in his hips and needs surgery but the VA cant do it until May of this year.   He made the appt in January.  Really terrible service these vets get.  Hope everything works out for you.  

Hi Ladycupcake,

No point in putting off the operation only to find 6 months down the line you should have had it in my opinion.

I got through the operation on my own, I just needed help with shopping and putting the dreaded stockings on.  It just takes a bit of planning.  I made a thread about it which might help a bit.

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/coping-alone-after-hip-replacement-503181

I hope your employer is understanding about it.

Good luck, Cels Xx

Don't assume the worst. I am on my own and managed perfectly ok, and I was actually better than I was before I went into the hospital. It does take a bit of planning in advance (and home shopping!) but it's not all that scary. Unfortunately, there aren't any guanatees about your job - but if you continue to get worse there won't be either. So deal with what you can control and don't worry about the rest, because worrying never solved a problem anyway.

Hello To be honest you have come this far. Your Health is more important than your Job.!! You owe it to yourself to get better. And I know some employers, can be awkward but tough. Please make sure that you give your employer good notice. They will have to cope. Also make sure that you have good support at home with Family & people to look after YOU !! Buy some adult colouring books, puzzle books, cd s to relax you .And start thinking of YOU regards Amanda

Hi lady cupcake,

I just want to add to what others have been saying.

I also live on my own. My only nearby family is my 94 year old mother who would get a taxi round to see if there was anything she could do to help. To be honest, with lots of preparation before the op I was able to cope well on my own.

I stocked my freezer with ready meals, had anything I would need to use e.g saucepans, plates, cutlery etc kept handy so I didn't have to bend down to get then out.

For getting dressed I used a grabber and a sock aid plus a long handled shoe horn to get my slip on shoes on.

Then I was fortunate in having several good friends who would call in to see if there was anything I needed. I gave one friend a shopping list reach week.

Yes the first couple of weeks were difficult but each day gets easier.

Regarding work, I also had to tell my boss that I was going to need at least 3 months off. Luckily she was very sympathetic and supportive. I phoned her regularly to let her know how things were going which she appreciated.

I'm hoping to return to work on the 20th March (10weeks post op) with a phased return I.e work 5 days then a week off, followed by working 2x5 days followed by a week off and then if all ok return to full time.

I hope things work out well for you.

It really is not that bad. I was terrified and thought I wouldn't cope but now 8 weeks post op it was the best thing I've done. I'm now pain and limp free.