Couldn't do without!

[Jenniferne]

For those who have had a total knee replacement what would you say was the best thing you had around your home to help make life easier?

I would have to say mine was buying the raised toilet seat. My hubby hated it but what a blessing it was for the first two weeks..

 

[aussie]

I would say my beautiful daughter was my blessing, she was fantastic, but as for gadgets and aids that is tricky, because I'm short I didn't use a raised toilet seat, I didn't use a crutch or a cane from when I came home, just lucky my knee was so strong, probably the shower chair, I only used it for about a week, but showering was such an exhausting activity it was good to be able shower and dress sitting down, and with the chair I could shower without assistance, which I'm sure all my family were grateful for

Chris

 

[Doug]

My wife,recliner, plenty of blankets, T.V. control, and my pain pills.
Oh, and my lap top and plenty of "winter 08" Bonesmart Buddies.

 

[Texas]

The sock raiser upper thibgy, and My laptop, and with oit sayting, my family as well....

 

[ship4]

I would have to say my leather recliner. It is a Berkline Shiatsu Massage recliner with a multi-position hand control. It allowed me to push a button and would raise my feet & knees above my heart. I slept in it for 7 weeks....... Good thing we already owned it! I lined the recliner with a feather bed which I made a cover for with a queen size sheet. Made life easy for me as the bedrooms are on the second floor. I set up my Cryo-cuff ice machine on a TV tray and had the pump going and it allowed icing of my BTKR to be continuous as needed.

 

[RickB]

My wonderful wife of 45 years, she was the one who got me through BTKR in Sept. 08.

God Bless,
Rick

 

[Jamie]

For me, my saving grace was my exercise bicycle sitting right in front of a window next to my computer desk. I spent a lot of time in that spot when I wasn't napping!

 

[Josephine]

My Cryo-Cuff ice machine, without a doubt.

 

[Doug]

My two dogs also kept me warm when I got the chills from those darn blood thinning shots.

 

[Hope810]

New curtains on my bedroom windows, new robe and slippers, my hubbie's recliner, cane for steps, tub safety rail, aerobic step to help get in-out of bed, shower stool, sock puller for TEDs, bed pillows in every room, ice machine, ice bags, meds, my daughter's futon on main floor for naps, tv in bedroom ...but most of all was my family.

Hope
LTKR Feb 23, 2009

 

[Nana55]

My husband, youngest son and sister. My husband did something he had done twice in 37 years of marriage (he shopped each week for about 8 weeks). Plus cooked and helped me to the bathroom. We live in a town with POP 6100 county 45000 and have all of our lives so we know a lot of folks. I have had friends stop me in the grocery or call me to tell me about seeing my husband shopping. If you knew my husband you would laugh too.

My sister (also a nurse) was my advocate the first four nights post op. The bedside nursing at the hospital was very poor.

My son brought something that you wanted to at least try to eat each evening to the hospital since the best thing about the food service was the uniforms the food service folks wore. Of course, they were also more helpful than the nursing assistants and kind too.

When we built our current home 4 years ago, we put the taller commodes in the bathrooms in anticipation of growing older and needing a "lift". I am 5'11" and he is 6'2" so that has been a big help before and after surgery.

 

[stives]

Definitely my hubby of 45 years - bless him! He's the best sock-putter on one could get, and has also developed his culinary skills to perfection. My daughters and grandchildren are also to hand - either personally or at the end of a phone. I've been spoilt rotten. And those CHOCOLATES!!!!! Plus, endless cups of tea.

Other than that, I spend a lot of time with my feet up on top of my comfy bed with lap-top to hand so that I can communicate via e-mail etc and now this forum. I don't need to feel guilty surfing the net - and isn't it just brilliant, with infinite possibilities for learning. I'm trying hard to impove my French so that I can communicate better with our friends across the Channel!

The only 'aid' I have been lent is a chair thing for the bathroom, but I've hardly used it. I am able to shower etc and just use the various bits and pieces we already had around to enable me to move around safely.

I'm surprised to hear that hospitals aren't all top class in the States. I suppose we have a few baddies here, but it is usually a management thing, and generally the nursing staff are first class, if very overworked. I had both my ops in a tiny hospital, only 28 beds (for orthopaedics and breast cancer only). The theatre was a mobile hut out in the grounds! However all the staff were superb. The only complaint was that the porter who took me back to have the knee x-rayed before they would let me go home said 'how about going to the pub before going back to the ward '- then told me he'd left his money behind! That put paid to that idea! Val

 

[lakelover]

I had my TKR at a large regional medical center. The food was great. I was on a general diet so got a menu similar to in a restaurant and could order anything I wanted between the hours of 6 AM and 7 PM. I loaded up on cheeseburgers and steak ( really not bad) since I had lost blood and was anemic. They wanted me to build up using food not pills.

The rooms were too small for all the modern equipment, but other than that I can not complain. Those in the UK should know that all US hospitals are NOT equal and either are the Dr's. We all have to do our homework on this. The bad side is that distances to the top hospitals are prohibitive for a lot of people because our country is so big.

 

[backbay38]

My husband was definitely the best "thing" I had around the house and everywhere else. He was fantastic and cooked and shopped and helped with the TEDS etc. And took me in the car so I could walk every day.And all without the usual complaining!!! He wanted his traveling companion back and so he did everything he could to get me through this (and still does). We did a lot less fighting than usual during those first weeks. The other thing was my iPhone. I could lie on the futon in the living room (where I slept for the first 10 days or so) and hold the iPhone in my hand and surf the internet and post to this forum and do email and I put a favorite old movie musical with Fred Astaire and Audrey Hepburn (Funny face) on the iPhone and watched a little in the hospital and the rest in bits and pieces at home. Much easier than a laptop...

 

[Josephine]

The only complaint was that the porter who took me back to have the knee x-rayed before they would let me go home said 'how about going to the pub before going back to the ward '- then told me he'd left his money behind! That put paid to that idea! Val

Defintely a sackable offence!

 

[stives]

Funny thing is, I am sure he said the same thing to me in October when I had my first TKR, and I have a suspicion he probably says it to everyone!!!!! Dear of him!

I just adore those little pictures you produce from somewhere Jo!

 

[GaryM]

I would have to say my loving wife of 1 year. Yep 1 year. Took great care of me. Gave me them shots in the stomach. och! My Ice man coolers. Recliner and the extra large walk in shower I installed when I built my house. I was thinking ahead.

 

[Josephine]

Yes, Janis has just had a "ting" moment and decided to have a walk in shower instead of a bath when her son builds them the granny house attached to the new house he's in the process of buying. And of putting the WC on a concrete pedestal to make it higher for when she has her hip done!

 

[Texas]

Hi Jenn,. Just wanted to see how you were doing. I hope everything is great for you. I am still catching up so sorry if I missed something........Please post and let me know.......Thanks Kim