Athens – Stryde Tibias with Dr. Giotikas – Jan. 8, 2020

Quote from: Zamii on January 15, 2020, 08:04:18 PMYour young age should play a big positive factor into this, how was the psychological assessment? (if any)

Did he completely deny you from doing femur or was it more of a recommendation that he insisted that you got tibias instead?

Hope everything goes well

Hey, yes I had to fill out the cosmetic procedure screening scale (COPS) and based on my responses, I was not referred for additional psychological evaluation prior to the surgery.

He did not deny me, but he made it clear it was in my best interest based on my proportions, and he made the right call. Had I been adamant about doing femurs, he would let me know it would be beyond naturally occurring proportions.

Athens, congrats on making it happen! Hopefully it will be my turn soon 

I will be keeping an eye on your progress as Im considering Dr Giotikas as well!

Have you seen your incisions yet? How do they look?

Are you pulling this off alone? How will you go to physiotherapy?

Hope you're doing well, best wishes!

Quote from: llj on January 16, 2020, 04:17:44 PMAthens, congrats on making it happen! Hopefully it will be my turn soon 

I will be keeping an eye on your progress as Im considering Dr Giotikas as well!

Have you seen your incisions yet? How do they look?

Are you pulling this off alone? How will you go to physiotherapy?

Hope you're doing well, best wishes!

Have not yet looked at my incisions. Alone. I use my crutches to get outside and order a taxi to get to physiotherapy. Otherwise you can go there and back with a wheelchair and someone to pick you up from the hospital, at 20 EUR per day.

Day 18

I have for the past week been mostly laying on my bed in my airbnb. The struggle to get up is getting lesser with each day. Proper medication timing is a must to avoid pain. For food, I use a website to order once a day. I use my crutches to walk outside my airbnb, and catch a taxi to Theseus Rehabilitation center, and back. I have been doing well at physiotherapy and I am quite flexible. My right knee seems to be more tight than the left. I am able to take small steps without any device, and stabilize myself standing up for a short time. I have a slight hunch that i need to fix by flexing the right muscles. I had my consultation with Dr. Giotikas last Monday, and the x-rays were good and showing proper lengthening. I am lengthening at 0.75mm a day. I should be at 9.25mm through lengthening alone, and an additional 3-5mm from the osteotomy, so I should be at ~1.3cm now. I am doing some stretches in my bed, and I am pushing myself more and more each day to walk normally, but of course I am taking it easy. The worst part is the boredom of being on your computer, and also looking ahead knowing it is going to be a while before you see your loved ones, all the while you wake up each day to a bed in which you spend all your time on. Make sure you have clearly defined goals to accomplish in this time.

You made an excellent choice in surgeon, you are in good hands. doctor giotikas just saved me from being crippled, after serious complications due to negligence in turkey with dr ozgur one of wannabetallers surgeon.

"I am lengthening at 0.75mm a day"

What I have understood, bad idea start under 1mm/day. It might cause preconsolitation.

Quote from: Hatch on January 26, 2020, 04:13:07 AM"I am lengthening at 0.75mm a day"

What I have understood, bad idea start under 1mm/day. It might cause preconsolitation.

For the first seven days, I lengthened at 1mm a day. For the next 85 days, I lengthen at 0.75mm.

Great diary Athens.  I was considering Dr.M for the most part but now because of this diary, I might consider Dr.Giotikas.  How much would you say the cost is of the surgery + your stay and food? I couldn't seem to find this information on his website. 

Quote from: AppleFanBoy on February 07, 2020, 01:45:22 AMGreat diary Athens.  I was considering Dr.M for the most part but now because of this diary, I might consider Dr.Giotikas.  How much would you say the cost is of the surgery + your stay and food? I couldn't seem to find this information on his website.

His website (https://www.athensbjr.com/cost-pricing-of-cosmetic-limb-lengthening/) is very clear with pricing, to include the surgery itself, the hospital stay, the medications, and the physiotherapy. What is not included is a taxi ride from your accommodation to Theseus Rehabilitation, and back. Every two weeks or so, you will also need to take a taxi to Mediterraneo Hospital and back for X-rays & follow ups. Considering your accommodation is likely close to Theseus, you should expect to pay around 20 EUR round trip, but thankfully it is only once every two weeks. If you stay somewhere reasonably close (5-7 mins away) to the rehab center, you pay the minimum a taxi is allowed to charge you per ride, which is 3.47 EUR. So every time I have physiotherapy, 4 times a week, I pay 3.47 EUR x 8 =27.26 EUR. Later on when physiotherapy is 5 times a week, I will pay 34.70 EUR per week. You can get a spacious airbnb between 800-900 EUR. You can be cheaper, and depending on what's out there, you might need to pay a little more. I would recommend you find someone to room with. I am alone here, and it could have been fun to room with someone else and keep your mind off things. You can pay 10 EUR approx per day if you have food delivered to you. Keep in mind, I did this for about a month, and I was malnourished. You need fruits and vegetables. I went to the grocery store (over here you would be looking to go to a place called Lidl), putting a large bag on my lap and getting around using my wheelchair, I spent about 60 EUR and I should be good for a week or two. You may also hire a nurse to shop, clean or do anything for you. Mind you, they like to stay for about 5 hours at a minimum and charge 10 EUR per hour. I didn't need to use them so far. Aside from food, accommodation, taxi rides, and maybe your reoccurring music/TV subscriptions, I haven't spent money on anything else. You can easily live here on (much) less than 1500 EUR per month.

Day 48

I'm days from the halfway point. I just had my biweekly check with Dr. G. My bones are healing well, and I am at ~3.0-3.5 cm. I have developed ballerina foot in some sense. I am stretching a lot more than before as a result to combat it. My right leg is actually a couple millimeters shorter, I must have not been pressing hard on the machine. It shouldn't matter at the end, only a couple days of correction on the right leg. I have pain on both of my inner knees when straightening them (painful if accidentally straightened at night), pain on my left ankle, and pain at the osteotomy site of my right leg. It is manageable, and I have been very conservative with my medication so far. I practice walking with my crutches back and forth in the hallway, as well as use a slant board every hour and a half. So far, not totally comfortable, but doable.