Okie, so here is the start of my LL journey in Ukraine!
As mentioned earlier, after deliberating for more time than I care to imagine about which doctor I wanted to go with, I finally chose Dr Jamal to do internal femurs. I arrived at the airport where I was greeted by a friend I made on AirBnb who offered to host me for a few nights (which turned into an indefinite period, still here as I write). I arrived using Wizzair (a super cheap European flight company) at Zhulyany airport which is quite central in Kiev so the taxi ride was only around 3 dollars (USD) to the center. One thing you've got to love about Ukraine, everything is so sooo sooooo cheap here. I heard the average salary here is around 400 USD a month! And of course, even I can appreciate how stunning the girls are here...like woah....
So first impressions so far so good. The next day I met the doctor, and it was as if we've known each other for a while already (I guess I plagued him with questions on Skype for 6 months). He asked if I wanted to Ukraine a bit before the surgery, but I wanted to get the operation over and done with.
My Airbnb host was such a sweetheart and offered to support me whilst I was going through surgery and was right beside me when I woke up from the operation.
The first few days I had to get a few medical tests, blood tests, x-rays etc.. but soon enough I was in the operation theatre under the bright lights with a tube inside me and five nurses looking at my oh-so-nked self.
The general anesthesia was injected, and I was out like a lightbulb. I do remember managing to count up to... 6? (Anyone actually managed to reach 10 once they've been injected?)
I woke up really stiff, and my tiny little arms were shaking a little, and I remember needing water soo badly. The nurses turned down my request for any liquids, instead I had to make do with a moist cloth over my dry lips. Not going to lie, it wasn't the best feeling. Thankfully my host was beside me to sneak me some yogurt to make the taste of anesthesia go away.
Not much to say after that, I had dreamless naps throughout the day and slept until the doctor came to visit the next day. He made me stand saying it's important to get the blood flowing and movement in my joints. It was a challenge but I did stand 'tall'!
Not soon enough, I was out of the hospital and back in my foster home. It's really lovely here, I'll put up some photos, but I'm beside a lake where my host paddles his boat in the evenings and quite a few other young professionals live here (ages around 25-30.) I'm really glad to say i've met them all, and during the days, I spend my time in the communal garden socializing, having BBQ's and watching the pet ducks play with each other. It sounds amazing, and it really is. The people are much more open minded than I thought, and with the recent legislation on Gay marriage in the US, it's been discussed quite a lot here and other than a little indifference, it's met with support. Take that Russia!
A small side note about safety, Kiev is absolutely safe. The Aussie embassy rates it as a low threat in Kiev, but obviously don't go to places like Crimea or Donestk, which is actually really far away since Ukraine I think still the biggest country in Europe.
I'm clicking around 1.5mm a day. I'm only starting to feel the burn now that I'm past 4cm. The medication I receive are injections or pills - called Ketanov or Dekselgene.
The new Jamal nail require you to do some quasi-elaborate foot movements so you don't get any accidental clicks, and so far, i've just been clicking my way to happiness. Obviously I have aches, but during the day, I get by without medication and take a pill.... or an injection at night if I want some crazy dreams.
Some CONS: the food here takes a little getting used too if you're not used to eating Borsche all the time. To me it can taste bland, and the food chains like dominos, pizza hut taste different and are no where near what they are back home. But it's OK, I'm eating healthy and lost some weight already.
Major PROS: the people! (and the doctor of course) but it really gives me an incentive to use my crutches ever day and go out into the garden to meet people chilling out eating and drinking. Of course I don't drink (I tried the vodka once), but my regeneration is strong because of it. I'm not stuck inside the house, if I am, I do some work on the computer, but I always have people knocking on my door telling me to come out for something that's happening.
That pretty much sums it up! I'm still not getting away with the traditional aches and pains of LL, but I bypass most of it with the new Jamal nail and by doing internal. Almost feels like cheating compared to you brave folks doing external - I'm really in awe of you guys and won't dare to compare it to my aches.
I'll keep everyone updated as I approach the end of my lengthening phase, and will do my best to keep up with all questions. So please shoot if there is anything you want to know or if i've missed anything out. For any price related questions or medical, probably best to wait for the new website I think he's releasing soon. I'm really lucky I can just give him a phonecall anytime and he visits me daily in the garden. (So if you have something dire you want to ask him, I can maybe pass the message on.)
I think it's time for dinner, (not borsche!).
Speak soon, everyone and thanks for reading if you got this far! xx
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Topic: Female patient lengthening with Dr Jamal in Kiev (Read 16539 times)