So I had my surgery on the 22nd and was just discharged from the hospital about an hour ago. I don't think I'll be up for writing an extensive journal, but I'd be more than willing to answer any questions you guys might have about the operation, pain, etc.
This is getting no replies... I might be willing to do a journal if I'm bored enough. I'm only 12 days post-op.
Quote from: KiloKAHN on August 03, 2015, 05:35:42 PMDo you have much contact with Dr Paley or is most of it through his fellows or other hospital staff?
I consulted with him in May and he visited me in the hospital the night after the surgery. My 2-week checkup on Thursday will be my third time ever seeing him. Mostly I see PAs or other hospital staff. I did, however, send him an email about something and he responded surprisingly quickly.
Quote from: SAD on August 03, 2015, 05:18:22 PMdid it hurt?
The surgery, no, not at all. My stay in the hospital was excellent. When the pain meds wear off, however, it hurts quite a bit, and some of the stretches are incredibly painful. Nights are especially rough, and I'm usually unable to sleep. I'm only 12 days post-op so this is subject to change, but this is far from the most painful experience of my life.
Just had 2-week checkup... everything is going perfectly. I'm currently at 15.75mm. Only 15 days post-op and I'm very independent with the walker; I'm gonna start using crutches soon.
And yes, I'll keep making minor updates for the benefit of my sanity, even if no one reads them.
Quote from: kare69 on August 07, 2015, 02:35:00 PMMb53 let me ask you what is your medication schedule? How is your pain being on that schedule? Also do you think if someone has a strong pain management support system, I.e. a pain doctor familiar with pain drugs with you for two weeks or so, will the entire procedure be manageable? Will this reduce pain to very low levels?
I take about 5-10mg of Oxycodone roughly every 4 hours, though I'm trying to space it out more. If you take the meds, the pain is very manageable.
Quote from: superusercj1 on August 09, 2015, 02:16:38 PMCongrats on taking the journey MB.
You mentioned that you'll be on crutches, that's great being within 1 month. Do you mind sharing your height and weight? I wonder what the weight cut off is, if any (and i'm sure it's also based on how you're healing) before Paley allows you on crutches.
By the way, we are all reading and following along, just not posting as much :p
Best,
SuperUserCJ
At home I consistently measured as 5'3.75" or 162cm. Here I consistently measured as 5'3.5". or 161cm. I'll just compromise and say 161.5cm. I weighed about 143 pounds going into surgery. I'm about 19 days post-op so around 163.5cm/5'4.5"-ish. I weigh about 130 pounds (yeah, I haven't been eating much). The x-rays have confirmed my new height but I don't really feel any different... hopefully this changes once I start to reach 5'6" and above.
And it's the physical therapists who decide when I can go on crutches, not Paley. I've only seen Paley twice: during my consultation and in the hospital the day after my surgery. He was out of the country for my 2-week checkup so I met with the PA. But each rod can bear 75 pounds, so I don't think they encourage walker/crutches if you weigh over 150.
Quote from: femoral_indecency on August 09, 2015, 04:26:51 PMHow's it's going mb? Congrats on starting your LL journey (and having a crap ton of $ to afford Paley lol) got a few questions, does your family know your undergoing LL? are you staying at a hotel while you're recovering from the LL procedure? What are your total costs for LL could you do a costs breakdown? Thanks mb, I'm looking into/researching LL right now so I'm trying to collect as much data on LL as I can.
My parents are paying for it (so yes they know) so I don't know the full cost breakdown. I'm guessing the whole thing is about $100k. Costs less than Rozbruch but more than Guichet
Update: Today I'll reach 4cm, meaning I'm officially at the halfway point. My IT bands and hamstrings are pretty tight, but other than that I'm in great shape. It's supposed to get harder from here on out, but I'm confident I'll be able to lengthen 8cm. So far, I have no regrets.
Quote from: Alu on September 11, 2015, 02:55:42 AMI don't mean to rush or anything, considering you've been in and about the other thread here, but how are things going for ya thus far?
I'm doing alright. I should reach 52mm today, so roughly 65% done. I'm a little over 2-inches taller and I can definitely feel a difference.
My hip flexors and IT bands are getting very tight and I'm starting to feel some nerve pain, but I'm fine other than that. Outside of PT I have very little pain (maybe 3 or 4 out of 10 when I wake up) and right now I feel no pain at all. I take a 5mg Oxycodone when I wake up, 2 Tylenols or Aleves in the middle of the day and another 5mg Oxycodone before I go to sleep. I've honestly been really slacking in terms of doing my calisthenics outside of physical therapy, but as long as I start to do the proper amount of stretching I think I'll be able to loosen up. I feel as though I may have to slow down the lengthening soon from 1mm a day to .75mm because of my increasing nerve pain, but none of the physical therapists have made any indication that I would have to. And even if I do slow down, it would only increase my stay by about a week or so, which isn't the end of the world.
I'm still hoping to make it to 8cm, but I think as long as I reach 7cm I'll accept whatever I get. I have a little less than a month left assuming I don't slow down (28 days or so) which is still a long time, but I'm definitely reaching the end of this journey. The pain is sometimes hard to bear and it gets pretty boring at times, but it's far from the living Hell some of the diaries made it out to be. Though perhaps I'm just one of the luckier ones.
Update: It's just over 2 months post-op and today I should be reaching 6.4cm (80% of the way done). I should reach 8cm on the 9th, two weeks from Friday. If there's bone retraction, it should take maybe one or two more days to reach 8cm. I'm feeling much better and my muscles are much looser since my last update. The same areas are tight, but it's much more bearable and my gait has been fixed. I'm now confident I can reach 8cm without slowing down. I may stay another week here so I can go to physical therapy while I begin consolidation, but no more than that. The difference I feel when I'm out in public is huge - and I'm not even finished lengthening. I don't think my height insecurities will be completely gone by the end of this, but I definitely feel like a different person.
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