One of my good friends is facing amputation- any alternatives?

[skatesindreams]

Vash, your friend can lead a full life; even after a surgery such as this, with the proper treatment and rehabilitation.
Caring friends like you will be an important part of her recovery. Support and optimism mean a great deal.

[Vash01]

Thank you Skatesindreams and everyone else.

ETA: Sounds like she is going to have surgery today/tonight. My guess is that her infection is so bad that the doctors feel they cannot wait, or things could get worse. She has a positive attitude and she is determined to enjoy her life after this surgery.

[Simone411]

OMG OMG! I just about gagged when I saw this! I have had an infection in my bone in my foot, am diabetic and have come across doctors who want to amputate! Get to an infectious diseases doc ASAP! Infection is a really big deal for diabetics and we simply don't have the immune systems to ward it off. My doc was committed to saving my foot and put me on a portable drip antibiotic for 6 months. The name of the drug is Ceftazadine (most medicalpeople have never heard of it) and I got 3 huge doses per day. Many doctors will prescribe for about 2 weeks and then the infection returns. So many docs don't know what to do and are too quick to amputate! Along with an infectious diseases doc, your friend needs to have a really good chiropodist who specializes in diabetic wound management; needs to be done every few weeks. Egads, I am rambling but this is so serious! Please pm me or write here with any questions. Time is of the essence! If your friend is in or near Toronto, I'll be happy to give contacts!

I like your advice about getting a second opinion. I had Necrotizing Fasciitis that ate down my left leg. The flesh eating disease (bacteria) got into a small friction burn that was on my upper left thigh. I don't have Diabetes, but the infection was so bad that some of my doctors wanted to amputate my left leg all the way up to my hip. Another team of doctors fought against it, and saved my leg. I was on four different antibiotics because they didn't know which ones were working. If it wouldn't have been for the other team of doctors, my leg would have been amputated.

The reason the doctors wanted to amputate my leg was because my organs started trying to shut down, especially my kidneys. I was given Dialysis twice, and made it even though the doctors told my family I was going to die.

Vash, you might tell you friend to get another opinion before the doctors do something as drastic as amputating.

[Vash01]

I like your advice about getting a second opinion. I had Necrotizing Fasciitis that ate down my left leg. The flesh eating disease (bacteria) got into a small friction burn that was on my upper left thigh. I don't have Diabetes, but the infection was so bad that some of my doctors wanted to amputate my left leg all the way up to my hip. Another team of doctors fought against it, and saved my leg. I was on four different antibiotics because they didn't know which ones were working. If it wouldn't have been for the other team of doctors, my leg would have been amputated.

The reason the doctors wanted to amputate my leg was because my organs started trying to shut down, especially my kidneys. I was given Dialysis twice, and made it even though the doctors told my family I was going to die.

Vash, you might tell you friend to get another opinion before the doctors do something as drastic as amputating.

Simone, what a nightmare it must have been! I am so glad that you survived and did not lose the leg or any other part of your body.

I told my friend this morning to consider other options. Unfortunately it sounds like she is going ahead with the surgery/amputation. I will send her your information, in case it's not too late.

[Simone411]

Vash, it was also because my primary doctor was able to diagnose correctly what was wrong with me. It's usually too late if the doctor doesn't come up with the right diagnose and at least within 48 hours. If it is that serious and that bad, then amputation may be the only solution. I'll be praying for your friend no matter what. Hug!

[Wiery]

Best wishes to your friend, if she had an infection specialist consulting and he/she recommended amputation, then it was to save her life. Please lets us know how she does in the next few days.

Sent from my KFTT using Tapatalk 2

[Vash01]

I got an email from her just a few minutes ago that she is out of surgery and the surgery went well (no details). She is going to sleep now, so I will find out more tomorrow.

They must have done it under local anaesthesia. I can't imagine her being able to send an email right after general anaesthesia.

[oleada]

Vash, I'm very sorry that your friend is going through this. I know what you mean about diabetes. I work with the elderly in a neighborhood with one of the highest diabetes rates in New York City. It really affects every single organ of the body and so many people are unaware of the havoc it can wreck on your body - kidneys, legs, eyes, feet. I fear diabetes more than nearly every other disease.

As for the rehab, it's very likely that your friend will not know where she will go until the day before or the day of. If it's anything like NY State, your friend will be given a list of options and then asked to select her top 3 choices. Applications will be sent and admission will be determined on bed availability.

[Vash01]

Vash, I'm very sorry that your friend is going through this. I know what you mean about diabetes. I work with the elderly in a neighborhood with one of the highest diabetes rates in New York City. It really affects every single organ of the body and so many people are unaware of the havoc it can wreck on your body - kidneys, legs, eyes, feet. I fear diabetes more than nearly every other disease.

As for the rehab, it's very likely that your friend will not know where she will go until the day before or the day of. If it's anything like NY State, your friend will be given a list of options and then asked to select her top 3 choices. Applications will be sent and admission will be determined on bed availability.

How can they do all this in just one day (or less - if it's the same day)?

About diabetes, the scary thing is younger people are getting it now. The only person that seemed to have done well despite having Diabetes at an early age is George Lucas, to my knowledge. He got it when he was 22. I am pretty sure I read that it was type 2, which is unusual for someone that young.

