Unicorn888, don't get too upset. LL is indeed a very heavy stress test to your whole body and mind, not just your legs. The weakest part of your body and mind is inevitably breaking down under LL. But you will get better as long as you force yourself to eat high quality food, even without any appetite, and do as much exercise as you can, at least at home. And it's important to keep updating the online spreadsheet, as that's the main source of information on which Dr.G relies to give you his best suggestions. I know it's not easy to do all this. in the beginning, I too missed most of the physiotherapy sessions and was unable to update the spreadsheet regularly, though I did exercises at home and maintained a log about my daily experience myself. But you have to help yourself!
UNICORN - Dr. Guichet Internal Femurs 8cm - Summer 2016
Sucks that you're in so much pain, but it won't last forever. The height will.
Thanks Dream_Catcher and Penguinn 
Am on aspirin now, which is even lighter, and the nausea and acid burn have disappeared. Had appetite for once, Royal China dimsum 
. What a feast, really lifted my spirits 
CURRENT PAINS
- right knee sharp muscle spasm (can't move)
- throbbing pain all over right hip area
- pulsating electrical jolt nerve pain from my inner thigh to my groin area. No toe curling multiple orgasms unfortunately
J+14
Height Gained : 2.59cm / 161cm
Let me start by saying, there's a special place in hell reserved for those who disregard the disabled. I admit I have never been fully aware nor paid any particular attention to ramps and disability accessible facilities etc 
But when you're unable to walk, trying to hail a cab, and they pass you with a shake of the head because it's too much trouble to unload the swivel chair or mount the wheelchair ramp, that's when you realise the amount of discrimination out there.
While Adriana (my best helper in the world ) was out hunting (as she calls it as it's quite strenuous) for a black cab for me, I was left near (not blocking) the entrance of the gym in my wheelchair. There were people who rushed in, saw me 'in their way' and actually rolled their eyes because I was an obstacle (from tomorrow on, I will wear a cardboard sign on my chest like a good gypsy woman, "Broke legs saving twin babies from cliff"), maybe someone will throw a penny my way.
That said, there are more kindness out there than there is prejudice. Many a cab driver would take the extra time to be super helpful and all of them related their bone breaking experiences. One of them even presented me with the gift of a quran Insh'allah! He said "May Allah lighten your path..." I'm touched! Another today proudly dropped his trousers to show me his femur scar (and boner 
ok, kidding kidding, bad joke!) and I showed him mine 
... amazing how much technology has evolved. Mine's no longer than a thin 5cm, while his is a complete autopsy or frog dissection or Scarface... runs the entire length of his thighs. He called me a sissy!
The last 4 days have been nonstop workouts for me. 200 reps of 10 exercises do take up the entire day in addition to 1:30hr of cycling. I do feel more mobile, my knees buckle less and I feel more confident on my walker frame. In addition, I can now roll around, on my side, back, fetal position, yay! I'm told I should be graduating to crutches tomorrow now that 14 days are over. Looking forward to kissing the pavement for sure.
My clicking schedule has decreased from 21 clicks per day to 15 (1mm per day). Surprisingly enough, NO PAIN, NO STRESS to click. It takes me exactly 1 min to click one set (5 or 7) per leg. I've been quite thrilled because clicking was what I dreaded most. But since I'm that girl who'd take 11 roller coaster rides back-to-back so that I could get over the fear and LOVE roller coasters, I programmed myself to look forward to clicking (as Doc G is fond of saying, "Bon cliquage" (somehow doesn't sound anything nice like "bon appetit", in fact, it makes my skin crawl). Now, I just can't wait for each 8hr sequence to come around so that I can embrace the fact that it's adding 1mm to my height and nobody in the entire world can give me the gift of height but me (and Doc G)! How am I going to 'edit' my new HEIGHT on my passport? Late bloomer? Oooh, luxurious problem to have...
