Diabetics feet! Who needs feet anyway...

[Bm101]

Very glad to hear you are home safe and well Phil. Albeit a bit lighter.
Since I joined UKW I have benefited from your good advice and experience many times over.

It's rare I think for a man to post his very real and life changing tribulations with such forthright honesty, courage and down right FU life fortitude. Without any trite sentimentality Phil you have my utmost respect. Through your honesty and approach to life in the face of such trials you have made many of us reappraise our own problems. Big or small.
If I ever get the chance I'll be honoured to buy you a pint or two of your favourite weakness.

People use words like confetti. They throw them about in a state of excitement at a wedding.
Despite that, you're an inspiration, in the truest sense. Fair play.

My very best regards as always,
Chris

 

[Paul Chapman]

Good to hear that you are in less pain following the operation. I hope it continues to heal well.

Best wishes

Paul

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

Good to see you back Phil and glad to hear the surgery was successful. What's the expectation for rehabilitation? I only ask because we were very nearly in this situation with my youngest (unrelated to Diabetes) so I'm curious to know how long it might be before the stump settles to begin trying with a prosthetic.

My lad had a team of amputees come visit his school and one of them had a spring prosthetic which he said enabled him to run faster than regular bipeds!!

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Chris, I'm not sure I'm worthy of the praise, but thank you and all others.
I can't speak for non diabetics obviously as they heal much quicker, but they usually allow the swelling to go down as far as they can see completely then measure. There is usually some leeway in the lining to allow for the limb to change shape, and often the socket can be replaced by a different one - I had a new socket put on the other one a few months ago as I had lost so much weight.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Phil, very best wishes. I've not commented on this thread, but I have been following it, on and off.

I'm posting this now as I have some rather good news, and I don't mean it as rubbing your nose in it, just as encouragement to others.

For many years now I have been pre-diabetic. Blood sugar levels of 41 - 47 are pre-diabetic, 48 is diabetic. I've been at 46. I'm a big fat beggar.

In November I came to the conclusion that even I thought I was too fat. Since then I've been eating smaller portions and a lot less carbohydrate. I miss my home-made bread and baking a cake at the weekend.

But as a result I have steadily lost weight. 1st 3lb so far. OK it is modest, but it has been steady. Half of that was in the first 6 weeks, and I got stuck at about 10lb for several weeks. This morning I was at a weight I cannot remember, several years, certainly. Maybe many years.

A couple of weeks ago I was called in for an annual review, bloods.

Last week:

"Hello, it's the surgery. Doctor would like you to come in."

Terrific.

For once, just this once, it was good news. Blood sugar 39. Not just lower but out of the danger zone.

So for anyone like me who has been reading this and thinking, "That's what's in store for me", I say, "Well maybe, but not necessarily". I love my food and I drink too much, but I have managed to do this when I didn't think I could. And if I can, you can too.

Good luck Phil and good luck to those who are fighting the same scenario.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Thanks, Steve. Interestingly, I met the lady who runs the diabetic foot clinic when she wasn't working and we had ten minutes chat in the hospital cafe. She commented that although my toes had had everything known to medical science thrown at them without much success, ultimately I'd have lost the leg because of the ankle ulcer. Swmbo suggested that they should get people like me to meet people newly diagnosed or pre diabetic and was told that it used to done but it was done no longer as ... yes, you've guessed it - the funding was pulled, but also because it was deemed to be "too upsetting" ... can you believe that! Surely it was meant to be upsetting? :?

 

[pedder]

Phil,

you really are my star! Hope healing is fast and that this is the last operation.

Cheers
Pedder

 

[n0legs]

Hey mucka!
I'm catching up on topics and I am pleased to see you're home and sorted.
Only way is forward now mate. Best wishes.

 

[Claymore]

.......

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Good for her ... and you! The thread was never meant to be a "feel sorry for me" thread so much as a "look what can happen if you're daft" thread. It seemed to have succeeded for a few people.

 

[fiveeyes]

Just catching up Phil..glad you are on the mend. I do hope that your recovery is fast and without undue discomfort. Cheers

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Clips out tomorrow - itchy as hell.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Had the clips out, off the district nurses' list. Appointment with pain specialist tomorrow, hopefully drop a drug or maybe two. When someone asks if you have any pain you reply no ... but then you wouldn't have any if you're full to the gunnels with nortriptyline, gabapentin, codeine and morphine.

 

[Bm101]

Had the clips out, off the district nurses' list. Appointment with pain specialist tomorrow, hopefully drop a drug or maybe two. When someone asks if you have any pain you reply no ... but then you wouldn't have any if you're full to the gunnels with nortriptyline, gabapentin, codeine and morphine.

I'll be round in 20 minutes with a bottle of tequila and a brown paper bag of 'field mushrooms'.
*mounts unicorn*
C'mon Trevor, ride like you've never ridden before! *Slaps thigh and whoops.

 

[Bm101]

(Possibly whirls stetson and hollers)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I'll have a pint of what you're on.

 

[lanemaux]

Like the title says , who needs feet ? You're still head and shoulders on me amigo. Hope I can keep my humour as well as you do.
Mike.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Diabetics - look after your feet!!!!!!!

Here Endeth The Lesson.