Hey Unicorn,
Am so impressed that you've started on the journey. Is there anyway you could email me so I could ask you a bit more about it? [email protected]
Thanks and congrats!
Tom
Hi everyone,
It's been a while. Apologies for not updating you on my last A&E incident. Since it was the 2nd time it's happened to me, I decided to film the entire episode so that you'll get a front row seat of an unexpected complication and how it unfolds.
I was about to leave on vacation when I got up from my sofa to feed my cat. I heard a tear like paper being ripped in half and felt an explosion of pain near the bottom pin of my right nail, next to the knee. I couldn't move the leg an inch without blinding pain and I could see a portrusion bulging from under the skin. I was haunted by PTSD from when my left leg broke following the initial surgery (when Guichet cracked my femur) and he didn't see me for 4 days while I drifted in and out of delirium.
Like a seasoned pro this time around, I called the ambulance, splinted my leg w a crutch, lowered myself to the floor and crawled to open my door, between shrieks and howls of pain. It took about 3 hours by which time my boyfriend arrived with icepacks to provide relief. I nodded off from sheer exertion and woke up to 'frostbite'. In my hyperventilating panic and confusion, I had accidentally applied icepacks directly onto my skin without any safety sleeves/towels in between. Hence, I name myself a clear winner of the Ice & Salt challenge, and potentially, a Darwin Awards contender too.
When the paramedics finally arrived, same drill, I begged them to take me to Kings College instead of the closest hospital and by the time I was finally xrayed, almost 12 hours had passed. I was soooooo lucky to bump into the same kind doctors at Kings who saw the results and quickly reassured me that I didn't have any nail breakage nor bone fracture. So what was the bulge and the excruciating pain? I was treated for burns since my leg darkened in colour and giant blisters started bubbling up.
By the time I was discharged, I hadn't eaten for 30 hours. A&E starved me deliberately with no food/water in case they needed to perform emergency surgery. My xrays show trauma where the pain emanated and my docs think it could be soft tissue tear. I'm due for an ultrasound soon to better understand what really happened. At least I'm not crazy, delusional or a raging hyperchondriac.
The best news is, I finally got a sneak peek of my right leg (bone grafted) non-union area and it looks like NHS has set a record for successfully bridging an impossible 10cm gaping hole. I posted the progress on https://www.instagram.com/unicorn_gets_taller/
I went in to get another xray yesterday and half the femur is now almost consolidated bone. The inner side where the graft didn't reach still has nothing, proving that Guichet's lengthening speed, runaway nail and 'marrow' injection are precarious, negligent and an epic f**kup. The NHS docs told me that usually, if fusion happens on half the femur when the grafting works, it will eventually wrap around 360 degrees.
So that's it! I've probably spent the last 60 days going through emotional hell with my family and friends. I have now seen how true adages like 'no good deed goes unpunished' and 'you're as good as your last ____' are, because when it comes right down to seeking help and receiving it, I realize sadly that most people let me down.
I can't even begin to describe every single disappointment but I guess, that's the harsh reality of being human. For a while, I dedicated a lot of time and energy helping out every single LLer who contacted me but as of late, all I've seen are people who'd stay in touch only in times of need, and who'd vanish when I'm of no more use. I went through some rough emotional patches and inevitably reached breaking point. I have no emotional bandwidth left to deal with more drama. So I guess, that's a good thing. I'm learning about boundaries (they don't teach that in Asia).
During my trip to Singapore, I had met up with one of my Guichet CLL classmates and in hindsight, we all concluded that we would have NEVER done this surgery if we weren't mis-sold Guichet's 3-month miraculous recovery promise. Up to this day, the 3 of us are not fully healed, 2+ years later - that's how bad his misrepresentation is.
I sincerely wish I could open my heart and tell you all that my lawyers and I have discovered of Guichet, and I cannot wait for that day to arrive when truth reigns. Even as we classmates compare notes, we reel in disbelief at the lack of scruples and blatant greed this charlatan epitomize. I pray and hope nobody else suffers in his hands as there are safer and easier ways to lengthen your legs today.
CLL is absolutely nothing you should be ashamed of. We all have insecurities, and if you desire to improve your height, you reserve EVERY right and respect for your decision. Do not accept any SHAMING because you have the courage to forge a constructive path to realize your dream. No coward and hypocrite should be allowed to cast hurtful judgements at you.