I'm still on sleeping pills but not getting a full 8 hours uninterrupted. I wake up every 2 hrs to pee, take painkillers or cycle a bit because of the tightness, heaviness, soreness (not pain, just irritating dull achy bones). I can't sit still for more than 5 minutes before some part (like butt) becomes sore, and I've to fidget some more. I accidentally glanced at my butt today and wow! I really thought I'd get to parade around in a g-string next summer with super sexy long legs... but with a butt riddled with bruises, welts, rashes - it's back to the burquini for me 
It reminds me of the one time I fancied a guy and we had a date set up (he lived in Moscow and me Paris at the time). Excitedly, I got my teeth laser whitened (not the Groupon torchlight kind) so that I could bedazzle him. It turned out, my teeth became so sensitive, contact with air made me wince and I had to purse my lips the entire time. Needless to say, his parting words were, "you're so shy 
" No farewell kiss either even though by then, my teeth was glowing enticingly in the dark and he couldn't have missed
Working out at 10am every day with the 2 others I was operated wth 2 weeks ago, is so fun, motivating and a real highlight for me. For some reason, when I'm with Filippo (who is a STAR, GEM and total sweetheart) in the studio, I don't feel any discomfort or pain. We're concentrated on completing our exercise sets together, exchanging experiences and making jokes. Filippo mentioned today that each group dynamic does influence each other (so lazy ones will play truant, the druglords will get high grinding down and sniffing codeine), ours is an intimate 3 of finance folks (when doc G mentioned 'non-compliance', we asked in unison,"money laundering?" 
) but it also means we're competitive and disciplined. Doc G mentioned that he even has groups of patients who were operated at the same time who meet up once a year to commemorate their journey 
It is for certain that this is a serious and invasive enough surgery that NOBODY has identical issues. Statistically speaking (I could be wrong), but 2/3s of LL patients encounter complications. From my group and the group before me, ALL of us suffered one complication or another. Mine was a surface eggshell fracture near my knee. I don't feel differently, nor will it affect my recovery/training, but it will take 6 weeks to fully heal and I have to avoid falling straight on my left knee.
I've established a daily routine pat down now, which makes my life simpler as I don't have to think too hard about what to do.
06:00 Wake up and cycle to warm up
06:30 1st set of clicks
10:00 Physio (2hrs + handicap shower facilities - DREAM COME TRUE)
14:30 2nd set of clicks
22:30 3rd set of clicks, lights out
* in between, I continue to finish up daily exercise requirements, siesta etc.
Doc G just called right now (again) to scream at me for using a wheelchair. Someone SNITCHED! And I did put on a trucker's cap, fake moustache, glasses, nose and beard, damned! I cheated, I admit it. I used the wheelchair just to get into cab and into gym (I didn't wanna risk over exertion/falling/unnecessary accidents - besides there's always street drama):
Case 1 : Onslaught of the runs, had to beg cab driver to stop me at McDonalds - got wheeled in quickly to toilet bowl (see? saved my life)
Case 2 : Taxi couldn't find us, parked 100m away and refused to turn around - got wheeled to cab (see? saved my life)
BUT NO, he says as punishment, tomorrow on, 1 hour of crutches pour moi (not even walker frame anymore) everyday
Don't get me wrong, I like picking on Doc G but he is (to my esteem) a great doctor. Doesn't sugarcoat, very serious, cares enough to call up and scold you (2 red cards for me), makes appointments to see you, patiently replies to my endless text messages even on Sunday nights (paranoid questions like, "dear doc, is it bad luck that my cat jumped over my broken femurs?"), monitors your activities, moods, clicks, pains, meds in real time (using a shared server), and BEWARE he has eyes behind his head (he knows what you did!)...
In all the time I've known him, he's only never answered one question. He had told me that he couldn't risk non-payment again because 2 of his patients ran away without paying after their surgery. I was on the operating table high on diazepam, and started slurring, "but how did they run away, when they had two broken leeeeeeeegzzzzzZZZZZZzzZZz..." and there, he NEVER answered my question!
Ps. Women can breastfeed with a towel over their chest, so today I peed (while on wheelchair) with a towel over my lap. But in my guilt and panic, my funnel missed the ziplock bag and before I could react, a puddle was spreading and even running on the uneven gym floor. I was desperate (someone's gonna catch me out and soon), and it was not like I could hop on 2 legs and find a mop. Thank god, I had a can of coke with me, and shamelessly, I gave it a hard shake and sprayed it all over my petite accident. Voila! Problem solved! Me bad! But people with broken legs should be able to pee in public like women can breastfeed openly (unless you're at a Trump convention of course). There should be NO SHAME in answering the call of nature ...with dignity.
