BIL Getting Leg Amputated--Looking for Information

[QueenIsabella]

The commode is a good idea. She might even be able to borrow one from her church--at least down here (North Carolina), some churches lend out medical equipment. Or, she could rent one.

It does sound like my sister/BIL are availing themselves of resources for support, which is very important to me. It's going to be a long road, for sure.

 

[jo-jo]

I'm an otherwise healthy 54 year old recovering from knee surgery 11 weeks ago.

We were taking down Christmas decorations today and I reminded dh several times to keep a path completely clear for me so that I wasn't stepping over boxes, cords, etc. He got a little exasperated with me because even 11 weeks out he doesn't completely understand my limitations.

I couldn't imagine having other living challenges to add to the mix.

Such a good point. Imagine trying to get around with cats darting in your path.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

A commode is handy. We had one for my mother. But it requires emptying and cleaning several times a day (and a lot of people just don’t want to do that), has spills, sometimes tips over, pinches nether regions, smells, and generally is just a short term solution. Some people don’t want to use one, either.

 

[mousefan73]

I can’t offer any support but when I read the thread title My heart went out to your BIL. I was also thinking how I would deal with such a situation. I would definitely say for myself I will definitely need some type of mental therapy. I would probably be a bit traumatized and emotional on many levels. Maybe just keep that in mind I know acutely everyone’s focusing on the logistics and the physical aspects. But I’m sure he’s dealing with stuff in his head.

 

[Dan Murphy]

No personal experience, @QueenIsabella, but wishing your BIL well with his operation, recovery and road to a good life in spite of the challenges.

 

[Dan Murphy]

....my brother [RIP ] was also an amputee:

This was the first time in over a year he enjoyed a dip in the Atlantic. His amputation was below the knee and, while he was at a rehab center, 2 weeks later, suffered a very bad fall, severely damaging his stump and had to undergo another emergency surgery. He is forever my hero, with what he endured for the last 2 years of his life. Good luck to your BiL, OP.

One thing I can pass on, OP, is that, the day before the surgery, he had a consultation with the surgeon, a member of the clergy, and a psychologist. Also, the surgeon mentioned him having a stump shrinker, which would help "shape" and "size" his eventual stump so that he could be fitted for a prosthetic.

Beautiful, Kim. 's

 

[TLSnell1981]

A commode is handy. We had one for my mother. But it requires emptying and cleaning several times a day (and a lot of people just don’t want to do that), has spills, sometimes tips over, pinches nether regions, smells, and generally is just a short term solution. Some people don’t want to use one, either.

Yes but they need an immediate solution It's impractical to build a bathroom or buy a new house in two weeks. They will have a better idea of his long term needs after he i s mobile again.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Yes but they need an immediate solution It's impractical to build a bathroom or buy a new house in two weeks. They will have a better idea of his long term needs after he i s mobile again.

The OP started this thread off talking about them getting a service dog, left sided pedals in the car and a stair lift so I didn’t think a small first floor bathroom was out of the realm of possibility. Friends and family could probably do it in a weekend or two if everyone pitched in (and they had a good plumber) was my thinking.

Sure, a commode will help in a pinch.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The OP started this thread off talking about them getting a service dog, left sided pedals in the car and a stair lift so I didn’t think a small first floor bathroom was out of the realm of possibility. Friends and family could probably do it in a weekend or two if everyone pitched in (and they had a good plumber) was my thinking.

Sure, a commode will help in a pinch.

An AK amputation doesn't necessarily prohibit a patient from climbing stairs. This is where his PT comes in. They can determine his near and long term abilities and goals. Is a short term rehabilitation facility as an inpatient an option? This won't be his only procedure. . As I stated there are many variables and we don't know if these options were the wife's idea or recommended by medical professionals. It's why I suggested contacting the Amputee Coalition (they are also on FB) and speaking to his prosthetist. His team is better qualified to address these questions.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Honestly my highest priority would be figuring out how he’s going to get to the bathroom multiple times a day that’s on the second floor of the house.

A bedside commode might be the answer to his immediate post op needs. They are not expensive and may be considered a covered expense since there isn't a toilet downstairs.

The commode is a good idea. She might even be able to borrow one from her church--at least down here (North Carolina), some churches lend out medical equipment. Or, she could rent one.

So many things to comment on. I often mentioned a bedside commode to my patients when doing home care. Many insurances may cover secondary to your living situation. The discharge planner at the hospital might be able to help with this. Many people use short term. It can also be helpful when the frame is placed over an existing toilet to make it easier to get on and off. For men, I also often recommended a urine bottle (plastic urinal he will probably be given in the hospital.) It is especially helpful in the middle of the night.

Here in my area, Lions Clubs have medical equipment loaning closets. There are many places that might be able to help.

Is a short term rehabilitation facility as an inpatient an option?

I expect the discharge planner would also recommend this. An excellent idea.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

It’s really easy for people to suggest a commode. But think about it from the perspective of the person who has to take care of it. That person has to carry the bucket upstairs to the bathroom to empty and clean it at least a couple of times a day. There are people out there who just cannot deal with this. Other thoughts to consider - how is the wife’s mobility? Is she able to carry a full bucket upstairs and back down safely over and over without injury or distress to herself?

