Husband's Total Hip Replacement

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi everyone, I'm a new member. my 72 year old husband had a THR on 7/2/17. Operation went very well according to the surgeon. The day after the operation he became unwell, no appetite & stomach pains. The Nurse suggested one of the prescribed meds may not agree with him. Two days later he is feeling much better but salts are low and is on restricted water. A blood test has revealed a problem with his white blood cells. No other information forthcoming from the medical staff. The OT is very happy with his progress so it seems the other issues are delaying his discharge from hospital. Just wondered if this was a common following THR surgery.

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  • Posted

    Hi

    Sorry to hear your husband has not been too well. I was on morphine which didn't agree with me. It's trial and error. At least the OT are pleased with his progress keep me updated

    Julie

  • Posted

    Could it be an infection, have they put him on antibiotics, how does he feel in himself, if you are even slightly concerned then write a list of questions and ask the Dr or consultant, whoever he sees next.

    I'm sure he's fine but you do not need worry at this time because I'm sure your stressed already.

    • Posted

      Hi, thank you for your reply. During visiting this evening I had a look in my husband's medical file & noticed that he had been prescribed 'Flucloxacillin. 250mg. 'Wound Infection' was also noted. The start date for this medication was 10/2/17. My husband told me that earlier this afternoon the Ward Sister had taken a look at the surrounding area near his dressing & said it was 'warm & red' . This evening he has been given him a bag of ice to place beside the dressing. He has been told that the Surgeon will see him Monday morning.

    • Posted

      That is definitely an infection. Probably nothing to worry about - he's in the right place if he's going to get one. They will want to ensure that it is under control and not migrated to the hip joint before they let him out, I would think.

      ?As for loss of appetite, I think most people experience that at some point early on. Just try to encourage him to eat a little and often, as he needs the energy to fight the infection and heal. My physio told me that for the first six weeks, every food is nil calories! In other words, just for now he can blow off worrying about what he eats, and just concentrate on eating whatever he can. If that means tempting morsels, then he should.

    • Posted

      Thank you Beth. Fingers crossed this infection can be kept under control.
  • Posted

    Hi Jaybee

    it is extremely important that they on to this immediately to try and eridicate the infection, my infection is still active after 2 years of very strong antibiotics hence the reason why I am going in on the23/2 for a 2 stage hip revision to try and get rid of this Staph, good luck and hope everything works out for him

    • Posted

      Hi Emanuel, thank you for your post. So sorry to hear that you have to undergo the revision surgery. To think these infections can still be present so long after your initial THR. I started to worry on day 2 post op when the Nurse recorded a 126 heart rate & my husband told me he had 2 ECG's that day. His HR dropped on day 3 to 104. BP is normal now. Infection hasn't been mentioned however, when I attend hospital this afternoon I shall ask them directly. I don't want to worry my husband at this stage as I'm sure his surgeon will tell him he has an infection tomorrow morning when he visits him on the ward.

      I do hope your surgery is a success. Very best wishes for a full & speedy return to health.

      JayBee

    • Posted

      Given what you read in the notes and the meds they have put him on, there's no doubt about it. Rather a poor show not telling you. Infection is a risk, obviously, but in most cases it does get managed. One of the things that is in the "small print" that nobody ever reads, is that infection can even start months or years after the surgery - it just takes the bad luck to get an infection somewhere else in the body and for it to be carried to the hip in the bloodstream. But infections are a risk of life anyway, and most of them we are able to fight.

      ?I know this must be a great worry for you, but the odds are that things will resolve quickly now, and he may just have some extra meds for a time to make sure that the infection is beaten. We'll all be thinking of you, so do let us know when he is clear, won't you?

  • Posted

    hi jaybee, 

    warm welcome to this hippies forum - I am happy you found us ..

    like said, he is in a good place right now and being monitored -

    it sounds that he is already improving ... hopefully he will get some appetite and feel better ...

    come back here  and let us know how he (and you) is getting on, okay?

    big warm hug

    renee

    • Posted

      Hi Renee,

      Thank you for your warm welcome & big warm hug. I am so pleased I found the forum & value the posts provided so far. My husband (Bee) is in the best place & that's reassuring.

      He seems to think he will be discharged tomorrow, we'll have to see. I'm very worried about him but will try to remain positive.

      I'll update the thread with his progress.

      Best Wishes, Jay

  • Posted

    Hi, so sorry to hear about your husband's infection. It's a worrying time for you, but as the others have said, he's in the right place to get it sorted. I wish him and you, all the best.

    • Posted

      Thank you Judith & to everyone who posted messages of advice & support. Further update re: Wound Infection. I asked the Nurse if my husband's wound was infected and she said it was not. I told her that the notes suggested otherwise. I was informed that antibiotics are sometimes prescribed as a precaution following a THR and not to worry as my husband was making good progress & not to be concerned. He was discharged this afternoon & is now receiving lots of TLC.

    • Posted

      I'm sure he'll be a lot better now he's home and in your care. Good luck!

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