leela16

Hi ladies,
just popping in quickly to give an update on my progress.
I did a second aspiration and nothing came out at all. I took a video and sent to Dr Park and he responded that I did it well and that I don't need to do the aspiration anylonger. Just continue stretching. My walking is ok now, better and better. The stiffness in the morning is lighter too.
I tried to play tennis the day before and i could not run yet but I could move around in walking quickly fine. I still have light bruises in the back of my knees. I still have slight trouble walking down stairs but it is getting better.

 

Yes, try to upload your pictures, I think It will be of great help to all on this forum.
I think it is very important that you share your concern with the doctor and see what he thinks of it.
Before the operation, Dr Park did warn me about the possibility of asymetry, bulges, etc... after op. We are all different so the results may vary from one person to the other.


In such cases, and if the result after complete Healing is noticeable, he will fix it.


I can imagine that the waiting game must be tough for you at times, as you have put much expectations and money into this project and just want to be able to move on with your life. But whatever the rest of your journey is, you will be fine, as I don't believe Dr Park being one of these doctors that hush you through the back door when something goes wrong.


Right now, there isn't much you can do to magically make the bulge disappear, only time is required. Continue stretching, bandage well, drink heaps of water,keep your feet elevated, indulge in relaxing activities... And try to put all this on the back-burner for a couple of weeks. I remember when I got this horrible cramp that totally paralysed my left leg and made me suffer so much. I was very concerned that I would not regain normal function of my leg. I was panicking the first days then chose to focus on other things, then time did its work.


Keep us updated.

 

Still swollen around the ankles and feet but less and less each day.

 

Today, I tried on my latest pair of stilettos =)


I think the legs are looking great with heels on.

 

I have a hard bulge on both calves (between the 2 fingers). I guess it is pretty normal as still Healing and swollen.

 

The scars up close: the left side has healed well and the right is getting there.
I know myself and how i heal and i think within 3 months they will be unnoticeable to the naked eye.

 

Here is a closer look on tip-toe, before there was a huge bulge, now no more:

 

Yes, i know my legs are bowed, nothing i can do about it.

 

Here are the pictures 'after', 3 weeks after op:

 

Ok ladies,
As promised, here are some pictures of my 'before' calves.
Huge bulge Inside calves, specially wearing heels.
I didn't use to have such big calves as a kid but they seem to grow over the years into adulthood, maybe because I wear high heels everyday.
They were so ugly, I did not wear shorts of skirts for the past 10 years...

 

Hi Scaredsilly,


Can you upload some pictures of your calves?


I will do so today whilst changing my bandages and share with you guys.


Keep positive honey, with time everything will be ok.

 

I emailed Dr Park and described him exactly how and where I inserted the needle. He thinks that I did it right. Even at the clinic one week after the operation, they didn't extract much (about 1ml). He advised to do it again next week and see. I will take a video of me doing it and send to him.
Yes, when no fluid or so little came out, I tried to pull the needle in and out and nothing much happened. My calves are not swelling at all, just a bit hard. I guess it is a good thing...


We'll see next week.


My walking is better and better, I have now minimal discomfort when I try to walk first thing in the morning. I still have difficulty walking down stairs.
Ice coffee, can you walk down stairs ok?


For the bandages, I plan on doing it for 1 year minimum. But on a 24h/ day basis, I plan on doing it for 6 months.

 

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update on the aspiration that i have been doing at home by myself. Dr Park taught me while in Seoul and asked me to do it once a week at home. The sight of it seems impressing (inserting a 3cm needle straight into the calf) but it is not painful at all (feel like a sting).
So, first one was yesterday and I only extracted less than 1ml for both calves. Wondering if I am inserting the needle in the right place.
Anyone else has been doing that at home too and can share the experience?

Otherwise, I am regaining more and more flexibility by the day and can walk ok now. Not back to 100% normal though. I am planning on going back to tennis early september, i'll take it easy of course.

Overall happy.

 

Yes, the itching is normal. It is a sign your skin tissue is healing.

 

My legs were the most swollen between day 4 and Day 10 post-op. The swelling will lessen as the days go on. Don't insist on walking too much when the swelling worsens. Rest.

 

Don't worry, swelling at 8 days post-op is more than normal. You will be experiencing swelling for months on and off but it is worst the first 2 weeks. I am 18 days post-op and now only my feet get swollen when i walk a lot during the day. Put some cold wet towels around your feet at night and keep them elevated as much as you can. Drink heaps of water and chill. Time will do the rest.

 

I agree with Icecoffee, stretching is key to a good and fast recovery.
As for the scars, I can't tell as it has only been 18 days for me but they seem to heal ok. The incision is placed right on the fold of the knee so i am confident that in times, they will not be noticeable at all.
Have you tried the scarring cream?
You should ask the doctor for advice.
Good luck on your journey.

 

The nurse aspirated almost nothing from my calves.


Post -measurements - see above.


It is too early to see the shape, i can see that the calves are thinner. I am happy for now.

 

I suggest your share your concern with Dr Park and tell him exactly how you feel. The first days after surgery are the hardest, emotionally and physically. There is so much involved: the bruising, the swelling, the muscle cramping and hardening, the bandages. If your legs look out of shape and uneven at this stage, it is completely normal.Today at 10 days post -op, Dr Park measured my calves, right one is 32 cms, left one is 34,5 cms. My right leg looks like a chopstick, whilst the other looks like a weird shaped balloon. Don't worry about the shape of your calves right now, it is way too early.
Dr Park is a good listener and he will reassure you if you share your concerns with him.
Good luck, you will be fine

 

Nice meeting you too


I hope you are doing well in your recovery, mine has been a bumpy road so far but even in the darkest of times, i have no regret.


