tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post1777659585255240781..comments2023-08-15T09:39:41.235-05:00Comments on Sutured for a Living: Florida Student Gets Hand Transplantrlbateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236331355857884458noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-4721491181530153192011-04-04T17:25:42.322-05:002011-04-04T17:25:42.322-05:00I think, before doing such a procedure they should...I think, before doing such a procedure they should talk to those who live their lives on these drugs ... get the nitty gritty .. from patients, not text book risks ... <br /><br />I'd fight tooth and nail to keep my immunosuppressants, but I also know what life was like before, and what it's like now ... but if there was another option that could give me the same quality of life without the risk .. or even CLOSE to the same ... I'd switch.Dreaming againhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15717590226520457326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-71969735000717736792011-04-04T17:16:55.117-05:002011-04-04T17:16:55.117-05:00Thank you Wolf for that perspective.Thank you Wolf for that perspective.rlbateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15236331355857884458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-11832866657214838692011-04-04T16:51:02.265-05:002011-04-04T16:51:02.265-05:00I lost my right hand and wrist in 2008 and still m...I lost my right hand and wrist in 2008 and still missing it. <br /><br />But through trying to find out what I really suffer from, I cannot say it is "the hand missing" that defines it. It's a part of it and getting the right type of prosthetic replacement was and is a substantial issue. But it's not the end all be all. In the end I will always have to find a compromise or new answers - and selling my immune system health for a crappy bio hand replacement wasn't a deal I was going for here. <br /><br />I could say that inside that deep depression or at least melancholy that accompanied my limb loss at first, there are recent moments of absent sorrow and free happiness. Since a while these moments are coming back, and they do not relate to "having a hand illusion". Those are the moments I am after! They are happy moments with friends, great moments after swim trainings or competitions that really make my day, being able achieve some work goal as it always cheered me up, reading a good joke, having a great chat with family or friends. And so that is what I emphasize for well being, not a hand transplant. <br /><br />And I always knew that I am defined by a range of things, and only a few days a month do I really need to wear my plastic arm for a true urge of replacement. These moments really exist, and I feel ashamed of them, but they are not defining or at least I do not admit them to be defining. I say, screw it! Let me see if that stump can be stared down! And I don't let this laughable crippled arm get the better of me. I do not like it on a good day, I hate it on a bad day, and when I am bitter I can make jokes about it. But so what. <br /><br />With what I saw on documentaries, an average hand transplant works about as well as a somewhat useful prosthetic hand. A really optimized prosthetic hand can be and will be better. I spent three years now, optimizing my prosthetic arm - and I cut hedges using a power saw, I do fine detailed craftswork, I lift heavy boxes when moving, and a range of things not recommended with either an average prosthetic arm with commercial parts, or a transplanted hand. And when I wreck that arm and I admit that I do - off it goes, to get it repaired. Being able to eek out good function is highly satisfying as such. <br /><br />Two functional properties make prosthetic arms a lot more useful than a transplant - being able to improve, improve, improve, improve, what the prosthetic does for me - and, being able to work on the prosthetic arm, fix it, modify it, and all that while I don't wear it. That is a real relief - do all that off site, pain free, no need for surgery. <br /><br />Also, my stump as such is functional. People don't believe that it can be but screw that - it is a lot more functional than people believe. I use it to carry out garbage, carry bags, the (sensitive) end allows for rather precise 5 + 1 system speed typing (which is what the lady in the report said she wanted to do). And it looks weird but I get by. <br /><br />And so right now I just got done passing a serious H1N1 infection through my lungs aided by loads of meat, asparagus, nuts, salad, pasta and water staying home alone looking after myself after doctor told me what to watch out for. The cough syrup I got was left untouched. And of all prosthetics that I miss (being a recovering tired H1N1 swine flu patient) - it is a better coffee mill. Reading your blog, I'm not missing my absent hand nearly as much as I am craving a harmless consumer product. <br /><br />I'd admit it if it was a hand transplant but being a below elbow amputee, I miss completely other things than a hand transplant. And yes I like my prosthetic arms for what they are. But I'd never ever give up the freedoms that I have doing almost extreme sports, always risking infectious exposure in all kinds of public pools, by allowing a hand transplant and immune supression. That'd be different for a life threatening heart, liver or kidney disease - but we are talking about that hand.Wolf Schweitzerhttp://www.swisswuff.ch/tech/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-8009011099712910152011-03-30T18:23:44.258-05:002011-03-30T18:23:44.258-05:00Ramona, I am a musician and use my hands a lot, bu...Ramona, I am a musician and use my hands a lot, but I also agree with you. I don't know that I would go through with a hand transplant and the anti-rejection drugs, if heaven forbid something happened.Jeraleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14700214375983616978noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-12394172226464899102011-03-30T08:36:19.268-05:002011-03-30T08:36:19.268-05:00Bardiac, I tried to do just that. It's more t...Bardiac, I tried to do just that. It's more the risks of the anti-rejection medications in someone who is healthy to begin with. For me, I see those risks as much larger than the benefits in this case. I admit, I may be wrong. A hand (especially to me) is extremely important but not necessary for a full life.rlbateshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15236331355857884458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-28501330202741879702011-03-30T08:31:39.109-05:002011-03-30T08:31:39.109-05:00Could you explain more fully your discomfort, plea...Could you explain more fully your discomfort, please? Is it the risk of the anti-rejection medications vs what you see as minimal benefit? Could you explain a bit more about the level of risk? Maybe that's what I'm not understanding? (Because the benefit I imagine would be huge, while I have no concept of the risk, probably.)Bardiachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11846065504793800266noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7675087351939177300.post-20084512566498491842011-03-30T06:18:29.480-05:002011-03-30T06:18:29.480-05:00Ramona, I love your honesty, and can't agree m...Ramona, I love your honesty, and can't agree more.DrBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15957078718446547740noreply@blogger.com