Wannabegiants tibial lengthening in Moscow, Dr. Bagirov

Edit Post

Would it be possible to extend your visa if you wanted to?

Edit Post

Yeah Im kind of scared of going home during distraction, but most people report problems either in the very beginning, or at the end for those who lengthen a lot.

So i think if i can avoid the early problems i should be fine since im only lengthening 4 cms.

I dont think i can extend my visa, since i would have to apply again, and i dont know where i would go to do that when im in Russia. I would need the updated insurance cerfitifate as well, and it works kind of like a subscription, so we wouldnt be able to update it until it ends (we get a bill to renew it once it ends in the first of April)

if something goes very wrong, its a 2 hour flight away. Also i think an ortopedic in Sweden should be able to help me with most of the smaller problems at least.

Its a risk for sure to lengthen at home, but i dont think i have a choice. Also it would be quite expensive to stay a month in this hospital. I think its like 80 euro on average per day..

Edit Post

Quote its a 2 hour flight awaywell since you're paying so much attention to the cost, I don't think you'll go for this option

 apply for tourist visa now that one shouldn't be so complicated to get.. 80 euro is not so expensive if it include the meals and nursing..
per in mind it's not just the surgery that it must be done in a good way... treating the complication that may occur is challenging and need experience dr, otherwise I  think any dr could do LL operation very well it's not a big deal, but you cant choose any dr to deal with complications.. it just my opinion ....

Today is your surgery, right?

Edit Post

Update:

i had the surgery about 1 hour ago, everything went smoothly, I was awake during the procedure with local anesthesia. It was over in about 30 mins i think but i couldnt keep track of time that accurately.

Right now i have mixed feelings, I know that i HAD to do this, but I feel a bit down since I can barely move my legs now.

Also the information i recieved so far was a bit bothersome. Apparantly I had a quite substantial angle discrepancy on my tibias (I always had this apparantly, never had any problems because of it that im aware of), its easily fixable acccording to the doctor but because of this i have to stay for minimum 2 weeks so he can adjust the rotation of it. Then i can make the decision when i go home and continue lengthen.

The other bothersome information i recieved is that they believe the distraction phase will take about 8 weeks to complete, thats 56 days, with lengthening 1 mm a day I thought it would take about 40 days? I dont know yet but i think while fixing the angle problem i should be able to lengthen at the same time, if not that might explain why there is about 2 extra weeks for distraction. I will have to ask for clarification here.

Also the last bothersome thing was that they believe that i will have the frames for 6 months, but I guess that is including the time i will spend distracting, in that case it makes sense. Hopefully i can shorten this time somehow.

Thank god that the personell is so good here though, they are all very nice and friendly (not anything like the russian stereotype) and there is a quite young girl named Anna who works here who is a blessing, she can speak decent english and she is cute and so nice and caring. Also Dr. Bagirov himself while he barely knows any english, is a friendly guy who smiles a lot and seems caring. Also he seems to be very skilled and he answered all the questions i could think of at the moment without any problems.

I guess I was to optimistic about the time schedule.. I was hoping to get this done relatively fast, doesnt seem likely at this point. I wont be able to wear shorts for the entire summer it seems.

Edit Post

30 minutes, that's kind of fast.  Are the frames smaller and are you feeling any pain?   Congrats on a smooth surgery.

Edit Post

Quote from: jerry on March 01, 2014, 01:31:39 PM30 minutes, that's kind of fast.  Are the frames smaller and are you feeling any pain?   Congrats on a smooth surgery.

Yeah it felt really fast, they gave me earpieces so i could listen to music while they did the surgery. I got anesthesia through a spine injection, was slightly painful but mostly scary.

I feel a little bit of pain in my legs, but i would mostly call it discomfort rather than pain, they feel tense and swollen. I can move my toes pretty easily which the doctor said is a good sign. I dont really feel tired either, but i slept very well last night afterall.

But i must say it feels really scary and bad just thinking about the fact that your bones are cut off, im afraid to even move because of this even though they assure me that i will be walking by tomorrow with aid.

Also I had a Q&A a few minutes ago with Dr Bagirov and another surgeon who could translate. Its good to write it down what they said here so i remember the answers.

They told me that the whole process could be over in 6 months, that is including the whole distraction phase. so that feels kind of what i expected. Distraction is slower than i expected, but apparantly it is because i wont start distracting until 5 days.. this makes me worried about premature consolidation but at least they will be here to notice it if it happens. Then i will distract for 5 more days and on day 10 Dr Bagirov will start to correct the angle problem, he told me that he already fixed half of the angle discrepancy during the surgery, and the rest he will start to fix on day 10, and that will take about 4 days i think.

Then i can fly home, and Dr. Bagirov is very certain that i wont run into any big complications, only small problems might appear and he told me that he will be able to instruct me through email about how i can fix these problems while im home. After 2 months i will fly back and he can make any final adjustments if needed, also if i have any cosmetic concerns he will fix them as well without charging.

Then i go back home again and just wait for the bones to harden.

Edit Post

Also:

The frames are definitely smaller than the average externals i have seen. They can be hidden pretty easily under soft pants and probably some slightly wider type of jeans. But they are honestly a little bigger than i expected them to be, not sure why i expected that.

Also I will get everything including instructions to lengthen, what supplements are recommended, physical therapy exercises etc, written down soon. Makes me feel better.

The whole feeling of, "whoa cant believe im doing this" has pretty much gone away now. The sensation of excitement and being nervous has changed to me feeling restless and impatient..At least im happy that im not wasting any more time from now on, im actually working to make my life better every day from now on, and that is what keeps me positive right now.

Edit Post

Congratulations Wannabegiant! It sounds like you really found a fantastic doctor and I wish you all the luck in the world.

If it's not too much trouble, do you think you could post some pics of your frames?

Thanks,
Tall

Edit Post

Quote from: Tall on March 01, 2014, 03:11:47 PMCongratulations Wannabegiant! It sounds like you really found a fantastic doctor and I wish you all the luck in the world.

If it's not too much trouble, do you think you could post some pics of your frames?

Thanks,
Tall

Thank you! Yeah he seems very intelligent, caring and experienced. And since the surgery went so smoothly and he doesnt dodge any question i feel relatively safe.

Im currently not in condition to take any pics, i cant move out of bed on my own (at least i dont dare to try, and probably shouldnt) and im under the bedsheet. I will take pics whenever i can, but depending on how i feel tomorrow, i might wait to upload pictures until i get home, so in 14 days. 

Edit Post

Yikes. I didn't realize how immobile you are at the moment. Sorry about that.

You take it easy and don't worry about the pics. I must say though, that I do envy your privilege of staying in bed all day  Look at the bright side. At least you don't have to go to work for a few days!


Good luck,
Tall