judyisnice said:
Well it's time for me to make a few phone calls and get myself on the way to a new hip.
Judy,
A few additional things for you to keep in mind as you look ahead to a hip replacement in, I assume, the DR:
1. The doctor will want you to be somewhere he can monitor your progress and where you can get therapy every day. This post op therapy is important to build up the muscles and keep you from stiffening up. 15 days after the surgery the stitches are removed. The therapist told Babara today she should not plan to return to Sosua until 3 days after stitches removed, assuming all continues to go well.
2. Barbara will be getting an injection daily for 15 days for blood circulation. This is to help insure clots don't form.
3. The site of the incision must be cleaned daily and the dressing changed.
4. You'll need help with a lot of things, especially at first--like bathing, washing your hair, etc.
5. When you leave the hospital, you will need crutches or a walker,depending on what the therapist and doctor think you are ready for. Barbara has crutches and is experienced in using them because of prior problems, but some people do better at first with a walker. Eventually you ill need a cane, but not at first.
6. You'll need a device that elevates the toilet seat. It is cleverly designed to mount on the toilet so that your leg and hip are at a better angle when seated on the toilet that is possible with the lower, regular toilet seat. The regular toilet puts too much stress on the hip.
7. The items mentioned in 5 and 6 are readily obtained from Farmaconal in Santo Domingo. I bought ours from the branch on Av. Jose Aybar Castellanos, telephone 381-0906. The crutches, a cane, and the toilet device cost about RD$3,000
We've been staying for many years at a small, cheap hotel on Calle Danae, which is very close to Clinica Abreu and the office of the doctor and therapist. This is working well for us because it is easy for the therapist to come to the hotel for Barbara's daily therapy, and for one of the nurses from Clinica Abreu to come by, after work, to give her the injection and change the dressing. Additionally, there are two young women at the hospital who are helping Barbara a great deal. One of them will sleep in our room when I am in Sosua in case she needs help during the night. She got up on her own last night and used the bathroom, something I didn't know until this morning, but when I am in Sosua I'll feel better knowing there is somebody taking care of her.
I mention all of the above so you will be aware of what comes after the operation and can include that in your planning.
If you would like the contact information for our surgeon, let me know. I highly recommend him. He is highly regarded by his peers and is very experienced with hip replacements.
Good luck with your hip replacement.
