Quote from: CodyTheDog on October 13, 2019, 11:01:26 PMThanks! " and another $3k on a caretaker for the first few weeks. "
1. Roughly how many weeks of paying for a caretaker is common? 3 weeks? Four weeks?
2. Where do people typically find their caretaker?
3. What advice would you have for choosing a caretaker?
I'm trying to create a giant spreadsheet of everything, just trying to get a rough idea.
1) 2 to 3 weeks depending on the individual as this is the time where you will not be mobile and will need assistance with basic functions like sitting, standing, taking meds, grabbing things, etc. Plus, the risks of things like fat embolism or pulmonary embolism are still there during this time and you want someone around in the unlikely event something unfortunate happens.
2) Paley provided a recommended list of care taker agencies in West Palm Beach.
3) Find one that has had experience with LL patients and who is willing to assist with physical therapy
Diary: Stryde Femurs with Dr. Paley September 2019
Quote from: TheAlchemist on October 14, 2019, 12:39:31 AM1) 2 to 3 weeks depending on the individual as this is the time where you will not be mobile and will need assistance with basic functions like sitting, standing, taking meds, grabbing things, etc. Plus, the risks of things like fat embolism or pulmonary embolism are still there during this time and you want someone around in the unlikely event something unfortunate happens.
2) Paley provided a recommended list of care taker agencies in West Palm Beach.
3) Find one that has had experience with LL patients and who is willing to assist with physical therapy
For the caretaker, how many hours each day do patients typically have the caretaker stick around?
Can I just lengthening at home (do PT myself)without going to the PT room in hospital
Hi TheAlchemist
I have been away from this forum for awhile. Wow you have done it!! Congrats on your successful start for your LL journey!
You have already gone through the most difficult time (first month) so it will be just fine. As you have prepared well for this journey, I am sure you will succeed in your goal.
Keep up the good work!
Keep it up dude! You'll be taller than me in 2 weeks. punk... 
Day 39 - 3.1 CM
Hey everyone, things are moving along these days. Another day another millimeter. All things considered things are pretty cruise control, with pain manageable. The stiffness is starting to kick in. The biggest challenge is time, monotony, and mental stability.
Pain
Pain is manageable. Occasionally I'll experience a shooting knee pain or a mild shin pain a few times a day. There is an ongoing nagging discomfort from my body getting stiff and restlessness taking over that I would describe as more annoying than painful. Occasionally you'll feel parts of your bodies (veins, ligaments) stretched/pulled with a mild pain. I'm only on Tylenol for pain these days.
Based on other diaries and conversation with other LLers here, pain from stiffness / nerve pain will start to kick in at around 5 cm....we'll see.
Mobility
Ambulatory on a cane now. In my hotel room I generally walk cane less. Speed and endurance improves every day. This is where Stryde is a game changer.
Flexibility
Once I crossed 2 or 2.5 CM the stiffness started to kick in. My hamstrings, IT bands and quads get tighter and tighter everyday, and this is compounded by starting to lose the motivation to hit stretching exercises hard as they are starting to feel monotonous. The first month of this surgery I came in super motivated to stretch each day, but that motivation starts to fade.
On the bright side, you do see a direct relationship between the intensity of your stretch and your stiffness pretty much immediately. After every deep stretch, I feel amazing, loose and comfortable, with a much better gait.
I've slightly modified my approach to stretching. I used to do 3 very long (one hour), intense stretches each day, and now moved to 5 half hour stretches per day at a higher frequency. I make sure to do one right before bed and right when I wake up. If you minimize the time in between your stretches, your body never really gets a chance to get super stiff.
Mental State / Mood
The nagging discomfort I described earlier makes it difficult to focus and be productive. I remember going into LL, I thought that all this free time away from work would provide me with endless opportunities to work on side hustles, hobbies, read, etc. I was wrong....
You know how when you have a mild headache or mild tooth ache...that nagging discomfort makes it hard to focus and be efficient and productive at whatever task you have at hand? The same can be said for the LL nagging discomfort that stiffness/restlessness brings along. The pain isn't that bad but it's constant and impossible to ignore, so you just can't focus on anything at 100%. On top of that, every couple of hours you are stretching like it's a full time job, so you can't really hunker down and focus on something for long hours on end.
The message to future LLers is for those of you planning to work through LL, take this into account, you will not be 100% and your work will suffer. Could I work right now? Sure probably remotely, but I would say I would be a shell of my former self and my work performance would definitely take a hit. In hindsight I'm glad I took a leave of absence as working through this would be a challenge.
The days feel long but when you look back at the weeks/months and CMs sometimes it feels like time is flying. By EOW next week I'll be at the half way point....I remember my surgery like it was yesterday.
Quote from: OGfivesevener on October 16, 2019, 11:44:23 PMKeep it up dude! You'll be taller than me in 2 weeks. punk...
Lol!Quote from: Ghostfish on October 15, 2019, 01:10:29 AMHi TheAlchemist
I have been away from this forum for awhile. Wow you have done it!! Congrats on your successful start for your LL journey!
You have already gone through the most difficult time (first month) so it will be just fine. As you have prepared well for this journey, I am sure you will succeed in your goal.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks Ghostfish! Appreciate the support man!
s
Let’s GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!
Quote from: TheAlchemist on October 25, 2019, 09:27:15 PMMental State / Mood
The nagging discomfort I described earlier makes it difficult to focus and be productive. I remember going into LL, I thought that all this free time away from work would provide me with endless opportunities to work on side hustles, hobbies, read, etc. I was wrong....
You know how when you have a mild headache or mild tooth ache...that nagging discomfort makes it hard to focus and be efficient and productive at whatever task you have at hand? The same can be said for the LL nagging discomfort that stiffness/restlessness brings along. The pain isn't that bad but it's constant and impossible to ignore, so you just can't focus on anything at 100%. On top of that, every couple of hours you are stretching like it's a full time job, so you can't really hunker down and focus on something for long hours on end.
The message to future LLers is for those of you planning to work through LL, take this into account, you will not be 100% and your work will suffer. Could I work right now? Sure probably remotely, but I would say I would be a shell of my former self and my work performance would definitely take a hit. In hindsight I'm glad I took a leave of absence as working through this would be a challenge.
The days feel long but when you look back at the weeks/months and CMs sometimes it feels like time is flying. By EOW next week I'll be at the half way point....I remember my surgery like it was yesterday.
Yeah, this journey is a not joke or a sort of break/vacation. Especially after Stryde came to be the power of CLL, many people in this forum think or hope to work or to get back to normal soon after the surgery. I wrote back several times that it is a bad idea to get back to work during lengthening, although it is not impossible. It is just not possible to be productive during lengthening. It is not even easy to keep motivation to finish LL journey.
You just have to be positive and somewhat relaxed to face and to enjoy LL. Another day will pass by. Doing stretches more often with less intensity or less time is a good idea. You will get there soon!!
Best,
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