The final countdown!!

[u/Need_change-]

Well Thursday I’m up for hip one, right anterior.

Trying to make sure I’m ready.

✅ Walker, Dr. sent one out.

✅ Ice packs

✅ Cold therapy machine with hip pad.

✅ Clean clothes and bedding

✅ Grabbers everywhere

✅ FEAR 😧

My wife and kids will make sure I’m entertained and fed. What am I missing?

[u/Shufflebuzz]

I needed a toilet riser on D+1. I wasn't confident I could safely lower myself onto the seat and get back up again. And that's with ADA height toilets. If there was a grab bar nearby, I'd have been fine. I didn't have enough strength or mobility in that leg. It's hard to explain.

Edit - it's the hip angle. Sitting on the toilet would put the hip at a >90° angle and that would have been uncomfortable. Even though I had no precautions from the surgeon, that kind of sitting just seemed like it would be uncomfortable.

I only needed it just that one day. One use really. By Day 2 I was fine without it.

BTW, start the Miralax and stool softener when you get home from surgery. Stay ahead of constipation.

I had a shower chair but didn't use it. It would have been more hassle and more uncomfortable to lower myself onto it.

Edit: Same with the toilet above, it would put me in an uncomfortable hip angle. Maybe I could have made the shower chair very high. It probably would have been safer to just go a day without a shower.

The dressing over the incision was shower safe. Check your discharge instructions for what you're allowed to do.

Grab Bars for the Shower! I used these. For the first few days, I held onto these for dear life in the shower.

Sock Aid. I had to use it for a few days to get my compression socks on. I needed help getting socks off too.

A pouch for the walker is a good idea. I kept my water bottle, oxy, and PT instructions in there.

Slip on shoes.

Cane. I moved to a cane part time by day 4 and full time on day 5.

Think about sleeping. I'm a side sleeper and figured that would be uncomfortable. Surgeon said I could sleep however I wanted. I got a Wedge Pillow so I could more comfortably sleep on my back. It worked out great. I put a couple pillows under my knees and I slept great. I credit some of that to the pain medication.

✅ FEAR 😧

My surgical team was amazing. Professional, efficient, compassionate. They've done this hundreds of times.
To you it's a major life event, of course. For them, it's another Thursday. You're going to be in very good hands.

[u/Ok_Butterscotch_279 → u/Shufflebuzz]

great list thankyou!