Post by bill04 on Apr 15, 2016 6:58:23 GMT -7
I understand now what it was like for our vets of WWII, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Viet Nam War. In 1964, I had severe pain in the upper left arm that wouldn't go away, then a lump appeared out of nowhere. In finally getting my parents to understand that I was in constant pain 24/7 I was taken to the doctor. Xrays showed the tumor and I was immediate put in the hospital, this was in November 1965. The room I was in was a ward of about forty guys. Because my parents didn't support me, having these Gus helped me more than anything.
After doctors explained a few things to me I was sent to a room once a day for cobalt radiation treatments. The machine was huge and made double the noise that an MRI does. Then a type of x-ray machine that was I think the beginning of the MRI Machine. It was also very huge and all metal and moved very slowly. When this was all done, the doctors told me that the blood tests and the other tests confirmed that I had bone cancer and my arm had to be amputated. I was eighteen. But, my parents were not there to hear this news, I had to buck up and take it all in.
On the morning of the surgery I had to take this bath with a type of antibacterial soap in the tub. It stung my body but stung private area and butt tremendously, after that I was placed on a gurney and rolled into surgery. Woke up later, didn't feel the pain of surgery but was glad that the constant pain was finally gone. I was told not to look when they were changing dressing but I did and was not really shocked
Now, here's the tough part, back fifty years ago there was no such thing as Medicine to reduce the affect of phantom pains. They were excruciating and brought tears a lot. My doctor said that they would not last long but found that to be untrue. I had to buck up and take the pain 24/7. It was most certainly different then the pain of cancer but the pains were like gusts of wind, I'd get a swoop of harsh pain, more than the normal pains. I found myself crushing coffee cups in my hand because the swoop was so intense. The pains lasted for years but as the years went by, the less I had felt them. Now, I only get twinges because of barometric pressure, I've become a weather machine lol.
Like all of us, I have my insecurities but, as an amputee I'm very strong emotionally. My parents because of their non support caused me to be strong. My strength came from my individual experience and survival.
Later I'll tell of my prosthesis.
Bill
After doctors explained a few things to me I was sent to a room once a day for cobalt radiation treatments. The machine was huge and made double the noise that an MRI does. Then a type of x-ray machine that was I think the beginning of the MRI Machine. It was also very huge and all metal and moved very slowly. When this was all done, the doctors told me that the blood tests and the other tests confirmed that I had bone cancer and my arm had to be amputated. I was eighteen. But, my parents were not there to hear this news, I had to buck up and take it all in.
On the morning of the surgery I had to take this bath with a type of antibacterial soap in the tub. It stung my body but stung private area and butt tremendously, after that I was placed on a gurney and rolled into surgery. Woke up later, didn't feel the pain of surgery but was glad that the constant pain was finally gone. I was told not to look when they were changing dressing but I did and was not really shocked
Now, here's the tough part, back fifty years ago there was no such thing as Medicine to reduce the affect of phantom pains. They were excruciating and brought tears a lot. My doctor said that they would not last long but found that to be untrue. I had to buck up and take the pain 24/7. It was most certainly different then the pain of cancer but the pains were like gusts of wind, I'd get a swoop of harsh pain, more than the normal pains. I found myself crushing coffee cups in my hand because the swoop was so intense. The pains lasted for years but as the years went by, the less I had felt them. Now, I only get twinges because of barometric pressure, I've become a weather machine lol.
Like all of us, I have my insecurities but, as an amputee I'm very strong emotionally. My parents because of their non support caused me to be strong. My strength came from my individual experience and survival.
Later I'll tell of my prosthesis.
Bill
