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Friday I will have been an amputee for 2 years. Best decision I ever made. 15 surgeries were a lot and my mental health suffered for it.
It made me think about what regrets I do have from my decision and I feel they are important for diabetics to know. /1
It made me think about what regrets I do have from my decision and I feel they are important for diabetics to know. /1
First, diabetics in particular are at high risk for amputation and it is something many are afraid to discuss. I get that. However, having more information can make a devastating situation tolerable. So take a deep breath. /2
The foot doctor that performed the 15 surgeries I trusted completely. He choose to not do surgery anymore and recommended someone else. At the first meeting, he seemed nice. He even told me that this was the surgery he would recommend for his sister. /3
He said if I wanted to get a second opinion he would schedule an appointment with someone else in his clinic. I thought that since I trusted my original doctor I didn't need that. WRONG.
The list of what this doctor told me that was not accurate is a lot. /4
The list of what this doctor told me that was not accurate is a lot. /4
So my first piece of advice is to get a 2nd, 3rd, hell even a 4th opinion. EVEN if you are in hospital and they want to do the surgery within 24 hours. GET ANOTHER OPINION. This is long, I'm sorry.
in my own experience, just the metatarsals (toes) were the issue /5
in my own experience, just the metatarsals (toes) were the issue /5
so it makes sense to just cut off the toes. In theory, sure. Not always.
Which leads me to the second piece of advice.
BEFORE surgery, find a good prosthetist. Not the one your doctor recommends. The Amputee Coalition can help you. Ask them what THEY think. Why? /6
Which leads me to the second piece of advice.
BEFORE surgery, find a good prosthetist. Not the one your doctor recommends. The Amputee Coalition can help you. Ask them what THEY think. Why? /6
Because your prosthetist is the one that will be treating you after surgery. NOT your doctor. Sure when you are healing, but your doctor isn't the one to fit you with a prosthesis. Your doctor isn't the one who will listen to you cry. /7
Your doctor won't be the one to help you acclimate back into life. So please, if you ever listened to one piece of advice from the internet, let it be this one. Even if you cannot get other opinions, get a prosthetist BEFORE surgery. /8
And you can always reach out to me. I had a total of 17 surgeries ending in 2 amputation surgeries. I know a few things about how to make it easier. <3
It is scary but you aren't alone.
It is scary but you aren't alone.
