THR On the other side of surgery

[Layla]

Good Morning barblocki,
It is common for the surgical team to use padded support, a strap, or boot around your foot and ankle of the leg being operated on. This helps control and position your leg during the surgery. The leg needs to be moved and pulled in an effort to dislocate your hip for surgery. The strap allows your leg to be moved safely without putting extra strain on soft tissues. You may have some residual pressure marks leftover from surgery, if it's been there all along, possibly with some bruising.

If it's been improving and you don't have any signs of infection, circulation issues, increased pain, redness, warmth or drainage in the area, it should eventually disappear. Continue elevating several times per day, ice and do ankle pumps for circulation. If it is painful or doesn't look right, you may want to schedule an appointment earlier than a week from now. Don't hesitate to phone the office of your surgeon with questions regarding your surgery, a member of your OS's care team should be available to advise when you have questions or need advice. Consider jotting down all you want to address at your next appointment, if you're not already. It's easy to get into the appointment and be distracted, or feel rushed and forget to get answers for questions you wanted to ask. A list will guarantee you don't forget anything you want to discuss. A great day to you!
@barbloki

 

[barbloki]

It's 3:28am and I've been awake for about 2 hours. I got about 2 hours of sleep before that. I guess it's time for the insomnia part of recovery to kick in. I will have to avoid taking a nap today so I can sleep at night.

My incision is healing up. No more drainage as of yesterday. Just a couple of scab areas and the rest is sealed up. I still have a few steri-strips that haven't fallen off yet. Once they come off I'll put a picture in the hippie scar area.

I made the mistake of weighing myself yesterday. Ugh. I've gained quite a bit of weight in the last 3 weeks. I can't wait to be able to really exercise again. Just walking around the house isn't enough to burn calories. None of my clothes fit so I'm stuck with stretch PJ pants. <sigh>

Hubby has been sick since Saturday afternoon. Running a fever between 99 and 103, hot then cold, drinking a ton of water and still thirsty. He got up at 1:30am and told me he is going to urgent care when they open. You know he's sick when he actually WANTS to see a doctor. I feel helpless to do anything. I told him I would drive him and he said no because I'm still recovering.

Back to watching Looney Tunes and Bugs Bunny.

 

[myglasshalffull]

Sorry to read husband is sick & you aren’t sleeping. And weight gain, yes, me I put on about 15 lbs during recovery. I found out you cannot eat chocolate almond chip ice cream everyday and not gain weight? Who knew. And not walking my usual 3 miles a day so putting plenty of calories in my mouth but none coming off! Fear not, you will lose the weight!
And the insomnia. That’s the worst when the entire world is sleeping & your mind is racing in 5,000 different directions & sleep alludes you.

 

[barbloki]

And weight gain, yes, me I put on about 15 lbs during recovery.

I also have gained about 15 lbs. I don't remember this happening on my last hip replacement. I need to tell my husband not to buy any ice cream or chips when he goes shopping. I can't leave them alone and like you, I'm not getting in my usual exercise. I like to do the Walk At Home videos with Leslie Sansone from YouTube. Knee lifts are out of the question for a while. Not sure about side stepping. It's probably too vigorous right now. Marching in place is about all I can do. Gently.

Hubby drove himself to the ER at 4:15am. He just texted me that he has 4 bags of fluids in an IV. They are waiting for blood tests. It's hard to not worry.

I just realized that I'm freezing. The thermometer says it is 35 degrees outside here in NC. brrrrrr I need to turn up the heat.

 

[benne68]

I'm so sorry that your husband had to go to the ER, but it sounds like it's a good thing that he did. I can only imagine how worried you are, especially not being able to be with him.

Sending prayers and hugs.

 

[Layla]

Great news that your incision finally closed!
Sorry to hear about your husband. He obviously felt awful if he drove himself to Urgent Care so early in the morning. Poor guy...keep us posted on his condition as it's understandable that is added stress for you.

