Thirty years ago I had total hip replacements in both hips within six weeks of each other. As a teacher, I always arranged any major surgery during the summer so that I could go back to work when school opened. I was young and the stress of two major surgeries wasn't too bad. I went to the hospital a few days before surgery for blood work and tests. I checked in to the hospital the night before surgery. The doctors, physical therapists and occupational therapists came by to visit, introduced themselves, and explained what would happen through the process. I had dinner and slept well. The next day I was awoke early and took a shower. The nurse prepped me for surgery, by scrubbing the area and shaving it. After surgery and recovery I was taken back to my room and allowed to rest and relax for the rest of the day. On the second day I was helped into a chair and encouraged to stay up a little longer each day. Over my 13 day stay in the hospital I was taken to physical therapy twice a day and occupational therapy once a day. All equipment I need for care at home was provided before I left the hospital. By the time I got home I was rested and able to many things for my self. The physical therapist, occupational therapist, and nurse made regular visits for the first few weeks after I came home. My then five year old daughter stayed with friends for another week or so. By the time she got home I was super mom on crutches. I continued out patient physical therapy for the first few weeks after school started.
Twenty-five years ago I had revisions of both hip replacements within a few months of each other. The procedures before surgery were the same. This time I was encouraged to begin physical therapy sooner, but I didn't feel pushed. During my 6 day hospital stay I was given the same level of care as before and I was discharged with all the equipment I needed. I had a complication with one of these surgeries that required a nurse to come to my home and change my bandages daily. a few days later I had to return to the hospital for another surgery to stop the bleeding. When I was discharged this time the nurse still came to my home daily to check the incision. I didn't get as much physical therapy as before due to the complication, but I ended up with more occupational therapy.
Seven weeks ago was my revision. A week before I attended a mandatory 'Hip Class'. We were given a 1 1/2 inch binder filled with information to review and had a power-point presentation. We were told that the maximum amount of time we would be in the hospital was two nights and we would need someone with us for a few days at home. Compared to most of the others in the room I was pretty young. But there were so many older frail people, some alone, who could not hear the presentation and seemed to have no idea what was going on. The blood work and tests were done in the days before surgery.where I received instructions on how to do my own surgical scrub. I was given a bottle of solution and told to buy a new bath puff. The night before surgery I was to scrub from the neck down, wait 10 minutes and then rinse. Then sleep in clean night clothes on clean sheets. I was to do the same thing at home on the morning of the surgery. Surgery was uneventful this time. Once I left recovery and was back in my room for about 20 minutes a woman rushed in and identified herself as the physical therapist. She shooed my daughter and grandson out of the room. And told me that she was there to get me moving. Mind you I am right out of surgery, the pain was beginning to kick in, and I hadn't eaten since the day before. I tried to be cooperative. She helped me to sit up on the side of the bed and dangle my feet. Then she bought over the walker and tried to get me to stand up and walk. I refused. By that time I was weak, dizzy, in pain, hungry, and nauseous all at the same time. She got impatient and I got angry. She finally realized that I wasn't planning to walk that day. The next morning another therapist came in. She was a lot nicer and encouraged me to get up and walk a few steps to the chair first, allowed me to rest and then we walked a little with her holding on to me and pushing a chair behind me so I could stop and rest. Occupational therapy was a cheerful woman who demonstrated how to get dressed, then sent me into the bathroom to wash up and get dressed while she freshened up my bed. Most equipment was provided, but I my daughter had to go to Walmart for the raised toilet seat. The physical therapist came in later that day for a longer walk (250 steps) and showed me how to get up and down stairs. I had met the criteria and was released that afternoon. I was out of the hospital after my one night stay. The next week and a half were rough. There were no nurses or therapists at home. My daughter had to change my bandages and help me with everything. And beginning four days after surgery, I had to go out to out patient therapy. But God is good. By the time my daughter and grandson returned to their home the bandages were off and I was pretty self-sufficient.
This was a lot longer than I thought it would be. But if you have read this far please remember that health care has changed. If you have any kind of major illness or surgery, make sure that you have someone to stand in the gap for you and intercede on your behalf. With all of the pain medicine I was on I don't remember all of the instructions, but my daughter was there. I could have not taken care of myself after a couple of days. And I couldn't have driven myself to therapy without my daughter and friends.I would have had to go to rehab without my daughter taking her summer vacation to care for me.
There are older people and disabled people going to medical appointments and having medical procedures every day. Please consider being that extra pair of ears to help them to navigate our medical system.
Be careful out there! We are on our own.