Topic: Bi-Femurs w/Stryde Dr. Giotikas Sept ‘19 (Read 10205 times)

azman · « **on:** September 12, 2019, 08:01:36 PM »

Hey Everyone,

In Athens and had my CLL surgery, meet another Dr. Giotikas patient that did the same surgery and it turn out we became good friends, Planning. Each day we push and encourage each other, plus getting into mischief with the staff at the Theseus.

I’m not planning to load my dairy till my lengthening is complete, but I’m keeping a personal daily dairy of my experience and might post the whole thing all at once when I’m complete.

There are a few rumors going around about the PT not be good at Theseus, not true.
Planning is the first dairy on this forum for Stryde and as I too were worry on Dr. Giotikas experience with Stryde since there was no dairy, all the worries went away after meeting a couple of current Dr. Giotikas Stryde patients prior to my surgery.

Have met another Dr. Giotikas Stryde chinese girl patient at the Theseus during PT and she is doing good after 6cm of lengthening.

The moment before the surgery, before you are wheel into the OR, just remember that you were able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down just to name a few. The moment someone tap you on your shoulder and say your surgery was a success, but you have no idea that it already happened. Remember about being able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down, all that goes away, but not forever depending on the success of surgery and recovery. Just have to retrain your body to do it all over again, cause your mind remember and know just 6 hours before you were able to and now your lower body won’t allow you to.

Overall the experience is awesome and the recovery is better than expected. Well I’ll 99% focus on lengthening and recovery, so I will not be posting till my lengthening is done.
My dairy will mainly be on my experience since no matter what you read on pain level, recovery and complications, it will never be 100% of what you will experience if you have this surgery, cause this surgery is NOT for the weak, but can be worth it!!!

wannagrowtaller · « **Reply #1 on:** September 12, 2019, 09:12:21 PM »

Good luck to you, azman. Smart decision to take care of your recovery first and of diary later. If it's not bothersome, you could post some videos of you walking/running/jumping/lifting after your recovery.

asian · « **Reply #2 on:** September 15, 2019, 10:09:21 PM »

Good luck!

Cpl2012 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 16, 2019, 12:15:17 AM »

Hope everything is going all well for and good luck with the recovery. You are so brave going under the surgery by yourself.

Nestor · « **Reply #4 on:** September 16, 2019, 10:14:47 AM »

Where are you from azman, if you don't mind me asking?

TallerVL · « **Reply #5 on:** September 16, 2019, 07:29:20 PM »

Thank you for your sharing, I really appreciate it! Because I had the same worries about Dr. Giotikas, like what you mentioned, his patients didn’t share their experiences in this forum, and we had no idea what he’s like. But now we do!!! I personally live in Germany, kinda swinging between Dr. Betz and Dr. Giotikas, after reading many diaries, I’ve decided that Stryde is my first choice. Good luck with the clicking, recovering and everything!! I’m really looking forward to your new diary!!!

Cpl2012 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 25, 2019, 07:45:06 PM »

Have not heard anymore update from you here or on IG either. Hope you are doing all well

azman · « **Reply #7 on:** September 27, 2019, 06:36:35 PM »

Sorry I think you are referring to my friend Planning, he has an IG set up and if you look at one of his video I’m in it when we were both at the hospital. We are both doing great, just very busy with PT, lengthening 4x per day, and etc. You can reply to his IG or on his diary.

Heightmare · « **Reply #8 on:** September 27, 2019, 08:24:28 PM »

Dr Giotikas is shaping up to be one of the best in the field it seems.
I pray he doesn't become extremely expensive like Paley however

Cpl2012 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 27, 2019, 10:15:31 PM »

Quote from: azman on September 27, 2019, 06:36:35 PM

Sorry I think you are referring to my friend Planning, he has an IG set up and if you look at one of his video I’m in it when we were both at the hospital. We are both doing great, just very busy with PT, lengthening 4x per day, and etc. You can reply to his IG or on his diary.

Lol i thought it is your IG. It is great to hear you are doing well. Good luck with your recovery journey and i beg you will

cant wait see your progress

azman · « **Reply #10 on:** October 17, 2019, 04:44:28 PM »

Hi All,

A quick update.
Today is the 1/2 way point of our lengthening journey and we are at 4cm and 40mm to go!!!

Will post another update at the end of my 8cm goal lengthening journey.

