👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees part 6 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

grammargran I would die of hypothermia with a 4 tog duvet. When I slept in the third small bedroom for two nights, the duvet was 12.5 tog, so light, I was very cold. I added a dressing gown, but still, it was not enough for cold old me.

Charleygirl5. Think you are wonderfully inspiring at doing your bed duvet and sheets yesterday and hope you had a warm night🤞🏻

I too sat on bed and took off bottom sheet and duvet cover ..took me ages and ran out of energy when I threw both down the stairs but after a short lie down , got myself downstairs and got them in washing machine …friend called with a plated chicken dinner for me to reheat - absolutely amazing meal..
After which, another energy boost and hung out washing as we had a really warm Sunday…took a lot of huffing and puffing to hang my king size sheet/duvet cover online and stopped a lot to balance but did it then, had to go for another lie down…but, 2 hrs later washing dry and can’t believe my achievement @ 40 days post op….know I’ve been whining but feeling pretty good
And, had good nights sleep hence my post now😊

Oops it’s not even 40 days..can’t count its 4 weeks tomorrow 🤔

Well done Bea. That’s a huge achievement, I don’t think I could’ve done that at four weeks. I bet you’re feeling really good and you deserve an uplift after what you’ve been through.

Bea I am pleased it is not only me who saw 40 days and gasped! I cannot believe it is four weeks, even. You did a lot yesterday, stripping your bed, etc. It is a pity it cannot stay like that for at least six months.

It took me ages because I have three "sheets" under the bottom sheet, so I was traipsing around the bed. Whoever built the house in 1988 forgot we had to walk around a bed. My bed is a normal double bed with very little space.

There are showers here today so the single bedding will not be stripped and washed. The bed is against a wall as it is the 3rd bedroom.

I appear to wash for Middlesex, I have no idea where it comes from. I have not worked out an easy way to hang a king size duvet cover on the line.

My apologies for this riveting information.

I always out a draw sheet between bottom sheet and quilt because it avoids taking off the quilt cover (king size) a job I dread,
Doesn’t help that I am only 5 foot, with probably short arms, so well done for even thinking about your duvet cover Bea, even more that you actually did it. You are on your way, but don’t overdo things and rest up in between jobs .

As for hanging king sized bedding out on the line, which is my preference, I usually fold it up before putting into the machine . Then taking it out carefully and finding the corners which are usually still together while holding the cover over a laundry basket so nothing falls on the ground to get dirty. It’s a Job and a half and if dh is around he helps by holding one corner.

silverlining yes I have to fold before putting in machine so it comes out sort of orderly… I was very apprehensive at reaching and balancing while pegging but my neighbour was in her garden so thought it would be okay and did have my trolley outside too …you have to become inventive when living alone to get things done

I might regret it tomorrow- whenever I tried walking a short distance ..it was never painful the next day but the next day after that..maybe I’m weird…

grammargran

Well done Bea. That’s a huge achievement, I don’t think I could’ve done that at four weeks. I bet you’re feeling really good and you deserve an uplift after what you’ve been through.

🙏..grammargran having a bit of a duvet day today as it’s pouring down…miss going out in my car..that’s the next aim to get back driving 🤞🏻

Shouldn’t be long before you are off on the open road Bea.

silverlining With notice, could your DH pop in my direction to help me, please?

Yes it is helpful to have a man about the house.

What we did get though which was and still is, very helpful. I found a cleaner who works for herself, and who Woukd help with changing beds if I asked, but only asked once as we can manage. She comes every 2 weeks fir two hours, loves cleaning, ( so I don’t feel too guilty) and hope she stays with me until the end.

bea well done for changing the bedclothes! I was at my DD1’s for seven weeks after my op, so didn’t have to attempt the bedclothes until after that. I can do it quite well now, but the king size duvet cover is still a challenge. I can hang the sheets out on the whirly line, but can’t manage to get the duvet cover over the highest line yet.
You do indeed have to be inventive to get things done when on your own! I put the washing in a large carrier bag and then put the bag on a garden chair to save bending down too far. But I expect everyone does that!

Redcar I do the same-it is much easier. I also use the chair as it is cleaner than the ground to assist with hanging the sheet and duvet cover.

My weekly cleaner usually changes my bedding. I strip the bed and throw the laundry downstairs, having left clean laundry hanging over the bannister the night before.

We get there in the end!

I need both hips replacing and I am dreading coming home afterwards and am thinking of so many ways to cope on my own.

I am coming up to the 6 week line on Thursday and will be hopefully able to drive once more. I intend to do a couple circuits round the carpark where i live and practise an emergency stop before hitting the road.
Am a bit nervous as it's my left side and therefore my clutch leg. How has anyone else found driving after HR. I had no issues when I had my right side done nearly 3 years ago.

Bea if you’re weird so am I. The physio got a bit confused by me as I didn’t experience any pain while doing the exercises but did the next day and was sometimes worse the day after that. Mind you now things have got worse and the pain cuts in much more quickly. I tried to do the recommended exercises but found walking difficult and painful afterwards so I’ve cut back and am hoping to build them up very slowly.

Silverlining I’m asking myself why I hadn’t thought of folding the duvet cover and top sheet before putting them in the washing machine. Thank you for that, I shall write myself a sticky note. I had a struggle pegging out the duvet cover the other day. Just got it sorted when my entire whirlygig line collapsed landing all my clean washing on the ground!

17 weeks since my TKR. It was going so well but over the last week or so it has got increasingly achy and is a bit swollen. The joint itself feels ok but it’s to the sides mostly. Off to see the Gp on Wednesday, so 🤞

Nannytopsy I agree you need to be seen. It may be zilch but good to know if you have nothing to worry about.

Is everybody aware that if you have an infection elsewhere, you should be on antibiotics? Usually, it is something you would treat yourself, but please do not—get advice.

Thank you Charleygirl - I hoped you were still awake!

Unfortunately, I will be up with the lark. I cannot break 40 years of work of early rising, and I am not an early bedder.

teabagwoman I also would consider seeking a medical opinion unless you can think of a specific reason why the pain should be returning. Have you overdone the walking, twisted your hip or whatever?

Sorry you’re still awake Charleygirl and thank you for your concern but I’m still in the process of being referred for surgery. I had a long period of mild to moderate problems with my joints and then, quite suddenly things got much worse and am only now being sent to the orthopods.

travelsafar I have had both hips replaced, the most recent was last November. I drive a manual car (not an automatic) and haven’t had any problems using the pedals at all. Although I was told I could drive 6 weeks after the operation, I waited until I felt confident, about 9 weeks after surgery. I live in a village so just drove round that to start with and everything was fine.
charleygirl I’ve still got the 10.5 duvet on the bed, but the 7 tog one is ready to go on the bed when the nights get a bit milder! I’ll go down to 4.5 in the summer when it’s really warm!

Redcar A 4.5 tog is a little more than a sheet. I was happy to return to my 15 for the last two nights, plus, of course, my hwb. If I could afford it, the heating would also be on all night.

I have bought a new 15 tog duvet so it is airing for 24 hours.

My apologies, teabagwoman. I am losing the plot, especially about who has had a knee or a hip done, or, as in your case, if.