If I ever have to have a hip replacement I am going to get them replaced with wheels.
The very thing Iām worried about shirley - does she go back to the first appointment or what?!
(It was the 25th of June by the way - I mistyped it!) stevmk2
It can be a juggling act Iām afraidā¦:-(ā¦stevmk2ās original appointment may be offered to the next person on the list and if his good lady finds that there isnāt a bed available on the revised appointment then she should be offered her original appointment and the next person will have to revert to their original appointment providing there is not an emergency admission.
I wouldnāt want to be a bed manager, itās a nightmare for both patients and them.:shock:
Bit of a nightmare trying to resolve work for me Pats - weāve got one staff member off long-term as of NOW so itās going to be all down to me for everything at work but I canāt give firm dates on when Iām going to need time-off because of this!
I donāt get paid leave to care for my wife so I have to book some days as holiday and lose hours & money on others; being a part-time employee itās going to hurt us a bit. stevmk2
Weāve been to the hospital today for my wifeās Assessment so I took the day off - unpaid - to be with her.
Iām a bit annoyed now that, far from being the last one, sheās got to go again next Tuesday!
Iām working, or trying to work and we canāt afford for me to keep taking time-off so this comes as a bit of a shock, especially as I work for a Care Home Charity and weāre short-staffed now - is this always like this?
Weāve got expenses to cover with things we need to buy for my wifeās recuperation but weāve only just been told of this 2nd Assessment appointment and she canāt really walk far now.
Sorry, Iām getting a bit stressed-out over this now. stevmk2
Steve, have you a relative who maybe could accompany your wife on her next appointment?
Stress going up even more now Mags and No, we havenāt got anybody to help us really.
Weāve got family close buy but they wonāt be any use!
My wife finally had her assessment last week then they said she had to go back again today!
Itās all very well getting advice and I was expecting some of this thanks to what people have already told me here but Iām getting more worried now because I really canāt afford to keep taking any more time off work unpaid and I donāt really want to use more of my holiday time but itās looking like I might have no choice though now.
Theyāre telling her sheāll need my close attention and help for 6 weeks and I was prepared but itās all those dos & donātsā¦!
I get the impression that my wifeā s case is a little different because sheās getting quite a lot more dos & donāts that others have told me and sheās also got to wear compression stockings for weeks too - very awkward to get on and off apparently.
Sheās been told that our bed is apparently fine for after the operation - surprised about that 'cos itās only about 16 inches from floor to the top of the mattress but, as we expected, our setteeās too low and canāt be adjusted in any safe way as it has bloody-great bear-paw front feet but small, round back feet - I mean, who thinks up these ādesign featuresā on modern furniture?!!
Weāve got a solution for that already though but we need a booster cushion to get it a bit higher so that her knee remains below the level of her hip at all times.
We were told before that a booster would be provided or weād get a chit for one but apparently not now - dunno now who said we did - so Iāve had to order one - but theyāre quoting 28 days delivery now!
Iāve had to send a desperate e-mail but Iām also going to have to try and borrow one from work now.
The physiotherapist today mentioned to my wife that she noticed that she has a tendency to turn on her hips as she turns her head; (Iāve told her that for years!); a legacy I think from 20 years in Catering, but sheās been told she MUST stop doing that immediately!
The reasons are obvious - itāll strain the new hip and possibly cause serious damage but they really emphasised it very strongly - my wifeās worried sick now!
Another blow today was the good quality wheelchair my job said I could borrow seems to have a foot support missing - the left one, and thatās the very one we need most!
Dunno what Iām going to do now so weāll have to ask the physiotherapist or something because I couldnāt tell my wife at the hospital when I picked her up could I?
She was a bit stressed herself at the time!
Hoping it all gets a bit better but never the less, dreading the 17th of June when it all kicks-off now, or we hope it will. stevmk2
Ah Steve - what a rollercoaster ride for you.
You could have got the cushion from Amazon, next day delivery.
She may need a frame to support her getting out of bed.
And Steve - if you had contacted Age Concern, a volunteer would have taken your wife to the hospital - keep that in mind ā¦
Thanks Patsy - never thought of looking on Amazon!
Frames and things I can get no problem but asking Age Concern for help wouldnāt go down well with my wife but Iāll mention it anyway and ask up the road on Friday perhaps.
My wifeās always insisting she doesnāt need help and thatās old-fashioned pride talking- we all do a bit of that donāt we?
Iāve got someone trying to help me that wants me to go on a residential course for people losing their hearing but Iām avoiding answering on that too, mainly because itās not possible at all at the moment!
Pride again thoughā¦
stevmk2
Itās easy for me to say Steve but try not to let your wife see you panicking, she doesnāt need any extra worry this side of her operation.
You definitely need some help so I would forget your pride in this instance and take up Patsyās suggestion of contacting Age Concern who may be able to take some of the pressure off you.
You may have to be a bit firm with your gal Steve - pride has got to be put aside - all the best for the coming days and let us know how it progresses x
Wot? Me, panicking? :roll: :roll: :eek:
Noted Mags. Thanks! stevmk2
Well I think we are as prepared now as we can be for next Tuesday and my wifeās operation - hopefully.
Thatās the only thing now, the possibility they might not have a bed in unit sheās supposed to going to and we wonāt know until sheās all booked-in at the hospital!
Providing all is well she will then go in and I will have to go to work but Iām a bit worried about that because I canāt just pick up a 'phone and enquire how she is later.
Weāve agreed that she will text me as soon as she is capable of doing so but itās not ideal.
Itās all so worrying for me and frustrating too and at times like this I really do wonder how other deaf people cope with all the things the hearing world thinks of as normal because they can hear and use telephones and so on.
I had a problem this morning and because I canāt use phones I had to go to my bank.
They were very helpful and got my card unlocked for me and I was very grateful for their help as it wasnāt as simple a problem as I thought and it took them 3 phone calls and computer time to sort.
Iāve had problems before with cards and even Nationwide themselves but their help to me today was appreciated and it was done in such a way that I didnāt feel useless - a very nice experience for a change!
Iām wandering off-topic - sorry!
I will be around over the next few weeks but I may not be on here.
Iām taking a week off as holiday and see how we are then so I know I may have to take more time off - weāll see. stevmk2
All the best to you and your lady Steve ā¦
Thanks Patsy - I know you are sincere with that so itās reassuring for me that somebody cares.
If nowt else, Iāll keep you informed - and Julie of course + anyone else who I canāt remember at this precise moment, (sorry - got a lot on me mind!). 
stevmk2
Understandable - try not to worry ā¦
Easier said than done I know, it may all go very smoothly, hope so
Iām pretty worried Patsy. Scared too.
Iāve really got nobody to help me either - they just donāt seem to understand - but Iāll do my best. stevmk2
Steve, as Iāve said before - you can always give Age Concern a ring, they have volunteers that will help - if the hospital themselves are not forthcoming ā¦
I know - Thanks Patsy. stevmk2
You know Iāve thought hard and long about this. Why should a hip wear out? I think it is more than likely a prolonged bad diet is the cause of it. Did you know that when a diet is low in calcium the body attacks itself and the hip joint is one area where the attack occurs - and by āattackā I mean the body eats itās own bones? Maybe Pat can verify this, or maybe not, but the pain in my hip disappeared after 2 years of intense pain the very first day I took calcium tablets. When I analyzed my strict diet calcium was nonexistent. Not had any pain since - no that is incorrect as I will get it if I donāt take calcium.
When you consider I used to run 80 miles a week and probably on average at least 40 miles a week for over 30 years how come my hips are ok and others aināt?