Movie · « **Reply #11 on:** October 17, 2019, 07:42:11 PM »

Congrats azman! brace yourself for 5cms+ some nerve pains and soft tissue stretching pains might appear lol keep going bro

Andy · « **Reply #12 on:** October 18, 2019, 07:19:15 AM »

Hi Azman and congrats on your progress !!! How has it been, difficulties,problems etc?... Is it harder than what you believed before surgery or not?...Would you do it again or not?
Hang in there and tell us more when you can.

azman · « **Reply #13 on:** October 18, 2019, 09:39:42 PM »

Quote from: Movie on October 17, 2019, 07:42:11 PM

Congrats azman! brace yourself for 5cms+ some nerve pains and soft tissue stretching pains might appear lol keep going bro

Thanks Movie
Thank you for all your advises and yea it’s surreal that just in July we were talking about doing LL and now we’re both in lengthening phase.

azman · « **Reply #14 on:** October 18, 2019, 09:55:59 PM »

Quote from: Andy on October 18, 2019, 07:19:15 AM

Hi Azman and congrats on your progress !!! How has it been, difficulties,problems etc?... Is it harder than what you believed before surgery or not?...Would you do it again or not?
Hang in there and tell us more when you can.

Hey Andy,
It’s been good for both me and Planning. We both just so busy with PTs 5x a week and lengthening 4x per day. No major problems, knock on wood, just minor pain here and there. Dr. Giotikas and Dr. Giannakos are awesome. We have follow up appointments every 2 weeks and X-ray to see our progress.
Oh sleep is probably the hardest things for me. My legs get restless and does not like being in one position for longer than an hour and I toss and turn all night, but it’s getting better with each passing night. My body get tired after PT due to walking to the Theseus from my AirBnb apartment about 400m away so I walk about 800m per day on crutches M-F.
Well it’s not harder than I believe before the surgery but I was not totally ready for everything but I guess who can be.
Knowing what I know now, I will totally do it again but I’ll be more prepared.
Hope this help.

Nestor · « **Reply #15 on:** October 21, 2019, 07:52:35 PM »

Hi Azman, congrats on your progress! What sort of things would you advise to be more prepared for?

azman · « **Reply #16 on:** October 21, 2019, 11:12:13 PM »

Quote from: Nestor on October 21, 2019, 07:52:35 PM

Hi Azman, congrats on your progress! What sort of things would you advise to be more prepared for?

Well it really depends if you are planning to stay at home or stay away from home during the lengthening phase. I wished I would have read IFS dairy completely before doing LL, his dairy is really complete and has a lot of good information. So to answer your question, I refer you to IFS dairy.

From your posts, I had the same feelings about Dr. G prior to during the LL. I did a lot of research on him and have contacted Nuvasive directly on Dr. G certification. I’m really glad I chose him and the surgery was a success. There are currently 3 others patients that have done femurs with Stryde and all of us are doing PTs at the Theseus. Please don’t not take this as a suggestion, just information and please do your own research before picking your surgeon. This is a big surgery and a life changing one.

Hope this help.

dreamingtall · « **Reply #17 on:** October 21, 2019, 11:57:50 PM »

Azman,

I know you are waiting to post your journal, but I do think you should give us some more updates as you go because its not only informative for us but it'll be cathartic for you.... Personally I'm only 23 and planning to complete this with Dr. G in a few years... my goal and hope is to travel to athens and stay in the country for 3 months... I am planning to get to 8cm but think I may want to finish the end of the lengthening/consolidation in the states... I think 3 months is an ample amount of time to get the 3 inches I want to get and potentially have a few more lengthening sessions back in the states mainly to get back to my career... I want to know if this type of plan is acceptable with Dr. G and if you're experience is similar... for example I don't know if you're from Europe or from USA.. I think the price and the skill of Dr. G is unbeatable and it seems to me that 1 inch = 33 days of lengthening ... atleast at .75 mm/day.... 26 days lengthening per inch at 1mm/day.

TwinMusicom · « **Reply #18 on:** October 22, 2019, 06:50:27 AM »

Quote from: azman on September 12, 2019, 08:01:36 PM

Hey Everyone,

In Athens and had my CLL surgery, meet another Dr. Giotikas patient that did the same surgery and it turn out we became good friends, Planning. Each day we push and encourage each other, plus getting into mischief with the staff at the Theseus.

