pelly
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by pelly on Dec 8, 2010 3:01:39 GMT -7
Hello all, My name is David and I am a new below knee amputee (10 days). Love this forum, so inspirational especially regarding the cycling aspect, I can't wait. Reason for amputation? Motorcycle accident July 2007, several operations later I was told I was fixed. After a year of pain and falling and general misery I decided I was definitely not fixed and so sought further help. The rest is history. Boredom is the main issue and impatience at the moment. Oh and doorways not wide enough for my wheel chair. Anyway, back to looking at the rest of the forum. Regards David (Lincolnshire, UK)
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Post by allenuk on Dec 8, 2010 9:35:13 GMT -7
Hello David.
Wheelchairs/crutches - definitely no good for us in England, as our rooms aren't big enough!
Yes, you're right about the cycling. I was on an ordinary bike, but it's been getting a bit hard (although there are plenty of amps, some on this site, who fly around on ordinary bikes all the time), so currently I'm on an electric one. It's great, being able to travel quite long and pain-free distances - well, long-ish, anyway.
Ten days. I remember ticking them off on a calendar - it was about 5 or 6 weeks in my case, but they were LONG weeks. Mind you, with the current weather up your way (US readers: loads of snow and ice), you're probably better off staying in.
Allen, bka, London.
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Post by stonecutter on Dec 8, 2010 13:40:08 GMT -7
Pelly, welcome to the forum, and to the club. I'd like to say that there's a lifetime membership card in the mail, but I'm still waiting for mine! Wow! Ten days in... how are you doing with it? Sleeping okay? Hang in there - things will improve before you know it. Hope to hear more from you - keep us posted on how you're doing. Keep posting! Thanks for joining up!
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Post by barclay on Dec 8, 2010 21:49:35 GMT -7
Hi and Welcome from me too!
I can't believe you are home ten days after the operation - wow. I was in the hospital for a month! (the hospital => US citizen, one month in the Hospital => living in Europe).
It's quite amazing what one can manage - life is different, but for me at least, it's as much a question of adaption and acceptance...and being glad that things work at all.
One thing I saw from my rehab time was that the worse shape people were in, the more trouble they had learning to manage the prosthesis and then, the more trouble they had with the prosthesis, the worse their shape got. Ask about exercises you can do as you heal from the operation.
I have a similar history, though not from an accident -17 years of problems which were solved, and then the last three years of operations and treatments and disappointment and putting the rest of my life on hold for a problem which wouldn't be solved. The amputation was a good choice for me and my quality of life has improved.
What I remember best from the time just after was coming to terms with the finality of it all.
Hang in there and don't be shy about posting - even it is only to combat the boredom - we've all been there:-)
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Post by headoncollider on Feb 25, 2011 23:55:40 GMT -7
Hey Pelly, congrats on finding the forum. I've only just been introduced to it myself. ;D As for losing the busted baggage, I lost my leg above knee about 3 years ago from an infection. Basically turned the bone to "bolloks" as you might say in the UK. Anyway, im sure you'll be a lot better off without the past pains and find yourself still be able to most everything you were doing before. That will include falling over, but now the pains come after you fall. And fortunately, those pains and scrapes heal quickly? It's also a good "personallity builder" on a humillity respect. When you do go ass up in the main street, you get up, shake it off (the ego dent, not the leg) and move on. If theres anything I could suggest, I would say be sure to communicate with your prosthesist. When you are fitted, the leg will usually feel great, but as you settle into it (over the first 3 or 4 months), there may be subtle changes in your stump that MUST be catered for. If it doesnt feel snug and comfortable, then its not fitting correctly! A good prosthesist will know whats going on and what to typically expect, but some wont act unless you tell them its not right. Anyway, thats enough of my bantering on. Glad to see you found the forum and im keen to see how you progress.
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Post by msalicia48 on Mar 1, 2011 10:19:32 GMT -7
Hello my name is Alicia and i'm a new amputee this occurred in March of 2009, my situation started with my left baby toe and ended up on the right side of my body and after a long battle of wether or not to take my leg the doctor came to me and said if i wanted to stay sick then we could let the leg stay for a few more weeks,months or more and see what the outcome would be or just take it and become better,well i chose to let him take it, its below the knee and that changed my whole life and now i'm in the healing stages due to the series of surgeries i had to have and amongst other things i was told that i had,get this, periphal vascular disease and clogged artery and poor circulation which all stemed from my left baby toe hurting and turning blackish. I am really trying to deal with this cause i don't really have a choice cause its done now and i just have to mend, which some days are extremely hard due to pain and i am tired of taking freaking pills, this is the most i have ever taken any pills cause i hate pills. Now its like i need them just to get through the day cause i hurt so bad, i am glad i found this website cause i really need someone or many that are in my situation that can relate to my pain,mind set and feelings. It would be greatly appreciated if i can get the assistant from you guys on coping with the fact that i won't be having another real leg except for the one i have and the prostetic one. See i'm so use to being able to go when i want and doing things that i want to do when i want to and now its sorta hard knowing i just can't just jump up and move without having some sort of assist in doing so, yeah its frustrating cause this is all pretty new to me but by the grace of God and my will power and children i believe i can surpass the thought of not being able to do as i use to, especially in bowling its freaking hard to adjust. Please,please can i get help from you guys cause sometimes i feel freaking lost and it is a dark room i'm in all by my lonesome and i don't want to keep having that feeling any more. Again i'm glad i found this forum to chat with others in my condition as well with strong minds due to the time length you all have on me being an amputee.....
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Post by msalicia48 on Mar 1, 2011 11:01:53 GMT -7
Just to add no one ever gave me this much information until now thats why i'm just getting to this site and i've been an amputee for about 2 years now and yes i need help, i am inclined to think that there is a reason i was directed to this site at this time....i'm tired of feeling alone and no one to relate with.
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Post by allenuk on Mar 1, 2011 14:31:53 GMT -7
Can't tell you it's all going to be great tomorrow, Alicia, because it probably isn't!
But it DOES get better. You learn how to cope with things that at the beginning drive you nuts. I've learned patience - I was always fairly patient, but being without one leg has forced me to change my expectations all round.
We won't be able to help with the coping, except that most of us here have been through it (so there IS hope), but what we can probably help with is the day-to-day stuff, like "how the heck do I ....?" or "can I get help with...?"
Mind you, I'm (a) English, and (b) a man, so a lot of your specific questions will be outside of my experience - but SOMEBODY here should know something!
Best of luck,
Allen.
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Post by msalicia48 on Mar 1, 2011 15:03:11 GMT -7
Thanks allenuk for your response,(tear) i guess i will just bare and grind and pray each day and in hopes that my prayers will be answered and just believe that there is a real Go that can help me in my time of need and get through this thing, its been hard some days and if you know of anyone that can just go with me through this ordeal and adjust to my living condition i guess i'll have to accept that and keep carrying on in life the way i best can for now.
I sit days on in at a time wondering how and what can make this better and my answers keep being the same, nothing. I am surely gonna make the best of everything as i can and know that i am gonna be okay in time, its hard when you are just getting adjusted to things that are new to you and you don't really know what to do. I am i need of some support groups here in Detroit, Mi cause there is a crumbling wall around me and i am feeling stuck inside without any outs and i'm not liking this feeling cause i am feeling lost. Big thanks goes out to ya and please send me someone that can probably work with me from time to time...
Thank you, Msalicia
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