I haven't been in the forum for about six weeks. I was going to title this "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" but I didn't think I would get the right response. Anyway as some of you may remember I had an injury to my right foot. It swelled severely while I was hiking and I thought I sprained it. I went to a doctor and he told me that it was infected and gave me Keflex for the infection. The swelling went down some and he gave me lasix to bring it the rest of the way down. I am diabetic (type II) and had kept my sugar in check most of my time after diagnosis. It went haywire when my wife got sick but I got it back in control and it was okay. After the foot swelled my A1c`went for 6 to 11. That should have been a clue to me and my doctor.
My wife was screaming at me to go to another doctor but I didn't listen.
My doctor kept me on lasix for 3 months and then the foot swelled up again and I got chills and fever. My wife, who is an RN in the ICU hooked me up with an infectious disease specialist. He looked at my foot and said it was infected badly and would have to be amputated. I was shocked.
The surgeon said he thought he could save my foot. He cleaned it out and packed it and I was put on powerful antibiotics and admitted to the hospital. The next day more poison was in my foot. The surgeon still thought he could save it and I was put under so he could more extensively clean it. He did not want to amputate. Finally when my kidneys were failing and my heart was failing and I was crazed from the poison in my system a below the knee amputation was performed on my right leg. As it was, I was on dialysis for three days and it was touch and go whether it would be permanent. I spent the next five weeks resting, recuperating and rehabilitating. I got an infection in my left foot which extended my stay. I am home with a walker and a wheelchair and am left to ponder my future.
To the good:
1. If I had to lose something the only thing better would have been my left
leg.
2. The guy who fashions the leg is going to make it to allow me to lift weights, hike and ride a bike. They do different things to allow you to do what you want, even rock climbing.
3. I should be eligible for a VA leg, but that is a longer wait.
4. I may start a business with my brother. We would not have discussed it if this hadn't happened.
5. I may be getting a piece of a settlement on a case I referred to another lawyer. I could live on that for 5 years if I need to.
6. It is a below knee amputation meaning it will be easier for me to learn to use my new leg.
7. I am getting a new shot at getting balance in my life.
On the lousy side:
1. Losing a leg is a lousy way to get balance in your life.
2. I have to be very careful not to lose my other leg.
3. My senior partner saw me in the hospital saw me and freaked out. He could make it very difficult for me if I return to the firm.
4. I am invisible in my chair and everything is difficult.
5. This is hard on me and my wife and kids.
6. I have to admit my wife was right.
Now for the question for those who might know:
I am very weak from the staph infection and from recovery.
I have been doing band exercises for my upper body and lower body and one legged (what other kind?) squats. Is there anything else I could or should be doing?
I would appreciate any help those of you who know could give me.
Greg - God bless, good thoughts, you've really been through it. Not a long time lifter, but will be interested in your recovery. If you think you'd like to do a training log would love to follow your rehab. Rob
Jeezus Greg, my thoughts are with you and your family.
I know an ex- british army staff sergant who trains at my gym and owns his own carpentry business. He's in great shape - well huge actually. He regularly free climbs round the cliffs and old fortifications on the island. He has an extremely full life and is at my restaurant regularly eating the biggest portions of everything on the menu 3-4 times a week with his wife and young son.
I've known him about 2yrs, but had an embarassing situation about six months ago when I went to give him a telling off for using a disabled parking space. He smiled and pulled his left trouser leg up. He has the same amputation you describe with a fairly basic looking (I'm guessing "sports model") prosthetic with essentially just a bar connecting the knee to a more complete foot.
DIscussing it with him later, it turns out it happened in a motorbike accident about 4yrs ago. He doesn't let it define him - refusing to display his disabled badge and only using those spaces when there is absolutely no other parking.
I'm trying to tell you that this needn't impair you as badly as you immediately think. But you are gonna have a hard year or so ahead of you while adjusting. Just stick to your guns and remember there is llight at the end of the tunnel.
Best wishes mate.
__________________
Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable. -- Sidney J. Harris
Wow. Terrible story. Yet, you seem to have quite a positive attitude for having lost your leg.
Quote:
4. I am invisible in my chair and everything is difficult.
Could you elaborate on this? Is it because people feel embarrassed to look at you?
