*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature P: Personality Disorders.

Preparing For A Hip Replacement

How to prepare for a hip replacement

Before your hip replacement, your doctor will talk to you about the things you can do to prepare.

This might include advice on:

muscle strengthening exercises to do before and after the surgery that will help with your recovery
losing weight if you are overweight
stopping smoking
having a healthy diet and sticking to the recommended weekly limits on alcohol units

It's important to do these things while you wait for a hip replacement because waiting lists can be long. This is because these things may lower your risks of complications and speed your recovery time.

Pre-admission clinic

You will probably be asked to go to a pre-admission clinic a few weeks before the operation. This is to make sure you're well enough for surgery to go ahead.

You may need to have a blood test, X-rays, a urine (pee) test to check for infections, or an electrocardiogram (ECG) to check your heart health.

You may also meet the team involved in your care so you can learn more about the operation and recovery afterwards, and ask any questions you might have.

Prepare for recovering at home

It's a good idea to prepare for when you get home after your operation.

You might want to think about:

asking for any help you might need at home with day-to-day activities
making sure things you use often are easy to reach
stocking your freezer with cooked meals
arranging transport, as you'll be unable to drive for at least 6 weeks after the operation
speaking to your employer and making a plan for returning to work if you need to
borrowing, hiring or buying any equipment that you may find very useful, such as a raised toilet seat or a hand-held "grabber" that helps you pick up objects

Your care team should be able to provide more advice on where to get equipment you may find useful.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature P: Personality Disorders. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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