After surgery every day activities may be more difficult. Here are some suggestions to make things easier for you during the recovery period.

• Seating: a chair with arms will make it easier to sit down and for getting up. Try to avoid using a chair which swivels.
• Washing/dressing/showering: you must keep your wound dry until it is healed. If you have a level access shower this is easier for showering, if not consider a strip wash and put a chair in the bathroom to sit to wash.
• Getting dressed: be organised, collect all your clothes, and put them close to you before starting to get dressed. Sit on a chair or on your bed and wear loose, comfortable, and easily fastened clothes and comfortable, flat supportive shoes. If you have been given equipment to help you dress use this.
• Shopping: thinking about asking people for help or use online or telephone shopping.
• Cooking: use the meals which you prepared prior to surgery. Keep most used items to hand, consider using a kitchen stool and prepare meals on the top of the cooker or in the microwave rather than using the oven.
• Housework: avoid heavy housework for the initial 6 weeks after surgery, either ask family or friends to help or arrange for a private cleaner.
• Employment: speak to your consultant about when you should be aiming to return to work. Have a discussion with your employer as to whether part time work or working from home might be an option.
• Sport: most low impact sports such as swimming and cycling should be possible after about 6 weeks. Avoid energetic, high impact or competitive sport for 3 months. If unsure what is right for you, please check with your General Practitioner (GP).