Hopefully, you know that they typically do that so that YOU don't feel self-conscious. Obviously, they're self-conscious about making you self-conscious. Plus, there's a natural curiousity, which makes us two-leggeds feel guilty.
Are you a confident person? Smiling, making eye-contact, and chatting, will bring people out. People are inspired by those people with disabilities who just deal with them.
I hope you have a swift recovery and build up some strength quickly.
Greg - I was pleased to see your earlier post in the CE forum, realizing you had been absent from the forum for a while. Based on this post, I can understand why!!!
Extremely sorry to hear about your leg. It sounds like you have a good attitude and are ready to press forward. Do you have access to DBs at home? That would be the next logical step after you've maxed out on the bands. Will you be getting any type of rehab work with the prosthetic?
Greg...I am so sorry to hear about this! But like the others have said...you sound like are approaching this positively. Do you have your diabetes under control right now? I'd say that is first and foremost.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you. I'm not that far away, my son is in school now so my days are free.
Greg, I'm so sorry to hear about your situation, especially the part where your wife was right. Your chances of growing a new foot are better than ever hearing the end of that one. I am in Chambersburg 4 or 5 days a week and would be happy to help in any way I can. Please IM me if you need anything at all.
Wow, Greg. I'm sorry to hear about the ordeal that you've gone through. I don't have much advice, but I am glad that you're back to posting and on the road to recovery. I'm looking forward to seeing you around here more often now.
Thanks.
LD. I am a very confident person. I'll give you an example of invisible. I was in front of the hospital and a delivery man was waiting there. He didn't say anything to me and I just thought he was waiting for someone. A walking person came up and he ask them to push the electronic door opener located just beside me!
Rob: I'm not sure who wants to read about band exercises and 10 lb DBs.
Irishdazza: I had a friend with a prosthesis and I never knew it until I saw it standing by his bed as I was going back to his toilet.
TG Diabetes is under tight control. Thanks for your offer. I'll let you know if I need something when all the smoke clears here.
HR and OG: I can't be anything but positive. The alternative would be to curl up and set like a lump. I have people to support and I like being out in the world too much. I have dumbbells, I'll have to get my brother to bring them up because my work out space was in the basement.
Greg, I'd bet my best pair of batting gloves that a lot of people have read this thread and wanted to say something, but just didn't have words. You are in our prayers, and I look forward to hearing more about your journey from recent amputee --> constant inspiration.
__________________ Megaloi -- My Blog
"Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers."
- Mignon McLaughlin
Greg, I'd bet my best pair of batting gloves that a lot of people have read this thread and wanted to say something, but just didn't have words. You are in our prayers, and I look forward to hearing more about your journey from recent amputee --> constant inspiration.
Definitely, I'm thoroughly impressed with your attitude and sorry to hear the news.
__________________
Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.
You're exactly right RL. I wish I had some info, you know? I usually have a link for everything! I have no link for this situation. It's totally beyond what I know. I wish you the very best. You've got a great attitude and I know you'll make progress because of it. You'll find what you need because you're willing to search for it.
And, just on a note of confidence. The guy in our gym who benches the biggest dumbbells we have (the 130s) has only one leg. He's a great guy and an inspiration to everyone. He also runs. He was a distance runner before his above the knee amputation.
Holy crap, Greg! Next time listen to your wife! [yes, you can direct her to this post for browny points!]
It sounds like you are lucky to be alive. As hard as things are on you and your family, imagine how hard it would be on your wife and kids to have no Greg at all. Every trial is also a gift.
I wish you lived here so I could learn from trying to train you. I would really hit the mobility drills (a la maginificent mobility, within your ability), and then experiment with you until I could figure out what is doable or impossible.
WHen things are tough, you just tuck your head and keep moving forward, how ever slow. You will pull out of this oe noooo problem.
My brother and I are taking steps to form a business. The incorporation papers have been prepared and we now have office space. I just need to get healthy and mobile enough to see clients. I am also looking at old Ian King stuff to see if there is anymore that I can do. I may be able to try EDT for upper body with bands and my dumbbells. (within reason due to the need to develop endurance.) What do you guys think?