The weight gain post op can be a combination of things, from the fluids given during and after surgery, inflammation and from the trauma of a major surgery. Then there's reduced mobility / activity. Often eating more comfort foods such as the ice cream and chips you mentioned. Also some pain meds can cause bloating, constipation and fluid retention of which all three can make you feel more uncomfortable.

Concentrate on a healthy diet and stay adequately hydrated to flush out meds and help control swelling and constipation. Here is a link to healthy nutrition as you're healing - > Nutrition Basics
I hope you have a good day and hubby feels better soon.
@barbloki

 

[barbloki]

My husband will be in the hospital for 2 days. He's having surgery today on a cyst that is infected. That's why he's had a fever for 2 days. He said they are making a "big" incision to drain the cyst and then keeping him another day. I guess I'm glad he doesn't have covid or the flu or something but still, I'm not really ready to be managing the household alone. I can't even take out the trash. Basic stuff. I think I'm in shock that I'll be here alone for 2 days. I dropped my phone the other day and the grabber couldn't pick it up. I guess I better not drop anything. He said he needs his phone charger and a change of clothes. I guess that will be a good driving test for me since I have to drive myself to the surgeon on Wednesday and to PT on Thursday. I'm on high alert now, waiting for the phone to ring so I know when he's going in for surgery. I think I'm stressed.

 

[Layla]

Oh my goodness! I am so sorry, that's a lot for you, barblocki. Thankfully your husband got himself to the hospital when he did. Getting yourself to the hospital will involve more than the drive. There is parking and then walking into and navigating the building. Are you able to see your husband while there? Can anyone go with you, or drive you to the hospital?

I have every confidence you'll be able to manage the household alone. You'll be one month post op this week and while it may feel like a challenge, I believe you'll be okay. Over the years I've read of many managing on their own within days of surgery. My mom being one, who within a week after her THR, was on her own, in her 80's.

You will need to prioritize safety. Keep your walker or cane with you at all times and move slowly, no rushing around. Keep your cell phone on you or within reach at all times. Your grabber nearby also. Take your phone for trips to the bathroom and kitchen, also while showering. Is there anyone that can check in on you daily, even by phone, just to make sure you're doing okay? If you're able to avoid navigating stairs while alone, don't use them unless necessary. If you need groceries, is online ordering and delivery available in your area? As far as the trash goes, if you're not able to bag it securely and place it in a garage for a couple days, tie it off securely in your home until hubby is back.

While this situation was unforeseen, I do feel you'll be able to manage alone. It will show you that you can be safe independently as long as you think things through ahead of time. If you need to push back your post op visit and PT for a few days, it may be worthwhile depending upon how you're feeling after your trip to the hospital.
Wishing you the best. Please stay in touch and let us know how things are going for you and hubby.
Big hugs!
@barbloki

 

[barbloki]

@Layla thank you for all those good tips and recommendations. I will take the walker and the cane with me and keep my cell phone on my person at all times. I drove to the store yesterday with hubby as my passenger to make sure I can drive ok. He was sick and didn't feel like driving so it was a good test for me. The one thing I had trouble with was closing the car door once inside. I can't lean over that far and he had to get out and shut the door. I'll bring my cane with me today and use that to pull the door shut. I have a handicap placard (surgeon ordered it for me) so I will park in a handicap spot and hopefully it won't be too far to the building and then to hubby's room. Gosh, I'm tired just thinking about it. Maybe I'll actually get some sleep tonight if I tire myself out today. I was up all night last night with insomnia. I'm going to rest now for 1/2 hour before I head out. He's going in for surgery right about now.
Barbara

 

[Pumpkin]

Sending positive thoughts to you and your husband. When you get in the hospital ask if someone can take you to your husbands room in a wheelchair. It will save you a lot of wear and tear.

