Hi guys,
I have the surgery booked for July¡ I will do 5,5 cm Stryde and I want to do a thread providing information about my progress and X-Rays. Taking into account that it's January, I think it's better to make a "pre-surgery" thread and then creating a new one. I'm a 172-173 male, which is honestly slightly below average in my country, and my goal is to be confortably over 175. I honestly did not have any external issues with my height in my life, but I'm quite obssesive I guess, and I have been obssesed with reaching 175 for quite a while. Thanks to my mindset I have achieved lots of great things, having a great long time girlfriend and a succesfull business. However, it also has it flaws, as my obsession with reaching 175 has caused me feelings of failure for a long time, to the point that I have been long periods of time without leaving my house. I perfectly understand that it is irrational, but I just can't let it go, and I want to reach my goal and take back my life.
Athletic recovery is really important for me, so I won't do more than 5.5: that will make me confortably over my goal of 175, and Giotikas says that I should be able to fully recover if everything goes correctly. Of course, I'm aware of the risks, but I'm willing to take them. In this thread, I will be writing recommendations that Giotikas has given me, stretches, diet... This forum has helped a lot regarding limb lenghtening, and I want to offer as much information as I can in order to help others
Stryde Giotikas July: Presurgery Thread
Of course, you are right and I'm aware of it. To be honest, I'm happy if I'm able to run and do sports at a decent level, even if I lose some athletic capacities. If 1-2 years after the surgery I'm at 80% of what I'm now, I'm happy, and I think that's a realistic approach. As long as I don't get crippled...
Another thing that I'm worried about is the payment. When I paid the first part (small booking fee) my bank automatically showed a message blocking it. After talking with the bank via phone, they said they don't know the reason, it's an algorithim and it may just be because it's my first international transfer, but they warned me about being careful anyway. Of course, I know Giotikas is legit: I've had two online appointments with him, there are some threads about him with photos with the doctor, lots of articles published by him... but, of course, I'm paranoid of being scammed after so much effort to get the money. The payment is part to an Irish account and the rest to a greek one (the nuvasive distributor). My idea is to contact nuvasive first so they guarantee that the distributor is legit. Any suggestions for further safety? Maybe I'm being dumb, but it's a huge amount of money lol¡
Well, I contacted nuvasive and they told me that the greek distributor is legit, so I guess that everything is safe.
Regarding the first contacts with Giotikas, in case anyone is interested:
In the first place, you book the free introduction appointment, 15 minutes via skype. After that, you have to book the long appointment other day (200 euros) or fly to Greece for a presential meeting. I chose the skype way, and Giotikas sends you a questionnaire with questions about your expectations and psychological status. I was surprised that no X rays were asked, but the Dr. says that they do it when you are in Greece a couple days before the surgery. This second meeting is like 45 mins, and Giotikas solves all your doubts. The truth is that, if you have done your research, you won't hear anything new. The Dr. is quite honest about the surgery and warns about the importance of discipline when doing PT: at least 4 hours per day if you want to recover "fast". I do think he downplays the pain a bit, because he said that usually pain is not more than 4/10.
He said that I probably will be able to have the biggest nail, but as the other user said, it will be determined in our presential appointment. They have all types of nails. I'm currently 77 kg (170 pounds) and he told me to cut to 70 (155),
He said that being 172-173 and 170 pounds I will likely be able to have the big nail. Anyway, just in case, he told me to be 70-73 kg the day of the surgery, taking also into account that I will lose weight after the procedure.
Well, he told me that he would probably use the biggest nail, but also told me to keep me weight down just in case. After the meeting, I book a flat via airbnb. My idea is to be there three months, in order to finish distraction and start consolidation before I return. My girlfriend comes with me to help me, so we got a big flat in the center. Honestly, not that expensive: 2700 for the three months. It's 5 km away from the rehab center though.
Next, about payment, there are three payments: one for booking the surgery, another to the greek nuvasive distributor and the last one to Giotikas, hospital fees etc. The first payment must be done now, the other two can be done up to a few days before the surgery. Taking into account the problems my bank gave me, I'm still a bit paranoid and I will make sure that everything is legit before the big payments lol. Anyway, it's just paranoia, I already contacted Nuvasive and they told me the greek distributor is legit.
Thanks man, my girlfriend knows about the surgery and everything, so that is another problem I avoid. My issues about the payment are that my bank told me that the algorithim showed the account as "suspicious", even though they provided no reason for that statement. It's an Irish account for Giotikas and a Greek one for the nuvasive distributor. I wrote to Nuvasive and they told me the greek distributor is legit, so I think that I took all precautions possible. Of course I'm still a bit paranoic, but I think it's "normal" taking into account the huge effort I have made in order to get the money for the surgery.
I also think Giotikas is quite honest about the risks. Of course, I had done my research before the appointment, but I wanted to see if he was honest or if he was one of the doctors that try to "sell" this surgery. He told me about the risks of fat embolism and bone infection, even thought they are low. I'm a little worried about infection because it forces you to stop lenghtening: I'm not really worried about my health, it seems I do am scared about "failing" and not achieving success lol. But well, he said the risk of bone infection is like 0,25 %, so I don't think I will be that unlucky. I do think he may underplay a bit the pain issues, because he says that pain levels are like 4/10, and some users here have experienced much more than that. Anyway, I'm not worried about pain or hard work: after years of feeling like a failure my focus is on achieving the goal, if it hurts it hurts, no problem at all.
There is no way I can know it without X ray I guess... Anyway, given my stats and that I am physically "big", he was quite certain that I could have the big one
Well, the payment is already done, so it's official. As I said earlier, Giotikas sent me a programm of strecthes, but they are not really anything special, just the ones that have been shared in other threads. When I asked him about what can I do in order to improve my chances of recovery, he told me to keep weight down and just have a healthy lifestyle and diet.
I'm quite fit (I train 6 times per week), so I will focus on stretching everyday, running instead of weights, drinking milk, cutting down some weight (14% bodyfat right now)... Anyone has any kind of suggestions about things I can do to improve my chances? Of course I understand there so many things that are not under my control, but I want to do everyting perfectly
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