The objective of this list is to help Joint Surgery Patients know what to do before and after their surgery. It's a "things to do" list gathered from the first hand experiences of patients all over the world.
Tue Oct 23, 2007 12:29 AM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListI had my second successful THR in September. I spent ten days post-op in a great rehab hospital. My roommate, a man in his mid-80's insisted that he needed to have his TV screen and speaker on ALL NIGHT in order to sleep. When the staff turned it off, he turned it back on. Even with earplugs, this was pure torture for me, while my roommate slept like a baby. Don't be embarassed to insist to the hospital staff or management that TV's be kept at a reasonable volume and TURNED OFF at a reasonable hour. Your sleep is vital to your recovery and you have the right and need to insist on nighttime quiet within your room.
Contributed by:PaulB
date2007-10-23
Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:37 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListAfter te foley is taken out you will need to get up to the bedside commode to urinate. It is a good idea to call approx 10 min in advance because it will take some time to get there and also your nurse might be busy with another patient.
Contributed by:Linda
date2007-09-19
Thu Feb 22, 2007 9:09 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListChapstick, underwear (after the foley catheter is removed), IPOD with relaxation music, light robe for physical therapy, cellular phone, rosary...
Contributed by:Rose
date2007-02-22
Mon May 22, 2006 10:08 AM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListI can't reccommend enough to build up your HANDS. Using the walker post-op was far more troublesome because of sore hands than due to hip pain. Since my surgeon allowed no weight bearing, my hands were actually bruised from bearing all the weight. Had I known in advance, I surely would have practiced a GREAT deal with a walker in advance and toughened up my hands. Best to all, Ellie
Contributed by:Ellie
date2006-05-22
Sun Jul 10, 2005 1:48 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListBefore you go to the hospital, put anything you will need to reach at a level so you won't have to bend.
ALSO, put a bar of soap in a pantyhose and tie it to the shower bar or soap dish so you won't have to keep trying to get the soap. You can use it in the pantyhose without taking it out, and it will dry quicker.
Sock pullers are great.
Contributed by:paula
date2005-07-10
Wed Mar 31, 2004 9:18 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListDefinately a bag that attaches to your walker and a tub transfer seat for your bathtub when you get home...and the grabber stick...not only does it pick up things you cant reach or you drop, it works for smacking the kids, dogs, cats, husbands, mothers and of course, mother in laws...(just kidding)
One thing that works really well for the trip home, mine was 700 miles, is a large plastic garbage bag. you put it on your seat in the car so that you can slide easier..it was a life saver.
Just because the sign says the rest room is handicapped accessible, does not mean it is. The rest areas have the higher toilets so that you dont have to bend to sit!
Contributed by:Cindy
date2004-03-31
Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:48 AM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListSince you can take showers these days as soon as your incision is dry, take shampoo, conditioner, and a HAIR DRYER.
Contributed by:Dogmom
date2003-10-13
Sat Jul 19, 2003 2:00 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP List
Contributed by:
date2003-07-19
Mon May 12, 2003 6:14 AM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListAn MP3 Player or a CD Player that can play MP3's. I had a Sony CD walkman that plays MP3's And I burnt about 60 hours of music on 6 CD's. It was invaluable when I would be awoken for prodding in the middle of the night and I could not get back to sleep. A note pad and a pen for notes, observations and questions.
And some sort of bag/container that you can organize your stuff in and keep it on on the bed or by your bed side for easy access.
Also, the hospitals phone system only allowed me to make local outgoing phone calls. I could not call the outter bourghs and suburbs where most of my family lived. My wife bought me a $10 phone card and the problem was solved ( I did not even use the whole card up).
If you are on oral pain meds and are awoken in the middle of the night ask for or demand more meds to help you get back to sleep. If it is time get a whole dose, otherwise ask for a half dose.
Contributed by:Mitchel
date2003-05-12
Tue May 6, 2003 1:06 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListThe most valuable tool in the arsenal: the reacher/grabber tool!
I wished I had taken one with me to the hospital; it never failed that a nurse or visitor would innocently re-shuffle my in-reach items to where they were just out-of-reach. I hated calling for assitance to get a Kleenex or my lip balm or hand lotion, etc. The grabber has saved me countless needless movements at home - and from trying those movements I shouldn't make, too.
