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Hello
Jan 6, 2013 8:41:14 GMT -7
Post by dawnbbka on Jan 6, 2013 8:41:14 GMT -7
Hello everyone, My name is Dawn and I am a bilateral BKA-hence the name. I have diabetes from the age of 6 . I lost the first leg at the age of 35 and the second at 42. Hope to communicate with others and learn some tricks of the trade.
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Jan 6, 2013 17:11:02 GMT -7
Post by stonecutter on Jan 6, 2013 17:11:02 GMT -7
Hi Dawn... Welcome to the forum!
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ann58
Female Member
Posts: 278
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Hello
Jan 6, 2013 22:01:05 GMT -7
Post by ann58 on Jan 6, 2013 22:01:05 GMT -7
Hi Dawn..glad to meet U, but sorry it had to be this way. I think after afew posts U will agree everyone on here R very friendly and will help in any way they can. ann
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Jan 7, 2013 1:26:47 GMT -7
Post by cherylm on Jan 7, 2013 1:26:47 GMT -7
Welcome, Dawn...glad you found us! We are a pretty good bunch here, and it's pretty much guaranteed that someone here will have advice on any questions you may have.
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Jan 7, 2013 2:41:04 GMT -7
Post by ann- on Jan 7, 2013 2:41:04 GMT -7
Hello everyone, My name is Dawn and I am a bilateral BKA-hence the name. I have diabetes from the age of 6 . I lost the first leg at the age of 35 and the second at 42. Hope to communicate with others and learn some tricks of the trade. Hi Dawn, Welcome to the group, I too am bilateral b/k, had mine since I was young too, there aren't so many of us bilats about compared with single amps., but am getting know more through forums like this. Perhaps we can swop notes! Ann
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Jan 7, 2013 16:35:53 GMT -7
Post by dawnbbka on Jan 7, 2013 16:35:53 GMT -7
Thank you all for the welcome. Although I am not new to amputation, I feel like I have been winging it for a long time. It took me two years to finally get prosthetics that fit. I have spent 90% of those years in a wheelchair and started physical therapy to get my posture back. My goal is to walk upright without the use of a cane. I did quite well after the loss of my first leg and returned to work. The second amputation has been awful on me physically, mentally and spiritually. I want to be positive again and get out of depression from the loss and lack of progress for so long. Thanks for being here.
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Jan 8, 2013 2:19:52 GMT -7
Post by ann- on Jan 8, 2013 2:19:52 GMT -7
Hello again Dawn, sorry to hear that you have had trouble getting prosthetics to fit, in recent years I have had similar problems and think I am quite often winging it too, actually I think most of us do, when the legs are fitting I do pretty well walking-wise, but do have days when they are not so wonderful and now try and make contingencies for then, so tend to juggle things day by day.
As I said previously, both my legs were done at the same time, so didn't have to go through it twice as such, in those days the processes of walking and the prosthetics were very different, but I went through the processes of crutches, two sticks and one stick, also, but for some reason I just don't balance well on one stick, generally I walk unaided. We are all different but imagine the goals you mention are pretty realistic.
I was reminded of the rehab processes when I had a revision on one of my legs a few years ago, the walking/rehab side of things did take me a bit by surprise, it took me longer than I thought it would to be walking again, in rehab I was mainly with single amps., and I noticed they were forging ahead on sticks way before I was, even though I was used to walking with prosthetics, and I found I was absolutely exhausted most of the time and after I'd done the physio for the day, only had the energy to sleep. The actual prescribed rehab of five to six weeks I was given, though very good, I found wasn't enought and I had to continue with physio, and I also did hydro for some time, since then I have found it helps to keep up with as much exercise as I can, mostly I do this with the legs off. Its not something I was advised or had to do first time round but am finding now that it definitely helps with general aches and pains.
I am not sure how long ago you had the second amputation, but I have heard others say the same as you in that the second one has been harder to get to grips with. Don't be too hard on yourself, it is more difficult with two, and it does take longer regards walking, and you will be putting much more weight through each stump than you probably did on the single one, so it does take more of a toll on the stumps and you can't wing it quite so much from an ill fitting prosthetic as you would if you were a single amp, because you have to, more or less put equal weight through. It is a bit of a long haul with two, you just have to keep plodding on, you will be making progress in all the ways you say it has been awful on you , but probably not realizing your own progress at the moment because it is ongoing and is hard work even when you are not wearing the prosthetics, the whole of you is adapting to this and probably still getting your head around it ... you will get there though.
Take care and feel free to message me on here if you want to talk it over.
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Hello
Jan 8, 2013 3:42:18 GMT -7
Post by allenuk on Jan 8, 2013 3:42:18 GMT -7
Hello Dawn.
Glad you found our place, sorry you had to.
Look forward to hearing more of your story.
Allen, bka, London.
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