Did you keep in contact with any of the patients you stayed with?
If so do you think you can tell them to write about their experiences on this forum. I'm specifically looking for anyone that underwent stryde with Dr Giotikas.
Dear Jolien,
Thank you for the kind and quick answer. I will strongly consider staying at Theseus. I think you are correct that it is just easier to stay motivated. The cost is quite high, but it includes meals and nursing care, so perhaps it isn't that bad.
1). This is a stupid question, but I assume they have wifi internet at Theseus for patients to study/ do work, correct?
2). During my consultation, I spoke at length to Dr. Giotikas about physical therapy. Giotikas told me he personally trained the physical therapists who work at Theseus and he explained to them what his lengthening patients need. He also has a "team leader" at Theseus (the name escapes me) whom Giotikas keeps in contact with to advise what the patients need, after he examines your X-rays every 2 weeks. This was a selling point for me because it seems like the PT at Theseus is tailor made and well planned. However, at one point earlier in your forum post (on 18 May), I noticed you wrote, "Personally I was not very happy with the physiotherapy I got at Theseus. I now have private physiotherapy at home."
That being said, do you believe the quality of the physical therapy you received at Theseus was poor? I know how vital PT is for the recovery process, so just wanted to clarify this.
Thank you again for your time.
Quote from: Heightmare on August 10, 2019, 11:39:49 AMDid you keep in contact with any of the patients you stayed with?
If so do you think you can tell them to write about their experiences on this forum. I'm specifically looking for anyone that underwent stryde with Dr Giotikas.
Dear,
I do, but I dont think they want to put their story on the discussionboard. Otherwise they would already have done it.
Maybe they will do it when they are recovered.
Kind regards
Jolien
Quote from: MyBestSelf on August 10, 2019, 01:47:46 PMDear Jolien,
Thank you for the kind and quick answer. I will strongly consider staying at Theseus. I think you are correct that it is just easier to stay motivated. The cost is quite high, but it includes meals and nursing care, so perhaps it isn't that bad.
1). This is a stupid question, but I assume they have wifi internet at Theseus for patients to study/ do work, correct?
2). During my consultation, I spoke at length to Dr. Giotikas about physical therapy. Giotikas told me he personally trained the physical therapists who work at Theseus and he explained to them what his lengthening patients need. He also has a "team leader" at Theseus (the name escapes me) whom Giotikas keeps in contact with to advise what the patients need, after he examines your X-rays every 2 weeks. This was a selling point for me because it seems like the PT at Theseus is tailor made and well planned. However, at one point earlier in your forum post (on 18 May), I noticed you wrote, "Personally I was not very happy with the physiotherapy I got at Theseus. I now have private physiotherapy at home."
That being said, do you believe the quality of the physical therapy you received at Theseus was poor? I know how vital PT is for the recovery process, so just wanted to clarify this.
Thank you again for your time.
Dear,
1.) They do have wifi!
2.) That is correct. They opened their doors 2 years ago, so in my perspective, they lack experience. And for this price, there are other more experienced physiotherapy centers. (you have to do the research I discovered this too late). But physiotherapy is not that complex. I just did the best I could with the physiotherapists and I did as many useful exercises I could by myself. You will naturally feel the needs of your body. They also gave me a lot of exercises that I could do on my own.
In my view, your recovery depends on your own dedication to do as much as you can and by not quitting when you feel pain. A physiotherapist who pushes you to the limit (which my german physiotherapist did) helps you in pushing through. Also dont tell them to stop when it gets hard or you are exhausted. That way they can build the exercises up.
They are not too bad, it all depends on your attitude, mindset and most of all what you do in between the sessions (netflix vs. exercises, walking, stretching). Not that I was constantly busy (I slept maybe 16 hours a day) But when I was awake I always tried to do useful things.
Kind regards
Jolien
Thank you so much Jolien. I agree with all your points.
I sent you a quick PM and would really appreciate a response when you get some time.
Thank you again and have a great rest of your weekend!
Hi Jolien, I sent you a quick PM and would really appreciate a response when you get some time. 
Jolien, how is your walking now?
Quote from: Jolien on August 10, 2019, 02:34:32 PMDear,
1.) They do have wifi!