Quote from: Unicorn888 on August 09, 2016, 07:09:57 PMJ+14
Another today insisted on dropping his trousers to proudly show me his scar (and boner ok, kidding kidding, bad joke!) and I showed him mine ... amazing how much technology has evolved. Mine's no longer than 5cm max..
You showed him your boner? 
Quote from: NoRegrets on August 09, 2016, 08:26:06 PMYou showed him your boner?
And it's no longer than 5cm max. Ask Guichet for tiny frames to lengthen that too.
I don't even imagine what kind of pain would come from dong LL.
Quote from: Penguinn on August 09, 2016, 09:13:26 PMAnd it's no longer than 5cm max. Ask Guichet for tiny frames to lengthen that too.
Brilliant! Toothpicks!
Hi Unicorn,
First - congratulations on your new height - you are over 2.5 CM taller in 14 days, that is awesome!! I read your diary with great interest. It is evident you have a penchant for writing, and you are quite the raconteur . Humor itself is great medicine, so I hope your spirits continue to remain lifted.
Question regarding your pain levels: immediately post-surgery, you were, from what I read, in quite severe pain. Would you say that has definitely lessened, and if so, in what ways and what regions? I'm really glad that it doesn't hurt to click, and grateful to you for providing a frank and forthright accounting of what going through something like this really means.
Regards,
--jbc
Quote from: jbc on August 09, 2016, 10:40:52 PMQuestion regarding your pain levels: immediately post-surgery, you were, from what I read, in quite severe pain. Would you say that has definitely lessened, and if so, in what ways and what regions? I'm really glad that it doesn't hurt to click, and grateful to you for providing a frank and forthright accounting of what going through something like this really means.
Hi JBC,
I'm going to break it down phase by phase, perhaps it'll be easier to internalise (this is just MY experience, it might be a breeze for some others 
):
HOSPITAL
Day 1 - Ask for an epidural that lasts ALL NIGHT. That way, you get to sleep through the 1st night, you won't feel a thing (otherwise, see Day 2 
)
Day 2 - Biggest shock when anaesthesia wears off, legs go from soreness, then heavy to FIRE and bones being nailed! Ask for harder doses of painkillers (morphine), we didn't get them - your legs are just throbbing and screaming nonstop. Every 4 hours, you get more meds but it takes 30 mins to work and it runs out 30 mins before the 4th hour, so your heart is already palpitating and you're panting like you're in labour. I found drips and injections work faster than pills. The right painkiller literally 'soothes' you to sleep, that's how effective it is, but again, you're jolted awake screaming in 3hrs time. You'll call the nurse and you'll have to wait patiently (as in chant some mantra) while she goes and gets authorisation to administer, consult your chart, get the doc on duty's sign-off 
etc, it's not an automatic or smooth transition.
Day 3 - While all this is happening, Doc G and the physios descend on you like Dementors. They're too cheerful for your liking, and they'll lift your legs, move you about and familiarise you with the motions you're allowed. And all this while, every inch of movement screams and you're trying not to cry.
When you're alone, you daren't ask for trouble by moving too much, so you're kinda stuck in one position and if you got too hot or were itchy, you have to call the nurse because moving just wakes up the sleeping beast and you're on fire again. So I call nurses nonstop to turn up the heat, turn down the heat, pull the blanket over my nked toe, straw as I can't reach water at my 50 degree backwards position. We're talking pure babying. I ate by myself and can tell you I missed my mouth a couple of times and fed my boobs instead. Neither were happy with me.
Worse is the fact that you need to do your x-ray and ultrasound for blood clots. They need to roll you from one bed to a gurney, and it is pure agony. It's not like they carelessly toss you from one cot to another in a bodybag. They lift your bedsheets and slide you gently (it takes a crew of 4 strong). But the pressure of the sheets against your skin and bones is indescribably painful (or I'm a big cry baby!). You're made of glass.