By the way JP, if our business is successful I will make arrangements to be at the next summit, that is if my wife ever lets me do anything again and after I buy her some nice jewelry!
I'll be bionic!
Thanks Bill. My brother brought them up. Maybe when I get mobile we can grab a cup of coffee. I'm off beer until my kidney function gets a little better.
LD. I am a very confident person. I'll give you an example of invisible. I was in front of the hospital and a delivery man was waiting there. He didn't say anything to me and I just thought he was waiting for someone. A walking person came up and he ask them to push the electronic door opener located just beside me!
That is a bit strange. Hopefully, you can come up with a good use for your new power of invisibility!
If it's any help in my country, this guy: http://www.marcherremans.be is an inspirition to all athletes no matter how many legs.
The delivery man story seems weird to me. I understand the everything is difficult part. A lot of our daily world like pavements, parkings spaces etc isn't adapted to wheelchairs or leg protheses.
Location: Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on another, the Green Between...
Posts: 5,857
Greg,
Words almost fail me at this point. You and I have "known" each other for a long time, years, and I feel like I know you in so many ways. To say "I didn't see THIS one coming" would be a gross understatement.
I'm not sure where you are in your recovery, but it sounds like you are in the right frame of mind. There are some things that have helped me as I've moved forward from my situation, namely:
Focus on the present and the future--sounds like you're there already
You'll find out who your friends are VERY quickly, if you haven't already. People will leave you, because you're the guy in the wheelchair, and that makes THEM uncomfortable. It's their fault, their loss...not yours. Knowing that doesn't always make it better or easier.
Get connected with people who have been through what you are going through--it is a tremendous source of strength and support. There are things only people like this can know or understand.
Know that people are praying for you, and lifting you, your family and your situation up to God.
Let your family in as much as possible. Let them help you, let them be part of it. The worst part for a family is to feel powerless. Being part of your recovery helps them feel empowered...and you will be too. Sounds like you're on your way with this one, too.
Set goals, make plans, achieve them, evaluate, set new goals. You have already shown you have the strength and the courage necessary to face incredible challenges, to overcome adversity. This is also true of your family, as you faced the challenges your wife presented. There is nothing you can't do.
Screw weightlifting...TRIATHLON is the way to go....meet me in Kona....
Thanks Fish. My brother is a psychologist. He says that my attitude is good because I have set tasks for myself and I am concentrating on those tasks. He does say I will mourn at some point. I'll need you guys then for sure.
Right now, I'm hassling my PT and my rehab doctor to make sure the leg designer fashions a leg that lets me to Bulgarian Split Squats, Lunges and
Squats!
Greg,
I am stunned. Thanks to Fish for alerting me to your thread. So many have already expressed what I am thinking. Know that you are now in my prayers and on my list of truly inspirational people for the attitude you have in the face of adversity. I think I speak for all of us when I say that you should also know that you are not invisible to your many friends here on this forum. It is good to have you back and posting again and I deeply appreciate how you have shared your story with us.
__________________ In Fitness & Friendship, MAHLER
______________________________ __________________________ There is no light at the end of the tunnel. You carry the light with you.
I will not pretend to know how you 'must' feel or the process your are undergoing (both physically and psychologically). I can only state my admiration for you looking and finding some good in an obviously terrible event. That you can do so is a testament to your strength of character.
One thing I am sure of is that you will face many challenges, and frustrations in the future. I can only hope that you will remember the good that can come of anything and remember that even though you may face great challenges than if you had not lost your foot, you can also achieve
satsifaction when you overcome them. However, the greatest or most important challenges we face (or at least I think so so) are the challenges of being a good man, a good husband, and a good father. None of these MOST important challenges have any relationship to the number of feet you have.
Good luck
peter
__________________
Peter
After all, diamonds are a girl's best friend…
Location: Philly on one side, Pittsburgh on another, the Green Between...
Posts: 5,857
Sarah Reinertsen, an IronMan Triathlete, recently became the first female with an artificial leg to complete the Hawaii Iron Man Triathlon (as I linked above). This week, she is beginning her stage of competition in The Amazing Race on CBS.
Advice and Help if You Can Give It
I am in Chambersburg 4 or 5 days a week and would be happy to help in any way I can. Please IM me if you need anything at all.
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