mics
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by mics on Apr 14, 2021 18:04:53 GMT -7
Hi all. My name is Mic and I am a recent multi amputee. 2 months ago I suffered severe frost bite. i have 6 transcarpal amputations at varying lengths with my thumbs unaffected (thank the baby jesus). I also have a R BKA and L partial foot with a heel flap.
I feel I am a stranger in a strange land. My last surgery was 5 weeks ago and I was discharged almost a week ago. I am due for out pt rehab soon as I guess I will be cleared for prosthetic fitting at (?) 6 weeks post op. So as it stands I am in limbo. The internet is limited in terms of my brand of injury.
What I do have going for me is that I was very fit when the incident occurred (I was hiking), I am fairly high functioning in light of the extent of my injuries, and I am a medical professional. While in a way this feels like a very bad dream I have been able to stay positive and see this as a puzzle/physical challenge to take on.
I am grateful this forum exists as I mentioned I feel very disoriented without access to resources as covid is so prohibitive to social engagement. I hope I can get some questions answered here and maybe start to normalize my experience.
Cheers
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Post by stonecutter on Apr 15, 2021 7:14:07 GMT -7
Hi Mics. Well... welcome to these forums. Sounds like you've been through the ringer!
Pleased to 'meet' you. The folks you'll meet here are phenomenal. For now, poke around, if you see a thread and you have a question or something to add - feel free to do so. Doesn't matter how 'old' the thread is. Fire away.
What part of the world are you from?
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Post by leftyeric on Apr 15, 2021 20:28:02 GMT -7
Welcome, Mic. Wow, what a two months you have been through! I was also healthy and fit, and in my own way even a little athletic when with zero warning I suddenly found myself spending, like you, about seven weeks in a hospital for a forequarter amputation, plus acres of additional debriding, skin grafts, rehab. I thought your phrase "stranger in a strange land" was really descriptive, and it rang a bell with me. You didn't mention it, but it sure sounds like you had something of a narrow escape. Congratulations on that: There's nothing like cheating death to make you feel alive! My guess is that pretty much anything that's serious enough to put a otherwise healthy person into a hospital for seven weeks is also serious enough that you are going to still be quite a ways from "being yourself again" a week after discharge, even if you did have all your original limbs! For me it was definitely a journey, at times overwhelming. But you take it bit by bit and you get there. I like your approach of seeing this as a puzzle to solve. I am a scientist and felt/feel much the same way: "OK, this is a tricky one. How do I make a can opener work?" I impressed that you are already pretty high functioning, and predict that you're going to be the sort of amputee who is able to do pretty much anything you put your mind to. In terms of people who dip in here regularly, snowyh and I are the ones with upper limb amputations, and we are happy to help out where we can. How's your progress back towards making good use of your remaining fingers? Other people here are knowledgeable about leg amputations and prosthetics. Eric
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Post by snowyh on Apr 16, 2021 9:48:40 GMT -7
Hello, Mic, so sorry to hear about your recent life-threatening event. It's good to hear that you "have been able to stay positive and see this as a puzzle/physical challenge to take on," though the recovery period (both physical & mental/emotional) will likely be a series of ups & downs--so don't be discouraged should you hit a slick patch. My experience was quite different (cancer), a long time ago (almost 50 yrs), and I still have the use of both legs & one arm. So what I can offer is about 50 years of physical & emotional adaptation advice. You may also be interested in joining one of the many amputee-related groups on Facebook. Here's a couple www.facebook.com/groups/AmputeeBKandAL or www.facebook.com/Jeff-Giving-A-Hand-2236910353192067 but there are many more. Where are you located? In North America? Helen also www.facebook.com/groups/fingerandpartialhandamputees/
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