Living alone after hip replacement

It depends to be honest. I had my lthr end September 2015 & rthr 5 weeks ago & managed Monday-Friday on my own by preparing meals before op for freezer. My husband leaves home at 3.30am Monday morning & doesn't get home til 10pm Friday night. My daughters in uni & my sons a musician who arrives when he can usually unannounced with the band too. 😀 I found after 1st week I could use counter as 2nd crutch to carry cup of tea or coffee to table rather than standing to drink it at counter. The best thing I bought for €7 in primark was a shoulder bag (called a hippy bag ) I could put my phone, I pad & charger for phone, I pad etc along with over night meds & a travel mug of water. Every day seems like ground hog day for a while & everything takes longer to do but having gone through it twice & almost out the other side it's worth it & if u have no choice if ur on ur own like me. U will do it. And the pain relief is worth all the 5/6 weeks of ground hog day.

Set repeating alarms on your mobile phonefor each time in the day you need to take a pill, this stops you under or over medicating.  And add a comment "food" if you have to take the pill with food.

Graham - 🚀💃

dear jennifer, 

You sound well prepared and well aware of what you might be facing after your surgery ... and also have help available, which is great !!!

I live alone and had 2 THR surgeries, 1st one March 2015 and 2nd one in September - both were posterior .. 

I had home health nurse come every morning for about 10 days to help me strip wash and dress , but could do it by myself (albeit very slow and with help of grabber) after a couple pf days - she also checked my scar and changed dressing when needed - no TED stockings for me, just self injected Fragmin for 6 weeks - I had a 4wheeled trolley (rollator) instead of crutches (advised because I live alone) so I could put stuff on that little bench - going in and out of bed was challenging at times but I just pulled operated leg by pants up - you can get one of those leg lifters - the thing is that you will probably need to go to the toilet numerous times during the night - 

it was some doing though - I had the rollator close by and took it with me into the bathroom - mind you, this was all in a tiny bungalow - 

I am sure they will teach you in the hospital how to get out and in to bed and you can practice it - the rest of the day is just a blur now - I had some food prepared and put in the freezer, but honestly not had a great appetite - 

it sounds that you have a lot of help nearby , so food and drink won't be a problem - I live in the country ... (silly me) - 

I did need help with making the bed and hoovering and doing the laundry - 

Washing dishes etc, I did myself while doing my exercises at kitchen counter - at my own speed 

Homehealth nurse also helped me to take a shower - for some odd reason I was petrified being alone in that tiny little stall - first one actually came with me under the shower, all dressed - bless her heart - 

You need someone to go with you when you go outside for a walk for the first times when you live in the city - I didn;t because I live in the country and just did drive way a couple of times - still scary because ground was uneven -

what I am saying here is that I was much stronger and much more creative than I thought - 

I am 67 and was not in the best of shape - actually in a pretty bad shape due to limited mobility over the years and in denial about the whole hip thing -

As you know , you can always come here if you have any question or concern -

we come in all flavors !!!

big warm hug from a wet, cold Holland

renee

 

Hi Jennifer

i am on my own and had it doen 16 weeks ago now in deep winter !

my friend stayed for the night for about 5 days after then just came to take me and my dog for a walk, checked my food situation shopping etc and went.

i have a walk in shower so it was easier for me and i put my bed downstairs as i live in an old cottage with bathroom downstairs.  I was a little nervous re falling etc but i was very careful and slow when i was up and about the house and had sock pullers, picking up stick, long handled spanges etc.  I did not shower for the first few weeks unless i had someone else in the house.  But ecverything else i did.  I am 49.  

if i did drop something i just left it there if i caould not reach or need it til someone came to see me !

i have a log burner and had to load that up everyday as only form of heating - just have to remember to put your operated leg out behind you !  and work on your balance before the op !

i do pilates.

so i think yes dependent on how fit you are before the op , stairs, bath etc ??

Hi Jennifer,

I live alone and providing you plan your house right you should be able to do it. The only concern I had was if I had a fall and no one was here to help me up.  There are a few things you will need help with is the Teds stockings as you simply can not get them on and off by yourself, getting in and out the bath / shower can be difficult, shopping (I have someone who gets it for me, but internet is a good alternative) and generally getting to and from somewhere as you cant drive

Goodluck. 

David