Sep
I'm going to have a full replacement. any advice please? I'm so worried.
Answer:
Oh, sweetie, you'll love it! First, sign up for as much PT as you can–it made a massive difference. (I'd limped so long that I actually changed my gait.) And when they send you home with exercises, do them faithfully. They actually had some physical therapists come to the home for the first few weeks.
Be sure to bank your own blood. It's a really bloody operation and rather long, so it's good to have it on hand. I'm sure they already told you to do that.
They'll send you home with lots of tools–a grabber, a little thing to put your socks on, etc. Those are great.
You don't have anything to worry about–your mobility will come back and you'll be able to do pretty much anything. I take pilates/yoga 3 days a week, and I can keep up with everyone even the younger ones (I'm 55).
In the hospital, be super-cheery. Thank everyone for whatever they do. I have to state, I got checked on more often (and got more goodies) because I was smiling and cheerful all the time, and the nursing staff doesn't see that a lot. So, smile your little heart out!
Are you going to get LMWH to keep you from clotting? If so, if you slap your tummy before you inject yourself, that helps. (I got a lot better about giving myself shots but I was a bit scared at first.) Ask your physician. If he's said anything about clotting, they'll probably give you the low molecular weight heparin (LMWH).
The totally worst part was having the staples removed after a few weeks. Have a friend drive you and go medicated. Boiled as an owl. There were a lot of staples, and since I'm a good healer, some took some digging. Yipe!
I brought my own little snacks to the hospital (little fruit cups and things) because sometimes it takes a while to get food if it isn't mealtime and sometimes you're just hungry at different times. It's good to have fruit so if you bring it and don't eat it, fine, but hospital food hasn't changed much, so. . . .
If there's a food you TOTALLY HATE, tell the dietician you're allergic to it, and then it won't show up on your tray. 
What else you wanna know? I'd do it again in a minute.
You're going to be fine. Besides, you're gonna have people waiting on you–what's wrong with that?
Answer:
As a district nurse I have removed plenty of sutures from people who have had total hip replacements, once they are back home, I normally go in 14 days after they’ve had the op, most are by then well on way to recovery and glad to have had it done, they normally say that it was worth is and they’re now in much less pain.
Any operation is stressful and anxiety provoking, grant yourself time to get better, and let friend and family help. Being in hospital is never nice, but don't worry about asking for help from staff or family when you need it.
Ideal wishes
Answer:
(((hugs))) You will be in my thoughts.