When my mother had hers I kept a pad underneath it and there were still spills and messes, sometimes requiring wiping down the whole thing. She almost fell over a few times, too. Her toilet was a short distance away, on the same level, and I had a large cup for water to rinse the bucket with after dumping, and Lysol spray and its own brush to clean it out. It still had an odor. I have an elderly friend who has been using one long term. She asked me one day if her house smelled of urine. Someone else had told brought it up and she was asking for my honest opinion. I had to tell her the truth as gently as I could, and I offered some suggestions for keeping the odor down.

The title of this thread is that the OP is looking for information.

Some people have difficulty after amputation, but it depends on a lot of things, including general health, to start. Hopefully things will be easier for OP‘s BIL. Of course people can go upstairs after amputation. But the ability to do so easily depends on a lot of factors. I do wish them well.

 

[QueenIsabella]

On the good side, Sis is healthy, and has helped BIL through various rehabs before. I mentioned the botched knee replacement--that actually took close to a year to resolve, most of which he spent in a nursing home (they had to take out the replacement, fill the cavity with "cement", then eventually put in a new replacement knee. And he got MRSA in the mean time. Good times.) She also nursed him after the car accident I mentioned. So, she's got some idea of what she's in for.

The more I think about it, I think she's mentioning the service dog and truck conversion as future things to focus on, as incentives. It's tough to think about the months of recovery and rehab ahead without a carrot dangling! I know this will be a tough road for both of them--I wish I were closer, but on the good side, BIL has a brother that lives nearby--I don't know if building a bathroom would be feasible for the brother, but it's another means of support, physical and emotional.

Another good thing is, my sister is not one to meekly sit by and let stuff happen--she'll be in there, asking the tough questions, asking for references and sources (for equipment or support). It's kind of funny, she's very quiet and always has her nose in a book, so it's easy to think that she's not up to a challenge, but she surely is. She was a rock for our mother when our dad was terminal. Another sort-of good thing is, they have financial resources (medical payout due to the botched knee replacement).

 

[TLSnell1981]

On the good side, Sis is healthy, and has helped BIL through various rehabs before. I mentioned the botched knee replacement--that actually took close to a year to resolve, most of which he spent in a nursing home (they had to take out the replacement, fill the cavity with "cement", then eventually put in a new replacement knee. And he got MRSA in the mean time. Good times.) She also nursed him after the car accident I mentioned. So, she's got some idea of what she's in for.

The more I think about it, I think she's mentioning the service dog and truck conversion as future things to focus on, as incentives. It's tough to think about the months of recovery and rehab ahead without a carrot dangling! I know this will be a tough road for both of them--I wish I were closer, but on the good side, BIL has a brother that lives nearby--I don't know if building a bathroom would be feasible for the brother, but it's another means of support, physical and emotional.

Another good thing is, my sister is not one to meekly sit by and let stuff happen--she'll be in there, asking the tough questions, asking for references and sources (for equipment or support). It's kind of funny, she's very quiet and always has her nose in a book, so it's easy to think that she's not up to a challenge, but she surely is. She was a rock for our mother when our dad was terminal. Another sort-of good thing is, they have financial resources (medical payout due to the botched knee replacement).

It's a big plus that your sister is proactive...always good to have a strong advocate. Also have her check into a home healthcare assistant once BIL comes home. They can be a tremendous help.

 

[Pooh2]

Our friend lost his right foot to diabetes in July 2022.
He was in the hospital about 3 weeks, rehab for a month (caught covid in rehab so an additional week over discharge estimate.)
His new foot was fitted in November; he is working out some issues with fit but went back to work with reduced hours and put on desk duty before Christmas.
He was told by social workers at the hospital that there is financial help for getting his car fitted with hand controls but has not done that yet and is still relying on friends to drive him around.
His recovery has been pretty amazing!
Best of luck to your family with their upcoming challenges.

 

[QueenIsabella]

It is always encouraging to hear good recovery stories.

I doubt BIL will go back to work--he was a landscaper, then drove a delivery truck. I don't see him continuing in either of those areas, although retraining might be a possibility.

 

[kimmar067]

....I would definitely say for myself I will definitely need some type of mental therapy. I would probably be a bit traumatized and emotional on many levels. Maybe just keep that in mind I know acutely everyone’s focusing on the logistics and the physical aspects. But I’m sure he’s dealing with stuff in his head.

...which is why the necessary counsel with the professionals the day before his surgery. Through it all, he always kept his sense of humor. At the end of the meeting, they asked him f he had any questions - he just stated that now he was going to have to change his name. The surgeon and psychologist looked at him very puzzled. When they finally asked what he had wanted to change it to, he smugly replied, "Eileen." [get it - "I lean"?]

 

[kimmar067]

They had talked about converting the kitchen pantry to a small bathroom with a shower. I don't know that they did that. That would certainly be a help to him.

While he's not a diabetic, thankfully, he does have high blood pressure. They're both trying to lose weight, pre-surgery. On the good side, they rarely eat out, and my sister's a master at cooking, especially low-calorie stuff (last I knew, she was looking for a lower calorie chocolate chip cookie recipe).

I do think a dog might help, down the line when BIL is mobile and past the surgeries--it would give him a reason to walk every day. In the past, they've had a greyhound rescue, but you don't walk greyhounds, nor are they typical service animals. I think they'd have to think long and hard about the specific type of dog (something BIL could handle on his own).

If they moved, it would have to be to a house, due to the many cats. I don't think their current home has value beyond the land--it needed serious updating when they bought it years ago, that never got done, and it's not gotten better with time.

....i'm pulling for your BiL...I hope all goes well....keep us posted!