 

[barbloki]

I definitely overdid it yesterday by driving to the hospital, parking, making the long walk with the walker and carrying a heavy bag of his clothes, tablet, phone charger, stuff. He was in recovery when I got there so I had to sit in an uncomfortable waiting room chair. Then I had to go pee. Their toilet wasn't raised so I had to carefully sit on it and then the toilet paper dispenser was very low, down by my ankles. Who the heck designed that?!! I can't bend down that far! Luckily there was some hanging so I grabbed it and kept pulling to get enough. Definitely not a handicap or hip recovery accessible bathroom. In a hospital! Anyway, I sat for about 45 minutes and then they came to get me. We stayed in the recovery room for about an hour and I had a nice comfy chair to sit in. They had no rooms available in the hospital so we had to wait until almost 4pm to get a room. Then it was a LONG walk and elevator ride to his room. He was so happy to get off the stretcher and into a real bed. I left after they got him settled and made the long walk to my car. I was so glad to get home. It took 40 minutes due to end of day traffic. It was a good test for my trip to the surgeon's office tomorrow. I now know I can make that trip just fine. I brought the walker and the cane. I put the walker in the back and the cane in front with me so I could use it to hook the door and pull it shut. Worked great! So I definitely got my exercise yesterday and today I will chill at home. Hubby has to stay in the hospital another day. They want to keep him on IV antibiotics to clear up the infection. I guess it was a pretty big and deep cyst. They said it was good that he went to the ER when he did. And here we were all weekend thinking the fever was due to the flu. Just goes to show... don't ignore painful lumps on your body.

 

[Layla]

Good Morning Barbara,
I had a feeling that trip to the hospital would take a toll. It involved a lot of activity and walking, more than you're used to at this point, but you did it! As far as the bathroom, you certainly were qualified to use the handicapped stall, since you had an assistive device with you and you aren't fully healed. I do agree that some of the toilet heights and toilet paper dispenser placement can feel like it's designed for children more than adults, let alone elderly adults with mobility issues, but again, you did it!

It's wise you're resting up today for your trip to the OS tomorrow. If hubby is released tomorrow, you should be able to pick him up in a designated area near the entrance and hospital staff can wheel him and his belongings down and help him into the car. This will make it easier on you. Thankfully your husband had the issue addressed before it became worse and he's now on the mend, just as you are.

You two will be like the blind, leading the blind Kidding aside, I wish you a peaceful day of rest and a good nights sleep for your busy day tomorrow. Best Wishes for your follow up visit. Don't forget your list of questions and let us know how it goes.
@barblocki

 

[benne68]

Wow, that was a LOT for being less than a month post-op, @barbloki. But it sounds like you handled it well.

Do give yourself some grace today. Rest, ice, elevate -- your body deserves some time to recover before your next outing.

Sending hugs.

 

[barbloki]

Yes, today is resting day. It's amazing how tired we get.

 

[myglasshalffull]

That was quite the expedition! Holy moly! Just goes to show we do what we have to do when faced with life challenges! We are a hearty community!
Hope you rested & feeling better. Good luck at your appointment.

 

[barbloki]

It's been a wild week. Monday my husband ended up in the hospital having surgery for a perineum cyst that was abscessed. He was in the hospital through Wednesday late afternoon. He's home now and I'm the full time nurse doing the packing/unpacking of his open wound. It's a learning experience.
I saw my surgeon yesterday and he was happy with my progress but there is one area on my incision that looked bad to him so he put me on antibiotics for a week. It's the area that kept leaking and he said it looks like I may have ripped it. I do remember getting out of bed a few times and feeling a rip so I'm not surprised.
Right now it's starting to itch really bad so I guess that means it's healing. Anyone else have intense itching of the incision? I don't remember having this issue after my right hip surgery.
My left surgery has definitely been different. The back of my knee area still feels tight and swollen. My ankle is still swollen and feels like it has a strap across the top. My surgeon didn't seem too concerned about these issues.
Also, my right thigh on the outer side where you would lay on it if you laid on your side, is still numb since surgery. It feels like I had a shot of novocaine in my thigh. The surgeon didn't seem concerned about that either.
I go back in 4 weeks and will address these issues again if they are still present.
I was supposed to start outpatient PT today but I couldn't leave my husband. He was having diarrhea today and I had to change his dressing each time. He had a bout just when I was ready to leave for PT so I had to cancel. It's been rescheduled for next week on Friday. That was fine with me because I overdid it today. I got up at 5am and was on my feet taking care of hubby and laundry and household stuff all morning. I have been off the walker and using only the cane for 2 days now. Today I was getting frustrated with dropping the cane so I just limped around without it most of the time. I hope I didn't do any damage by doing that.
I hope everyone here is doing well this week.
Barbara

