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Original poster

Preparing for an operation

55 replies

Preop · 30/07/2025 14:46

Im having a knee replacement soon and have been told to change bedding and PJs daily for 5 days in advance of the operation. This is on top for applying nasal gel twice daily and washing body/hair with hospital-supplied antiseptic wash everyday. Is this normal?

OP posts:

Houndsahollering · 30/07/2025 19:07

Having worked for a hip revision surgeon during my training, I would absolutely not fuck around and do everything they suggest to minimise the risk of infection in the prosthesis. Infected joint replacements are an absolute nightmare for everyone concerned not least you as the patient.

JillMW · 30/07/2025 19:07

I ab as utely would, ic the wound leaks it smells bad ie bacteria quickly breed on bedding. If you have plenty in the house or can take a trip to b and m the easiest way is to make the bed then put a mattress protector on top of the bottom sheet and another sheet, do six layers protector sheet then all you do is whip it off daily.
Use a top sheet under your duvet. Leave five folded in a drawer near your bed, whip off and replace when you get up. Clean pajamas folded in drawer next to sheet.
put a linen basket in your room, or bin bag and pop the linen in each day then you decide whether to wash after a week or daily.

Quellycat · 30/07/2025 19:16

RainSoakedNights · 30/07/2025 14:53

My aunt was told the same thing. Buy a couple of cheap sets of bedding from primark if you need to, and donate them to charity if needed.

You will find that Primark sheets are not cheap … in fact they also have a Luxury Edit.

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General health

OnlyLittleOldMe · 30/07/2025 19:21

Its incase of MRSA it hasn't gone away. Hospitals are just being really vigilant.

anyzee · 30/07/2025 19:33

My DH had this op a few months ago aged 76. He was in bits before it with severe pain etc. that I'm sure all you knee op candidates are well aware of.

He was only told to have a full dental check up and sign off from the dentist, together with using hibiscrub to wash for a couple of days before the job. That was it.

He was walking around the house three days post discharge (with crutch) and climbed the stairs to bed (with a crutch as advised) the day he came home. I didn't look lol! Was driving no bother after four weeks although was told it was longer, can't remember now but he didn't care.

Flying around 6 weeks later. He was fit for his age through with no other illnesses so maybe that helped. He did have a lot of pain, but Nurse Ratched (me) sorted out the happy drugs exactly as directed. He was told to take the pain meds even if he didn't feel he needed them, to prevent breakthrough pain which apparently is harder to get on top of.

Best of luck. Don't worry about the sheets, I'm sure yours are spotless as they are, and hope all goes well for you. 🙂

Haribosweets · 30/07/2025 20:07

My Dad has had 2 knee replacements (awaiting on 3rd) all failed! But wasn't advised any of this and just carried on as normal prior. Certainly no bedding or special Sprays / showerjels. He's not allowed to shower or bath until 8 weeks post op though

roundthebends · 30/07/2025 20:10

@Preopi won’t lie and tell you it’s all been fine because it hasn’t The actual operation wasn’t too bad I had a spinal block and a sedative, I’d never had an op and was very anxious before. The pain afterwards wasn’t that bad - I took paracetamol 2x4 times per day. I coped on crutches in the house and was on one after the 5th week and I was able to manage without crutches indoors and outsideby 7 weeks, and returned them about 3 weeks ago. I found the chronic tiredness and lethargy hard - I still get bouts some days, and I found it hard to get comfortable in bed some nights.

You have to do your physio exercises - everybody told me this. I try to do them daily though, some days less. I’ve been having weekly physio appts on the nhs too, luckily

Do I regret getting it done? When I compare the pain and feeling miserable before I had it done to how I am now it’s a no, I don’t regret it - it’s all been worth it. I’m early 70s and If I get 10 or 15 years of being fairly active I’ll be happy Do it it, will be worth it

ThatMauveReader · 30/07/2025 20:10

Random -go to the hospital, have a senior clinician give clear instructions on what to do pre -op and then come onto Mumsnet to ask for advice - literally couldn’t make it up.

