Hello everyone it's DJCyborg, I got my femurs lengthened with Dr. Birkholtz back in June 2023, never make a profile on the forum or put my diary here.
My entire diary is on Victor Cyborg4life D!scord channel but with my tibia surgery coming up later this year in 2025 I thought I would move my entire femur diary over here as well for community members here and then continue both here and on d!scord after my tibia surgery, since a lot of people use the limb lengthening forum as the general online limb lengthening research tool.
I would do my best to copy and paste materials over and then attach photos and videos as well if the forum allows. I'm not use to how the forum works and it's capabilities so bear with me, hopefully photos and videos work on here.
DJCyborg | Dr. Birkholtz | Precice 2.2 Femurs | June 2023
4 hours post op update.
pain was about a 5/10 directly after surgery, been sleeping a lot since now pain is about a 1.5/10
Dr. Birlholtz said the surgery went very well, 12.5mm precice are in and lengthening will start next Wednesday (6 days from today)
https://imgur.com/a/DDlV3MD
Having trouble with file sizes of pictures etc on the forum so I uploaded to imgur and attached the imgur share links from here forward
About 12 hours post op update
Pain is at a 0/10 but I tell them 2/10 to stay ahead of the curve.
Had 3 meals so far, around a liter and a half of water and urinated twice. No catheter was used for my surgery.
Going to be on walkers for about 2 weeks then crutches after that. No wheelchairs in sight. Which is the way I like it.
(Sorry about the previous 4 hour update, seems like the forum doesn't accept youtube post image links as it tries to recognize it as a video, trying to figure it out with KiloKhan a mod of this forum)
Wait how are you going to be on crutches so soon? Esp with P2.2.
Also, will be joining you soon in South Africa! I'll have to go with fitbone though, since there's not enough p2.2 supply these days.
Day 3 post op (got day mixed up)
Pain generally at a 1/10 if im not moving. During PT this morning right leg pain was about 3/10 at worst. Left leg however feeling much more pain when moving. Pain on the side of legs and almost feel like bone/nerve pain but idk. Also could be due to my severe muscles tensioning up this morning when they had to put a catheter in to drain 1.2 liters of urine
Going to do as much self pt on my left leg as well today until physical therapist comes back for the second session of the day
things are starting to get tough, especially small things like passing urine
day 3 pain much worse than 1-2 will update tomorrow. pain is very uncomfortable
day 4 post op.
pain much better controlled now, overall you just need to stay ahead of the pain. I have a catheter in that they plan on taking out tomorrow. I am having trouble urinating for some reason but they expect that to be fixed soon. Whatever sleep drug they gave me yesterday could probably knock out a elephant, I'm still feeling it today but the good thing is im sleeping a lot. Going back to sleep after typing this out. Finished a PT session this morning that went well and have another one later today. I can move both legs freely without too much discomfort. Currently 10:37am on Sunday Lengthening with the ERC starts on Wednesday. Last night they moved me to my own private room. It's quite nice I have to say.
Lets keep pushing and healing ♥️
Day 5 post op
everything feels much better except PT just now. On the walker I got incredibly tired after just maybe 15-20 meters. The PT said its very normal around this time after surgery as blood pressure is very low. I felt dizzy and ears ringing. They said after another 2 or 3 weeks things will normalize out.
Everything I took for granted before I never will again, peeing, bowel movements, etc
This journey is tough but we just push through
Day 6 post op
Pain wise today the least pain I felt so far since surgery knock on wood. Would love for it to stay this way.
For some reason woke up feeling weak and dizzy though. They took my blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate, temp etc and they said its all within normal ranges.
Usually I have a huge appetite right when waking up but today breakfast is in front of my currently and I have no appetite to eat it. Dr. Birkholtz visited twice yesterday. I'll ask him if there is anything of concern when he comes to visit today. My start day of lemghthening has now changed from Wednesday (6 days post op) to Thursday (7 days post op) as Dr. Birkholtz will be out of town Wednesday.
Confirmed it's the old ERC decice but that one is supposedly better in many ways one being much more acurate lengthening and a more robust machine compares to the new lightweight plastic purple ones.
Yesterday I got up to pee and do #2 twice on my own and walker, felt amazing. Post catheder pain is gone.
Had a short 25 min PT session this morning streches and stuff went well overall. Just felt a bit dizzy throughout so the PT didn't want to risk any walker work until my afternoon 5pm session. I'm not sure how much weight I have lost since surgury day but I got my first good look at my face yesterday in the bathroom and my face looked a bit leaner.
Just want this feeling is weakness/tiredness and dizziness to go away today.
Taking this journey day by day
Update: Dr Birkholtz came to visit and now has ordered a blood test for me to make sure everything is ok electrolytes wise etc
I love how hands on Dr. Birkholtz is and how he visits every patient of his every single day
Update #2: Blood results are back and we know why I feel so dizzy and nauseated. My blood hemoglobin levels are at a 8.9 when the normal level should be at least above 10. Under 13 is considered low for males. I have two choice, one is a blood transfusion or two is take a iron supplement and it will return to normal within the next day or two. I have opted for the supplement.
I'm quite surprised ive been able to do all these crazy walker movements and going to restroom on my own these last few days. Just goes to show how well everything else Dr. Birkholtz does to allow me to even be like this in such a weakened state.
This was also an error of mine for not communicating with Birkholtz and his team well enough. I assumed the dizziness and nausea the first few days were normal.
Lesson learned never assume. And talk to your doctor!
Dr. Birkholtz has already visited me 3 times today and he says he will pop by again later today. This level of personal care is so out of this world its truly amazing.
Day 7
Some 4am thoughts here in South Africa. My lengthening starts today, later today. My gap is at least a few mm from what you can see in the xray image above. I haven't broke the news to Dr. Birkholtz yet but I'm changing my lengthening goal.
Originally goal is 6.0cm on left leg and 6.4cm on right leg
New goal is 5.2cm on left leg and 5.6cm on right leg
I know... the Kanye Western jokes are coming but that gap man... that is at least a few mm. I want a very conservative lengthening from the start. Plus lengthening 5.6cm on my shorter leg from here im getting like 6cm from it which is what I want.
This is subject to change, please no Kanye Western jokes guys but I'm just spilling my 4am thoughts
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