GNail with Giotikas 5 Weeks in Athens

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@Lu213 Some good insight on what to expect during the clicking process.

Thanks for posting.

Best.

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Thank you! Could you post the X-ray? I would like to know/analyze how Giotikas inserts the nail and locking screw with G-nail because the nail is bigger than Precice nail.

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@Stretch - my pleasure.
@Raden - The links to the xrays on imgur is posted above.

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Quote from: LU213 on October 31, 2021, 03:11:59 AMFor me, the nurse is not better at clicking. They are new to Gnail as well not like Guichet's nurses who probably have done this for years but maybe by the time you are there they will know more.  My most painful clicking was the one time at the PT with the head nurse.  I have been always able to click and after the first few days without assistance from others. The PT pain is like the pain of working out hard where you decide to endure it to reach a goal and it lasts for the 10-20 seconds they keep you in a difficult position, rest and then repeat. It is not something that caused me anxiety.  They also have this equipment to make your legs feel better before you leave. PT pain gets less as the flexibility increases.  The clicks are worse than PT. 

There are those who come alone that pay for a nurse to help them click twice a day.  I found the videos on the internet instructive enough so I could do it myself (of course I have family too but I do them alone and log them on my phone).  Now they are pretty easy - still some pain but  bearable.

There was a day or two  where I procrastinated, fell asleep and failed to do my second set of clicks so I had to do 10 and 11 for a few days until I caught up. It was not though that I was unable to click.  In those early days, I always found a way to click even when we had to to different methods.  Once you get the first click, you are golden the rest come easier.  PT owner recommended heat therapy prior to starting the clicks.  He said hot towels if you didn't have a heat pad.  Others recommend bike riding.  I also have had no problem sleeping since the first few days. I did take melatonin and zma just in case though to avoid a problem.

I made videos of myself clicking any time I was successful so I could remember the positions and the different ways I do it.  If I had difficulty one day, I would look at a video and get it.This is only for first 2-3 weeks, now of course, it is not necessary.

At this stage of 1.5 months, I can really see the height difference.  It feels good.  My family sees it but I have visited many friends and they don't even notice.

For those who is coming alone and do it alone, my advise to engage the nurse service.
They are not only helping you to click and also check on you daily.
You pay a bit more for them to company you PT center and back home.

They are helpful to purchase the stuff and do simple housekeeping for you.
To date, my experience is positive one as they do help me a lot.

Dont be Hero and end up a Zero!
You will never know what will happen to you after big surgery.

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I don't recommend going it alone because it is true that you never know what may happen.

Back in the states, I get physical therapy from this countrywide Company that provides PTs who have doctorate degrees and come to your home. The PT I have is very good.  I also  have found an outside place that I can go to once a week for the Alter-G.  It's $30 for a 60 minute session.  The PT company that Dr. Gio uses provides a book with pictures of all the stretches.  I provided it to the PT here.

I am blessed enough to have Dr. Assayag as my US doctor and I visited him  and he said the bone formation is excellent.  I also got to be treated by PT Moshe Roth. Also a very good experience.  I continue my consultations with Dr. Giotikas who is the primary doctor. Dr. Gio is very responsive on Whatsapp. He has not abandoned me despite my leaving Athens.  I hear achieving the last 3 cm will get exponentially harder. That is what I will be doing for the next month but I am keeping my eyes on the prize.

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Can you elaborate on your flight journey? Must have been hard? I am quite afraid to fly after surgery because of risk of embolism.

It is indeed amazing that Dr Assayag is seeing you despite not being the main surgeon and not the method he uses (Gnail). He seems like a gem of a doctor. What are this thoughts on Gnail?

If there are clicking problems will you go back to Athens?

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Quote from: indication on November 04, 2021, 07:48:15 AMCan you elaborate on your flight journey? Must have been hard? I am quite afraid to fly after surgery because of risk of embolism.

It is indeed amazing that Dr Assayag is seeing you despite not being the main surgeon and not the method he uses (Gnail). He seems like a gem of a doctor. What are this thoughts on Gnail?

If there are clicking problems will you go back to Athens?

I am concerned about this too. I think I'll just take blood thinner before boarding the flight and one after landing and the next day to be safe.

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Before you go email the office and ask how the other G-Nail patients are getting along and if all are doing well.  I did it before I went.

I don't anticipate clicking problems. It is only getting easier. Also although tightness gets worse as you gain more inches, clicking gets better.  However, if I did have problems where I could not click, I would have to fly to Athens.

Flight - Dr. Gio gives 14 days of Xarelto and because of my flight he gave me 2 extra.  He told me to take one the day before and one the day of. 

Airline special assistance - When you book your flight or after you book it go online and ask for special assistance - make sure you check that you cannot climb stairs, - It's an option at every airline.  I checked that I would be bringing my own manual wheelchair. They gate check it when you get on and it is there when you get off.  I was treated like a king as I was wheeled through the lines of customs and security ahead of everyone and placed on a lift so I would be level with the plane.  The same when I got off.  I had to change planes too.  I also had flown to Santorini using special assistance.  I was boarded first and used the forearm crutches.  They have the option of an aisle wheelchair and they will wheel you to your seat if you need it.

Seats I chose the comfort level seats sometimes known as main cabin extra or plus at the bulkhead that have extra legroom(but the middle aisle not the end- on some planes, the ends have equipment that can take up space). I had complete room to stretch my legs fully.  I bought a foot cushion on Amazon. Also you can fly at night when the plane is empty and have a whole row to yourself.  One thing to note though is I have a large bladder or something because I never had to go to the bathroom on the 11 hour flight.  I took a  Kirkland Sleep Aid Doxylamine Succinate 25 Mg and I slept the entire time except when I was awakened so I could eat.  The Dr said to get up once in awhile to stretch my legs which I didn't need to do since I was stretched out.  I wore the compression socks they gave me at the hospital.

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Correct me if i'm wrong but i think most of the doctors (at least all american ones), prescribes Xarelto during all lenghtening, whereas Doctor Giotikas prescribes it around one month.
I prefer to be well informed of all the consequences of taking it 2-4 weeks vs 3 months to avoid possible complications, you never know what can happen, and less after all that has happened in Athens.
I prefer to be 100% sure of every step I take and with whom I take it, before I do anything. You never know what or when something can happen to you, until it happens, no matter how small that probability may be.

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Quote from: Phoenix21 on November 07, 2021, 10:53:43 AMDoctor Giotikas is the only one who prescribes Xarelto for such a short time, all the other doctors prescribe it until the end of the lengthening. I think this is weird.
I prefer to be well informed of all the consequences of taking it 10-14 days vs 3 months to avoid possible complications, you never know what can happen, and less after all that has happened in Athens.
I prefer to be 100% sure of every step I take and with whom I take it, before I do anything. You never know what or when something can happen to you, until it happens, no matter how small that probability may be.

I asked him the same thing and he talked about the risk-benefit ratio. I am gonna insist on getting more than that.