Femoral Lengthening with Dr. Paley

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All the best with the nail removal surgery!  I'm glad it worked well for you and I'm now considering this in the near future.

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Quote from: jayes on March 20, 2019, 06:14:47 PMAll the best with the nail removal surgery!  I'm glad it worked well for you and I'm now considering this in the near future.

Thanks for your wishes! Good luck on your journey!

Update:

Yesterday’s workout was intense. My legs feel like rubber. I guess running up and down 20 stories wasn’t the best idea. On the bright side, I know what I need to do to recover my strength quickly:

Stop using elevators..

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Purushrottam,

I hope I'm at your condition once all of this settles. Impressive!

I know you have probably answered this questions many  times; so I'm sorry if you are repeating...

Am wondering at about what month post-op, were you able to:

Walk..
Jog..
Run..

Thank you again and in advance for any feedback.

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Quote from: InFullStryde on March 20, 2019, 06:51:46 PMPurushrottam,

I hope I'm at your condition once all of this settles. Impressive!

I know you have probably answered this questions many  times; so I'm sorry if you are repeating...

Am wondering at about what month post-op, were you able to:

Walk..
Jog..
Run..

Thank you again and in advance for any feedback.

Hey IFS,

I think you will be in a better conditioning because you will have faster consolidation and recovery.

This is the timeline of my progress compiled by OverrideYourGenetics:

• 2017-Sep-26 - femurs surgery
• 2017-Dec-02 - stopped lengthening
• 2018-Jan-09 - mobile with crutches
• Jan-21 - walk without crutches
• Jan-30 - walk 1/3 miles (1/2km) without crutches ("swaying like hell towards the end as I was getting tired")
• Feb-08 - normal gait and going up/down stairs at only 2.25 months after stopping lengthening
• Feb-27 - jogging for 1 minute made legs sore
• Mar-03 - can't do body weight squats unassisted yet
• Mar-08 - walk for 3 miles without tiring
• Mar-25 - walk 6.5 miles/day, run up and down stairs easily. This was ~4 months after stopping lengthening.
• Mar-27 - can touch toes while bending with knees straight. Still can't squat unassisted.
• Aug-09 - can squat unassisted
• Aug-17 - jogged 2 miles, legs sore

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Quote from: Purushrottam on March 21, 2019, 03:39:25 AMHey IFS,

I think you will be in a better conditioning because you will have faster consolidation and recovery.

This is the timeline of my progress compiled by OverrideYourGenetics:

• 2017-Sep-26 - femurs surgery
• 2017-Dec-02 - stopped lengthening
• 2018-Jan-09 - mobile with crutches
• Jan-21 - walk without crutches
• Jan-30 - walk 1/3 miles (1/2km) without crutches ("swaying like hell towards the end as I was getting tired")
• Feb-08 - normal gait and going up/down stairs at only 2.25 months after stopping lengthening
• Feb-27 - jogging for 1 minute made legs sore
• Mar-03 - can't do body weight squats unassisted yet
• Mar-08 - walk for 3 miles without tiring
• Mar-25 - walk 6.5 miles/day, run up and down stairs easily. This was ~4 months after stopping lengthening.
• Mar-27 - can touch toes while bending with knees straight. Still can't squat unassisted.
• Aug-09 - can squat unassisted
• Aug-17 - jogged 2 miles, legs sore

Excellent. Thank you

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Hey Paru - your diary is excellent and very enjoyable to read through.

I have experimented with elevator shoes and whilst at the beginning it was fine - I've started to feel the shame of wearing them.

My question to you is two things if you don't mind answering.

Could you give further detail on how dating is different from before to now - perhaps you have a comparable example in your head that you can share from recent times.

Secondly - do you agree that sometimes the height difference doesn't feel like a big deal when you are by yourself i.e. getting changed? For example, when I put my shoes on today I felt like - really am I going to spend all this money just to be this much taller - but then when I was around other people the difference was felt properly.

Look forward to hearing from you.

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SimonFuller,

I’ll get back to you

Update:

I had my nails removed today. I’ll give a more detailed update when I’m rested.

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Update: Nail Removal March 22 2019:

I finally got the Precice nail removed. The surgery was pretty straight forward. I arrived there at 8:30 to be processed (paper work, consent forms, etc). They thoroughly check that you are you and what the procedure is (so that you don't get the wrong operation.. ). While I was waiting for my operation room to be prepped, I was given IV.