 

[myglasshalffull]

My goodness, life has really thrown curve ball in your direction. I think caring for your husband as well as doing all the household chores is plenty of PT! But please use your cane, it’s not good to limp.
Do you have any family or close friends that might be able to stop in to help? Or even couple of friends could drop off a few pre-cooked meals you could reheat?

 

[barbloki]

it’s not good to limp.

I was wondering if it was ok to be limping. I get frustrated with the cane and I need 2 hands to do certain things so I've been ditching the cane. I'm paying for it today.
No, we don't have any family here in NC and we moved to the country in 2023 so we don't really know any people up here. I call it the boonies. We don't have many stores, no Walgreen's or Walmart or any of that. We'll just have to make do with what we have.
I do have a husband/wife team from the senior center who offered to drive over to the hospital ER and get hubby's car. They are coming to my house to get the keys today and will go get it for us. Hubby can't drive because he's on oxocodone and in too much pain to sit.
I need some groceries so I'm going to use the online ordering and just drive over and have them bring them to the car. So much easier than walking all around the store, bending to the shelves and lifting stuff into the cart.
I'm in the ODIC today!

 

[Layla]

Good Morning, Barbara and Happy One Month Anniversary!

Wow, playing nursemaid to hubby is a lot of responsibility for you at only one month post op. You deserve a big pat on the back. That's a lot to manage while you're still healing.

Itching of the incision is normal and you are right, the itching is a sign of healing as nerves are waking, scar tissue is forming and skin is often dry or tight feeling which can trigger itching. I wouldn't put anything on it though, without receiving a nod for your surgeon first. Ice may help temporarily if the itching is really a nuisance.

It can take some time for the knee discomfort to ease. The knee can be manipulated rather aggressively during the dislocation process. Ice your knee also if it helps. Elevation should help with the tightness and swelling you mentioned. Please take some time for yourself, you're still healing from major surgery.

I am sorry to read you're in the ODIC, but not surprised after the activity of the week. Thankfully the couple at the senior center is able to lend a hand and the online ordering of groceries for pick up is helpful also. You do need to use an assistive device while you're still limping, please don't take shortcuts around your healing journey and pay for it later, it's not worth it. Do the bare minimum around the home as you are tending to hubby, the two of you can catch up, together, once he's feeling better. Is it possible or with in the budget to hire a home cleaning service for one or two cleanings until you're both feeling stronger? Something to think about...
@barbloki

 

[barbloki]

Itching of the incision is normal

I guess my memories of the right hip back in 2022 have faded. I don't remember this type of itching. The surgeon did say I can start putting lotion on for the dryness but it's still red and now swollen from all the walking around I did yesterday. I'm definitely taking it easy today.
Good idea on getting someone to come clean for us. At least to vacuum the house and wash the bathroom floor which has stuff on it from his incision leaking. We're doing our best to keep the rest of the bathroom cleaned and sanitized. The hospital nurse called his incision a "dirty wound" which freaks me out. I ran out of medical gloves so I had to sanitize my hands today to dress his wound. Hopefully the amazon order will come soon with more gloves and bed pads.
This whole situation is just overwhelming. I'm grateful that he waited until I was 4 weeks in before he got sick. I couldn't have helped him during week 1 thru 3. I just barely graduated to the cane on Wednesday and now I'm back to the walker.
I have postponed my outpatient PT until next Friday. I can't leave him alone for that length of time right now.
After I go get the online grocery order, I'm going to come home and rest, ice, elevate. I need to go back to ice again. Crazy how I thought I was done with all that.
I'm so grateful for this group and all of you who support everyone in recovery. Regular people just don't understand what we go through. Thank you for being here.
Barbara