THR in 9 days and anxious any tips?

...any advice on coping with the before and after of the op? ...

Hi Lulu-

  For free advice, you've come to the right place...

You have managed to make it half a lifetime with no major surgeries. That's a good thing. But now, your number is up. Fortunately. modern medicine has what it takes to cure you, ease your pain, and return you to normal functioning. It's a physical ordeal, and you will be thoroughly stressed out for a year or so. The anesthesia docs work wonders these days; the surgeries themselves are not agonies. But the pain avoided is translated into exhaustion, and you will get plenty of that.

This site has lots of detailed recommendations for pre and post-op life strategies, look around. Mostly commonsense stuff. You will need looking after for a few weeks post-op; this can be a new perspective for someone used to being a caregiver. Relax, let someone else take care of you for a change. Keep yourself comfortable, get plenty of rest. Try to get some outpatient physical therapy; it's helpful to commiserate with fellow hippies (Plus, you get to see how comparatively fortunate you are.). Oh, I almost forgot: bring earplugs to the hospital. Noisy places, best to isolate yourself when you are "resting".

Hope this helps. Come Summer 2018, you will be a new, healthy, person.

Dear Lulu

You do not say if you have a partner who can help during your recovery but unless your children can rally round help will make a huge difference especially in the first couple of weeks.

As you may have read in other threads preparation is key and plan on your recovery taking longer than you hope.

Easy cook meals are an essential fall back and some way to get fresh food and milk. You may want to consider using a shop/supermarket to deliver to the door and shop on line. This is how I'm getting by...three weeks and counting!

I find a stool for use in the bathroom essential and a comode frame to give you a raised loo seat with side grips and a tall chair for use whilst preparing food in the kitchen well worth getting. You will find a sock aid a necessary item which can even be used for putting on those elasticated hospital stockings. I managed to get two pairs so I always had a fresh pair to put on after a shower.

Most of these items can be borrowed from your local Red Cross also equipped myself with a between the toes dryer stick and an item grabber.

Decide where in the house you want to base yourself and make sure you have phone, computer and reading material and a notebook

I'm sure others will be able to add more suggestions.

Cheers Richard

Hi Lulu,  I got the hi-rise toilet seat. I also had a non wheeled walker that I put over the toilet.  It does help in getting up.  When I was allowed to shower I placed the non wheeled walker in the shower for something to hold on to.  I even had a piece of wood that would fit across the walker on the lower braces that I could sit on if needed.

HI Lulu, I understand you are  anxious - I was too. I am 3 1/2 weeks post RTHR. I will not say it has been a walk in the park - it has not!! But there are a few things you can do to make the whole process easier. First of all nobody had mentioned to me that it would be that hard to get in and out of bed. I am lucky I have a hospital bed (did not want one but my daugher insisted). It is/was still hard. Make sure to have a robe of some kind (I use a couple of dog leashes) to help you lift you leg onto the bed. For sure get a toilet raiser, no way you are going be able to get off  the loo without it LOL. Take all the medications they offer you, don't wait for the pain, take it regularily to prevent the pain. Then we come to physio, do it do it do it. Your muscles on the "bad" leg are going to shot, they need to get back to a normal state before you can feel right again. I am slowly getting there, but my thigh muscle is still weak which of course makes one limp and that my dear is not accepable in my house lol. You will be amazed just how fast everyting happens and passes, I am. I know that these last few days/weeks seem like years to you now, they did to me, but now 3 1/2 weeks later (May22) it seems like minutes. You will be just fine, don't be a hero have somebody with you, take your meds, do your physio and smile it will be over very very soon.

Hey there Lulu,

To put your mind at ease I'm 27 and I just had my THR done 5 days ago and I'm still here.

It will be over before you know it, the recovery is a b**** that I can tell you but ive been assured I will be pain free very soon since I'm very young.

Just have a positive attitude and you'll be good.

Good luck.

Tomarow morning june 19th i have LTHR surgery and i am very happy for this there is no way we should try not to be anxious it is very simple procedure specially anterior approch with Huna table. U will go go home the day after surgery and walk the same day.

Think about nice future that you are walking perfect.

Thank you every one for all your replies they have been very helpful, I have to say when I told my friends that I was having a THR the biggest response was 'my mum/dad had that done' I know I'm by far not the youngest to have this done but I don't personally know anyone that has THR, it's a blessing to find this website and talk to people who know what it's like.

RichardKen yes luckily I have a husband and he's a great cook, he's taken some time off to look after me so I should be ok, I will find it difficult being looked after as that's my role in the house but I've bought some kits to make, a mosiac sea horse and a rag rug cushion, so I will have some distractions and feel like I'm doing something worthy in my recovery!

t3chiman I will remember the ear plugs! and thank you again every one for your positivity and advice.

