Posted on Oct 9, 2021, 8:10 am
#1
Hello everyone,
I’m aware that there are plenty of Betz diaries on this forum, and it probably doesn’t need another one. However, I found many of these diaries very useful. I feel like it’s my turn to pay it forward.
I’ll give updates on my journey to the extent possible.
I arrived in Saarbrücken on Tuesday, October 5th. The surgery was scheduled on 8th but I arrived a couple of days earlier just in case. I had initial consultation with Dr. Betz almost five years ago and even booked a surgery date at thAt time. However, I got cold feet a few weeks before and cancelled. After that, life happened and LL just moved down my list of priorities until Covid happened last year and WFH became the new norm.
Day -3:
Arrived in Frankfurt on Tuesday and took train to Saarbrücken. I had to switch trains once in Mannheim but everything went smooth. I decided to stay at hotel in Saarbrücken just because there was better options with hotels and also decent restaurants etc.
Day -2:
I was planned to meet to anesthesiologist in the morning, do the PCR test and then meet Dr. Betz in the afternoon for a final discussion and sign the consent form. However, I was told in the morning that the anesthesiologist appointment is moved to next morning and Betz will call me later in afternoon about the exact time to meet. I got a call around 4pm as he was stuck in traffic coming back from Bavaria. I didn’t want to wait as I had some work to do, so we agreed to chat on phone later that evening and meet in-person the next day. He called me later around 9pm and we spoke for an hour incl. risks, logistics, potential issues I might run into, clicking etc. Very thorough and detailed as you’d expect from a German surgeon.
Day -1:
I met the anesthesiologist around 9:30am and after filling out a long questionnaire, she walked me through everything from how anesthesia works, different of types of anesthesia and risks etc. Later in the evening, I met Betz who walked through everything again for almost two hours. He also offered to remove the Tibia/Fibula connecting screws I have since they limit the natural movement between the two bones and can cause issues in the long run. These screws are prone to break due to forces exert on them during day-to-day activities. He said there is no reason for that screw to be there once lengthening is complete (I did my tibias lengthening earlier this year- more on that later). He asked me to come to the hospital around 9:30 as the surgery is scheduled for 11am. I went back to my hotel room, had a decent dinner and fell asleep. I thought I’d be too anxious to sleep bu I was able to get decent 6 hours of sleep.
Day 0:
Woke up around 7am, took a long hot shower and checked out of the hotel. I took a taxi to arrive the hospital around 9:45 am. The entire morning I had to remind myself not to eat, drink anything by accident. The anesthesiologist gave me a long lecture about this since apparently one of Betz’s patients recently had a proper breakfast buffet before coming in for the surgery and they had to cancel the surgery. Once I arrived at the hospital, I was taken to my room. I got a decent size room with a large window next to the bed with plenty of light coming in. There is also a large flat screen TV and a small desk/chair. The nurse came by a few min later to shave my legs and asked me if I prefer to do it myself and I did.
Once the legs were shaved, I put on surgical garments and a couple nurses came to roll me into the operating room.
As we got to the operating room, the OR nurse asked me if I want to use the bathroom before starting. I decided to empty my bladder one last time. Soon after, I was lying on the operating table and the nurse put on the IV line. The anesthesiologist told me she has already prepared everything in advance. She put an oxygen mask on me and instructed the nurse to a continue with a series of injections. She turned to me and told me that I’ll go to sleep now.
By the time I woke up, I was being rolled back into my room. The first thing I noticed is being cold and shivering - I know this sensation too well from my previous surgery and I hate it. I asked them to put on my socks which they did immediately. The nurse also went and got me an additional thick blanket. I didnt have much pain but I could feel the stiffness. The nurses made sure I was comfortable, brought me water, gave me something in IV and left. As soon as the nurse left, I immediately checked if the left the catheter inside and was happy find that the removed it before waking me.
About 30 min later, Dr. Betz came to my room. The first thing he said: “let’s get you out of these surgical clothes and put on some normal clothes, you’ll feel much better”. He helped change my clothes himself and once that’s done he wanted me to sit up on the bed. He gave me the crutches and said “ now we walk, even just a few steps”. He said he wants to make sure that I get the confidence to walk with the nail inside. I thought I was going to sleep for the rest of the day; walking with crutches an hour after the surgery wasn’t something I was expecting. Anyway I wanted to give it a try ..standing up from the bed wasn’t difficult but I felt a bit dizzy. Betz and a nurse were holding me while I stood up. The first 4-5 steps were wobbly but after that I got a hang of it, ended up walking almost 35-40 steps from my bed and back. Betz told me the initial distraction was 0.5cm and he was happy with my walking.
A few hours later, the nurse brought me ‘dinner’ which is essentially two slices of German Rye bread, three slices of cheese and a couple slices cucumber. Luckily I brought some protein bars with me which I promptly had after the dinner.
Pain management has been pretty good so far. They give you a device which releases a small pill and you can self- administer whenever you feel pain.
I’ve been drifting in and out of sleep the whole afternoon/evening. I watched TV for a while in the evening. The nurse came by to give a thrombosis injection and told me that I should really try to pee today. She brought me a large jug of water and it worked. I peed and it really feels better afterward.
My sleep was good overall, I woke up around 4am as I felt some pain. I took the pain medication and dozed off again.
Also, my experience has been positive with the hospital staff and nurses. Everyone is very attentive and when you ask for something, the nurses are there right away. The hospital is definitely a bit old and basic but the nurses seem very considerate and attentive.
