What your doctor didn’t tell you….
Posted , 18 users are following.
Or a light hearted look at post op issues:
1. You will pee for England (or insert your country here) for at least a week. Be prepared cos you just won’t be able to control yourself. If you don’t have a loo near your bedroom, invest in a bucket and pretend you’re glamping.
2. You will only have the attention span of a gnat. If you had planned on catching up on reading and/or all those box sets, forget it. As soon as you start concentrating on that book or the first episode of the box set, you will be asleep.
3. Be prepared to fall asleep at any point during the day. At night you won’t be able to get to sleep at all.
4. Get used to the fact that you’ll have to (not) sleep on your back. I know very few people who actually sleep on their back by choice. It is a really uncomfortable position and will result in getting backache after a few hours.
5. Make sure you have short toenails, especially on the big toes as the pressure from any bedclothes will hurt toes and your heels.
6. Compression socks – so sexy and comfortable – not. They are an essential fashion accessory for 6 weeks for all hippies. Surely they must be classified as a form of torture!
7. Your operated leg will feel like it weighs a ton for the first week. It also feels like it doesn’t belong to you. It will get better.
8. Don’t tell your spouse/family/friends about your op in detail. They really aren’t that interested and it would be nice if family/friends visited more than once. Best to just post on to this forum.
9. Don’t believe the adverts – pre-prepared meals are terrible. The actual contents have only a passing semblance to the packet photo. The ingredients used are usually the cheapest the manufacture can get away with. To add insult to injury the portion size is for a child.
10. Any chocolates/sweets/puddings eaten during your recovery period are deemed to be non-fattening – and don’t listen to anyone who tells you otherwise.
Feel free to add to the list
10 likes, 70 replies
rose0000 Chloeparrot
Posted
People as much as they care get bored VERY VERY quickly, be prepared to be the star of the show for a few days, and once they know you have survived the experience the interest will wane incredibly quickly, and if you are super super super lucky it might stretch into a few weeks! The rest of the six months or so it takes you get to grips with real life outside your hippie bubble will be with all of us!
rose0000 Chloeparrot
Posted
PS
Oh and yes, and there is only so many times you can pee your pants by leaving too late for your hellish shuffling 'journey' to the far away loo before you start to wish you have bought some incontinence pads and given up !!
You feel like a hundred years old even if you are young - trust me it passes!
gwen81475 rose0000
Posted
😱
Leslie4077 gwen81475
Posted
I have learned to head for the loo as soon as I get the slightest urge. Those frequent trips do seem to have lessened the past few days. And my surgical leg isn't swollen any more so maybe that extra fluid has worked its way out.
gwen81475 Leslie4077
Posted
So by morning our legs have drained until we sit or stand up again. It does gradually sort itself out over a few weeks.
Leslie4077 gwen81475
Posted
I was having a bit of swelling during week two. Then a friend told me about massaging my surgical leg with movements up toward my groin. That really seemed to help. Worked that fluid up toward lymph nodes, I think. So it is all good now.
Rocketman_SG6UK Chloeparrot
Posted
Oh don't forget that you will be celibate for at least 6 weeks, and will then have to learn how to do it all again with some amusing new positions with your partner - there are sone good pictures of suggested positions on the internet. What you can achieve all depends on if it's the man or woman who has had the new hip.
We made a point of enjoying it and had quite a laugh .... knowing that a couple of weeks later we would go through it all again when I had my revision.
margaret04286 Chloeparrot
Posted
And don't forget the extremely painful pressure sores on your heels while lying on your back. I am sick of eleating my feet over a rolled up towel.
gwen81475 margaret04286
Posted
I had the most awful blister on my heel following my first hip replacement in December last year. It took months to get anywhere near better and even now it is still tender and fragile. I was so worried about infection and my next hip replacement is happening this Friday and I'm concerned it will open it up again.
Like you, I have been using a rolled up towel under my foot and now I dangle my foot outside the bed so that my heel hangs in the air!
linda38528 Chloeparrot
Posted
Big hugs to all but esp Chloe.
L
Rocketman_SG6UK linda38528
Posted
Chloeparrot linda38528
Posted
Thank you Linda - I only started the list cos I was bored! I never imagined that so many people (obviously also suffering from boredom) would be only too pleased to join in.
Also my thanks to Graham - I am delighted that my list made it on to your excellent website.
PS I'm now contemplating having an irreverent look at the Enhanced Recovery Plan booklet - as issued by the NHS......
Fernlady Chloeparrot
Posted
Chloeparrot Fernlady
Posted
Hi Fernlady
I'm doing well - would you believe 9 weeks post op tomorrow!
I've ditched the walking stick and the limp (most of the time), though the limp returns if I'm tired. I'm also back at work (for my sins).
I've had my 6 week review (at 8 weeks) and my right hip is doing well, unfortunately it has highlighted that my left hip is now deteriorating and will probably have to be replaced next year.
My surgeon is going to keep an eye on it and I have another appointment in December to review the situation.
What about yourself?
Fernlady Chloeparrot
Posted
10 weeks tomorrow, where has that time gone! No walking aids unless I'm out on a hike with my dog & then I take my trekking poles.
I'm going back to work next week on a phased return & I'm actually looking forward to it!
I saw my surgeon at 7 weeks & he said he didn't need to see me for a year. He also told me I would never get osteoporosis as my bones were really strong! My left hip has the beginnings of OA but he said I'll be OK for a few years yet.
Aren't you glad that we are well on the other side now? I can't believe I put it off for so long! Big hugs x