LIFE AFTER LEG an amputees journey

19/08/2022

I've only gone & signed up for .
I'm going to brave the shave Sunday 21st August 1pm at Torpoint comrades club.
Here's my donation page, I'd be extremely grateful for any donation, no matter how big or small. Thank you xx

https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/claire-stevens1

30/06/2022

Happy 7th ampiversary to me!

13/06/2022

EXCITING NEWS...

So..... they lined the inside of my liner with leather to pad it out a bit & also took 15ml off the length of the bar (where the calf would be) so fingers crossed that sorts it 🤞
Also, the robot/computerised leg (C-leg if you google it) has finally been mentioned. The government have a lot of stipulations on who qualifies for one, but the main one being we get the fit of the socket right. WOOOOOOBLOODYWHOOOOOOOOOO 🥳🎊🎉🎆

13/06/2022

Half an hour early, better than being late!
Let's hope they can do something with my beautiful new leg as I've not been able to wear it because it keeps slipping off at the back as it's only attached via a giant cable tie at the front 🤞🦿
(I should have come last Wednesday but I ended up ill 🤒 😥)

16/05/2022

Ta daaaaaaaa:
🎵NEW LEG DAY, NEW LEG DAY🎵 ❤
And they added sparkle (not easy to see in the pics!)

26/04/2022

WHICH SHALL I GO FOR?... 🤔

These are patterns to go on the outer shell of my new leg socket.

03/04/2022

11/11/2021

Lest we forget.

At 1100 on the 11th November 1918 the guns fell silent marking the end of World War One 🇬🇧

Today we remember those that lost their lives to give us our today in conflicts both past and present 🇬🇧

11/09/2021

Today we remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks that sadly killed 2,977 people and injured thousands at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in Somerset County, Pennsylvania x

30/06/2021

The last time I saw my right leg 😆
Happy 6th ampuversary to me! 🦿
Look how far I've come....NOT!

10/06/2021

Warning ⚠️ pictures of my limb!

Still swollen, bruised & extremely sore 😥
It's as bad as when they amputated, it reminded me of how I kept taking the nerve damage tablets like sweets to try & ease the pain (and that's before I had addiction issues!)
I literally only had my hair done on Tuesday & the pain was unbearable for the rest of the day & night (was up til 4.30am with excruciating pains for a few nights). If I'm not resting & elevating, I pay for it!
Had to take extra time off work (luckily I got a 4 week sick note) but feel so bad for letting my boss/bestie down. However, I've waited 3 years for this & I'd be silly to ruin it all by rushing & not resting I guess!
Fingers crossed it'll start to ease soon 🤞🤞🤞🤞

02/06/2021

Day 12 post neuroma removal.
Just had the stitches removed, the wound is about 6 inches long & what I thought was about 20 plus stitches was actually one MASSIVE long stitch all the way along!
As you can see, it's still swollen like a balloon, rock hard & bloody sore. Now I know why he said to keep resting & elevating
(Please excuse the dry skin but it's been bandaged in lots of padding & wadding for 12 days!)

29/05/2021

This operation has been one of the most painful; post op, at least the last one I had some of the good stuff to take the edge off! 😉 (I was offered it but declined, obviously)
It's been weird if I'm honest. The first op EVER to not have someone waiting with me (thanks to covid) the first one without a hubby. Literally go it alone. Very surreal. Come home after, had some help for a couple of days, which I'm eternally grateful for, but come home as a single mum & feeling guilty that I can do even less than normal! Try your best to hide the pain, but just look like the lazy cow on the sofa doing nothing! 😅
As I mentioned the pain, it feels exactly like when I shattered my knee cap, except minus the actual knee. Constantly throbbing, as if I'd done too much, with shooting & stabbing pains but also feeling like it's so swollen the stitches are gonna burst! I know he had to cut a lot of things like nerves, veins, muscle etc.
I can't wait to have the stitches removed & then know that if it's hurting, they're not the cause!
I'm hoping it'll just suddenly turn a corner & feel less painful, but I'm supposed to do nothing but rest & elevate for at least 2 weeks! We'll see.
Thank you to everyone who's helped me in many ways, messaged me, kept my spirits up & brought me cake 😉 (I need to get back on the bike!) THANK YOU

21/05/2021

21/05/2021

Well, what can I say!?
The staff at the peninsula hospital are amazing, they go above & beyond 💖.
So, went down to theatre at 8am & was in recovery by 9.20. It was bigger than he thought, I could feel the pain of him removing it even through the epidural.
The pain is much worse than I thought (the doc originally played it down) today he very much encouraged me to have something "stronger" as it's gonna get worse. Unfortunately I had to cave & had the oxycodeine (I declined anything stronger)
Other than the excruciating pain, it's bleeding.... a lot, through the dressings, so they're keeping me in overnight to keep an eye on it, as the blood thinning injections I'll have to do at home will make it worse! It's annoying but they wouldn't recommend it if they didn't think it's for the best!

Lastly, thank you so very much for all the messages of support & kindness, I'm extremely grateful & overwhelmed, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU ###x

21/05/2021

Goodbye tangerine!