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I'm longing to have a bath

Posted , 17 users are following.

sally36012
sally36012

I'm 21 days post op and feeling ok, doing exercises, sleeping ok on my back, taking paracetamol when I need it. I have showers but yesterday I asked a friend to try to get in and out of the bath tub without breaking the 90 degree rule - it was impossible.

Have you managed to find a way?

2 likes, 33 replies

33 Replies

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  • mic71403
    mic71403 sally36012

    Posted

    Hi Sally,

    Me longing for a bath too, tho a week or so ago longing for a shower which I've just had - after DN removed bandage and said fine to shower.

    I do plan to have first bath at 6 weeks, as recommended by thr Exeter crew, but yes tis confusing different hospitals say different things on this, on DVT, lying on ones' side, etc: also we oursleves are more or less cautious in life about things like how much to push ourselves, or not!

    Take care

    Mic

    x

    • emma54673
      emma54673 mic71403

      Posted

      Mic, you mustn't be too far from me. I work in Exeter and live in Torbay. I had mine done at Torbay District Hospital. The dressing I had meant I have been able to shower everyday. In fact, the first morning in the hospital they wheel you down to a wet room and the carers practically shower you, day two I walked with my zimmer to the shower and had slightly more dignity as in I showered alone but was dried in the hard to reach places by caring staff and day three I was walking with crutches and showering and drying alone aside from those pesky toes... I never realised how easy it used to be to dry my feet! I do find it surprising all the differences in after care and do's and don'ts. Emma x
    • mic71403
      mic71403 emma54673

      Posted

      Hi Emma,

      Good to chat! Yes...I live in St Thomas, Exeter, and got done at the RDE Hospital. Strange even within Devon you were allowed to shower and i had to wait 10 days for the DN to say ok. Hopefully you had the ankle pumps /asprin for anti dvt and not the awful stockings others here have had to put up with.

      Tomorrow marks 4 weeks post op. Feeling pretty good mostly tho some folk here say I'm pushing a bit too much and should slow down! Rest quite a bit too....

      Good luck with your recovery and hope crutches fade away...am buying some walking poles to get me onto dartmoor ASAP.

      Mic

      X

    • emma54673
      emma54673 mic71403

      Posted

      Mic, I would say I was forced to shower, literally pushed in a wheelchair under the water! Haha. Not that I minded getting rid of the iodine and theatre smells. Nope I have been given the awful stockings and asprin! They are bloody horrific! They actually make my legs burn to the point I woke up the other night mid dream thinking my legs were on fire and ripped the one on my good leg off and then woke my other half up who begrudgingly at 3am took the other one off. I have refused to wear them since. The nurse said it was only at night to wear them but I cannot deal with the heat. It may be an elastic thing as I'm allergic to Elastoplast so might be along the same line. I've been having, rightly or wrongly, double asprin instead.Tomorrow marks 2 weeks post op.  Yes a walk on Dartmoor is up there on my summer hopes. Emma x
    • barbara17317
      barbara17317 emma54673

      Posted

      Hi Emma,  I was in the RD & E and I am in Okehampton.  I am rather glad no-one pushed me under the shower!  The first day I was given a good "rub down" from the waist downwards by a Nurse after being told to wash my top half and clean my teeth first and then she came to sort out the rest.  After that I was able to get to the toilet myself and sort myself out.  I also had the ankle pumps on so no stockings for me.  Funny how they all differ even in the same County.  I was told to have  a strip wash every day until the dressing was taken off which was after 10 days and I really enjoyed the first shower after that.
    • emma54673
      emma54673 barbara17317

      Posted

      Hi Barbara, I think a strip wash would have driven me insane. I'm a bit shower mad anyway, if I've had a bad day at work I go and have a shower to wash the day away and I refuse to leave the house without one. It is boggling my brain a bit how all the hospitals do it so differently. Even ones which are 21 miles apart in the same county. Crazy! I've just read that some people are given a special wash to wash themselves with the days running up to the op? Emma 
  • ali2301
    ali2301 sally36012

    Posted

    I was told no baths for 3 months. Both for the 90 degree rule and for the fact that you aren't meant to soak the wound for infection risk. We do all seem to have been given differing information and I for one would love a bath but being only 4 weeks post op I wouldn't even consider it. I don't want to set back my recovery in any way and  after 4 weeks of climbing the walls I'm not going to lengthen my time under restrictions if I can possibly help it.

    I'm not at all jealous of those of you who have managed to get a lovely soak 😉 but please be careful if you do it.

    Ali x

    • aj60
      aj60 ali2301

      Posted

      My husband was told the same...  He is 6 weeks post op tomorrow and no where near ready to climb in the bath.... Will continue to manage and visit friends with walk in showers lol
  • jo86132
    jo86132 sally36012

    Posted

    Hi Sally

    i have overhead shower and was told not to go into bath for 3 month.

    i thought I would chance putting a stool outside bath to have a shower, big mistake!

    got fright and thought I tore a muscle, won't be attempting it again until 3month period is up.

    There may be a way to do it but I will stick to using friends walk in showers and wash at sink, there again I'm a bit of a chicken.

    • aj60
      aj60 jo86132

      Posted

      hi jo be careful.  This is what we were told too when my husband had his op.   Mainly due to infection when making wound warm and most for bugs to fester ....  Your not a chicken just being sensible 
  • eileen64__UK
    eileen64__UK sally36012

    Posted

    Hi Sally

    I'm in the UK and was told 6 weeks for both THR's before I could have a bath.

    Even for a long time afterwards I had to be so careful getting in an out.....but managed it.  Whatever your consultant says...go by.....never mind what we saywink

    We all get told different thingscheesygrin

    Love

    Eileen UK

    • mic71403
      mic71403 eileen64__UK

      Posted

      Hello Eileen

      Respectfully wondering wot to do in 2 weeks time then re baths cos i've been told 6 weeks so it suits me to give it a go then...but if I'd been told 12 weeks I may not be so compliant!

      Mic

      X

    • Mary8610
      Mary8610 mic71403

      Posted

      Whatever you do don't try and get in without someone there who could lift you if you need help !

      good luck

      mary

  • essexmad
    essexmad sally36012

    Posted

    Dont get into the bath until your restrictions are lifted. Its not worth it. Even at 12 weeks when i got in i found it difficult to get out at first. I must admit i needed help the first couple of times i did it.  Think i was being very careful but it was heaven to finally be able to lay in the bath
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