LON Tibia March 2023 - Dr Mustafa Uysal - AFA

I am currently 3 weeks post op. My operation was on 21st February in Sakarya (2 hours outside of Istanbul). I am 163/164cm - 55kg and aiming for 5-6.5cm.

I'm going to give all the updates from the day of my arrival. Originally my operation was meant to be done by Dr Yuksel Yurttas but i changed my mind.

February 17th: I arrived in Istanbul and was picked up at the airport by Dr Yuksel Yurttas' team and taken straight to the hotel. The team was a lot of help. I met the physio team and everything seemed good and I was ready for my operation.

February 18th: I went for my consultation with Dr Yurttas but a few things put me off. Whilst waiting outside his office, another patient was ahead of me waiting to see Dr Yurttas, instead of helping and considering this patients situation which was clearly bad, the Dr didn't even take the patient into his room, he simply came out into the hallway, made a few jokes whilst the patient was struggling to stand and then sent him on his way.

Then, it was time for my consultation, Dr Yurttas simply looked at the x-ray and said femur? no, tibia? yes. Precice? impossible. LON tomorrow? done. I asked him to explain why precice wouldn't be possible and it made sense and I was fine doing LON on tibias. We agreed to doing the operation the next morning but again. I was left unimpressed as if it weren't for my own questions, this consultation would've only lasted 5 minutes. He didn't explain the process, any of the possible complications or anything unless I questioned him. He did no test for flexibility or muscle even after having told him I lost 10kg before coming here.

I got back to the hotel and was still confident about the operation, despite Dr Yurttas lack of detail, I knew he was still very experienced in this field. I rested in my room until the evening but that's when my mind was changed. As mentioned on my previous diary; I found out things that were completely unacceptable therefore I immediately messaged the team and told them I am no longer considering the surgery which at this point was only 18 hours away.

Man I'm glad you got rid of dr. yuksel but dr uysal like him noob is a surgeon. someone who makes a femoral lon. I'm not trying to undermine your diary, I just haven't heard good things about dr uysal. I hope you don't have a bad experience. I wish the best for you

As mentioned on my previous diary which i have discontinued as it has become irrelevant. The information I was told about Dr Yurttas that led me to change my mind can only be shared via PM.

February 19th: I messaged AFA as they were highly recommend to me. I wasn't aware of this company but I was aware of Dr Uysal. I knew he was an experienced Dr so I asked for further information.

I was a lot more impressed by AFA than Dr Yurttas team as I received quick responses and was given a consultation with the Dr over video call on the same night. I initially talked to Ozzy who took all my details and questioned me about my goals etc. This conversation lasted around an hour which was already longer than I had talked to anyone at the previous place.

Later that day, I was given the link to join the zoom meeting with Dr Uysal, once again I was impressed as unlike Dr Yurttas, this conversation lasted maybe 40 minutes and Dr Uysal explained everything to me as well as to my dad. He answered all the questions and gave extra key details that were needed.

20th February: I was picked up by the AFA team from the previous Dr's hotel and taken to Sakarya where I first was taken to the hospital for tests which were a lot more extensive than the ones done with Dr Yurttas and then once that was done I had my face to face consultation with Dr Uysal. He checked my x-ray and his opinion was in line with Dr Yurttas; that my bones are too narrow for precice (but this was already expected) and therefore I'd be doing LON on Tibia but as per my request and the Drs recommendation, i'd have a full circular external frame and not just monorail as told by Dr Yurttas. Then, Dr Uysal also checked my bones and conditioning himself. He made me do some physical tests which he said were fine and that my proportions were ideal. He gave the operation the green flag and I was taken straight to the hospital to stay 1 night in advance before the surgery.

LOL! Did they praise AFA? LOL who praised ? how many people praised ? Also Ozzy?. This is just an ad. You praise dr uysal a lot.
AFA-LİVELİFETALLER-WANNABETALLER STAY AWAY FROM THEM

February 21st: I woke up for my operation, i had no nerves, I was confident and calm the entire time knowing i had dodged a bullet. I was taken into the surgical room and given anaesthesia and then I don't remember anything until waking up at 5pm - 7 hours after my operation had begun.

I woke up freezing, shivering, even my teeth were rattling. I wasn't in any pain, the Dr came in once i woke up and checked if I could feel my legs, everything was good. I stopped shivering after 15 mins and went back to sleep. I woke up a couple hours later, once again in no pain, just a little discomfort but this was moreso the hospital bed not my legs.

February 22nd: I woke up very weak. I couldn't lift my legs or my body. My carer told the nurses about this and I was soon told i have pneumonia and will be placed on antibiotics. The most i could during these 3 days was sit on the side of the bed and lift my legs to stretch. I wasn't able to walk at all and anytime I'd eat, i'd throw it up within 5 minutes. I pretty much slept the entire time and only woke up to eat and to be put on meds.

February 27th: I recovered from the pneumonia and felt a lot stronger. I also realised the hospital food was completely nutritionless so I started ordered fast food instead which gave me a lot more energy. I started walking this day (5 days post op) and everything became a lot easier. I quickly started making progress from 5 steps to 50 steps at a time however the only negative thing was, anytime I was in a seated position, i'd be in excruciating pain as it would feel like the frame is weighing 50kg down on my legs. It felt like my legs would rip off.

March 3rd: I left Sakarya to move into the hotel in Istanbul for recovery. At this point I didn't have any pain, felt completely energised and strong. However once again, as Istanbul is 2 hours away, once I was put in the wheelchair in the van; in a seated position. 30 mins into the journey my legs felt like they would rip off again, i was in agony. Luckily I had my parents with me so they'd hold my legs out straight in a laying position to ease the pain.

Once I got to the hotel in the afternoon, I got off the van but was unable to walk because of the sitting pain. We checked in and I went to my room. I rested for 2 hours before going to my first physio session. The physio session was okay as by this point my legs had recovered and I was able to walk again. I had no issues during physio other than some pain when bending my knees.

Current day - 18th March: I have lengthened almost 1cm as i only lengthen 3 times a day = 0.75mm a day.

I have done 2 weeks of physio, i am able to walk completely fine with my walker. I barely have any pain. My sleep is good. I wake up a few times from being uncomfortable but hardly ever from being in pain. i have no complication yet but of course I'm only at 1cm so far.

I've also had my first x-ray done. (Just tried uploading it but it says imgur is unavailable in your region) so if anyone can let me know how else i can upload them.

Great to hear brother. Are you taking much medication atm?

Quote from: Kanye Western on March 18, 2023, 03:14:59 PMGreat to hear brother. Are you taking much medication atm?

Blood thinners (Aspirin) for 2 more weeks.
Magnesium/Zinc
Calcium 1000mg
Vitamin D 2800mg
Iron
Vitamin B

what was the cost with afa? what is your lengthening goal and your current height ? why you didn’t choose femur?

Quote from: albert on March 21, 2023, 08:55:57 PMwhat was the cost with afa? what is your lengthening goal and your current height ? why you didn’t choose femur?

$19 000 for the surgery (includes up to 10 days stay in the hospital instead of only 4-7 + and a carer)

$1500-$3000 per month for accommodation (includes 2 hours physio everyday + bandage change twice a week + X-Ray twice a month)

Total= $23 500 - $28 000

My lengthening goal is 5.5-6cm for this tibia surgery (currently at 1.2cm) and, i'm doing 6-7cm on femurs next.