Re: First Anniversary Testimonial

[Guest guest]

Dru, as I am just 6 months plus, I want to thank you for your

encouragement back in the days when I was considering my operation.

Yours was a clear voice, and you had an impact. I had a great

experience with our Doctor and in Europe, and I am confident about

the mechanics of my prosthetic and its placement. I forget about it,

yet I am aware of it at the same time, and I marvel daily still at

all that I can do. Warmest regards,

Isara

> To the group: Back for a rare appearance. One year ago today

right

> BHR by Koen DeSmet of Belgium. My last entry some time in October

> after 3rd place finish in Iron distance Triathlon. Am one month

shy

> of 50 years. Continue my busy family practice in town of 10,000

> plus, having delivered 100 babies last year. See patients with

> arthritis every day and counsel on the options of treatment.

> Continue to shake my head at the excesses of less than optimal

> procedures in this country. I continue to peruse this chat room at

> least weekly. No procedure, including hip resurfacing is perfect.

I

> did not choose a BHR as a buying time for an inferior THR...which

> will get revised...and revised...My x-rays, on the way to Belgium

in

> a couple of days show no suggestion of problems and the bone stock

is

> far from osteoporotic. If one chooses to be inactive, that will be

> the inevitable outcome. I have had arthritic changes on the left

hip

> for 5 years...at least, but they have not significantly worsened.

I

> suspect within 5 to 7 years it will be as bad as my right was. At

> that time or in the event of a failure of this prosthesis, I will

fly

> back to Belgium and lay the bucks back down to have the very best

> operate on me. With this procedure I have gained a quality of life

> and in some ways have a year of life I would not have had with

> alternative therapy. I work and play hard at my continued

> improvement in strength, speed , endurance, and flexibility. This

> past year I have run over 2000 miles, cycled 6300+ miles, swam 350+

> miles, and in the weight room about 100 times. My goal is to

> compete in Hawaii at the world championship in October. Hopefully,

I

> won't have to discuss a failure in the near future, but if so, I

will

> be equally sincere. For those skeptics, wanting to see so many

years

> of success before considering the BHR, your logic fails and you

> should go ahead with a procedure that represents nothing near

> a " gold " standard in therapy (THR). I remain satisfied I have put

> about 5 or more years of the average ( " active " American), wear and

> tear on this chrome/cobalt articulation, since my operation in

> Ghent. I encourage all of you to not accept limitations placed on

> you by others...which is another reason I'm thankful to have met

> DeSmet. I have seen nothing in this archive that has diminished

his

> abilities as a physician and caring person. Best to all of you.

> Look for my next post...in about 6 months. Dru

[Guest guest]

Dru, as I am just 6 months plus, I want to thank you for your

encouragement back in the days when I was considering my operation.

Yours was a clear voice, and you had an impact. I had a great

experience with our Doctor and in Europe, and I am confident about

the mechanics of my prosthetic and its placement. I forget about it,

yet I am aware of it at the same time, and I marvel daily still at

all that I can do. Warmest regards,

Isara

> To the group: Back for a rare appearance. One year ago today

right

> BHR by Koen DeSmet of Belgium. My last entry some time in October

> after 3rd place finish in Iron distance Triathlon. Am one month

shy

> of 50 years. Continue my busy family practice in town of 10,000

> plus, having delivered 100 babies last year. See patients with

> arthritis every day and counsel on the options of treatment.

> Continue to shake my head at the excesses of less than optimal

> procedures in this country. I continue to peruse this chat room at

> least weekly. No procedure, including hip resurfacing is perfect.

I

> did not choose a BHR as a buying time for an inferior THR...which

> will get revised...and revised...My x-rays, on the way to Belgium

in

> a couple of days show no suggestion of problems and the bone stock

is

> far from osteoporotic. If one chooses to be inactive, that will be

> the inevitable outcome. I have had arthritic changes on the left

hip

> for 5 years...at least, but they have not significantly worsened.

I

> suspect within 5 to 7 years it will be as bad as my right was. At

> that time or in the event of a failure of this prosthesis, I will

fly

> back to Belgium and lay the bucks back down to have the very best

> operate on me. With this procedure I have gained a quality of life

> and in some ways have a year of life I would not have had with

> alternative therapy. I work and play hard at my continued

> improvement in strength, speed , endurance, and flexibility. This

> past year I have run over 2000 miles, cycled 6300+ miles, swam 350+

> miles, and in the weight room about 100 times. My goal is to

> compete in Hawaii at the world championship in October. Hopefully,

I

> won't have to discuss a failure in the near future, but if so, I

will

> be equally sincere. For those skeptics, wanting to see so many

years

> of success before considering the BHR, your logic fails and you

> should go ahead with a procedure that represents nothing near

> a " gold " standard in therapy (THR). I remain satisfied I have put

> about 5 or more years of the average ( " active " American), wear and

> tear on this chrome/cobalt articulation, since my operation in

> Ghent. I encourage all of you to not accept limitations placed on

> you by others...which is another reason I'm thankful to have met

> DeSmet. I have seen nothing in this archive that has diminished

his

> abilities as a physician and caring person. Best to all of you.

> Look for my next post...in about 6 months. Dru

[Guest guest]

I hope the group understands the level of fitness and ability this

amazing athlete is at. The iron-distance tiathlon Dru refers to had

178 entries, and we're talking plenty of 20-somethings in their prime.

Your telling me that a fifty year old took third OVERALL at less than

one year post op. Cheers to Dr. Dru... We'll see you in Hawaii.

> To the group: Back for a rare appearance. One year ago today

right

> BHR by Koen DeSmet of Belgium. My last entry some time in October

> after 3rd place finish in Iron distance Triathlon. Am one month

shy

> of 50 years. Continue my busy family practice in town of 10,000

> plus, having delivered 100 babies last year. See patients with

> arthritis every day and counsel on the options of treatment.

> Continue to shake my head at the excesses of less than optimal

> procedures in this country. I continue to peruse this chat room at

> least weekly. No procedure, including hip resurfacing is perfect.

I

> did not choose a BHR as a buying time for an inferior THR...which

> will get revised...and revised...My x-rays, on the way to Belgium

in

> a couple of days show no suggestion of problems and the bone stock

is

> far from osteoporotic. If one chooses to be inactive, that will be

> the inevitable outcome. I have had arthritic changes on the left

hip

> for 5 years...at least, but they have not significantly worsened.

I

> suspect within 5 to 7 years it will be as bad as my right was. At

> that time or in the event of a failure of this prosthesis, I will

fly

> back to Belgium and lay the bucks back down to have the very best

> operate on me. With this procedure I have gained a quality of life

> and in some ways have a year of life I would not have had with

> alternative therapy. I work and play hard at my continued

> improvement in strength, speed , endurance, and flexibility. This

> past year I have run over 2000 miles, cycled 6300+ miles, swam 350+

> miles, and in the weight room about 100 times. My goal is to

> compete in Hawaii at the world championship in October. Hopefully,

I

> won't have to discuss a failure in the near future, but if so, I

will

> be equally sincere. For those skeptics, wanting to see so many

years

> of success before considering the BHR, your logic fails and you

> should go ahead with a procedure that represents nothing near

> a " gold " standard in therapy (THR). I remain satisfied I have put

> about 5 or more years of the average ( " active " American), wear and

> tear on this chrome/cobalt articulation, since my operation in

> Ghent. I encourage all of you to not accept limitations placed on

> you by others...which is another reason I'm thankful to have met

> DeSmet. I have seen nothing in this archive that has diminished

his

> abilities as a physician and caring person. Best to all of you.

> Look for my next post...in about 6 months. Dru