Please talk to me about hip replacements...

[flow4]

I have just been told I need a hip replacement, and have been put on the list for an op in 2-3 months time. I have severe arthritis in the joint. I'm young, relatively - still in my 40s. The only other op/hospital stay I have ever had was a Caesarian section with DS2 14 years ago.

I'm a single parent, so I am pretty scared about the prospect of major surgery and worried about practical problems afterwards. My kids are teens so don't need 'looking after' as such, and are quite independent, but can't do things like shopping and won't be reliable care for me either.

If anyone out there has had a hip replacement, I'd be glad to hear how it went for you - especially any advice or reassurance you can give me.

Thanks! :)

Well I hope you do find someone then. We are London and it was easy to set up for mil very quickly. That was a private agency a year ago and it was £12/ hour which I thought was very reasonable. You could have as much or little as you wanted in 15 minute slots. They were pretty good. I was impressed with the quality.

4 x ten minutes? That's terrible. If you are paying by the minute, I would make sure they stayed and did the time. Old people are so vulnerable. ( I know the carers are under awful pressure and it's not their fault).

It was terrible Matilda, and I did complain, but I was working so couldn't check all the time. They double-handed all their visits, so they argued he was getting 20 mins of care - ten mins from two people simultaneously. It didn't meet his needs well at all. I can see it was tricky, because it was in quite an isolated area, and some of the people on their round did need two carers (eg for lifting) so they'd got into the habit of doing everything together.

I've had a look on the local Connect to Support website, and there's quite a few new companies operating in my area now. And you're right the costs are reasonable.

flying, it's hard enough to cope with young children anyway! If you can walk and you're not in too much pain, I'd put off your hip op as long as possible.

My DSs were 5 and 7 when I had the op. I purposely had it done during term time, but was able to do most things with them (cook, watch tv, walk to/from school, attend sports day (didn't do the mum's run though). I was not in pain any more and the recovery was much easier than I expected.

Flying Elephants - your DCs are that much younger, I guess it will be more difficult for you. Is waiting 4 years an option (until baby at school)? I couldn't have faced that....not being able to keep up with them / run round the park was really getting me down. And I was worried that I would not be able to get to work for much longer (about 3 miles' walk and then tube was taking its toll).

Yes, I thought about term-time too Johno. My teens don't need 'looking after' as such, but they argue, and I would like a peaceful house for at least some of the day while I'm recovering. Tho' of course I will probably just go with the date I'm given... :)