I’m aware that there are plenty of Betz diaries on this forum, and it probably doesn’t need another one. However, I found many of these diaries very useful. I feel like it’s my turn to pay it forward.
I’ll give updates on my journey to the extent possible.
I arrived in Saarbrücken on Tuesday, October 5th. The surgery was scheduled on 8th but I arrived a couple of days earlier just in case. I had initial consultation with Dr. Betz almost five years ago and even booked a surgery date at thAt time. However, I got cold feet a few weeks before and cancelled. After that, life happened and LL just moved down my list of priorities until Covid happened last year and WFH became the new norm.
Day -3:
Arrived in Frankfurt on Tuesday and took train to Saarbrücken. I had to switch trains once in Mannheim but everything went smooth. I decided to stay at hotel in Saarbrücken just because there was better options with hotels and also decent restaurants etc.
Day -2:
I was planned to meet to anesthesiologist in the morning, do the PCR test and then meet Dr. Betz in the afternoon for a final discussion and sign the consent form. However, I was told in the morning that the anesthesiologist appointment is moved to next morning and Betz will call me later in afternoon about the exact time to meet. I got a call around 4pm as he was stuck in traffic coming back from Bavaria. I didn’t want to wait as I had some work to do, so we agreed to chat on phone later that evening and meet in-person the next day. He called me later around 9pm and we spoke for an hour incl. risks, logistics, potential issues I might run into, clicking etc. Very thorough and detailed as you’d expect from a German surgeon.
Day -1:
I met the anesthesiologist around 9:30am and after filling out a long questionnaire, she walked me through everything from how anesthesia works, different of types of anesthesia and risks etc. Later in the evening, I met Betz who walked through everything again for almost two hours. He also offered to remove the Tibia/Fibula connecting screws I have since they limit the natural movement between the two bones and can cause issues in the long run. These screws are prone to break due to forces exert on them during day-to-day activities. He said there is no reason for that screw to be there once lengthening is complete (I did my tibias lengthening earlier this year- more on that later). He asked me to come to the hospital around 9:30 as the surgery is scheduled for 11am. I went back to my hotel room, had a decent dinner and fell asleep. I thought I’d be too anxious to sleep bu I was able to get decent 6 hours of sleep.
Day 0:
Woke up around 7am, took a long hot shower and checked out of the hotel. I took a taxi to arrive the hospital around 9:45 am. The entire morning I had to remind myself not to eat, drink anything by accident. The anesthesiologist gave me a long lecture about this since apparently one of Betz’s patients recently had a proper breakfast buffet before coming in for the surgery and they had to cancel the surgery. Once I arrived at the hospital, I was taken to my room. I got a decent size room with a large window next to the bed with plenty of light coming in. There is also a large flat screen TV and a small desk/chair. The nurse came by a few min later to shave my legs and asked me if I prefer to do it myself and I did.
Once the legs were shaved, I put on surgical garments and a couple nurses came to roll me into the operating room.
As we got to the operating room, the OR nurse asked me if I want to use the bathroom before starting. I decided to empty my bladder one last time. Soon after, I was lying on the operating table and the nurse put on the IV line. The anesthesiologist told me she has already prepared everything in advance. She put an oxygen mask on me and instructed the nurse to a continue with a series of injections. She turned to me and told me that I’ll go to sleep now.
By the time I woke up, I was being rolled back into my room. The first thing I noticed is being cold and shivering - I know this sensation too well from my previous surgery and I hate it. I asked them to put on my socks which they did immediately. The nurse also went and got me an additional thick blanket. I didnt have much pain but I could feel the stiffness. The nurses made sure I was comfortable, brought me water, gave me something in IV and left. As soon as the nurse left, I immediately checked if the left the catheter inside and was happy find that the removed it before waking me.
About 30 min later, Dr. Betz came to my room. The first thing he said: “let’s get you out of these surgical clothes and put on some normal clothes, you’ll feel much better”. He helped change my clothes himself and once that’s done he wanted me to sit up on the bed. He gave me the crutches and said “ now we walk, even just a few steps”. He said he wants to make sure that I get the confidence to walk with the nail inside. I thought I was going to sleep for the rest of the day; walking with crutches an hour after the surgery wasn’t something I was expecting. Anyway I wanted to give it a try ..standing up from the bed wasn’t difficult but I felt a bit dizzy. Betz and a nurse were holding me while I stood up. The first 4-5 steps were wobbly but after that I got a hang of it, ended up walking almost 35-40 steps from my bed and back. Betz told me the initial distraction was 0.5cm and he was happy with my walking.
A few hours later, the nurse brought me ‘dinner’ which is essentially two slices of German Rye bread, three slices of cheese and a couple slices cucumber. Luckily I brought some protein bars with me which I promptly had after the dinner.
Pain management has been pretty good so far. They give you a device which releases a small pill and you can self- administer whenever you feel pain.
I’ve been drifting in and out of sleep the whole afternoon/evening. I watched TV for a while in the evening. The nurse came by to give a thrombosis injection and told me that I should really try to pee today. She brought me a large jug of water and it worked. I peed and it really feels better afterward.
My sleep was good overall, I woke up around 4am as I felt some pain. I took the pain medication and dozed off again.
Also, my experience has been positive with the hospital staff and nurses. Everyone is very attentive and when you ask for something, the nurses are there right away. The hospital is definitely a bit old and basic but the nurses seem very considerate and attentive.
they must have removed the bike - I’ll ask the PT when he comes in tomorrow.