Diary - January 2019 - In Full Stryde with Dr. Mahboubian of North Hollywood.

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Keep going IFS - may the great updates continue and perhaps a video or before and after photo too!

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Hi IFS! I haven't posted in your diary before, but was skimming through it today. I have to say, I am very impressed with you. Good for you for showing others that at any height, you can be successful and land a great/attractive woman. You are obviously doing this for the right reason - for yourself!

Best of luck to you and congrats on the height gained so far!

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Quote from: InFullStryde on February 17, 2019, 09:46:30 PMAlso, once you are done with the distraction phase, everything will come back much faster...some improvements the body even does on it's own effort and you won't have to do anything for that gift. :-)  Once the bone consolidates, muscles are pretty smart and will know where they need to be in order for your movements to be valuable toward your walk.   

Great answer man. Thank you so much! I will be talking with my doctor about this today anyway Keep fighting my friend!!

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Quote from: MichaelJose on February 19, 2019, 07:30:01 PMKeep going IFS - may the great updates continue and perhaps a video or before and after photo too!

Thank you for the kind words man! As soon as I'm done with distraction phase, I plan on posting some pictures/video so that future LL'ers can see what to likely expect as far as their abilities at this point. So in about 4-6 weeks! Possibly sooner. I'll think about it.

Quote from: YellowSpike on February 19, 2019, 07:41:33 PMHi IFS! I haven't posted in your diary before, but was skimming through it today. I have to say, I am very impressed with you. Good for you for showing others that at any height, you can be successful and land a great/attractive woman. You are obviously doing this for the right reason - for yourself!

Best of luck to you and congrats on the height gained so far!


Really appreciate these words YellowSpike.   Height Dysphoria is real and I was fortunate to "see the light" enough to live a happy life despite the fact I am in the 1% of male height.   Being short and male is a total bummer because we aren't given the innate credit that our taller male counterparts get.   Having said this; HEIGHT DOES NOT MAKE THE MAN, The MAN MAKES THE HEIGHT.  Live your life to the fullest and then you can create a long list of accomplishments and one can also add those beautiful ladies too that TALL list as well that they enjoyed time with *smile*...finally at the very end of that list... One can add..."AND I was short.   I know it's possible.  I have lived it.   Now, this surgery is going to allow me to to take advantage of just a few more inches which will help me so very much.

Quote from: Singapore on February 19, 2019, 08:10:14 PMGreat answer man. Thank you so much! I will be talking with my doctor about this today anyway Keep fighting my friend!!

You too, Man! This CLL stuff is hard isn't it! We will do it and we will get past this and we will be better men for it!  We're so brave man.  Takes courage to do this.   I often look at short men in the world and because I know their challenges, I will often say.... "That guy right there is the strongest man in here.. no one is more tested than him and the trials he has had to face in this life".   

Okay on to my journal update for the day!


Day 47 Post Op - Journey Continues... Left leg feeling better, good PT session today. [3.476 cm or 1.37 inches Taller!]

Greetings LL'ers,

Another decent day.  Not much to report; but nonetheless I want you to know what a day 47 post - op looks like in the CLL world!   The night time, once again, a struggle.   My knees flare up every night; mainly due to holding a position for several hours.   I then get up, walk around, stretch and pain is over.   Repeat.   If you have any advice for me, please let me know. My friend is going to get me some heat pads and hopefully that helps.  I'm thinking that I  may  just have the ice  pack handy. Ice always provides relief for pain.  While resting, walking with walker, or walking with no walker (more like waddling at this phase! lol), I feel barely any pain. I'd say zero to 1.   I'm about 15 days away from 2 inches my friends. 2 inches is a game changer for me.  To me, anyways, I've been able to do so much with so little in my life when it comes to height.   At 5'1.25" I have been able to enjoy a happy life and experience the things that many of us short men feel is ...for lack of better terms ... out of our reach.... To me, every inch is incredible.   To me, two inches is big time.  It helps me and my situation so much. I'm grateful that I have been able to come this far at 1.37" and I'm going to work the best I can to get to that golden 5cm mark.  I'll keep you all posted.

Pain: At night, around 2:00am, my pain at easily a 5 or 6. My knee and lower femur area are just on fire from being stuck in one position all night; other then that...no pain. My left leg is fine. Even when I take unassisted "waddling" like steps...nevertheless YES they are steps, lol.... no pain. I leg muscles do get a bit tired; but for future LL'ers... At day 46...your pain should be very much under control and minimal.  Imagine?  You go through this tough procedure and after only 45 days or less you can walk, albeit, awkwardly, but hey you can walk and barely any pain? That is the power of a good surgeon and the STRYDE nail.  Do not go cheap, please. 

Flexibility and movement: I did 2 self-PT sessions today.... quads, hams, IT Bands, etc.   They felt good. My flexibility wasn't that good to start with; and its not any good now. Ha Ha, but I'm about 90 degrees on all the "tough" stretches, and doing okay with the others.  Leg strength is coming back slowly.    The cool thing about this process is that since I can weight bare, I'm able to practice my gait and really get some good excersie in using my body weight. I don't have to wait until month 4 and 5 to stand up and work my legs with my weight.  I'm only a bit over 1 month post op and I'm training my legs with my weight.   FOR THIS REASON, is why Doctors expect Stryde recovery to be much faster than the older nails.

Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 - 1 hour Self PT, and 1 hour weight training for upper body.

Good day today.  15 days away from the MAGICAL 2 inch mark!  I'll keep working hard and I'll do all I can to stay loose enough.

Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know.  Talk soon and best regards.

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Thanks for the great share again IFS. Wish the best for you with fast recovery!!!

