Left foot amputation

[herbie]

My freind who is 54 had ganrene in his big toe about 3 years ago doctors amputated it and he seemed to be recovering reasonably well but then he had a stroke down his right side last year and has been poorly every since now the gangrene has come back and he has got to have his left foot amputated on Wednesday he has no one exept me and im squemish any idea how long he will be in hospital and is it worse to have left foot off than right? (heart wise that is) has anyone any experiance of this he seems but i can tell he is scared and i dont know how to handle this thanks in advance.

[Whoever]

Herbie - your friend must be pretty scared about his forthcoming operation and worried about how he will cope physically. The hospital and his GP should be setting up physiotherapy sessions for him afterwards. I don't think it makes any difference to the heart which foot is amputated. Obviously all surgery carries a risk and if your friends has already suffered a stroke, this may be higher than average. If he has nobody else to support him, go with him to his GP before the operation and try and find out what support he will get afterwards in terms of physiotherapy, and disability benefits and help. Obviously mobility is going to be a big problem for him after the operation and his GP or the hospital should be putting him in touch with Social Services to arrange some aftercare. He will probably be in no fit state immediately after his surgery to start asking for all this kind of help so if you're a real friend you may have to start being a bit "pushy" on his behalf. Try not to think of your own reactions and just put yourself in his position.