** 9 WEEK UPDATE **
Hi everyone. Tomorrow I hit 9 weeks post op. It seems like it has been an eternity and I can't wait to get back out to the world! At the same time, it has all flown by and I can't believe I'm in the final stretch now. Hopefully between 15-20 days more to go. IF I continue lengthening 3 times per day.
TIGHTNESS
As I have mentioned in recent posts. My legs have become considerably tighter in the past week roughly. There isn't really any pain per se, just major discomfort. Dr. Ms PT, Patrick, says I'm doing well and that it's all normal. My knees are still flat thank God. They do lock up after a small period of limited or no movement. This allows you to sleep very limited amounts at a time. Very frustrating.
ALSO, it feels like my skin on the outer and back part of my knees is about to tear from how tight it feels. The PT says its likely the nerves that are stretching which makes it feel like that. He says no one has complained of that in the past.
HEIGHT
I'm currently at 5.4 CM or slightly over 2". I went out to a brief event yesterday (not easy) for the first time. I used wheelchair and walker, as it is impossible to be on the walker full time still. When I stood up and engaged with people, I noticed the difference! My shoes are almost 1" so I stood about 5'9" with shoes. What an UNBELIEVABLE difference already. I can just imagine another 0.75". I am happy I did this. Just hope I can fully recover quickly.
MEDS
I have been down to one Norco before bed, one muscle relaxer, and one sleeping pill (Ambiem). During the day, I typically take 2-4 Tylenol. As for vitamins I'm taking calcium, and vitamin D.
GENERAL
I am happy I did this. But still can't believe I did. It is not easy folks. You have to be ready to deal with being dependent on others to different degrees, to put your life on hold for 3-4 months +. I read a lot, but some of the details you read about slip right by until you're going through it. I thought I'd be out and about and working a few hours after about 4 weeks. Yeah right!!
Everything is HARDER. The smallest things. Even grooming yourself like before. I also thought I'd be reading a lot and catching up on paperwork while at home. It doesn't happen, you don't have the energy and your days other than therapy, are not productive.
WEIGHT
I don't know that there is a way to avoid muscle atrophy and general weight loss. I'm the thinnest I've been in over 20 years. I've lost nearly 18 lbs. My legs are tiny, and my butt which I was always proud of and worked hard to maintain, is all bone. Everyone says it will come back. I hope so.
DR. MAHBOUBIAN
Dr. M has been good to me and professional, including his selected hospital, and office staff. There is really no interaction between us in between follow up visits, but it's not needed, I also respect his time and never want to be 'that patient'. The two times I've reached out, he has responded quickly. Even early on, on a Sunday.
OTHER
I've established communication with a few of Dr. Ms recent and upcoming CLL patients and everyone seems to feel the same. His technique is good and pain is not excruciating or excessive. One of the things that attracted me to Dr. M when I was first starting my research for LL, is that he trained with Dr. Rozbruch, who was also a consideration for me.
Unfortunately this forum has its share of toxicity, and although this diary is meant to help future LLers have an idea of what it's like (as I searched for in the diaries of those before me), I've at times been accused of being a fake or of 'promoting' Dr. M, not true at all.
It takes time and energy to write these updates. All I can say is that I'll help others where I can, and everyone can believe or not what they want. I've been on the other side, wanting and waiting for updates of other's diaries. Past diaries have been an incredible resource for me, whether they were Mahboubian, Paley, Rozbruch, etc.
Thank you all for reading !!
Author
Topic: Internal Femurs with Dr. Mahboubian - Los Angeles (Read 32642 times)