Florida and the Amputee

With the start of Summer fast approaching, temperatures in central Florida are already reaching the mid-nineties, paired with the level of humidity that slaps you across the face like a steamy middle finger. As an amputee, I am not exactly a summer girlie. I dread the months of May through September. Sweat is a major problem for amputees who wear prosthetics. I, someone who glistens when the temperature goes about 74 degrees, am not exactly looking forward to sliding out of my sweaty socket mid-step and the heat rash that follows. But since I live on the surface of the sun, I will have to make due until cooler breezes arrive.

It's time to schedule that Botox appointment! Not for my forehead wrinkles, but for my residual limb. Fifty units injected around the scar on my limb help with some of the hypohidrosis, or excessive sweating, that often happens after amputation as the body compensates for lost sweat glands. This is very rude of my body, as my sweat glands were already quite active to begin with.

If you are a new amputee and this is your first sweaty summer, or you have recently relocated to the surface of the sunSHINE state, there are several things you can do to help you get through the warmer months. Over-the-counter antiperspirant products like Certain Dry or even prescription-strength medicated wipes like ... can be applied at bedtime to cut down on the volume of sweat you produce from your residual limb. I like to use these the night before I have a big outdoor activity planned.
Sometimes, you just need to take off the leg and liner to pour out the puddle that's formed. This is a great time to clean and dry your limb to help prevent irritation on the skin. I regularly pack body wipes in my bag for theme park trips or outdoor events. Giving your skin a moment to breathe every so often will cut down on the risk for blisters and infection,  allowing you to stay out longer.

I never said it was easy being an amputee. That would be a flat-out lie. But with a little bit of planning, some patience, and accommodations, you don't have to stop being outdoorsy. Whether that means you like to sit on the patio during happy hour or you participate in triathlons, missing a limb should never mean missing out on what you love to do.

So until central Florida gets a cold front—or I move to Antarctica—I'll be out here, glistening like a rotisserie chicken and refusing to let the sweat win.