I had total hip replacement mid Feb. 2017-- mine was not planned as yours is.  I fell at work and splintered hip, upper femur -- only hurt before the surgery-- 24 hours on pain meds-- not fun.  After the surgery only aches I had were as if I had fallen on my hip and bruised inside upside and all around .  Well, I had, but all to say there was no pain.  I was up on my feet the next day, haven't looked back.  Physical therapy, water aerobics classes. and I, frankly, am in better shape now than I have been in many years.  You will be so glad to have the pain dissapate or be gone.  One of my biggest hurdles was thinking my hip / leg would be "so painful" I would "never be able..." blah blah blah.  I was very tentative at first with walking or exercises, but the PT's were encouraging.  

I'm very independent and asking for help was foreign territory-- good for me to call up friends for rides until I was back driving (about 6 weeks).  

Good nuitrition -- calcium, protein, iron, Vitamin C and D,  magnesium.

Hang in.  You are obviously aware of the conditions of your hips and that is good preparation.  

I predict in one month's time you will posting how much better your hip feels. 

Iput all my top tips from other hippies on this forum onto my website, the address is in my personal info here ...

   https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025

and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at

   https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147

Best wishes

Graham - 🚀💃 🤸

There's lots and lots of good advice on here for the recovery time.

I had my RTHR back in January this year and was exactly like you. I'd never been in hospital for anything so when I was told I needed a THR I was terrified. Yes it was hard in those first few weeks, but as long as you follow all the exercises and do what you re told you'll be great.

I'm now 6 months down the line and am back to my normal active life. I'm back at work and also riding my horse again. Most of the time I forget I've got a new hip. The best bit is I'm out of pain and not limping and completely off any medication.

You've got this to look forward to. I still do my exercises morning and evening though.

Good luck.

Hi Lulu. Don't neglect your stool softeners and milk of magnesia as the pain killers will give you horrible and very painful constipation. I got slack taking those as my medication decreased and boy oh boy did I regret it! Very important.

Also, look on youtube for all the exercises you need for thr.

Hugs!

Cindy

Hi LuLu, a couple more things.  Get out your baggiest pants or just plan on wearing nightgowns for the first couple of weeks.  My leg started swelling about day 3 or 4 and it was painful to get regular undies on.  My daughter went out and bought me Hanes for women - sort of long legged men's briefs.  Yes, they are kinda ugly but you will only need them for a few weeks.  My husband stayed home for,the first two weeks and I really needed help, with about everything. Shower chair is necessary.  Are u having anterior hip surgery?  If so you won't have the 90degree restriction and will be allowed to bend down to put on shoes etc.  I binge watched Netflix.  Find some good shows you haven't seen and that can keep you busy for hours.  Good luck. I am three weeks out (May 30), walking w/o cane in the house, driving and starting to have energy back.  Oh and no pain meds after the first week.  I did take the strong stuff for a few days but it was too much for me.  Now I am just taking Tylenol xtra strength when needed.

Lulu it is natural to worry, no one worried me more than me, I was a total nightmare. You sound much more together than I did (even if you don't feel it)

Your children will be a huge advantage at that age (mine are much much younger and  needed lots of care still) so organise a rota for at least one to be looking after you around the clock. They need their daily chores too - you will need A LOT of help on the home front in the first few weeks - and even beyond that you will tire easily. So you need a plan that involves everyone. Stock up the cupboards, freeze meals and get ready (as if you would a baby) clean the house and make sure you have your aids in place.

Send out cards and presents in advance for any birthdays, download heaps of your favourite box set and make sure you have cool loose clothes and a phone with you charged and ready to go all the time. Then you are ready to get your life back. You show your children what you are made of, tell yourself it is for them that you are doing this...because you will eventually find your condition worsens and you will be in bad shape for the surgery.

The fear is worse than the reality in my experience, I leapt for joy when I opened my eyes in the recovery room and never looked back. Stay on the forum for advice, support and encouragement

PS Do the exercises religiously! 

Thank you so much every one for your advice it really helps a lot, I've been out and bought stool softeners that seems to be inevitable and I've got a raised toilet seat and perching stool on loan from medicare, I was measured for seating however fortunately I am short so don't need chairs or my bed raised.

I lost it a bit yesterday my boiler broke down on wednesday so I had repair guys out who said I need a new one so its booked in for next Thursday, no hot water so no hot showers, and an expense we really don't need, I just sobbed my heart out yesterday, it all got too much for me, I'm ok today but I am certainly feeling more fragile than normal.

I don't feel so alone being on this forum, my friends and family are being very supportive but I've no one to talk to who has had this operation done, so thank you for all your support, it means a lot to me.