I'm blabbering on a Saturday night, but that's the sad reality of my life these days. Hanging on to wisps of hope from my abyss. I long to not have this rot in my heart but these years of suffering have somehow tinged my views of everything several shades darker.
Hi unicorn
im sorry you had to go through such an experience and lose so much money from one of the so called reputable doctors while paying over $65 000. For that amount all post op complications and post op trainiing should of been covered instead he left you to fix your complications else where. He is a downright disgrace its also an example that shows going to these overpriced so called reputable doctors does not gaurrantee success. I did warn people back in 2012 -2013 on the old forum about him taking 6,000 dollars from me and returning less than half claiming his preoperative emails were worth that much .....what a scam artist.
I also understand what you said about the people you helped and then the lack of help or support when you needed it.
Im very happy that you have come through this , you must be so happy now.
I wish you the best , dont look back its time to enjoy life to the fullest !
Quote from: 4cms on October 13, 2018, 09:10:33 PMHi unicorn
im sorry you had to go through such an experience and lose so much money from one of the so called reputable doctors while paying over $65 000. For that amount all post op complications and post op trainiing should of been covered instead he left you to fix your complications else where. He is a downright disgrace its also an example that shows going to these overpriced so called reputable doctors does not gaurrantee success. I did warn people back in 2012 -2013 on the old forum about him taking 6,000 dollars from me and returning less than half claiming his preoperative emails were worth that much .....what a scam artist.
I also understand what you said about the people you helped and then the lack of help or support when you needed it.
Im very happy that you have come through this , you must be so happy now.
I wish you the best , dont look back its time to enjoy life to the fullest !
Yup, sadly, when comparing notes of our respective experiences, we realized there's a consistent underlying theme with Guichet. He needs money badly, and would say ANYTHING to milk it. Most of my classmates NEVER got their £3k deposits back - receiving flimsy excuses from £3k pre-op training (not taken) to applying credit to nail removal with him (of £16-17k overpriced procedure). All my classmates gave up and chose to move on with their lives, and did not return to him for nail removal or in one instance, nail breakage. Best of all, we received 'overdue invoices' at random intervals, scathing emails about our 'unpaid' debts and proclamations of his professionalism and ethics. So at least he's consistent on this front.
We found out Guichet guilted his physio/PA/promoter/carer-in-one for causing him to miss his flight to Milan and insisted on docking the overworked PT's pay for the missed airplane fare. The PT later discovered that Guichet's credit card statement showed that he had ordered a drink on the flight he allegedly missed (!).
We did all have a good laugh at how Guichet successfully fooled a lawyer, 3 bankers, a doctor, a hedgefunder etc, but deep down, we know this doctor preys on desperation and will scalp his patients ruthlessly for every last cent they have. We shudder now at how insidious our experiences were and understandably, most of us just want to erase the entire chapter.
Princess Grace Hospital, which is a part of HCA International (the largest hospital group in the world) and considered the 'Four Seasons' of hospitals in London also gave us false security and blind trust. We really believed we were paying premium to avoid back alley practices and relied on their sterling reputation for their discerning selection of doctors. We couldn't get further from the truth.
How can such a doctor perform surgeries in the UK and Italy? They are one of the best and most regulated health care countries. How on Earth do they allow him to?
Quote from: cool on October 14, 2018, 02:48:08 AMHow can such a doctor perform surgeries in the UK and Italy? They are one of the best and most regulated health care countries. How on Earth do they allow him to?
Good question and I have spent all my time uncovering loopholes in the UK private hospital and healthcare system. Italy, I've no idea. It sums up to this... Do you know what they call a traveling doctor in the old days? A quack.
Remember when he cancelled by 3rd surgery in London on 01/02/17 abruptly and then rescheduled it in Milan 65 days later? He failed compliance at Princess Grace Hospital and couldn't get reinstated on time, that's why. But that didn't stop him from telling me last minute that I had to take a blood test and since there wasn't anymore time, I had to do it straight at Princess Grace Hospital for a whopping fee of £1,000. I was so angry because not only was the last minute blood test 'pre-meditated' but it also contained blood group typing. Even I, Ms Dumb Patient No 584, know that your blood group stays the same even after you've become taller.
As I said, the truth will soon be revealed and xrays don't lie regardless of how many operative reports get doctored (for the lack of a better word). Even impromptu xrays showing healthy bone consolidation that magically gets added to my medical records, to the amusement of my NHS surgeon, features glimpses of a testicle. Xrays don't lie, humans do.