The "Gopher" reacher/grabber can be found at Bed, Bath, and Beyond stores - I'm not promoting the brand or the store, just trying to help with a source.
Contributed by:Bellemeister
date2003-05-06
Sun Feb 16, 2003 5:52 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListDefinetely bring your own pillows from home. The hospital ones are either too soft or too hard. I even travel with my pillow on vacation. A little piece of home goes a long way.
Contributed by:Vera Jones a.k.a. "German Shepherd Hips"
date2003-02-16
Sat Feb 1, 2003 7:57 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListThings that I didn't have but needed...
A small 6" or 8" fan. The sweats from the anesthesia and from laying on the vinyl mattress,
ted hose, "blow up legs" etc...made me very very sweaty.
Also, some medicated lotion like "gold bond" or any other that helps with itching for the same reasons above.
Take a pen or pencil and a note pad to write down questions for doc or whoever, and make notes to self, etc.
Disposable salt and pepper...never give you enough.
A few toothpicks.
Believe me you never know how much you will need these things when you don't have them easily available.
Contributed by:Michele-Pittsburgh
date2003-02-01
Thu Jan 30, 2003 2:49 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListA great help post-op is to buy plenty of the hair washing no rinse caps. They are usually sold at most surgical supply stores. Comfort-They puts them out. If your store does not have them, ask them to order them for you. All you have to do is nuke them in the microwave according to the directions, put the cap on and scrub away. When you take the cap off no rinsing is necessary. Plus, you smell good. These were a God send.
Contributed by:Vera a.k.a. "German Shepherd Hips"
date2003-01-30
Tue Jan 21, 2003 5:36 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListI was planning to take a spare pair of glasses to the hospital. My good ones seem to be on their last legs (one arm actually)right now so I will probably be using the spares very soon.
Contributed by:carol from canada
date2003-01-21
Sat Jan 18, 2003 7:34 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListHard drive MP3 player was indispensible. My room mate in the hospital and others on the ward were very noisy. This device drowned out all this and let me rest in comfort. I used the Creative Nomad Zen which can hold 400 CD's worth of material
http://www.nomadworld.com/products/jukebox_zen/
It will play 12 hours on a single charge.
I also think that doing PT before surgery, building strength etc and learning to use crutches, walker, dress etc. made recovery go mutch faster. The PT was also able to assure me about my surgeon since she had worked on his other patients.
Contributed by:geoffreyf
date2003-01-18
Sat Jan 18, 2003 2:08 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListI brought with me to the hospital a bag filled with small snacks to eat when I was ready to eat. The food in the hospital is never palatable. If I got hungry in the middle of the night it was great to have my little bag of treats tied to the bedrail. Little snacks like dry cereal, cereal bar or some small chips or pretzels. It helped when the nausea kicked in if the meds did not agree with me. It also helped as a go between until my husband could bring me something nutritous to eat.
Contributed by:Vera, a.k.a. German Shepherd Hips
date2003-01-18
Tue Jan 14, 2003 4:19 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListPrepare your car for the return home with cushions to elevate your hips in order to maintain the 90 degree rule.
Contributed by:Cynthia T. Livesay
date2003-01-14
Thu Jan 9, 2003 9:34 AM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListPre-op;
Bar stool or similar for bathroom-sitting with surgical side away for sink made washing easier.
Definitely consider ear plugs and get hair cut before.
Make test run with crutches/cane/walker through residence to see what needs to be moved or removed.
Contributed by:jderek
date2003-01-09
Tue Jan 7, 2003 2:20 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListThings to bring. I bought my crutches along with me. This enabled me to practice on them BEFORE the surgery. I found this very helpful.
Contributed by:Dan S(the first one)
date2003-01-07
Tue Jan 7, 2003 11:31 AM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListI was very glad that I requested a private room in the hospital and that I had my husband and son take turns staying the night for the 3 nights that I was in the hospital. The nurses were wonderful but I needed the security of knowing that someone would be right there for me during the night.
And I was happy to have "Boris" with me in the rehab center. Boris is a floppy stuffed bear who was a big comfort to me (women of a certain age still need comfort!) Also had tapes of Garrison Keillor and various CD's to fit my mood.
