Re: How much can I do for myself post op

[Guest guest]

I think you're basically asking if you need constant company/visitors

in the hospital and if you're bed-ridden during your stay.

In my own experience (and I think my experience was pretty typical)

the answer is generally " no " . No, you don't need constant attention

beyond what you get from the hospital staff, and " no " you are not bed-

ridden. Of course it's nice to have visitors but do they really need

to stay all day? In fact they get you out of bed within hours of

your surgery and have you walking in the hall within 24 hours. They

have you sitting in a chair for increasingly long periods. So, while

you still spend considerable time in the hospital bed, you also

are " busy " learning how to take a sponge bath, dress yourself, have

PT, sit in a chair and eat, go to the bathroom, go back to bed, have

OT visit, all these things will take you forever so you will be

busy. The rest of the time you can zone out with TV or music.

Expect to be tired at first.

If you truly believe that your hospital is seriously understaffed and

that you will be left wanting for things while there, perhaps hiring

a private duty nurse for part of your stay would allay your fears. In

my case it wouldn't have been necessary and would have been kind of a

waste.

[Guest guest]

Vera

I only had a husband and he had to work during the day. So I was

alone and bugging the student nurses. The first THR, at 40, was

Thursday and redone on Monday and home on Saturday. Over that

weekend I had a few friends visit. And the husband at night. But I

was so miserable I was not pleasant company and the staff was great.

For the second THR it was over a holiday and my husband just watched

a Star Trek marathon. I cried constantly for no reason. Up and doing

steps on day three. I was in 2 nights for the first TSR and

overnight for the second.

The bedpan was the worst and I would not want family to handle that!

I did not have a cath. Once the IV was out I could get around on my

own. They always put the IV in a spot so that I could not have used

a walker or crutches without breaking it off. I did best without

pain meds. Just toradol and tylenol. My head was clear.

The boredom was bad at times. I could not concentrate on anything

for more than a few minutes. The time went quickly.

At home I was alone all day. Just had the phone and plenty to drink

nearby. Also close to the bathroom.

Things will work out and you will be up and about in no time.

I am looking at a revision of my 6 year old RTHR. It was cemented, a

good thing at the time. Now it is loose and I will have an

uncemented revision.

Sue

> I have a question. Did I tell you that I have 6 children? My

oldest is 17

> yo daughter and going away to serve and work at one of our

homeschool's

> training centers and won't be back for the entire length of the

surgery and

> recovery. My 15 yo son is a good guy and I know he'll be helpful

but...he's

> a boy and I'm a girl if you know what I mean. Next is my 14 yo

son, 12 yo

> daughter, 9 yo son and 4 yo daughter. I'll be going in on a

Thursday and be

> home (Lord willing) by Monday. It seems like everyone around me

that's a

> grownup that I would normally count on is busy. Even my husband

will be

> busy working and probably won't be able to help me at all.

>

> Do you think it is possible to be alone at the hospital and do ok?

That is

> my first question. I mean am I bedridden for a couple of days or

am I

> immediately able to do some things for myself? Is everyone

different?

> Since I am 47 will that make a difference?

>

> As far as running my house once I get home, I'm not worried about

that. My

> children can do that much. I am hesitant to have my 12 yo daughter

at the

> hospital for long periods of time because I know she'll get bored

after a

> while and then will she then be a blessing to me or a burden?

Plus, I would

> rather have her home with the 4 yo to help her. My oldest son

would be

> great at the hospital but again, he's a boy and I'm not sure I

would feel

> comfortable with that.

>

> So my question is this: How much can I do for myself without help?

Could I

> technically survive this surgery at the hospital alone?

> Thanks for your help.

> Vera

[Guest guest]

Hi, Vera!

I had a lot of the same worries, since my lovely wife was nursing our five-

week-old and trying to handle a 3 year old and 5 year old. They are basically

explosions wearing clothes! I knew she wouldn't have much time for poor old

Poppa with the Big Butt Slice. So I had some concerns about what I could

accomplish as far as helping with the baby, taking care of myself, etc.

It all worked out just fine. I was on full weight-bearing from Day One, and I

left

the hospital the second day after surgery with one crutch. We have mucho

stairs at our place, and I found them to be quite easy to handle. I was able to

stand up and walk around pretty darn good as soon as I got home, and I could

actually help with diapers and baby-rocking and all that. You're supposed to

be up and moving anyway, so what's the difference between strolling outside

or puttering around the kitchen? It's all exercise!

As far as self-care is concerned, it really is hard to get dressed and all that.

Sitting on the elevated pooper isn't that great, either. I bought a kit at Osco

that

included a long-handled reacher/grabber, sock installer, long shoe-horn,

elastic shoelaces, etc, for about $40. Invaluable! With a little creativity, you

can do all that stuff for yourself. I lived in sweats for the first week, so I

didn't

look all that glamorous, but it cut down on the clothing chores. You can bend

over by putting your operated leg straight out behind you, and you can even

kneel down on the operated leg pretty easily! So it IS possible to do quite a

bit

of stuff around the house, pretty soon after you get home.

One important caveat: You'll be really tired, probably. I took

industrial-strength

naps every day, sometimes two of 'em, because I was wiped out. So you will

probably be down for the count quite a bit. I was extremely tired for the first

two weeks. It's been almost a month for me, and I still fall asleep very early

at

night. So while I'm not a lot of help at home, I'm certainly not a basket case,

either. I can mow the (big) lawn, put the trash out, etc, to help my Sweetie.

But,

I had to have my 5 year old put my sock on this morning!

Sounds like you have a good crew at home. I think you'll be fine, and you'll

probably be really amazed at how much you can actually do, in between

naps. So fear not!

Good luck, and God bless!

Glenn