I am sorry that it took so long to get back to the boards after my surgery.
This has been a time of constant turmoil and problems. About a month after the
amputation, which was about 3" above the knee on my right leg, I developed a
case of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) in the remaining leg. This was due to the
fact that I got lazy and wasnt getting up and changing positions often enough.
DVT is also known as "Coach CLass Disease" since a lot of people that fly
coach class on long flights are prone to it since they don't change their
positions often enough.
That over and done with, I managed to get a good dose of the stomach flu that
took me almost a month to get over! Must have been my weakened immune system
from all of the other troubles I had been having.
I feel that the worst is over for me as far as the prosthetic fitting is
concerned, just waiting for the bloody thing to stop shrinking so that they
(Hanger Prosthetics) can get it refitted and let me get a little more mobility.
About all I can say about having an amputation is this, do NOT let it get you
down. We all know that amputations is a part of life for someone that suffers
from Buergers Disease, or at least the threat of one, or more.
If an amputation is warranted, look at it in the same positive light that I
did. The pains that are sometimes so sever will be gone. Replaced with another
type, true, but the phantom pains associated with an amputation are by no
means as severe as the pains we suffer from the dying limb!
I saw my amputation as a blessing in disguise, since I was not able to even
sleep in a bed without SEVERE pain. The only way that I was able to sleep was
in an upright position, sitting on the couch and we all know that you do not
get ample rest if you sleep sitting up!
I will post more about the whole ordeal later, since this has gotten a little
long winded for now.
Again, I apologize to the people who were worrying and praying for me in this
ordeal!
Thanks for sticking with me,
Nelson


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