I was even puzzled at one time poring through my medical records of pictures that I could not remember taking, nor the room I was in or even the watch I was wearing. I chided myself for how forgetful I had become. However, again, my NHS surgeon only needed to go to Properties and see that the picture of this asian girl was taken in 2012, 4 years before I actually subjected myself to the time-traveling hands of Guichet.
So here you go, some fun but very telling snippets of what I'm dealing with. I sound extremely bitter, I know and I admit that I am. I feel withered to the bone and empty as a husk. For every single stone unturned, like Guichet telling new patients he's never treated Unicorn... I tumble further into my abyss. How could I let something like this happen? Better yet, how did ALL my smart and successful classmates let this happen? The more we share our stories, the more we reel in disbelief at the enormity of what he's gotten away with all this time in 3 countries. However, the seams are unraveling faster than I can write.
Plausible reasons for wronged patients going silent are shaming and trauma. Nobody wants to deal with more crap when they can barely cope with their disrupted lives. Most patients resort to survival mode which includes erasing this entire chapter from memory, cutting their losses and moving forward with their lives. If you want a visual description, it's akeen to being lost at sea with no land in sight. We're barely keeping our heads above water and do not know what other dangers lurk around the corner, or where we are in this endless journey through hell. We do not know which direction to expend the energy we no longer have to save our souls. In one word, we're lost.
I am trying to do so as well but I strongly believe it is also my duty to warn, because I am foolhardy. It is the right thing to do. Private hospitals literally get away with murder because they're set up differently from the NHS system, and their doctors are not held as accountable as NHS docs do. So abundant loopholes exist if one starts sniffing and we're looking at one mountain of a manure here. We cannot even establish after 12 months of investigations, if this doctor has medical indemnity insurance in the UK. Essential baby steps, let's not even get started with the infamous G-nail and all sorts of compliance and conflicts of interests.
I'm glad I chose to be unicorn, because I can stab idiots with my head!
That is very disturbing to read.
I am glad your condition is improving. And thank you for keeping other patients informed about this doctor. Are you going to pursue any formal complaint against him? It's still a question why he stopped operating in Marsaille.
How do you suggest a patient to narrow down on a doctor? Guichet had a very impeccable record until you and was even nice to talk to (so they all say). He even went to this patient (leechlet) house and helped him while lengthening and even took him out for dinner etc.
How is Guichet's reputation among other doctors? Does he educate other doctors? Is he part of LL communities in UK or Italy?
Quote from: Unicorn888 on October 14, 2018, 10:05:58 AM
Remember when he cancelled by 3rd surgery in London abruptly and then rescheduled it in Milan 45 days later? He failed compliance at Princess Grace Hospital, that's why.
Why is he still on the hospital's website then? http://www.theprincessgracehospital.com/our-specialists/specialist/guijea/mr-jean-marc-guichet/
Quote from: cool on October 14, 2018, 10:39:34 AMWhy is he still on the hospital's website then? http://www.theprincessgracehospital.com/our-specialists/specialist/guijea/mr-jean-marc-guichet/
Because after about 6 months being banned, he got reinstated. It is not my business anymore where he operates or not. The cogs are turning and justice will prevail. Sinister acts and behaviour cannot be easily erased because paper trail exists and xrays don't lie.
If I should expire, I have willed for all my records to be released so the ugly truth is revealed with no more harmful consequences to myself.
If you wonder about how malpractice and negligence can go unchecked in the UK, just read one case below :
http://www.itv.com/news/2017-12-13/ian-paterson-tonight-the-butcher-surgeon-a-scandal-uncovered/
Quote from: cool on October 14, 2018, 10:36:27 AMThat is very disturbing to read.
I am glad your condition is improving. And thank you for keeping other patients informed about this doctor. Are you going to pursue any formal complaint against him? It's still a question why he stopped operating in Marsaille.
How do you suggest a patient to narrow down on a doctor? Guichet had a very impeccable record until you and was even nice to talk to (so they all say). He even went to this patient (leechlet) house and helped him while lengthening and even took him out for dinner etc.
How is Guichet's reputation among other doctors? Does he educate other doctors? Is he part of LL communities in UK or Italy?
Just a small suggestion. A doctor's competence is not based on how nice he is to talk to or look at, dinner invitations or house visits. Do proper due diligence if you care about your legs and life.
You must be logged in to post a reply.