My experience re nursing care in the hospital and in rehab was 100% positive. The negative experiences associated with my surgery were waking up in the recovery room in pain -- which I later discovered was probably due to the dosage and duration of pain medication I was on prior to the surgery and which I was never queried on by the anesthesiologist, and having my blood count go down to 8 due to blood loss during surgery and not receiving blood transfusions. I was put on iron tablets three times a day which resulted in terrific constipation followed by laxatives, suppositories,and enemas(5&6 days post-op) which was not a picnic.
Contributed by:Jeanne
date2003-01-07
Mon Jan 6, 2003 9:58 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListOne thing I've always been glad I've done before all my surgeries is get my hair done in a no nonsence, no care hairdo. I don't think I would have had the strength to fuss with my hair but it would have added to my stress if I thought it didn't look half way decent.
A must have in the hospital:
lip balm/chap stick
breath mints
Contributed by:Lynn Flynn
date2003-01-06
Mon Jan 6, 2003 4:34 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP List
ELECTRIC RAZOR, as you will be on blood thinners and they don't really let you use a razor, and tell you not to even brush you teeth too hard. So an electric razor is a good investment.
HAND HELD SHOWER HEAD, such as a shower massage.... will make showering on your shower stool much better than a shower aimed at your face :-) The one I have now is the Shower Snake... but after THR I would use the Hand Held Shower head.
CHAIR.... I recommend a tall, sturdy dining room chair with arms.... that's what I was most comfortable in. And believe me I tried them all! I felt like Goldilocks!
Contributed by:Linda May-Bowser
date2003-01-06
Mon Jan 6, 2003 3:28 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListLast-minute tips for all pre-op hippies
Folks, here are a few tips I haven't seen discussed in a while:
1) Write "no" or "other side" on your non-op hip, in the pen of your choice.
2) Carry a note into the OR requesting a record of the part, lot and serial numbers for all hardware you receive. I received a photocopy of the polybag ID label for each hip component--stem, head, cup, liner.
3) If you receive general anesthetic, be sure you request--and are shown how to use--an incentive spirometer (plastic breath-exercise "toy"). This gadget, properly used, can prevent post-op collapsed lung and pneumonia.
4) Keep drinking water, as soon as you're able. You'll be receiving numerous drugs during and after surgery, some of which are toxic to the kidneys. So keep drinking, even if you're not particularly thirsty.
5) If any drug infusions hurt your vein (I had pain with Toradol), ask the nurse to infuse it SLOWLY. If your IV site gets painful or even slightly puffy, complain at once and get the IV moved. Phlebitis (inflamed vein) is very painful and takes many weeks to heal.
6) Take phone numbers for your surgeon's office and general doc's office, and have a friend or family member tape that paper to your nightstand. If you develop any problem in the middle of the night and don't trust the hospital staff, you can always phone your surgeon's answering service, yourself, and have him paged. You probably won't need to do so, but having the numbers handy will give you peace of mind. Make sure your loved ones have these numbers, too.
7) Pack earplugs--preferably foam plugs on a string--and a sleep mask. These help against unwanted voices (including the hospital PA systems) and light.
8) Lip balm is also a good idea.
9) Toothbrush is good.
10) Bring loose pants for the homeward journey.
Everything else is superfluous.
GOOD LUCK, all!
Contributed by:Elisabeth in CA
date2003-01-06
Mon Jan 6, 2003 3:16 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListOne thing that was very helpful to me after surgery was a dustpan with a long handle...I spilled things, from vitamins to cereal, and the dustpan enabled me to sweel them up and "pour" them onto the counter for further sorting and cleaning, or into the trashcan.
I also got a cart for my newspaper recycling container and wheels for my trashcan so I could lug them while using my walker
I used my reacher with a plastic covering to pick up cat poop...then deposited it via reacher in a plastic bag which I put in the garbage.
I had a tall barstool to sit on and eat which was good also.
An apron with pockets is great for the phone, a pad and pen, and even a bottle of water.
I was on a walker for six weeks, but it was okay--I had help for the first two weeks, then my husband went back on the road, leaving me for five days at a time. It really wasn't bad.
Contributed by:Maryann
date2003-01-06
Mon Jan 6, 2003 12:34 PM
Totally Hip SURGERY PREP ListWELCOME to the New Totallyhip SURGERY PREP List
Founded on January 6, 2003
by Linda May-Bowser
Contributed by:Linda May-Bowser
date2003-01-06