Last post Sat, Jun 07 2008 2:11 PM by Debbie. 19 replies.
Hi i'm new to this site....although i have gained alot of information and know i'm making the best decision to amputate i'm still scared. i think i kinda disasociated for awhile to protect myself from depression. now that it is a couple days away i feel unsure. I'm also sad.
I'm curious to know how others dealed with the first few days after amputation? was there alot of pain? did pt have you get up right away with a walker? How long was your hospital stay? does pt teach you about how to care for stump.
I know i probably can get these answers if i researched more but i afraid and feel if peers kindly guide me my anxiety level might go down a bit. i didn't sleep last night..crap!
thankyou kindly,
betsy
Hi...My husband is a double above the knee amputee. He lost one leg a month before the other. PT was great. They do teach you a lot. He was on a walker, then crutches (after his first amputation) the very next day. They teach you how to wrap your stump until it is ready for a shrinker. He did not have a lot of pain...in fact, he said it felt so much better getting his leg off...he said it was kind of like getting a bad tooth out. His stump did jump a whole lot after surgery...they gave him valium to stop that from going on....phantom pains were horrible at first, again, the valium really helped...he does get phantom pains still....after almost five years, however, not as bad and not as long of a time.
Look at your stump right away...get used to it and accept it. Mike did and it really helped...he had no depression with it or anything....he is very self confident about himself still...and, has every reason to be.
Oh...and he was in the hospital two days...one night. I don't know if this is typical or not...and, he is now driving. Your life will not end, just change.
I am really sorry that you have to go through this...if you need anything, or, need to talk, let me know....Both my husband and myself will be gone all day tomorrow...however, send me a message if you need to talk and I will get back to you today or friday...my husband will be willing to talk with you as well.
Good luck and may God Bless You.
Hi Betsy, Good luck on Friday, I am also due to have a rt aka in about 5 weeks, so hopefully you will be able to advise me. Can I ask why you are having one please? Mine is due to a longstanding knee problem and a neuropathy that I have and last November they fused the knee (salvage procedure) it is unbearable to live with and an amputation has been rec. for a better quality of life. I live in England, where are you?. All the best Betsy. Jill
hi leiah and peggy,
thankyou for posting back. the idea about paying attention and self care of my stump was good to hear. I have a tendency to want to push it back in my mind and sleep.
I have to have an amputation because I've had 2 knee replacements and each time i get sick with infection. Its actually the mrsa staph infection. Meaning its 'treatment resistant'. I can't get rid of it. Its in my bone from the knee down. they were going to do a fusion but i changed my mind 2 weeks ago. I will have a better life with the use of a prosthesis. I still have alot to do in my life and i want to be able to go the easiest way possible.
Hello I am a right AKA also I had the same infection that you had in my leg. I went in for a bka but the infection was still in my leg so after 2 weeks I went to a AKA. PT got me up out of bed right away to walk with the walker as far a s the stump I went to inpatient rehab for 7 days and then home I learned how to take care of my stump from rehab and I had nursing in home for about 2 weeks. I have been walking since feb. 08 I started with a walker and then the cane. I use the cane most of the time I hope to get rid of that in a little. My whole incident started in sept. 07 but I stayed in the hospital for 45 days because of the infection. You can also reach me at mmays911@comcast.net. I can share anything else that you may want to ask. I will say one thing don't get use the the wheelchair that only slow you down. STAY STRONG and hold your head up. Peace
Sorry but the answer about the pain I did not have a lot of pain. I had a lot of support when it first took place that was a big help to me. I use to worry about people looking at me when I started to walk but i learned real quick that I dont care if people look at me or not it's me and i am happy with the progress that I have made. You will do just fine with everything on friday. I was a little over protected of my stump at first but that was only holding me back so I soon got over that. I can go up and down stairs I can do pretty much everything that I did before this just maybe a little slower. I am a big guy also that didnt help me but I have lost about 80 lbs since all of this. My next goal is to go back to work I was a paramedic before all of this as of now they want let me return but I am not giving up.
thankyou everyone, i had my amputation on the 18th and everything went well. I loved all my nurses and aides plus pt were very supportive.
i'm adjusting fairly well to not having a leg. what i had before was so messed up and i couldn't walk on it anyway. after 10 days the swelling has gone down so much and i get my stiches out on tuesday.
i feel like i'm going to at last have a life. before i worried about infection and having additional surgeries....now i get to look forward to getting a new leg and getting on with my life. Meaning; vacations, sex with my husband, a part time job and walking!
it is like life starting over again and its wonderful.. No need to look back . that will get me nowhere.
Hello betsywetsy,
Welcome to Disaboom-I'm glad the surgery went well, you are correct in that now you can get on with your life.
Stay Strong
Vinny
Hi Betsy,
I am so glad you are feeling positive and it all went well for you, I am having my final consultation on my AKA on Tuesday 6th May, then it will be about 4 weeks after that. Lots of love. Jill x
Oh man, what a thing to have to think about for a while, mine was damaged and I was in a hospital for 7 1/2 weeks and after 6 weeks of trying to save the leg I told them to take it off and I went in for surgery the next morning. I didn't have time to think about it and I had other problems that seemed major compared to a dang missing leg, I was trying to save my life.
I'm glad you are dealing with it ok and I have a site for explanation of the phantom pain and how to cure it, if need be. It's on the Dr.Mercola site. I didn't have much, it hurt like hell at first and when I lifted the cover up and looked where the pain was, there was nothing there. And the pain melted away like an ice cube in hot water. I feel lucky about that but still have some nerve bundle sensitivity.
Life is good
Garry Alan in Ga
Betsy
Iv'e been an Bi-Lateral AKA for 20+ years. Although I have chose not to use prostetics (i did for the first 2 years) just remember one thing......your attitude will be the most important thing in you getting back on your feet. I had my accident when I was 23. I was probably a rare breed so to speak cause I had a real good attitude. I was young and had a lot to be happy about......wife....daughter.........so there was no sense in getting all bummed out. I still hunt, fish, play pool. I used to play raquetball but haven't done that in a while.
Take care....
Hi Betsy! I just wanted to say I thought about you today and hope that right now you're resting and healing. When you feel up to it, we'd love to hear how you are doing...I'm glad you've joined us here!
Get well soon!
welcome !! this is great site ........... rainey
This is off the subject a little but, I've read the posts from all of you, and Everyone seems to be dealing with this so well!! Congrats to ALL of you! I hope I will feel as confident as you all someday! Even 2 years after I'm not dealing with the loss of my leg so well! I plan on coming to this site everyday! I hope I will feel as accepting as you all do!!!!
Tracey