I’m not planning to load my dairy till my lengthening is complete, but I’m keeping a personal daily dairy of my experience and might post the whole thing all at once when I’m complete.

There are a few rumors going around about the PT not be good at Theseus, not true.
Planning is the first dairy on this forum for Stryde and as I too were worry on Dr. Giotikas experience with Stryde since there was no dairy, all the worries went away after meeting a couple of current Dr. Giotikas Stryde patients prior to my surgery.

Have met another Dr. Giotikas Stryde chinese girl patient at the Theseus during PT and she is doing good after 6cm of lengthening.

The moment before the surgery, before you are wheel into the OR, just remember that you were able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down just to name a few. The moment someone tap you on your shoulder and say your surgery was a success, but you have no idea that it already happened. Remember about being able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down, all that goes away, but not forever depending on the success of surgery and recovery. Just have to retrain your body to do it all over again, cause your mind remember and know just 6 hours before you were able to and now your lower body won’t allow you to.

Overall the experience is awesome and the recovery is better than expected. Well I’ll 99% focus on lengthening and recovery, so I will not be posting till my lengthening is done.
My dairy will mainly be on my experience since no matter what you read on pain level, recovery and complications, it will never be 100% of what you will experience if you have this surgery, cause this surgery is NOT for the weak, but can be worth it!!!

Thanks for making this!

1. What is Theseus in "There are a few rumors going around about the PT not be good at Theseus, not true." I googled it, seems to be the name of a Greek hero. Is Theseus the name of the hospital location he uses?

2. What are the most negative things out doing leg lengthening with Dr. Giotikas and doing lengthening in Greece (I guess you are staying in Athens)?

3. Did you find a caretaker on your own or did you use a facility that has caretakers? What did you use?

4. Is the internet very slow there in general in Athens? (Small point, but just curious)

azman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 22, 2019, 12:55:16 PM »

Quote from: dreamingtall on October 21, 2019, 11:57:50 PM

Azman,

I know you are waiting to post your journal, but I do think you should give us some more updates as you go because its not only informative for us but it'll be cathartic for you.... Personally I'm only 23 and planning to complete this with Dr. G in a few years... my goal and hope is to travel to athens and stay in the country for 3 months... I am planning to get to 8cm but think I may want to finish the end of the lengthening/consolidation in the states... I think 3 months is an ample amount of time to get the 3 inches I want to get and potentially have a few more lengthening sessions back in the states mainly to get back to my career... I want to know if this type of plan is acceptable with Dr. G and if you're experience is similar... for example I don't know if you're from Europe or from USA.. I think the price and the skill of Dr. G is unbeatable and it seems to me that 1 inch = 33 days of lengthening ... atleast at .75 mm/day.... 26 days lengthening per inch at 1mm/day.

Dreamingtall

It’s nice to know other user can tell other user what to do or post without them asking for their suggestion. “but it'll be cathartic for you” really Dr. Dreamingtall
Not to sound rude or anything, but to answer your question...

azman · « **Reply #20 on:** October 22, 2019, 12:59:55 PM »

Quote from: TwinMusicom on October 22, 2019, 06:50:27 AM

Thanks for making this!

1. What is Theseus in "There are a few rumors going around about the PT not be good at Theseus, not true." I googled it, seems to be the name of a Greek hero. Is Theseus the name of the hospital location he uses? === No, the Theseus is where we do PT

2. What are the most negative things out doing leg lengthening with Dr. Giotikas and doing lengthening in Greece (I guess you are staying in Athens)? === being alone in my apartment

3. Did you find a caretaker on your own or did you use a facility that has caretakers? What did you use? === not using any caretaker

4. Is the internet very slow there in general in Athens? (Small point, but just curious)

=== no it’s good enough for videos and gaming.

TwinMusicom · « **Reply #21 on:** October 22, 2019, 01:37:42 PM »

Quote from: azman on October 22, 2019, 12:59:55 PM

=== no it’s good enough for videos and gaming.

Thanks! What are your thoughts on choosing the place to stay and a caretaker?

Great321 · « **Reply #22 on:** October 22, 2019, 01:49:54 PM »

my wifi connections were really good though. I played PS4 (online) and watched youtube and netflix with no problems. So it depends on where you stay.

