Five things that have gotten easier now that I'm not a brand new amputee

Something magical happened today. I started thinking about everything that used to be so much harder when I was a brand new baby amputee. Instead of thinking about all the things I struggle to do since losing my right leg above the knee, I made a list of what I've gotten better at over the last 3+ years. And I think I've made quite the lemon drop martini out of a sour lemon, if I do say so myself. 

Getting dressed/ picking out clothing

Almost from the start, I accepted my prosthesis as a part of me I didn't want to hide, and it made wearing shorts and dresses immensely less painful, as this is often a major challenge after limb loss. But getting dressed at home or, God forbid, in a tiny dressing room and finding clothing that fit properly around my prosthetic socket made me sweat, literally. It took all my energy to pull on a pant leg around a fake foot and leg. Today I use a rotator piece and balance I've gained over the years to make changing outfits MUCH easier. I can't even remember the last time I needed any help with pants, and the independence that gives me is worth its weight in gold.

Managing pain

At the start of this journey, I dealt with intense phantom pain. I tried mirror therapy, gabapentin, and strong pain meds, but they barely put a dent in the shooting electric zaps I felt in a part of my leg that was no longer attached to my body. The zaps have mostly faded with time. Now when I feel pain, I know to pull out a massage gun and an ice pack, alternating with a heating pad, and I no longer rely on prescription medication.

Travel

Traveling has always been my most favorite hobby. As a kid, I would get so excited the night before a trip I barely slept. After surgery the thought of packing a suitcase that had everything I needed and navigating accessibility within the airport as well as my destination gave me so much anxiety. Now I know what resources are available to me. I have a short list of necessities that go with me everywhere, more room for cute outfits, and If I'm concerned about accessibility at a specific location, I do my research. I get online and pick up the phone so that once I arrive, I can grab a cocktail and get in full vacation mode. Being disabled is not going to stop me from traveling the world.

Shoe shopping

If you have a fake foot, you know how easily shoes fly off them. A faceplant is only seconds away if that bad boy isn't fully strapped in. And if only the ankle is strapped in, then the toes WILL soon be sticking out of the side of the shoe. I have returned COUNTLESS pairs of shoes over the last three years. Because of all this, I usually feel best in sneakers. But I have learned what to look for in a sandal and am less afraid to shop for them now. I know the kind of ankle strap support I need. I know that the strap that holds the front of the foot either needs to be adjustable or tight enough to keep the fake toes in place, and I know that the heel needs to be less than two inches tall. I am now a professional fake foot shoe shopper.

Being my own medical advocate

Before cancer, I would make a mental list of questions for my doctor and forget most of them as soon as I walked into the appointment. I would never question what my doctor or nurse said, and second opinions felt like an unnecessary waste of time. After having cancer twice, I figured out that my gut feeling is worthy of being listened to and that not every doctor knows everything. An annual check-up isn't over until I've asked all my questions and feel that my concerns have been addressed. It's no one else's job to make sure that my doctors listen. I have to speak up until I'm heard, and changing medical teams until you have found one where you feel comfortable is more than OK.

I want to point out that these things can still be challenging for me at times. Limb loss tends to come with curve balls that life and limb continue to throw at you far beyond the first year after amputation. But I have learned, healed, and gained physical and mental strength, allowing me to do them with less exhaustion and fewer objects thrown across the room in anger.

 Life is one big lesson to be learned, and I will forever be learning how to have the best life possible while living with a disability.