HOME
Day 4 - Check-out day, pain should subside as you realise that exercising no matter how terrifying it is to brave the initial pain to raise your leg/cycle, actually eases off the fire. However, Doc G insists that you go do your Dexa (bone density test) before you get home and NO WHEELCHAIRS allowed. I never understood this cruelty. You're new on your walker, your quads and knees are weak and you've zero confidence. Yet, you've to walk from your hospital room, get in a cab, get to the clinic, climb 4-5 steps and then walk about 50m of corridor. Same thing again, back out to cab home. By the time you hit your bed, you're feverish and in pain everywhere from over exertion. Your neck muscles hurt, your shoulders hurt, your arms hurt, your spine is taxed to the max etc. I went into shock, i.e. froze, lost temperature as I had no more energy (to even ask for water). Couldn't rest or sleep either because other problems started to crop up especially after all the painkillers I had consumed at the hospital. Your greatest dream is to go under general anaesthesia all over again!
Day 5 - By this time, you're learning how to build a nest around your bed, all your essentials are at the tip of your fingers, with the least movement possible. The painkillers would be giving you gastritis and nausea. You'd have lost all appetite for food. And your body and legs are heavy and sore all the time. The more exercises you do, the more you regain your ability to lift your legs, swing around, master bedside mobility so that you can scratch yourself, open a window, balance a bowl of soup, pet a scorned neglected cat etc.
Not being able to go to the bathroom will discomfort your gut (your intestines feel like exploding). So now, not only are you having leg pains but body functioning issues. Your system is in chaos, trying to juggle so many alarms going off at the same time.
Days 6-10 - You're now getting used to sore legs all the time but also learning how to ease off the pressure with constant movement and exercise. I got feverish each time I got near the end of my painkilling 4 hours. You spend more time reconfiguring your food intake as to avoid diahhrea, constipation, indigestion, acid reflux, massive gas, stomach aches, even bladder/urinary infections. In addition to those muscular pains from over-compensating arms and spine to make up for a useless pair of legs, your butt bone HURTS as you're sitting a 100% of the time (you can't even turn on your side or belly. It's straight on your spine or butt, with legs perched 50 degrees upwards for drainage). Except (I hope Doc G reads this) when you get off your butt and frame walk around Oxford St as he so enthusiastically recommends .
Days 11-14 - You'll now start to get lots of random pains that never existed before that do send you into a spiral of paranoia and panic. I had electric shocks from knees to groin area (so random I finally had to send my poor reluctant helper to a sex shop for a vibrator - worked like a charm - you've to fight fire with fire!).
When I wake up, both knees are locked and cannot be folded without very very sharp nerve pain (and I found that the best way to deal with it was to take a deep breadth, YANK and FOLD). It releases the tension asap but not before feeling like you've just ripped off your leg, tendon, ligament, muscle and God knows what other mechanical bits and bops down there (hence, the non-stop paranoia).
You get wound area pain, throbbing near the nail area, super tightness and soreness that won't quit and new 'growing bone stretching pains'. You can't really think of anything else all day. I practice slow yoga breathing, try not to hyperventilate and pull a blanket over my head with a torchlight because it makes me feel more in control of my universe and safer, for some freudian reason. I had not opened 1 book nor watched a commercial (much less a movie). I can't concentrate after having to fidget every few minutes to find a less painful position (esp butt) to lie/sit (hover/levitate). Most of the time, you wish you could sleep most of your conscious hours away.
You realise that part of these aches and pains are persistent each time you do not move for over 5-10 minutes etc. That's how you end up doing the same 1,000 exercises at every free moment you have. To get blood pumping and the soreness to diminish. That's why cab rides over 20 minutes are more challenging than doing hard physio at the gym. You get irritable quickly because you never know what movement (or non-movement) would insult some random body part and make you pay hell.
Day 14 onwards - I'm yet to discover much. It's just super concrete legs, stiff and heavy. Once you get over the initial shock of mobilising them (by means of yanking or if you've time, a two-day sloth-like movement), they get light and fluffy to the extent you actually don't feel them. Then, as you complete your exercises and towards evenings, your legs fatigue and that's when it starts yowling like an irritated tired baby again. You'll get random flare ups around calves, knees, wound, nerves, butt, spine, shoulders - it's an endless medley of fireworks. This is also why you need a sleeping pill, because you do want to disconnect your head from your legs/body long enough so that you can actually think of nothing for once.
Body functions are almost back to normal by now because you've learnt by trial and error (diahhrea or vomit, your pick ) what offends your body least, and you ease off toxic meds and start building up fuel.
AND I haven't even started on complication nor clicking pains yet as I've been lucky not to have either to date. I hope you'll find this helpful.
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