Congratulations on progressing with limb lengthening (LL) BTM! I recall investigating LL back in 2017 and admiring the viewpoints and insights from your posts. It’s fantastic to witness your advancement with the procedure. Your initial diary entry is remarkable – your diary will serve as a valuable asset to both yourself and this community. Journaling through my diary proved beneficial and therapeutic for me in contemplating and navigating the uncertainties of the LL journey. It fostered a sense of connection with others undergoing a similar experience, especially during a period where I felt alienated from my friends and family. I believe it will greatly benefit you. Your story resonates with me, and I am confident that you will experience all the advantages I have and many others have derived from this procedure. I am genuinely thrilled for you! Let me share a few tips to prepare for the procedure: 1) Establish a consistent sleep routine. Practice sleeping on your back each night. Prior to LL, I was accustomed to sleeping on my side throughout my life. In the initial months of distraction, sleeping on your sides may be nearly impossible due to the trauma from the surgery wound. It took me several weeks to train myself effectively to sleep on my back, costing me numerous hours of valuable sleep time. 2) Cultivate a social support system. Similar to your experience, I underwent LL discreetly without informing my family and friends. The feelings of loneliness and isolation were far more challenging than I had envisioned. Being confined to a bed, incapacitated in a hotel room all day, can be mentally draining. Humans thrive on social interactions. What truly saved me from despair was staying at a recommended LL hotel where many Paley patients resided and forging friendships with other individuals undergoing LL. A strong bond develops among individuals facing incredibly tough times, enabling mutual support, camaraderie, and even humor about gaining height as adults in our 30s…all of which proves beneficial. I recommend reaching out to Dr. D to inquire about networking with other patients before the procedure or connecting with individuals through this forum to establish a support network before your trip to Vegas. Ideally, seek accommodation in a hotel where other LL patients stay to mingle in common areas. 3) Accumulate a library of audiobooks, podcasts, and TV shows – essentially passive entertainment. When preparing for LL, I harbored grand ambitions of acquiring new skills, pursuing fresh projects, and cultivating new hobbies. Regrettably, none of those materialized despite considering myself a diligent and hardworking individual. Engaging in stretching, physical therapy, and pain management rendered LL a full-time commitment. Anticipate sleep deprivation, with the majority of your energy channeled into repairing a fractured bone stretched daily, leaving minimal energy for other activities. My cognitive functions significantly declined, hindering my ability to read a book or compose an email. I recommend engaging in passive pastimes like audiobooks, podcasts, or TV shows, ideally aligned with your interests or focusing on stoicism to assist you during the challenges of LL. I will follow up on your diary regularly. Best of luck!
