My New Leg - A Step Forward - British Heart Fou...

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My New Leg - A Step Forward

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star
26 Replies

First off - thank you again to all the well wishers after I posted about my enforced absence from the forum. The sheer number came as a total surprise to me.

Anyway things are moving forward. My first go with a temporary leg was nothing short of a disaster. When I got up to 6 foot for the first time I suffered severe hypotension (nearly passing out) and reopening part of the wound. So it was a week's timeout while the doctors adjusted my medication, and I focused on strength and flexability. The muscle loss in five weeks is incredible particularly around the left hip (the side of the amputation.

Anyway walking physio started in ernest last Tuesday. Yesterday after a week (we had a bank holiday weekend with no walking physio) I had hit all targets for moving on to the next stage. This included forward walking, backward walking and sideways walking (apparently quite a few amputees find this quite difficult). The hardest test is to stand on the spot for ten minutes.

I now have an appointment with the Limb Fitting Service in just over two weeks. Being me I am disinterested in cosmetics but highly interested in functionality. In the meantime it's just a question of focusing on improving flexability, strength and stamina. Oh, and gaining weight - the official total weight loss (leg adjusted) is 12 kg! If I was not diabetic they would have prescribed Ensure but the sugar in it would play havoc with my diabetic control.

P. S. I am determined to snap the exercise band! 😁

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MichaelJH
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26 Replies
Lovetheoutdoors profile image
Lovetheoutdoors

What an inspiration you are. Good luck. Don't be too hard on yourself though just enough to get improvement and progression. I look forward to reading more about you. Write a book! X

Rose54 profile image
Rose54

Give it all you have .

Snap that band

Best Wishes and stay strong

Ceo1 profile image
Ceo1

Good for you Michael! Sounds like you should go for a blade rather than a leg- maybe you could then run a marathon! Good luck.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to Ceo1

Would make it hard to cruise around in my old Jaguar!

stillaboveground profile image
stillaboveground

Wow what will power you have got, don't do too much too soon. A hell of a way to lose weight, have your leg off I think I will stick to the diet. Good luck and take care. Ruth

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to stillaboveground

The 12kg was in addition to the leg! The physios say they have to push the others but restrain Michael!

Smileyian profile image
Smileyian

Wonderful. Tks for the promising update.

lettingoffsteam profile image
lettingoffsteam

Sounds like your recovery is going well Michael and you'll soon be up and about.Keep up with the exercise and I hope they manage to sort your bp out too.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to lettingoffsteam

BP sorted. The doctors here get on with it!

lettingoffsteam profile image
lettingoffsteam in reply to MichaelJH

Great...full steam ahead then!👍

Mirador19 profile image
Mirador19

Good to hear you being positive Michael and I look forward to your next update.

Nice one MichaelJH, keep up the good work 👍🏻

080311 profile image
080311

What a positive read this wet Wednesday morning, you really are an inspiration keep going and keep letting us know how things are progressing.

Best wishes

Pauline

080311 profile image
080311

Sorry lost a day it’s Thursday 😂

Milkfairy profile image
MilkfairyHeart Star

Thank you Michael.

Your positivity has cheered me up too on this cold, wet and rainy day.

SpiritoftheFloyd profile image
SpiritoftheFloyd

Thanks for the update Michael, it sounds like you're making really good progress.

Sunnie2day profile image
Sunnie2day

Dunno why you're surprised, Michael, there are so many of us here on the forum who've been greatly helped by your calm and wise manner.

Re the blade, spring for both blade and shoe if you can. Use the blade for walking-jogging and the shoe for driving that splendid Jag (year, colour?)!

marypw profile image
marypw

You're an inspiration Michael.

Smileyian profile image
Smileyian

Great improvement. Good on yah. I had some positive news o my CA spasms too. Hopefully explore the Kimberly and the outback when Covid ends.

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star in reply to Smileyian

Years ago drove part way to Docker River. Turned my white hire Shogun red! 😁

Ianc2 profile image
Ianc2

Good to hear you are up and not quite running. Are you looking at an electric bike in the reasonably near future?

MichaelJH profile image
MichaelJHHeart Star

Did that in a way. One brake release failed on the wheelchair and I could only go in circles! ♿

Thanksnhs profile image
Thanksnhs

What an inspiration you are, I am sure you will be up and running in the near future

cowparsley profile image
cowparsley

Never doubted you Michael!We all knew you`d give it your best shot.Keep us updated please.Bit envious bout the Jag xx

marigoldb profile image
marigoldb

Fantastic news that things are progressing well. I’m sure the physios are amazed with your positivity and willingness to work at it. Hearing it’s your L leg to be ‘fitted’, is your jag automatic, if not could you have it adapted ?

I had to change my car to an automatic of necessity, and find it great.

Yes you are an inspiration to all of us, and I’m sure to others in rehab as well.

Are you type 1 diabetes Michael? If so hope you are on the pump?

I was a diabetes specialist nurse many years back, when the pumps were just coming in. It’s an individual choice of course according to how it suits, but when it does it’s great!

shopman profile image
shopman

Thinking of legs brings back memories as a youngster. My granddad had lost his legs due to some reason or other - never did find out why and he had a pair of leather legs parked in his bedroom. If any of us grandchildren misbehaved then the punishment was to be sent to granddads room to sit in front of the legs to await what was coming. For a 7 year old it was frightening experience and even now 60 years later one I have never forgotten.

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