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Mas Socket Diaries - FEBRUARY
& MARCH 2006
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Sunday
05 February 2006
Well firstly, I
have to tell you about this blister. I went to the chemist and got
this plaster/2nd skin thing. You stick it straight onto the blister,
and it can stay there for up to 7 days. It allows the skin to breathe,
but keeps the dirt out. Don't ask me how. Yesterday I took the plaster
off, and today all that is left is a slightly reddened area of skin,
a bit tender to the touch. Healed completely. Unbelievable. And
I have worn this leg every day, so there must be some special kind
of magic in it.
I have been doing
fairly well on the leg actually. I am feeling quite safe walking
in it. I am still a bit tender around the ear spot, but Marco said
something to me that made me look at things from a different perspective,
and it just makes so much sense to me.
He said - "Remember
when you were a little girl, and you rode a new bicycle, and the
seat really hurt you just 'there'? Well, this leg is hurting you
on exactly the same spot, and you are going to get used to it, just
like you did when you rode your new bike".
Ding ding! Ok, this
makes sense. Everyday since then I have worn the leg, and paid special
attention to what he said. And today, yes, I am only a little tender,
but I am definitely getting used to this.
I think that this
test socket is the best so far. It doesn't feel so foreign.
Tuesday
28 February 2006
I have been wearing
this socket for a good while now and I really think that we have
finally made it. I gave up smoking in January and needless to say,
I put on SO much weight. Actually felt like a bit of a cheat, you
know? Like Marco and I have spent so much time trying to get this
right, then I go and put on 4 or 5 kilo's. (Over 10 pounds I think
- ouch!) Sigh. Bad.
BUT - I am back down to 51kg's now,
only 1kg heavier than when we started with the MAS in August. I
have asked Marco to let me carry on wearing the test socket for
a while just to be sure that I am the same size as I usually am.
No more blisters,
and the leg isn't giving me any rotation problems, which a lot of
other MAS wearers complain of. I seem to do very well in small spaces,
but I am getting a bit frustrated that I can't walk fast enough
in big places. But that could be the knee itself. Not the socket.
I am feeling quite stable, sitting comfortably, and haven't wrecked
any trousers at the back where you sit due to the low cut of the
socket. Bonus :)
This is good people. This is very
good.
Tuesday
28 March 2006
That's it - that's
me. I have worn this test socket for just about as long as I can.
The ear is starting to crack and I've busted a bit off the back
from sitting down too heavily on something hard. I've really abused
it quite frankly, and it has held out very well, all things considered.
I'm ready
- we are going to do this thing. We are going to make the definitive
socket.
I'm almost too scared
to say that I'm ready. That this socket is now comfortable. That
I would collapse in a heap if I had to go back to wearing the tree-trunk
IC socket. This is the one I want. This is the fit that I like.
I enjoy the freedom this MAS is giving me. The ear and the shelf
are my friends. Have been for a while now. Marco has been incredibly
patient with me, waiting to see if this fit is right. Waiting to
see if I will chicken out and ask for 'old faithful'. He has allowed
me to wear this test socket for ages. Nearly 2 months. Phew!
I don't know how
other people get proper fits without being allowed to take their
test sockets home for a while. Ok, not like I've done now, I admit
it was a tad overdone, but I do believe that test sockets should
be 'run in' for at least 2 weeks. Or something like that....
I am ready to commit to the final
socket.
Roll on tomorrow!
Tuesday 11 April 2006
We did it!
Eish - finally. And I love it. And
it's so comfy. And the brat ear and shitty shelf are perfect. I
have a huge range of motion. I sit comfortably and I am walking
so much better. Marco took me shopping to buy some material to laminate
the socket.
Go big or go home - why the hell
not?
Here she is - here is my baby!
So a HUGE thank you to Marco for
putting up with me and my whinging and whining. Thank you to all
the people who wrote to me with words of encouragement. And thank
you for following my diary and giving me your thoughts on my process
and advice.
If you are thinking of getting a
MAS socket, please be sure that your prosthetist has been on the
proper training course. This is NOT a socket that a prosthetist
can make if he hasn't been trained by Marlo. No way.
Take the plunge.
It's worth it. The benefits are tremendous. And if you can't find
anyone in your country, come to mine. Marco will have you done in
a week and in the meantime, you can visit our lovely bush and have
a great African holiday at the same time!
And so, this
is THE END.
YIPPEEEEEEE!
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