How is your walking now? Back to normal yet? Any problem with stretching?

 

Post-OP day 9: I go to Dr Park office but he is not here. I meet the nurse. She is very nice and helpful. She injects me in the butt with muscle relaxant and pain killers. We try to straighten the left leg, she touches different parts of the calf, i scream. My right leg is more than fine, i can stretch it very easily, no pain at all, quite flexible and strong. She changes the bandages and tells me to come back the next morning for more injections. Dr Park is on holidays this week, he is back saturday.


Post-OP day 10: Today i see Amy. She does the injections and the dreaded first round of aspiration.
She says that there is almost no liquid to aspire. Usually, they take out about 100ml. This is very good, it means that i am recovering well, except for this damned cramp.
We have 6 more days to go here and i really want to do some shopping and sight-seeing, so Amy kindly helps us finding a wheelchair and we are off to the Dongdaemun market for the day!!

 

OP day 3: Wake up at 6am. Stretching is hard work. As they say, no pain, no gain. We have a 12 hours trip ahead of us to reach the first hotel in Jeju island. Bad sleep once again, i am exhausted. My feet are swollen. Medication, water, stretching. Taxi, train, ferry, taxi. We finally arrive at the hotel at 8pm. I want to cry. My legs look like the legs of an elephant. I am so tired. Medication, water, stretching, sleep.


Post-OP day 4: Today we cross the island to reach our second hotel by the beach. The setting is perfect although it is raining season... We go to rent a scooter and visit around. I walked about 2 hours today. It was alright. I tire very quickly, and because I am in pain, i get moody and can't really fully enjoy my stay here. Bit of a shame but it's life. Medication, water, lots of fruits, stretching, again and again. The stretching is not getting any easier. The hardest is when i wake up, the first minutes are hell trying to stand up with those legs which have again completely tensed up during the night. Back to square one, every morning. I don't do enough stretching, once every hour instead of once every 30 minutes. The swelling is getting crazy. No more sight-seeing for the next days, i need to rest. I wrap my feet in cold watered towels and sleep in them.


Post-OP day 5: The cold towels really helped with the swelling.When i unwrapped this morning, my legs and feet were almost back to normal. It feels so much lighter, i highly recommend to do this for the swelling. Today's surprise is the unbearable cramp that took over my left calf, cramp that does not want to go. Pain that paralyses you, and it doesn't go away. I call the doctor and he says to rest and put the legs up, continue the medication and stretch when possible. I am now in bed most of the time now, unable to find a comfortable position. I take the bandages off and do very light massages on the left calf to try and relax the muscle. It helps a bit. I need to be patient.


Post-OP day 6,7,8: These days are not so good. The cramp is going on and on. Each time, i try to stand up, it goes off. I have no more pain killers, no more medicine to take. I try to accept the pain instead of suffering it. Husband is right here every minute tending to my every need. I strongly recommend that whoever decides to go through this operation take somebody with you to look after you. It is at times very challenging. Not impossible, but very challenging. On day 8, we get back to Seoul by plane. Unable to walk, i am carried around the airport in a wheelchair. We get the star treatment, it was a nice experience hahaha.

 

I will continue my testimonial tomorrow hopefully, too tired now... good night

 

OP day 2: I spent a miserable night of no sleep at all. I did not sleep at all too the nigth before the surgery so i am completely exhausted. I could not find a comfortable position and my legs felt great discomfort throughout the night, and boy what a long night that was! I woke up hubby every 5 minutes to bring me this, and bring me that, and do this and do that, and talk to me and stop talking you're annoying, put the aircon on and turn it off, make me a tea, no this is the wrong tea, there is not enough sugar, now there is too much sugar, oh finally i don't want it anymore, i prefer a fruit juice. OMG i turned into a witch! :weird:
What i felt in my legs the whole night was not really pain, rather solid discomfort, the sort that takes over your mind and rules the **** out of you.
The day went by ok, medication, (try to) stretching, drinking heaps of water and fresh fruit juice, resting... Tomorrow, it is decided, we will go for a 6-day adventure in Jeju island and we will get there by train and boat. In the back of my mind, i agree with myself, YES I AM MAD, but hey, that's me.
:okay:

 

Wednesday 9th - OP day 1: I show up at the clinic at 10am. Talk with the doctor for 20 minutes: i want to visit Jeju Island for a few days straight after the surgery, he says i can try, i say i really want and we plan to rent a scooter to visit the island so i wouldn't have to walk so much, he seems hesitant but says i can try. I pay cash for the operation 7 000 000 won, that includes the cash 4% discount.
Then i place my bag in my room, get undressed, go in the operating room, there are 3 or 4 assistants, they put me on IV drips, then comes the anesthetic, i feel cold, am shivering for a few minutes then dozzes off. I wake up in my room around 2pm, i feel ok, a bit weak but not light headed, i stand up to go to the toilet, i feel ok, not dizzy, i have difficulty in walking, of course but it is manageable. The nurse tells me to rest a bit. So i rest until 4pm. Then i call my husband to come and pick me up. He comes around 6pm and we go back to the hotel.
We watch games of thrones on our computer and eat well and go to sleep. I elevate my legs for the night, make sure i took the medication and try to do the stretching twice in the evening. The doctor said to do 5mns stretching every 30 minutes but i find this isn't possible with the state i am in, so i do what i can. I can put my belly against the wall but only after 2 or 3 minutes of slow stretching.