The experience was completely different because I knew I wouldn't be crippled for the next 4 months. I was pretty calm last time, but still a little worried about how my life was permanently going to change. Now I was just waiting there bored, like I was at the DMV.

I also literally walked into the operating theater (last time my entire bed was rolled into it, and I was sedated before I was moved there). Consequently I met the entire team that would be operating on me. My first thought was DAMN a lot of people are involved in this surgery. TV shows make it look like its just 1 or 2 surgeons. In reality it was several surgeons, an anesthesiologist, therapists, and nurses (7-8 people total). No wonder these things are expensive if done carefully and thoroughly.

I was out of the OR in 2 hours. When I woke up, there was a little bit of pain at the hip sites (and none at the femur screw sites). I would rate it at 1-2 out of 10. Barely noticeable. Its like when you are playing tag as a kid, trip and scrape your hip. That level. I think that could be because the anesthesia was still in effect.

I still had to wait there for 4 more hours because they wanted the anesthesia to completely wear out (so that I don't accidentally fall). I was given an extra dose of anesthetic because my operation had a risk of going longer than the alotted time. So I was just laying there in bed for 4 hours. As the anesthesia was wearing off, I did notice some pain at the nail sites. The best comparison would be when you work out a muscle really hard after a long time of not working out. The sore muscle feels painful to move for the next few days. Thats what I'd compare it to. Nothing to bad.

After 4 hours I was wheeled to the Uber (even though I had clearance to walk). My walking was a bit wobbly when I got out of that bed so there was a risk of me falling. So the nurse gave me crutches. Now that I am home, my walking balance is fine. I am walking like a duck now. My left leg doesn't hurt at all. My right leg is still painful when I bend it (or walk with it). I've been told that the surgical site pain mostly goes away in 3-4 days.

EDIT: I forgot to mention:
I've been prescribed pain killers but I haven't taken any (other than Tylenol). I haven't really felt the need for it yet (and I don't think I will). I do have medication to reduce the surgical swelling though. (My thighs are really swollen.. just like last time).

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Quote from: SimonFuller on March 22, 2019, 04:23:17 PMHey Paru - your diary is excellent and very enjoyable to read through.

I'm happy to hear that!

Quote from: SimonFuller on March 22, 2019, 04:23:17 PMI have experimented with elevator shoes and whilst at the beginning it was fine - I've started to feel the shame of wearing them.

I've tried the same. They were very uncomfortable and didn't seem natural to me. Honestly think the long term effects of wearing them are probably worse than actually getting CLL. They just didn't look normal on me. I actually threw them away (they were pricey as hell too)

Quote from: SimonFuller on March 22, 2019, 04:23:17 PM
Could you give further detail on how dating is different from before to now - perhaps you have a comparable example in your head that you can share from recent times.


Well for once thing, I've literally been asked out by girls now. That almost never happened to me. I've literally never been in a situation where I had to politely reject someone. I get 'ghosted' a lot less. The women I meet actually make an effort to hang out/meet again. I used to think it was normal to always 'try hard' and that the onus was on the dude to make the effort. In reality, I just wasn't seen as that attractive so I was never priority number 1 these women. Now its a bit different. Its also fairly easy for me to hook up at clubs now. I never 'initiate' it (I'm a lot more buff now though, sort of on the chubby side though: 17% body fat... not sure how accurate). All those rejections sort of instilled a personality where I don't pursue women unless they clearly indicate that they are interested in me. I'm slowly trying to change that.

Quote from: SimonFuller on March 22, 2019, 04:23:17 PM
Secondly - do you agree that sometimes the height difference doesn't feel like a big deal when you are by yourself i.e. getting changed? For example, when I put my shoes on today I felt like - really am I going to spend all this money just to be this much taller - but then when I was around other people the difference was felt properly.
 

I dont know the answer to this. It mostly felt like a big deal when I would go clubbing or to a bar or a social event. Being short never bothered me when I was hanging out with my taller friends. Only when hearing about how easy it was for them to date. Height is definitely a social thing. Whether or not you are tall or short depends on the people around you. There was a 5'10" Dutch guy who got LL. He was probably the taller patient who got cosmetic LL with Paley.

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Hi Purushrottam

Congrats on finishing all the journey!! Finally you are the free man from not only nails but also from the concern of height!!  I am so happy for you!!
Enjoy your height.  I wish you the success and happiness!!