[Anita18]

I got an email from her just a few minutes ago that she is out of surgery and the surgery went well (no details). She is going to sleep now, so I will find out more tomorrow.

They must have done it under local anaesthesia. I can't imagine her being able to send an email right after general anaesthesia.

I'm sorry if people are cutting off a body part, knock me out! She is brave! But it's good news!

About diabetes, the scary thing is younger people are getting it now. The only person that seemed to have done well despite having Diabetes at an early age is George Lucas, to my knowledge. He got it when he was 22. I am pretty sure I read that it was type 2, which is unusual for someone that young.

It is, and he was never really overweight. Halle Berry is type 2 as well, and was diagnosed after falling into a weeklong diabetic coma at 23. Some people have bad luck, but I think it helps if you're active and keep up with the insulin and testing.

[Vash01]

I'm sorry if people are cutting off a body part, knock me out! She is brave! But it's good news!


It is, and he was never really overweight. Halle Berry is type 2 as well, and was diagnosed after falling into a weeklong diabetic coma at 23. Some people have bad luck, but I think it helps if you're active and keep up with the insulin and testing.

Type 2 does not really need insulin unless it's in an advanced stage. Most people manage it well with proper diet, regular exercise, and oral medicine. Unfortunately in many cases it goes undetected, unless people have annual exams to catch it early. Type 1 is much worse, but it seems there may be a medicine on the horizon for type 1. Not so for type 2, so discipline is really important. I had an uncle with diabetes, and he lived to be 86 or 87. He was extremely disciplined in his life style; he even turned down promotions in his career because they would have disrupted his regular schedule.

[skatesindreams]

Simone411, I'm glad you found this thread.

Vash, sending support to your friend.
Please, keep us updated.

[Simone411]

So am I, skatesindreams. One of the things I appreciated the most was all the prayers and support from so many wonderful people here at FSU. It's such a comfort to know that so many here are also praying and giving support to Vash's friend. Vash, please keep us informed about your friend, and may God bless. <3

[oleada]

[/B]

How can they do all this in just one day (or less - if it's the same day)?

About diabetes, the scary thing is younger people are getting it now. The only person that seemed to have done well despite having Diabetes at an early age is George Lucas, to my knowledge. He got it when he was 22. I am pretty sure I read that it was type 2, which is unusual for someone that young.

Forms are completed (PRI in NY) and sent electronically (we use ECIN) to patient's 3 choices of facilities (per Medicare guidelines patients must ebe given a list of facilities and they select 3).Facilities will review and admit depending on bed availability, pts specialized needn etc.It does not take more than a day for this to be determined once patient is medically stable for discharge.

Hope your friend continues to improve

[Vash01]

I feel very grateful for fsu and particularly to those who have responded to this thread, expressing support for a total stranger- my friend Bobbie. You guys are wonderful. Thank you for all your contributions here, and I am sure your good wishes have helped Bobbie.

[Simone411]

Forms are completed (PRI in NY) and sent electronically (we use ECIN) to patient's 3 choices of facilities (per Medicare guidelines patients must ebe given a list of facilities and they select 3).Facilities will review and admit depending on bed availability, pts specialized needn etc.It does not take more than a day for this to be determined once patient is medically stable for discharge.

Hope your friend continues to improve

That's sort of what happened with me. I'm not sure how it works with each state, but I was assigned a social worker while I was still in the hospital. She helped me with application for Medicaid. I remained in the hospital for two months because of the severity of my condition. My social worker made arrangements with a nursing facility, and the administrator of the nursing facility came to visit with me a couple of days before I was discharged from the hospital. I was transported immediately to the nursing facility for rehabilitation. I believe the social worker did send applications to three different facilities. The nursing facility I chose accepted me before I started receiving Medicaid. I started receiving Medicaid about three months later.

[Smiley0884]

So sorry to hear about your friend's ordeal Vash She sounds very brave. A family friend just lost her leg due to diabetes complications, and it really is heart breaking. Hopefully she has a speedy recovery, and is well taken care of during her recovery and rehab process.

[dbell1]

Vash - my best to Bobbie. Now that the surgery is over, her journey back to home can begin.

Was it a below the knee amputation? Or at the ankle? I think the most common is below the knee, helps with stability. Rehabs are doing amazing work these days. And prosthetic doctors are rock stars. There are so many advances happening in the artifical limb fields these days - my coworker is getting a state of the art leg from the same guy who did my father's 'legs'. He made housecalls and worked with all ages.

A quick hospital stay after amputation is the norm. The sooner the patient leaves the hospital, the sooner the healing starts. My coworker was in the ICU for about 2 months. He went to rehab 3 days after the surgery. That's when we knew he was going to be okay.

One thing I found for my father that was a godsend after the surgery was a piece of memory foam (for the stump to rest on). There's even gel foam pillows you can get that would work. It cushions without pinching and hurting. And helps with elevation.

[Vash01]

dbell1,

It was below the knee amputation (I just got done talking to her on phone, about 15 minutes ago). The surgeon discussed the two possibilities with her and she opted for 'below the knee' for the same reasons you mentioned. She sounded well. She is a strong lady, and this makes me really admire her courage.

Thanks for sharing all the information.

[flowerpower]

Best wishes to your friend, vash01. Sounds like she has a positive mindset, which helps so much.