anne
New Member
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Post by anne on Feb 24, 2017 17:34:02 GMT -7
Hi guys, I need help. My husband has had anabove the knee amputation. He's just coming out of a 3 week coma. Medical staff said he wouldn't know his leg was gone for days as he would be too dilerious and groggy, but he does know. He has a tracheostomy so he can't speak tho he's getting really frustrated trying to tell me something, I think it's about his leg. Should I tell him the truth yet??
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Post by cherylm on Feb 25, 2017 2:46:31 GMT -7
Wow...I'm sorry about your whole situation. How sure are you that he's actually trying to tell you "one specific thing?" Could he just be confused, troubled, and wondering "what the heck happened here?" IS HE CAPABLE OF WRITING SHORT NOTES?? I think it's a good idea to answer any questions he has...but just blurting out "honey, your leg is gone" can be traumatic, especially if he hasn't gotten to the point of realizing something's different down there.
I knew immediately that my leg had "changed"...BUT I knew I was going in for an amputation. I remember trying to move my leg post-surgery and being stunned by "how light it felt." If your husband has been able to move that leg, he may have some idea of what's going on, so that may give you a clue to his awareness.
He ultimately does need to know, and it might be good to hear it from someone he loves, but please be cautious....he's been through something traumatic and this is not something that most people even think about until it happens "close to home."
Please let us know how it goes and don't be afraid to ask questions as you both go along this road........
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Post by snowyh on Feb 25, 2017 3:50:31 GMT -7
Sound advice. cherylm.
If he's really trying to communicate, please try to find a way for him to do it... a pad and pencil as Cheryl suggested would be great. I'd try to arrange for a mental health professional to be present for the big reveal--can the hospital arrange that? Maybe you could find a local support network (the Amputee Coalition of America has peer counselors) to help you help him. The local VA might be able to put you in touch with others who have had to "wake up having become an amputee." I wish you well. Let us know how it goes.
Helen
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Post by stonecutter on Feb 27, 2017 11:21:17 GMT -7
Yep - I would agree with the above. If he's mentally alert even for a few minutes, there's a certain amount of stress that comes with not knowing what's happening and not being told things.
Let us know if there's any questions to be answered.
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Post by Ann on Mar 1, 2017 2:14:52 GMT -7
Just agreeing with all the replies here. I was in accident when I was young and lost both my legs,but what I remember though is being aware of voices and conversations around me before I 'woke up' and also that something was wrong with my legs as I couldn't move them. So I didn't actually know my legs had been amputated but knew something wasn't right with my legs, though already even though not fully 'with it' I was thinking and imagining, and in my head thought I had been paralysed.
I remember being told pretty much immediately when I 'woke up', but it was immediately followed by being told I would be given new artificial legs and would learn to walk again and do all the things I wanted to do, and although I was 'in' and 'out' of it for the next few weeks, did remember what they told me.
Also I remember that everything was kept very positive,even though at that time not much was known about prosthetics but I think that probably the positivity of those around me kept me going at that time.
I do wish you both well and your husband a speedy recovery, as others have previously said, let us know if there's any questions to be answered.
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anne
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by anne on Mar 2, 2017 3:01:18 GMT -7
thankyou all for your responses. sorry for delay but we had a few setbacks this week resulting in my husband having the breathing tube reinstated and on full ventilation again. in a positive note yesterday doctors have reinstated the reacheostomy and reduced sadation. he is also producing his own urine so off the dialyis which is great. once again we expect him to begin to wake up by Friday or Saturday. we have tried to get him to write on a small whitebiard but he was too week. we also made up an A3 sheet with typical responses. but he was a little confused by that too. I will explain as softly as so can 're amputation I'm just terrified that he will become so overwhelmed that he can do further damage to his throat. thankyou all again and I'll keep u posted
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Post by stonecutter on Mar 3, 2017 8:23:47 GMT -7
Sorry to hear you guys are having a tough time with setbacks. I do know this for sure: He's a lucky guy to have you to help him through it. It's not going to be the easiest, but there'll be a point very soon I'd imagine where things will start getting a little bit better everyday.
The typical responses sheet is a very good idea.
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