TwinMusicom · « **Reply #23 on:** October 22, 2019, 02:05:55 PM »

Quote from: Great321 on October 22, 2019, 01:49:54 PM

my wifi connections were really good though. I played PS4 (online) and watched youtube and netflix with no problems. So it depends on where you stay.

1. Do you know anyone who went with MESKA (as from the doctor's main thread described at the bottom of this post)? What did they think?

2. I'm trying to figure out if wheelchair accessible rooms are much safer / beneficial even for STRYDE patients and if MESKA has them. Did you consider wheelchair accessible rooms (holding bars, etc)?

3. Its odd, he says that "hotel rooms" are "inexpensive options" - what are your thoughts on going with a hotel near the hospital in terms of price versus benefit?

7. I have read about MESKA (Mediterranean rehabilitation Centre), how long can you stay there and how much does it cost per month? Are there inexpensive places a patient can stay safely close to your clinic?
MESKA costs approximately 200Euro/day but includes full board meals, hydrotherapy, daily physiotherapy, transportations etc. There are indeed inexpensive options for accommodation (hotel rooms and Airbnb apartments) near to our clinic.

Thanks!!!

CodyTheDog · « **Reply #24 on:** October 24, 2019, 12:22:34 PM »

Quote from: dreamingtall on October 21, 2019, 11:57:50 PM

Azman,

I know you are waiting to post your journal, but I do think you should give us some more updates as you go because its not only informative for us but it'll be cathartic for you.... Personally I'm only 23 and planning to complete this with Dr. G in a few years... my goal and hope is to travel to athens and stay in the country for 3 months... I am planning to get to 8cm but think I may want to finish the end of the lengthening/consolidation in the states... I think 3 months is an ample amount of time to get the 3 inches I want to get and potentially have a few more lengthening sessions back in the states mainly to get back to my career... I want to know if this type of plan is acceptable with Dr. G and if you're experience is similar... for example I don't know if you're from Europe or from USA.. I think the price and the skill of Dr. G is unbeatable and it seems to me that 1 inch = 33 days of lengthening ... atleast at .75 mm/day.... 26 days lengthening per inch at 1mm/day.

Hey Man,

1. Out of curiosity, I believe that Americans can stay in greece for a max of 90s days without a VISA. Do you plan to apply for a VISA just in case something happens and you need to stay longer? I guess you do have a 4 day buffer if you exclude the surgery day

2. If a complication happened and maybe you needed to lengthen more slowly to deal with it, what steps do you think you would take?

Thanks!

dreamingtall · « **Reply #25 on:** October 25, 2019, 12:50:54 AM »

damn ok

azman · « **Reply #26 on:** October 25, 2019, 01:44:28 PM »

Quote from: dreamingtall on October 25, 2019, 12:50:54 AM

damn ok

Dreamingtall

To answer your question, Dr. Giotikas informed me during one of our online consultation that 3months is enough time to lengthen 8cm prior to my surgery unless there is a complication. He has us lengthening 4x per day at 0.25mm each time for 1mm per day. If your bone consolidation is good he will prescribe 5x per day for 1.25mm. If you are coming from the US, he will not allow you to lengthen at home maybe due to the fact that he want to have his patients to stay in Athens so they are close by so he can better mentor them or if complications happen plus the ERC unit is a rental so you’ll have to return it once lengthening is complete.

There was a guy from Mexico that did 8cm within 3 months with Dr. Giotikas and I’m shooting for the same time frame.

Hope this help.

dreamingtall · « **Reply #27 on:** October 26, 2019, 02:25:25 AM »

Quote from: azman on October 25, 2019, 01:44:28 PM

Dreamingtall

To answer your question, Dr. Giotikas informed me during one of our online consultation that 3months is enough time to lengthen 8cm prior to my surgery unless there is a complication. He has us lengthening 4x per day at 0.25mm each time for 1mm per day. If your bone consolidation is good he will prescribe 5x per day for 1.25mm. If you are coming from the US, he will not allow you to lengthen at home maybe due to the fact that he want to have his patients to stay in Athens so they are close by so he can better mentor them or if complications happen plus the ERC unit is a rental so you’ll have to return it once lengthening is complete.

There was a guy from Mexico that did 8cm within 3 months with Dr. Giotikas and I’m shooting for the same time frame.

Hope this help.

