Hip replacement surgery

[Archives1]

I'm due a left hip replacement on 23rd May. I am female, and have bad unrinary incontinence, and am wondering how I am going to manage. I have just two days in hpospital, and a catheter will be used for some at least of that time, but then I am discharged, and all the nursing that one would have formerly had in hospital has become diy. I am acquiring various iads, I have an unbelievably kind and helpful husband, but am particularly wondering how I can manage at night. At present with pull ups I am having to change pyjamas and sheets too often; I am going to tey a nightdress instead of pyjamas, and, if I can find one, diapers instead of pull-ups. A bit concerned about putting pressure on tabs over a very sore hip? Can one put on a diaper and remove it for normal going to the toilet and put it back on? Any answers or other advice would be very welcome - thank you in advance

 

[Archives1]

Hi,

You might like to check out the Purewick female external catheter system to buy or rent.

Being male, I cannot vouch as to the efficacy but some ladies have said it's comfortable and does the job?

 

[Archives1]

I had my right hip replaced last December so have recent experience of this. I was left with UIC after a spinal injury and wear Tena Slip Maxi Active Fit adult nappies 24/7. I wore them throughout my time in hospital as I get UTIs every time I am catheterised. The nurses were brilliant and never caused me any embarrassment when needing to be changed. They know me well as I have had 4 spinal ops and numerous other procedures at the hospital.
I would certainly suggest you wear a more absorbent product such as a diaper/nappy as getting up is painful enough as it is after the op and you certainly don’t want to be in a wet bed. I did not find taping on my nappies painful as the tapes were not directly over the wound and don’t need much pressure to secure them. I was also able to undo the top tapes if I needed to pull it down to go to the loo and then refasten them. Good luck. I hope it goes well.

 

[Archives1]

Good healing to you Abigailbear
It sounds like if bedbound for a few days on and off a tabbed lying with one side open or loose would be most absorbent and comfortable

 

[Archives1]

Yes I would look into good effective external catheter.

 

[Archives1]

@abigailbear - When I was in the hospital a few years ago, they used the Purewick catheter on me. It worked quite well. At home I used pull ups. At changing time I cut them off, and my husband helped me very carefully put a new one on - Maymay's idea sounds quite sensible. - Having broken both my hips (one at a time). Yes, it's going to hurt, but bit by bit you will see improvement. It's going to take time - more than you want, but be vigilant about your PT. Good luck. - Pam

 

[Archives1]

@abigailbear - Maybe just wearing a suitable top, not even pajamas to keep you as warm or as cool as you need to be. If possible just skip the PJ bottoms. - I also tuck in 3 good size pads - one on top of the other on my side of the bed, which for the most part saves the sheets, and laundry. - Pam

 

[Archives1]

@abigailbear You’re very lucky you get any nights in the hospital. Here in America, you don’t. Not for knee replacements, not for hip replacements. Even when you have a baby, you’re only in the hospital maybe overnight if your labor lasts that long.

 

[Archives1]

@laalaauk For Purewick to work, you have to lay in one position on your back all night long and not fidget. Since she’s having a hip replacement, she’s going to need that hip to be elevated, and thus to sleep on her side.

Purewick works for hardly anyone, but I guess it’s worth knowing about. Not everyone wants to keep a big container of pee sitting on their nightstand. Purewick is also incredibly expensive and can’t be used during the day.

 

[Archives1]

Actually unless it is a high risk or other situation, knees and hips are often done at surgery centers and go home same day.

 

[Archives1]

That’s what I just said. That’s why I told her she’s lucky to get two nights in a hospital because in America, we don’t.

 

[Archives1]

Thank you all for all the positive feed-back. ADFW61 in particular told me what I wanted to know, and I am pursuing the Tena nappies as well as what may be locally available form my Boots chemist. I read all suggestions with interest. (I shall in fact be sleeping on my back for some time after the operation). Thank you all again

 

[Archives1]

Hi there
I’m glad it was helpful.
To be frank, the boots products are not great. Some of the independent chemists stock the Tena Slip products. Also worth speaking to your local nurse continence specialist as if they can’t supply you, they may well know which chemists do stock them. I recently had to contact a local continence service after I forgot to pack any when I was working away for a week. They were really helpful. Good luck with everything.

 

[Archives1]

adfw61 - as a local supplier, in my area of Dublin, I have only a Boots. Our chemists normally don't carry incontinence products at all. We don't have such beings as nurse incontinence specialists either. I have tracked down online the Tena slips you recommended, to Amazon, but they are not in stock at present - am going to Boots this afternoon as they do have slips which are probably what I need. I have to go with them, I don't have any option! And I am wondering about having myself woken - alarm clock or excellent husband, who does have to get up and go himself during the night - the predictable prostate problems elderly men are liable to get - in the middle of the night to get up and go, to reduce risks of leaks outsided slip. (At present, though I grumble, such risk is quite small). When I was little my mother used to wake me to go before she went to bed, and a schoolmistress did the same in early years at boarding school, and I am sure that that helped. It sounds ridiculous saying I may need to be woken by someone, but I sleep very soundly and get a kind of mental paralysis when I wake - I know I have to get up but I can't and don't. This happens every tme I have to get up, for whatever reason. Anyhow, thanks again, and on with this afternoon's shopping.

 

[Archives1]

@abigailbear good luck and prayers for your surgical staff to do well. Hip surgery has had a lot of good improvements in outcome and pain management over the past several years.

 

[Archives1]

Had hip surgery 2 years ago and I was able to use my regular ones North Shore mega max with no problems... Utilized bed also in case I didn't change nappies as often. Good luck with surgery.

 

[Archives1]

Bed pad...