Consultation Day

It was a lovely walk through Lübeck to the clinic.  Took around 40 minutes and was quite relaxing in the sunshine.  

We got there very early, which was a good thing as I wasn't worried and when we walked past the first Traveller Hotel without seeing Hanse Klinik next door (who would expect two hotels of the same name and chain on the same long road?) we weren't worried too much as we had so much spare time to find the place.  We kept walking and after a few more minutes we could see the second hotel and as we got closer could see the Klinik sign next to it.  I was so relieved.  

The staff were very welcoming with a nice cup of tea.  I had thought we might be seen early but we actually were seen a little late, which reassured me as I expected a very strict punctuality.  I liked that the Professor must be thoroughly finishing something first.  

In person the Professor was really patient and kind.  He offered me the choice of English or German as the language of our consultation and I explained that whilst I had some German, my school classes were not only over 20 years ago but didn't include how to discuss a chronic health condition so I'd go for English please!  

The professor had printed out and highlighted bits of all our emails (maybe he was preparing them whilst we waited?) and he read through them and talked back through our conversations to make sure everything was covered.  He spent two hours with us, answering anything my husband or I wanted to know.  

He weighed me, measured and poked me in various places (I knew from Lara's blog that it was best to say ow!) then took a set of photos that seemed to me to be like the ones I sent him in the first place.  

I really appreciated his integrity.  He said he couldn't detect lipodema below my knees or in my upper arms.  I said should I use more weights and he said that he thought I had poor elasticity in my arms so wouldn't get much benefit from weights either, but that he would only operate on areas that clinically required it.  He couldn't promise I wouldn't see my lipodema develop in these areas in the future, but for now I was a lady with chunky calves and cankles in my healthy natural shape, so he wanted to leave those alone too.  He said he operates to remove the incorrect tissue, so where it is clear that I have knee pads I shouldn't (on the sides) then he will operate, but where my knees overhang a bit in the front he said that was natural so he wouldn't operate on that part.  He was really polite and respectful about distinguishing between natural shape (I am a pear shape and have always had thick calves) and unnatural shape.  

I respected that he was rejecting operating in areas he felt would be cosmetic rather than clinically necessary so entirely trusted his judgement.  I was very happy that the result was we could still carry out all the necessary areas in  one surgery, and whilst I was afraid of the pain, I was keen to go ahead in the morning.  

He did ask about things like my activity levels.  He seemed happy with them, but I had hoped he'd be more impressed that we walked up and back from the town for the appointment instead of jumping in a taxi.  

When he was happy that we were happy he asked me to return at 8am (I asked if I should arrive early and he said not more than 5 minutes early... I really liked his manner) as they would be just showing me to my room to get ready to go down for surgery at 8.30.   

Arranging my consultation

When I contacted Hanse-Klinik the first date I was offered was about four to six months away.  Rather naively I had expected it would be really quick, but I think it helped me take more time to understand my lipodema and to get fit. (and to feel confident so many people want to see them).  

Aqua exercise is strongly recommended as it supports your joints and applies pressure to all the lymphatic system to promote lymphatic flow.  So, by the time surgery rolled round I'd done a couple of terms of pilates and found several different aqua exercise classes to fit into my week.  I've actually become a bit of a water exercise fan.  I'd never have imagined how I'd love it so much that I'd get up to exercise in the mornings regularly!

When I contacted Hanse I was asked to send some details, including the recommendation from Dr Gordon that I consider liposuction with them, and then having filled out my history I had to add some photos.  Taking them felt uncomfortable as I'm not in the habit of posing in my pants!  

Once they'd reviewed my photos the Professor advised me that he thought I needed one surgery in three locations: outer and inner thighs, and knees.  He gave me an indicative price (which was exactly the price they formally quoted and charged me when I saw them) and offered me the choice of either booking a visit to include a consultation and then surgery on the following date, or, just to go out for a consultation and then book surgery for a later date.  I was really rather shocked to be offered the joint visit, and probably should have had someone else read the email properly!  If I could have gone out to see him within a couple of weeks of the email exchange, that would have been perfect as I really was keen to meet in person.  However, I'm not very patient so the idea of waiting months to see him, then the same amount of months again for the surgery really didn't appeal.  

So, I made the reservation for the joint appointment and then worried... and emailed!  The Professor and the whole clinic team were really responsive about answering emails.  They have very good written English so it wasn't difficult to communicate.  I did use some of my schoolgirl German mixed with a bit of google translate, to be friendly, but not in crucial things I was saying incase I was mangling my translations!