This helped certainly. I'm trying to just align finances to have this done..but ill definitely account for 4 months

SpeedDialer · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2019, 09:58:21 PM »

Quote from: azman on September 12, 2019, 08:01:36 PM

Hey Everyone,

In Athens and had my CLL surgery, meet another Dr. Giotikas patient that did the same surgery and it turn out we became good friends, Planning. Each day we push and encourage each other, plus getting into mischief with the staff at the Theseus.

I’m not planning to load my dairy till my lengthening is complete, but I’m keeping a personal daily dairy of my experience and might post the whole thing all at once when I’m complete.

There are a few rumors going around about the PT not be good at Theseus, not true.
Planning is the first dairy on this forum for Stryde and as I too were worry on Dr. Giotikas experience with Stryde since there was no dairy, all the worries went away after meeting a couple of current Dr. Giotikas Stryde patients prior to my surgery.

Have met another Dr. Giotikas Stryde chinese girl patient at the Theseus during PT and she is doing good after 6cm of lengthening.

The moment before the surgery, before you are wheel into the OR, just remember that you were able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down just to name a few. The moment someone tap you on your shoulder and say your surgery was a success, but you have no idea that it already happened. Remember about being able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down, all that goes away, but not forever depending on the success of surgery and recovery. Just have to retrain your body to do it all over again, cause your mind remember and know just 6 hours before you were able to and now your lower body won’t allow you to.

Overall the experience is awesome and the recovery is better than expected. Well I’ll 99% focus on lengthening and recovery, so I will not be posting till my lengthening is done.
My dairy will mainly be on my experience since no matter what you read on pain level, recovery and complications, it will never be 100% of what you will experience if you have this surgery, cause this surgery is NOT for the weak, but can be worth it!!!

1. So there are two sites he does surgeries in?
Athens and also Theseus?

2. What are the best reasons to choose one or the other if one isn't from either city?

3. What objects would you buy / stuff would you have ordered to your place during the process? I had some thoughts that it may be difficult to transport/open certain packages if one is wheelchair bound

Thanks!

SpeedDialer · « **Reply #29 on:** October 31, 2019, 11:39:48 AM »

Quote from: azman on September 12, 2019, 08:01:36 PM

Hey Everyone,

In Athens and had my CLL surgery, meet another Dr. Giotikas patient that did the same surgery and it turn out we became good friends, Planning. Each day we push and encourage each other, plus getting into mischief with the staff at the Theseus.

I’m not planning to load my dairy till my lengthening is complete, but I’m keeping a personal daily dairy of my experience and might post the whole thing all at once when I’m complete.

There are a few rumors going around about the PT not be good at Theseus, not true.
Planning is the first dairy on this forum for Stryde and as I too were worry on Dr. Giotikas experience with Stryde since there was no dairy, all the worries went away after meeting a couple of current Dr. Giotikas Stryde patients prior to my surgery.

Have met another Dr. Giotikas Stryde chinese girl patient at the Theseus during PT and she is doing good after 6cm of lengthening.

The moment before the surgery, before you are wheel into the OR, just remember that you were able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down just to name a few. The moment someone tap you on your shoulder and say your surgery was a success, but you have no idea that it already happened. Remember about being able to walk, run, jump, sit up, and sit down, all that goes away, but not forever depending on the success of surgery and recovery. Just have to retrain your body to do it all over again, cause your mind remember and know just 6 hours before you were able to and now your lower body won’t allow you to.

Overall the experience is awesome and the recovery is better than expected. Well I’ll 99% focus on lengthening and recovery, so I will not be posting till my lengthening is done.
My dairy will mainly be on my experience since no matter what you read on pain level, recovery and complications, it will never be 100% of what you will experience if you have this surgery, cause this surgery is NOT for the weak, but can be worth it!!!

1. Hey, I heard on another thread that someone had said that physical therapy with Dr. Giotikas was no good. What are your thoughts on the physical therapy you've had?

2. Just to help me visualize how things usually go, what are some example things that the physical therapist can help you with that one cannot do alone?

dreamBig · « **Reply #30 on:** May 13, 2020, 04:46:03 AM »

hi azman, hope everything is going well with you. You must be in the consolidation phase now, it will be nice to hear some update from you.

Limb Lengthening Forum

Author Topic: Bi-Femurs w/Stryde Dr. Giotikas Sept ‘19 (Read 10205 times)