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Quote from: InFullStryde on February 13, 2019, 10:16:36 PMNow, i have decided to seek CLL to help with my height challenge. 2 - 3 inches on my bone is 2 - 3 inches that I do not need a shoe lift OR if i decided to wear a shoe lift, now I am 2 - 3 inches taller still!  Be creative and innovative.

What's stopping you from lengthening to 5 inches or more? 8cm in femur and 6cm in tibia is the "safe" limits according to Paley.

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Quote from: shortykon on February 20, 2019, 03:29:00 AMThanks for the great share again IFS. Wish the best for you with fast recovery!!!

Thanks Shortykon! I'm keeping my fingers crossed, man.  So far so good.

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Quote from: ZUCC420 on February 20, 2019, 03:41:35 AMWhat's stopping you from lengthening to 5 inches or more? 8cm in femur and 6cm in tibia is the "safe" limits according to Paley.

Hi Zucc420! Great question.   I'm going to push the femurs as far as they can go...so I think I will achieve 5-7cm range, maybe 8cm.  I have not ruled out the possibility of going through a second surgery on the tibia's to add another couple of inches.  I'll make that decision after I complete my experience with the outcome of the femurs.   I honestly feel that I will be happy after femur recovery....however, we'll see.

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Day 48 Post Op - Journey Continues.. [3.574 cm or 1.407 inches Taller!]

Greetings LL'ers,

What.A.Journey. Is all I can really say to myself when ask to describe CLL.   My friends, I'm almost 1 1/2 inches taller and the journey continues.   I think the one thing that surprises me the most is just how fast the lengthening occurs.  Every 25 or so days, you're an inch taller.  I mean, you walk up to your Statiometer and next to family or friends and you just feel the difference.  I never realized just how much of a difference an inch truly is.  An inch is actually a pretty good amount of heightening.  As I have mentioned before, my goal is to reach 2 inches and then I will take it day-by-day after that and continue my lengthening toward that 3" mark until I know its time to stop.  I'll also depend on the advice of my PT and doctors to aide my decision as well.   Not saying this is the case, but I'd be perfectly fine with a 2" increase...every mm after that is a bonus.  I started this process with great upper body strength which has helped me a great deal win moving around; but my legs were fairly tight.  I could touch my toes by the time of surgery; but overall, I had tightness in hips area...I can feel this creeping in now.  I'm fairly tight.  I do have decent ROM at this point and can perform all movements asked my PT and I'm pushing pretty good.  Once lengthening is completed, I'm looking forward to the positive impacts a solid consolidated bone will have on my overall ability to walk and just the feelings that come from being healed.  I'm excited at the height gain and I'm grateful that the process has been going smooth.  I'm going to work as hard as I can as the final half of the distraction phase is now upon me.

Pain: I'll be to the point.  It hurts at night time and early morning around 5 level pain.   During day, while resting and not doing PT, 0-1 level pain.  While doing PT and and movements 1 - 2 or 3 level pain.   The pain is not bad and its all tolerable. For prospect CLL'ers out there wondering... If the only thing stopping you from doing CLL is the pain...Please go forward with the surgery. The pain isn't so bad at all. It's worth the inches.   

Flexibility and movement: Doing fine here.  Still performing stretches to satisfaction level and working hard.   My hips are very tight and my IT band has some pain as one runs down it; so that is impactful.  As a result of tight and weak hip and glutes,  my unassisted steps are swaying and and not long fast steps; more like slow baby steps.  Having said that; good news is that I can 100% weight bear and take unassisted steps on my legs.   Also, I move well on walker.  I will continue to train my gate and strengthen.  Its still so early and my bones are not even consolidated yet and I'm actually training my legs with 100% weight on them.  Thank goodness for the Stryde nail.

Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 1 Hour PT in Clinic and 1 Self PT Session and 1 hour weight training for upper body.

I'm 14 days away from the magic 2 inch mark. Wish me luck guys! I'm starting to feel tight. Let's see how I do.

Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know.  Talk soon and best regards.

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Day 49 Post Op - Journey Continues.. [3.64 cm or 1.433 inches Taller!]

Greetings LL'ers,

Well, my journey continues.  I'm about 4 days from that fun 4cm mark and 14 days from the fabulous 5cm milestone (2 INCHES).  I'm pretty darn tight, I must say.  I suppose that is pretty normal; but sheesh. I guess no one was kidding when they said that those soft tissues will stretchhhhhh.   I have decent ROM in every category; so that is keeping me going here.  Pain is fine; and tightness well its a bit bothersome; but not brutal.   As I've stated before, My first milestone and check-in post will be 5cm, at this point, I will go 1 day at a time and quit lengthening when I know its time. That could mean I go 5.1cm or all the way to 8cm. I will keep everyone updated.   

Pain: No issues here.  0-2 pain all day. Last night, the pain was a bit better as well, I'd say 3 - 4.   Some discomfort with tight muscles that are being streched; but nothing that is painful.   I'd say at this point, I feel like I'm coasting fine in regard to pain.

Flexibility and movement: Flexibility has taken a hit in all areas since the surgery.   My legs are still straight; but I do feel the stiffness coming on from the back of the calves and hamstrings, so I have a close eye on this.  Hips are tight and I'm working these as much as a I can.   All in all, I'm doing well in this area.  I am starting to walk more and more, unassisted as well.   Baby steps, with sway; but I'm still taking full weight bearing unassisted steps and that my friends is a great workout for your hips and butt.   I do have to stop walking after some time because I get sore and I prefer not to wear down to far so that I can still maintain a healthy PT session with stretches and bike. 

Today's' Activities: 8 hour work day via remote connection, 2 SELF PT Sessions and 1 hour weight training for upper body.

I'm 14 days away from the magic 2 inch mark! Send your good thoughts my way.  I'll need it.

Okay Guys, if you have any questions, feel free to let me know.  Talk soon and best regards.