2.) That is correct. They opened their doors 2 years ago, so in my perspective, they lack experience. And for this price, there are other more experienced physiotherapy centers. (you have to do the research I discovered this too late). But physiotherapy is not that complex. I just did the best I could with the physiotherapists and I did as many useful exercises I could by myself. You will naturally feel the needs of your body. They also gave me a lot of exercises that I could do on my own.
In my view, your recovery depends on your own dedication to do as much as you can and by not quitting when you feel pain. A physiotherapist who pushes you to the limit (which my german physiotherapist did) helps you in pushing through. Also dont tell them to stop when it gets hard or you are exhausted. That way they can build the exercises up.
They are not too bad, it all depends on your attitude, mindset and most of all what you do in between the sessions (netflix vs. exercises, walking, stretching). Not that I was constantly busy (I slept maybe 16 hours a day) But when I was awake I always tried to do useful things.
Kind regards
Jolien
Thanks for making this diary, Jolien!
1. Does Dr. Giotikas do STRYDE on tibias?
2. What are some reasons aside from price you went with LON on tibias instead of STRYDE?
3. What do you think, aside from the travel, are the biggest disadvantages of doing LL with Dr. Giotikas instead of say Dr. Mahoubian (assuming the patient is American)?
I heard the language barrier isn't that bad and there are plenty of English speakers.
I haven't been to a foreign country before. I'm American. I'm not sure how much culture shock is really a thing when one goes to another western country.
4. What do you and other cosmetic LL patients think of Dr. Giotikas in terms of his skills and experience? I am somewhat worried because it seems like Dr. Mahoubian or Dr. Paley would have more experience.
5. Did you have to do a psychological evaluation before you did lengthening with him? Did he place any limits on the total length you have to do?
6. If you were doing internal STRYDE tibias with Dr. Giotikas, how much would you budget for the whole thing (including apartment/living costs/caretaker costs, etc)?
Thanks!!!!!
Quote from: sylar94 on October 15, 2019, 06:14:48 PMJolien, how is your walking now?
Perfect!! I will upload a video soon!!!
Quote from: CodyTheDog on October 16, 2019, 02:00:37 AMThanks for making this diary, Jolien!
1. Does Dr. Giotikas do STRYDE on tibias?
2. What are some reasons aside from price you went with LON on tibias instead of STRYDE?
3. What do you think, aside from the travel, are the biggest disadvantages of doing LL with Dr. Giotikas instead of say Dr. Mahoubian (assuming the patient is American)?
I heard the language barrier isn't that bad and there are plenty of English speakers.
I haven't been to a foreign country before. I'm American. I'm not sure how much culture shock is really a thing when one goes to another western country.
4. What do you and other cosmetic LL patients think of Dr. Giotikas in terms of his skills and experience? I am somewhat worried because it seems like Dr. Mahoubian or Dr. Paley would have more experience.
5. Did you have to do a psychological evaluation before you did lengthening with him? Did he place any limits on the total length you have to do?
6. If you were doing internal STRYDE tibias with Dr. Giotikas, how much would you budget for the whole thing (including apartment/living costs/caretaker costs, etc)?
Thanks!!!!!
Dear,
1. Yes he does
2. Because STRYDE wasn't available in February 2019 yet, and I couldn't postpone it till May (when STRYDE was available with Dr. Giotikas) + I also had to do a tibia-rotation together with the lengthening, which could be done most precise with LON.
2. For me 100% price related. If I could go to a more experienced and known guy, no doubt. But he was the most reliable doctor which I could afford.
3. Because it is in Greece, the country is not nice to stay because of severe economic problems and because of their southern mentality which is very different from the Northern Europe mentality. So if you can afford it I would highly recommend to go to Germany, Northern US,...
4. What he has told me: He has done around 30 leg-lengthening patients at the time I was in Greece + started with Stryde in April 2019. Although He told me he has a lot of experience with external fixators (non-cosmetical).
5. I had to fill in a psychological questionnaire. I initially wanted to do 7cm, he said: start with 5cm and see how it looks. It all depends on how you are doing during lengthening. But I think if I really really wanted to go to 7cm I could. But he definetly didn't recommend. I also think Stryde has a maximal length capacity, precice doesnt (correct me if I'm wrong on this one!)
6. Just add the extra costs for the stryde. This is sooo personal and also depends on sooo many things. I've seen so many differences between me and other patients who were staying there. I think you just have to over-estimate a lot to be prepaired. (I already posted my savings and calculations but eventually spend almost double so its very variable)
Kind regards
Jolien
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