A little about me:
Had this procedure in mind for at least 7 years but couldn't gather up time or at times money or at times will to do, this time I finally went for it, came to Delhi enquired around with different doctors and all the famous names out there few of them are undoubtedly good and qualified while few came across as sellers trying to sell their service which is fine if it isn't my legs at chopping board and them using bit little over of their smartness.
I had been in contact with Dr. Hirdesh Kumar(Harry) and Dr. Pradip Sharma for about a year or more as I was with other doctors met one of their(Dr. Harry and Dr. Sharma) patient in Gurgaon which gave somewhat of confidence to kick ahead and took a decision.
Summary:
Starting heigh: 160cm
Target height: 165cm(I don't want to aim too high and was always scared of proportions)
Surgeon: Dr. Pradip Sharma
http://www.limblengtheningforum.com/index.php?topic=64314.0Physiotherapist: Dr. Hirdesh Kumar(Harry)
Cost: 15000USD
Surgery Duration: 4 to 5hours(I slept during surgery didn't really bother to check the time when I woke up and my time in other wards after OT, because this wasn't a time game for me to go for Guinness book of LL records)
Biggest discomfort: Not being mobile for menial tasks like to use the washroom without help(I have thought of many things before the surgery during my research, but using washroom somehow didn't cross my mind, this could be because most doctors I met/spoke said I be walking in 3 days with frames which didn't sound that bad)
Now the journey:
I met Harry for few times but all this time was questioning myself should I really go through it all or just stay with some insoles and make peace, but had an open mind made an appointment with Dr. Pradip Sharma did an X-ray he has gone through pros and cons and somehow I finally said them I want to do it, and we started the procedure.
Day 1: 12/10/2019 arrived at hospital(quite modern and comfortable can say to the standards of west) at 10:00AM done the documentation and stuff to checkin did few tests and we had our surgery scheduled at 01:00PM, to be honest back of my head I was still thinking to back down but I guess thankfully I didn't, 01:30PM after all pre OT checks arrived in OT on operation table not really nervous but just trying to process whatever going around and somewhere in me it felt enthusiastic and happy I wanted this from a long time. Dr. Pradip Sharma asked if I want to be conscious or sleep, I was tired so I went to sleep woke up in the last hour or 30 minutes of operation, could sense they banging/cutting/nailing/doing something on my legs apart from that couldn't feel physically anything. After the surgery did few other checks and medications and finally back to room(in hospital) by around 8PM, I could move my toes and feet for half an inch or less, but rest of legs were heavy as if some elephant was sitting on them felt like my knee caps are being crushed all of this was discomfort I was feeling, not really a pain, general physician that was taking care didn't seem to have much of a clue of LL so had to involve Dr. Sharma and Dr. Harry all this time I was asking for sleeping pills repeatedly because I wanted to sleep but couldn't they increased my sedative they were giving and I guess few pain killers and I finally slept.
Day 2: Had little pain in left leg and some considerable discomfort(my pain levels are maybe bit high so I characterized it as discomfort) still could only move toes and feet for some inch to 1.5 max, thoughts came to do other surgery(of frame removal) on that same day and take off these frames and be happy with 2mm of height they gave in surgery and make peace with it, can't move much, felt as if time passing too slow, sedative is still on so bottom part of my body is too heavy and was bit regretting the whole thing I went for, even that night I might have slept 2 hours max, generally I don't sleep much, resting on bed whole day and trying to sleep isn't my thing.
Day 3: Started feeling bit positive and wishing this two months with frame on pass quick, they had catheter for urine so that wasn't an issue but I didn't poop so far, but I felt bit of pressure building up I tried on bed-pan but wasn't successful and tried again after lunch with some medication I finally did poop,but this was most ty experience to with someones help and had them clean and not do it yourself, even this day I would have slept max 2 hours. I was resting on the bed all day so I wasn't looking like a zombie without sleep.
Day 4: They stopped sedative completely and took off the pee-bag, this was another pain I had to force every time I had to pee in the pee-pot, by this time I was praying to be mobile so I could least use washroom, not much of pain but bit discomfort also because am laying on bed all day, this day Dr. Harry made me sit on bed never been that excited in my life to sit, I asked for sleeping pills again with Dr. Sharma which he finally agreed but seems on small dosage that had no effect on me but I did sleep for some 6 hours this time, but after an hour of pills, so not really sure of pills or after being tired with TV and internet
Day 5: I can move my feet and knees a bit but can't really move a leg without someone's help, they discharged me around 6 PM, I asked to be transferred to wheelchair than as a corpse laid on stretcher, was for sure painful especially if someone pulls or bends by mistake had to take help of three for this transfer, back to guest house felt like home and better, I dunno if this transfer to wheelchair had given some massage to my legs I can move my legs bit more(with my hands holding the frame) and than I could transfer to rolling office chair in guest house so to go for washroom but still someone needs to push the chair for me to move, but seems some improvement I can transfer from bed to chair and chair to bed or WC, never been this thankful to use WC in life.
Day 6: 04:00AM in early morning I felt the pressure to poop, I was alone in guest house I am staying, caretaker went to his home last night after helping me, no clue how I did I transferred to rolling chair pushed myself for some 4 feets, I felt my sugar levels dropped and I turned pale, stayed there for a good minute or so and proceeded to washroom transferred to WC myself and back to bed same way, I have no clue how I pulled it off at that time was nothing less than a horror in a way, caretaker came around 9AM went to washroom again this time I tried to move rolling chair myself but couldn't do much, or maybe its like in gym when you are pushing alone you push it hard, when there is someone to help/support your brain eases you down and not get to that extreme.
We take for granted few daily tasks we do I certainly did, as few doctors said I be walking with support in some 3 to 5 days(another backdrop on my part I didn't gave much attention to patient dairies I certainly did read them, but now I feel I must have not read whole of it or with attention), so I thought I should be able to use washroom too but wasn't the case with me and it is one key part of life one should consider and prepare themselves before venturing into LL, pain has always been manageable at least for me, but legs are still swollen(tibia part) and feels heavy but getting better by every day and movement, will keep you guys posted with time.
As for now, I feel thankful that I didn't back off or would have regretted not doing it, for better or worse we live only once so it isn't bad to make it comfortable and confident whichever way you feel the best.
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Topic: External tibia (LON) with Dr. Pradip Sharma in Gurgaon(Delhi NCR) (Read 36338 times)