Original poster

Preop · 30/07/2025 20:19

Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m going to do what the nurse advised. I didn’t ask if I should ignore instructions! I just wondered what others’ experiences were.

OP posts:

Marv1nGay3 · 30/07/2025 20:20

I have had two hip replacements in the past year and had to follow this protocol both times. Nasal gel and body/hair wash as well as new bedding and pyjamas daily. It’s only for a few days and surely worth doing everything to reduce the risk of infection when you are about to have major surgery?

Original poster

Preop · 30/07/2025 20:22

Just to reiterate, yes I will follow instructions. I hope your hip operations went well @Marv1nGay3

OP posts:

Marv1nGay3 · 30/07/2025 20:24

Yes- life changing! As I hope yours will be, too.

Doone22 · 30/07/2025 21:22

If you are carrying bacteria up your nose , and everyone does, then this stops you reinfecting yourself every day and gives surgery a better chance of avoiding an infection

olympicsrock · 30/07/2025 22:27

MRSA rates are increasing and joint replacements are particularly high risk. An infection is an utter disaster so lots of units are increasing the preop decolonization precautions . Infections usually from a patients own skin so clean bedding and pyjamas is sensible. Daily bedding is more full on than other regimes I have seen for joint replacement though!

Original poster

Preop · 30/07/2025 22:31

Thanks for all the replies.

OP posts:

CriticalCritter · 31/07/2025 11:15

I had to use the nasal stuff and body wash and I still contracted MRSA - honestly do everything you can to mitigate because I had to have extra surgery to fix the mess.

Original poster

Preop · 31/07/2025 11:39

Oh no! Hope you’re ok now.

OP posts:

Bakerygirl · 31/07/2025 11:49

I had my second knee replacement a year ago. Like you I was given the usual nasal gel and body wash from the hospital. I wasn’t told to wear new pj’s and change bedding for 5 days. Even if I had been told to do it, I wouldn’t have. The dog stayed sleeping on the bed too. I also had the spinal injection which didn’t take so ended up having a GA on top. The instructions you have been given are overkill.

Lickityspit · 31/07/2025 11:53

My DH had a knee replacement 2 weeks ago and wasn’t told any of this. He had to use a special liquid to wash for 5 days and that was all. All good and no infection

Horserider5678 · 31/07/2025 14:10

Preop · 30/07/2025 14:57

Yes, I’m sure it’s to prevent bacteria, but changing bedding everyday is a lot. I guess I’ll need to ban the dog from our bed too!

It is about preventing infections, however the protocol your on sounds like you may possibly have MRSA, which is very common. It causes no problem unless you sick or having an op!

Original poster

Preop · 31/07/2025 16:41

All the info about washing bed clothes etc … was in the pack they gave me before I even had the swab so it seems standard for the hospital. They said they’d call me if I was positive for anything and they haven’t mentioned it during the two calls I’ve had with them since. I’m following all instructions.

OP posts:

cookiemonster66 · 02/08/2025 23:48

I have had both my knees replaced in the last 18 mths, and they told me the same thing, it is about reducing the risk of infection. I have had over 30 surgeries in my life , never been asked to do this before because this surgery is massive, trust me you do not want to get any infection in the wound! So do everything they advise, I even used an additional anti-bac cleanser in with ALL my washing from just before my surgery to when the wound was completely sealed and healed, this is major surgery, do not take any risks. here is link to anti-bac cleanser I used https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/315446215

mamagogo1 · 02/08/2025 23:56

Having a couple of extra sets of bedding is useful for afterwards as you need to be changing it very frequently if the wound seeps at all. Using a single duvet is easier if you haven’t got any to change it for you

Ohduckie · 03/08/2025 12:29

Please just follow the nurse's advice! I can't imagine how horrific an infection in your surgical site would be 😱

Original poster

Preop · 03/08/2025 23:16

As I’ve already said, I am following all of the nurse’s advice.

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