By popular request, here I is:) jk lol.
I actually initially came to get information on here and didn't want to write anything about my little journey. Afraid of possible backlash, outrage, etc etc. But truth be told I'm scared and lonely as f!ck over here and getting all my thoughts out to you lovely, understanding people I think will make me feel better. I miss home already and it's only day two. I've been spamming my ex(who I still live with in Japan)(he's the only one who knows) with large anxiety texts but he works a lot so the replies are too infrequent for me.
I got picked up at the airport by a young, kind faced Indian man named Shriq who drove with me in a taxi to the hotel in Super Mart. If this is the hotel everyone goes to at first, holy sh!t. Be warned. Idk, I don't think I'm high maintenance. Just a super clean western girl. There was a baby ckroach taking a pleasant stroll on the sheets when I first walked in. The heater didn't work so I was freezing my ass off all night. The bed itself smelled like an old Indian man slept on it last and they didn't wash the sheets. The bathroom looked like a wet janitors closet and I had to practice breath exercises before I went in there.
Shriq collected me at about 10:30 this morning. We drove for about 40 minutes to the hospital. Let me just say this, India is FREAKING INSANE. I'm trying really hard not to cuss on here lol. According to Shriq, there are no rules on the road, you just drive. Literally. Not 10 seconds go by that you don't hear loud obnoxious honking. I feared for my life a little, scraping next to cars. But tis the normalcy in good ol India. The only notices on the road are from the New Delhi police that read "Don't Drink and Drive" and "Go Slow. You aren't in a Race"(I had to stop myself from busting out laughing at that one) India itself is a lot dirtier and slummier than I pictured for a supposedly large metropolis and the air is smoky and literally smells like someone lit up a gigantic stick of incense.
Dr. Sarin: I only waited for about 10 minutes in the hospital to meet him. We went into a little room and the first thing he said to me, like all you guys, "What? You want shortening? Why?" No F's given, I was just put on the spot like that lol. It was kind of embarrassing and a shock since I've never really asked this question directly by a stranger before. But after a few moments of blubbering my answer he seemed to understand. The only recommendation he had for me was I not do my tibias because of the large scars, and on femurs they're easier to hide. I was aware of this of course, but I asked him where they'd go. One on the upper shin to cut the bone, one by the knee to insert the rod, and a couple small ones near the bottom to insert the screws. So no frames like I expected which was good. (Apparently for 4cm and above he would most likely use frames for extra support). I resigned with tibias though because they're already longish, and I'm self conscious about my thighs as it is. If I did femurs I would be allll tibia, and thats not cute lol. With determination, scars can heal. Plus I'm from Washington so I'm covering my legs 80% of the time.
I went on to ask him about complications. He said there really weren't any, aside from limited mobility at first and that wherever you shorten it's gonna be a little bit bulkier than before for the first 6 months.
As for the Doc himself, I know he's been under a pretty bad light lately, and I can't speak for those who've had problems, but like BigFaker said, ain't got sh!t to do with me. Especially me. I pictured in my head a cold, monotone a**hole but what I got was kind of a bubbly grandpa.
Gossip!: I asked about the brother and sister everyone was mentioning before and how they were doing, specifically the brother who he just did. He said he's doing well and very happy, then gave me a small smile. I believed him.(what a relief for Sarin right?! To be able to say that a patient was actually happy with what he did to them! lol) And THEN he said that the sister was about to get her surgery next week. I was like "what?! she's coming again?" He said that she was already here and getting it on her femurs this time. Cray cray! He said that they came separately these last two times, something about them living together and one of them needed to be home to work and take care of stuff. Sounds like they're more like husband and wife than siblings. Idk why he even told me all these deets. Weird stuff.
But I was relieved to conclude that she was happy enough with the first surgery to actually come back to India and have it again. That's a good sign, right?!
Accommodation: So surprisingly he said that after surgery I'll be placed into a nearby hotel where I'll be assisted 24/7 with maids and a physio. I was a little disappointed I'll admit because I was looking forward to the company of other cripples going through similar ordeals that I could talk to(curb the depression, ya know?). But I think this is because of what BigFaker said about Sarin wanting to eventually get rid of the guesthouse altogether and have everyone in hotels that are on this plan they have with the hospital. And since I'm doing LS there is less of a need for constant care. I told Sarin about my ty hotel and that I would happily pay out of pocket for a nicer one so he arranged for Shriq to take me. Totally worth it! Clean, warm, HBO channel... haha. If the hotel I'll be staying at next is anything like this, I'll take it over a drab guesthouse. Even better if that girl is there!
Anyway, test and X-rays on Monday, surgery on Tuesday. After getting out a couple cries, eating some bomb kathi rolls, playing Watchmen in the background and writing this all out, I feel a lot better. Thanks guise :3
