We are in the final weeks of preparing for my husbands lef amputation. I have been busy preparing the house the best I can and contacting people and agencies about getting the things we will need. I've yet to get or find out how to get a wheelchair ramp into our house. Everyone I ask points me to someone else. I am hoping there is an agency or charitable organization that will do it for little to no cost. I have to admit that throughout all the preparation the only major concern I have is our finances. I beleive I am as mentally and emotionally prepared for the coming months as I can be. I am confident in my husbands ability to recover and walk again, and confident in my ability as his wife to provide him the support he needs from me and get everything else done. I have prepared my kids for a summer at home and have purchased fun outside things for entertainment. Honestly, it is our finances that have me the most worried. While I do feel taken care of and that our needs will be met, it's a huge stress just thinking about not being without income for that long. My husbands work will hold his job for him (thank goodness!!) and he will receive disability. But that is basically half of his current salary and we live paycheck to paycheck as it is. I feel almost guilty worrying about such a material thing.
My husband is in good spirits. He is getting a bit nervous and I imagine will become more and more nervous as it gets closer. He has noticed a difference in the attitude of the guys at work. Nothing negative, but like his boss told him he just "doesn't know what to say and wants to cry sometimes just thinking about it". I suppose it is an awkward thing for people not right in the situation to have to come to terms with. I mean really...what do you say when someone says, I'll be out for a few months because I'm getting my leg amputated. Despite some awkwardness at work, things are going well for him.
I can not thank everyone on this site enough...for the information, advice and support!! It has been such a valuable resource for my husband and myself!
Getting Ready...
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im a bi-lateral below knee amputee. Even with no feet, I walk, drive, teach dance and do everything i used to. and btw, i lost my feet just a little over a year ago. The biggest thing for me was to stay confident and surround myself with people who could see me for me and not 'less of a person' so to speak. If you and your husband will just stay confident and strong, he will be back on his FEET in no time. I am not 2/3 of a person. Remind him that he wont be either. He will just have metal accessories. ^_^ Lady Steele |
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I'm a BKA, but I can relate to you and your husband's situation - losing a limb has a big impact on one's life. I might suggest that you look into any type of peer counseling/visitation that might be offered in your area, where an AKA meets with you and your husband and helps you understand how things will be post-operation. |
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My old house was too small for a wheelchair, I remember getting around on a creeper with great success. It is used for going under cars, had six rotating ball bearing wheels. And the backwards stair walking was much better, even without a walker. Keep the faith!! A |
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Hi I understand about the finances. I had a AK left leg done almost 4 years ago and am still having dificulties but I am one of the people who has had other things going on so I am not going to be able to use my artifical leg . But as long as the leg is your husbands only thing going on then I think you will be fine. There are such cool legs out there now like mine. Mine has a Gell liner and the leg attaches with velcro straps, the leg has a adjustable hydralic knee that is really cool and if your insurence will cover it thats the way to go. Trust me he doesnt want the kind thats held on by suction they really suck. They take a lot of work to get on and they are messy with the lube and they leak out the "spit" valve just a hassle. Mine takes about a minute to put on or less if I am in shorts lol. It feels like you are standing on a soft shoe. The worst thing I have happen is when you get "toe" cramps in the foot that isnt there anymore, its really weird. Also tell him that most people stop having phamtom feelings very fast but some like me still "feel" the leg even years later so not to worry if that happens its no big deal. I met this old guy who explained his feeling this way, even though you have lost the physical part your "soul" part is still there and thats what you are still feeling. That made the most sence to me than any thing else I had heard. I as well as most people on here are more than willing to help you or your husband get through the hard part just ask. It does get better lol trust me. I went up the stairs at my house on my butt till I got new strong railings built, they were done by a chirch group for me, then I just put the walker up the stairs and "hopped" up holding onto the railings got to the top and then went back to the walker. Now I have gone from a walker to crutches and thats alot easyer. Talk to you later G. geoffrey |
In case you don't get the ramp, there is a method for using a walker to go up and down stairs. You go backwards up the stairs and lean the walker onto someone's leg. I have two steps leading up to my front porch and I was able to get up them with the walker when I got home from the hospital (with my wife's help). The physical therapist at the hospital trained me how to do stairs before I was allowed to be discharged. Worse case scenario, he could just sit down on the stairs and gently push himself up the stairs one at a time. He could even begin practicing stairs now with the walker or by ascending while sitting.
ErikYour husband may want to do some upper body exercises now to make using the walker and transferring in and out of bed easier.
I had some success with mirror therapy after my amputation (for my phantom foot cramps), but I read a little on how it could also be started before amputation and that may help it work better afterward.
When I had my AK amputation 8 months ago, the anesthesiologists were trying to get me to agree to some sort of leg (not back) epidural when I went in to surgery. They claimed it would result in less phantom pain and less post op pain. I didn't do it because they were first telling me about it just 10 minutes before the surgery and I didn't have time to think it over. But it might be something you all could talk over with a doctor. I ended up with about 4 weeks of moderate phantom pains, but not much post op pain- in fact I was able to get off all the pain meds 6 days after the amputation.
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