Preparing for operation

Posted , 11 users are following.

Less than a month to go now until my operation getting things pre paired around the house bed hight,chair hight ect been given a hip pack containg sock aid grabber shoe horn and toilet seat fitting the new toilet seat according to the instuctions dont like it there is alot of play and movent in it think its just cheapest and worse desgined one they can give you trying to find one that is secure that locks on to the toilet not just with flimsy plastic clips any one had any luck in the uk geting a raised toilet seat. Also found the Ikea shoe horn much longer can use it stood up no bending at all and at 75p each i picked up a few and dotted them round the house. Any one any other helpful tips for preparing for the big day

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  • Posted

    Lots and lots of pillows. Easy to eat meals. Ice cream, yogurts etc . Ipod with relaxing music (though I preferred podcasts). Mindless games to while away time. 

    Best wishes and hope everything goes well

     

  • Posted

    All of my things like that were given to me by the OT at the hospital. I got a camode for my room, perching stool, toilet raiser, bed raiser, the clawwww (toystory referance 😊wink and leg lifter.

    • Posted

      Yes i got given one of the hip packs off the ot. But some of the stuff i dont think is much good the shoe horn i got of ot is half the size of the ones i got from ikea so still need to bend down alot defeats the point of using it 😞 and the toilet seat i dont think is very safe

    • Posted

      Ahh i just had someone to help me with shoes but my feet were so swollen i could only wear slip on ones for weeks anyway. But i suppose my age and still living with my oarents was on my side with this surgery as my mam had to do so much for me. I did feel so bad for her though. Especially the first few nights.

      Is there going to be someone to help you?

      The toilet raiser i was given wasnt secured to the toilet but was very stable tbh and never moved once.

    • Posted

      Age shouldn't be a problem with me either only 29 will be 30 two week before my op live. With the girlfriend but she works full time but will have to make do

    • Posted

      Im 20 haha. Well you will have to be careful. I was non weight baring for the first 6 weeks so couldnt even carry a cup. Was a very long 6 weeks haha.

      But atleast she can help you on a night. Getting in bed will be the hardest for most people. It was hell for me especially since i had to get up every hour because of stiffness and pain 😂

  • Posted

    I got a clip on one from a Mobility shop in Eastbourne... if you have one nearby take a look or see on google.  

    Plenty of cushions and pillows to build up you bed for sleeping on your back, also need something under your legs.

    Easy slip on shoes..I got some trainers with elasticated laces with the shoe horn so easy to get on.... 

  • Posted

    I am in the US so this may not be available to you but one thing my insurance would pay for was a " commode" has rails with a real toilet seat and pan under it, you remove  ( they consider it for bedroom yuck but if the bathroom is far from your bed you may need it)  but it will go over your toilet and has adjustable legs, very sturdy and easy to get up, I am 5 weeks and still using it.  You can as well use it as a shower chair or purchase a shower bench, you can use a " grabber" in every room, amazing how many things you will drop to the floor.  I use a recliner, have stepped down to a different one and use pillows behind my back and under my legs. Hopefully you have a cane ( we use canes in the US).  

    I wish you the very best of luck and don't forget you tube has many good videos of pre surgical exercises you can do laying down to strengthen you butt and leg muscles. You want the muscle at the top of your knee good and strong for rising from a chair. You will want a pillow on your chair you eat at. 

    wishing you all the best!!! Annette

    • Posted

      I, too, used the commode set-up that you used, Annette. I love how it has the side-rails/arm rests and is very sturdy. And the adjustable part is very important to me, as the height it needs to be for me changes as I recover. I just broke a vertebra in my back a couple of months ago and had to pull out the commode (without using the bucket) and put over the toilet again. Otherwise I never would have made it!
  • Posted

    Get a good sock aid.  There are some crappy ones that will just frustrate you.

    Put various items that you will use a lot where you can easily reach them.

    As someone has already said, having multiple grabbers will be very helpful.

    Good Luck biggrin

  • Posted

    I have a triangular pillow as being flat is a killer. Also a fluffy pillow for under your feet in bed as I had sore heels.loads and loads of frozen peas for your knee, I murdered thousands. A bag you can slip over your shoulder for important stuff, I can't think of anything else at the moment.

    Good luck xxx

    Kim

  • Posted

    The shorter shoe horns work ok when you are sitting down putting on the shoes. The longer ones work great for when you are standing up. 

    I agree with you that I would be VERY uncomfortable using a rickety toilet seat raiser. I replied to a comment by Annette. We both used a commode that is put over the toilet (not using the bucket that comes with it). It is very safe and comfortable and adjustable in height. I'd be very afraid I'd fall off of something like you describe.

    I also needed a week-long-with-4-times-a-day pill organizer, and a couple of other smaller ones as well, as I was on a lot of meds afterwards, and could not keep them straight otherwise, whether I had taken them or not.

    Try to make sure that things you need to reach, in the kitchen for instance, are not too high or too low. I have 3 grabbers for my upcoming surgery, in several rooms of the house. For my first op, I only had one and had to carry it with me everywhere, which was difficult and annoying.

    You might want to check out "A laymans guide to Total Hip Replacement from one of our users - Rocketman54", which is the last of the resources listed in the pinned discussion at the top of the thread page called THR-Useful Resources: https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147. Graham (Rocketman) created this page so that many good ideas regarding preparing for surgery and recovery issues, based on his experience and those of other users on this site, would be in one place.

    • Posted

      That tablet organiser was a God send to me. Like you I lost track of the pills in the brain fogged first few days. It even got my kids checking up and bringing them to me. Good luck with your surgery xxx

      Kim

  • Posted

    Pots n pans not too low or hi

    List fav foods for others shop for u

    Tons to read like magazines work stuff on line books amazon movies galore

    Notepad for info

    Xtra treats if u have pets

    Xtra towels in bathroom ready for u

    Pillows tons of xtra small ones

    Large water bottles on each floor of the house

    U will feel amazing in two months

    Jozie

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