Re: Off to Belgium in March

[Guest guest]

Rosemary, you'll be fine! Take really simple baggy clothes, roomy slip

on shoes and little else. Koen's brother-in-law Hugo will give you a

ride over from th hospital in his PT Cruiser! The hotel staff is very

helpful and all speak at least some English. They will give you a

doubled up mattress and toilet seat riser if you need either. The food

is great (don't tip more than 10%) with delicious breakfast buffet

included. Phone calls home are cheap! Taxis are free evenings and

weekends from the hotel into Gent and and they'll sell you a travel

voucher for a taxi to take you to the airport when it comes time for

you to go. You'll only have lots of cigarette smoke to avoid during

peak people times but it's a minor inconvenience. The lobby " gift

shop " has lots of neat stuff. The butterflies you have now are normal.

You'll be overwhelmed by the hospitality and friendliness of everyone

you meet.

Bon voyage!

Steve Vince

Bilat BHR De Smet Jan 6, 2004

> Hi all,

> I can't tell you what a source of information and inspiration

> reading all your messages have been to me whilst making my mind up

> on resurfacing. I only heard about resurfacing from my consultant

> last May who thought I would benefit from this procedure. Needless

> to say I came home and went straight on the internet to find out

> more about this BHR. I have since decided through various reasons

> to go to Dr De Smet in Belgium to have resurfacing. He has told me

> I will probably need a displaysia cup with screws because my hip is

> fairly bad but I am confident that I am in the best hands. Can I ask

> from the recent Belgium hippies if they have any further tips they

> can pass on when they are transferred from the hospital to the

> Holiday Inn Hotel, do you feel out on a limb there or is it ok?

> Hope to hear from you.

> Rosemary

[Guest guest]

Rosemary. Dr. Steve Vince has said it all very well. The experience is very

fresh in my mind as we just arrived home last night. I was with the Feb 3rd

and Feb 4th group and our experiences were all very positive. Very good food

and very friendly people for sure. It certainly is normal to feel anxious as

we all do but Dr. DeSmet and his team certainly do everything to make your

stay as pleasant and enjoyable as possible under the circumstances. I wish

you the best of luck and you will be receiving plenty of helpfull advice

from this support group.

Take

Care.... Jim RBHR Feb 4th 2004

Re: Off to Belgium in March

Rosemary, you'll be fine! Take really simple baggy clothes, roomy slip

on shoes and little else. Koen's brother-in-law Hugo will give you a

ride over from th hospital in his PT Cruiser! The hotel staff is very

helpful and all speak at least some English. They will give you a

doubled up mattress and toilet seat riser if you need either. The food

is great (don't tip more than 10%) with delicious breakfast buffet

included. Phone calls home are cheap! Taxis are free evenings and

weekends from the hotel into Gent and and they'll sell you a travel

voucher for a taxi to take you to the airport when it comes time for

you to go. You'll only have lots of cigarette smoke to avoid during

peak people times but it's a minor inconvenience. The lobby " gift

shop " has lots of neat stuff. The butterflies you have now are normal.

You'll be overwhelmed by the hospitality and friendliness of everyone

you meet.

Bon voyage!

Steve Vince

Bilat BHR De Smet Jan 6, 2004

> Hi all,

> I can't tell you what a source of information and inspiration

> reading all your messages have been to me whilst making my mind up

> on resurfacing. I only heard about resurfacing from my consultant

> last May who thought I would benefit from this procedure. Needless

> to say I came home and went straight on the internet to find out

> more about this BHR. I have since decided through various reasons

> to go to Dr De Smet in Belgium to have resurfacing. He has told me

> I will probably need a displaysia cup with screws because my hip is

> fairly bad but I am confident that I am in the best hands. Can I ask

> from the recent Belgium hippies if they have any further tips they

> can pass on when they are transferred from the hospital to the

> Holiday Inn Hotel, do you feel out on a limb there or is it ok?

> Hope to hear from you.

> Rosemary

[Guest guest]

Hi Rosemary,

When are you having your surgery. I will probably be scheduled for

March 3rd--still have to talk to my supervisor in the morning, but I'm about

90% sure. The only other dates Koen had openings were March 24th & April

28th. I really don't want to wait that long. I, too, will need a dysplasia

cup with screws, and very soon or even Koen may not be able to do it.

Hope we'll be in the same surgery group. Feel free to e-mail me privately,

too, if you want.

Off to Belgium in March

> Hi all,

> I can't tell you what a source of information and inspiration

> reading all your messages have been to me whilst making my mind up

> on resurfacing. I only heard about resurfacing from my consultant

> last May who thought I would benefit from this procedure. Needless

> to say I came home and went straight on the internet to find out

> more about this BHR. I have since decided through various reasons

> to go to Dr De Smet in Belgium to have resurfacing. He has told me

> I will probably need a displaysia cup with screws because my hip is

> fairly bad but I am confident that I am in the best hands. Can I ask

> from the recent Belgium hippies if they have any further tips they

> can pass on when they are transferred from the hospital to the

> Holiday Inn Hotel, do you feel out on a limb there or is it ok?

> Hope to hear from you.

> Rosemary

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Rosemary,

You have already made the right decision to go ahead and get it

done. The fact that you have chosen Dr. De Smet is a huge bonus; you

will not be disappointed.

I am still in Ghent (fly home tomorrow) and can echo the replies you

have already received to your post. The team at Jan Palfijn works

like a well-oiled machine and will take very good care of you and

your family/friends. The Holiday Inn is well set up for us Belgian

Hippies; I think working in the pool there really helped me regain

my mobility; bring along something to wear in the pool.

My surgery went better than I expected and I have spent my final

days in Belgium by visiting Brussels yesterday, and a cyclocross

bike race the previous day. Both days I walked over a mile and

yesterday with only one crutch. I am apparently a fast healer, but I

owe a good portion of it to the good doctor and his team. Marc, the

PT, even came to my B&B to do therapy with me after I left the

Holiday Inn!

Again, you have made an excellent choice! Best of luck when your

date arrives.

LBHR De Smet Feb.4, 2004

> > Hi all,

> > I can't tell you what a source of information and inspiration

> > reading all your messages have been to me whilst making my

mind up

> > on resurfacing. I only heard about resurfacing from my

consultant

> > last May who thought I would benefit from this procedure.

Needless

> > to say I came home and went straight on the internet to find

out

> > more about this BHR. I have since decided through various

reasons

> > to go to Dr De Smet in Belgium to have resurfacing. He has

told me

> > I will probably need a displaysia cup with screws because my

hip is

> > fairly bad but I am confident that I am in the best hands. Can

I ask

> > from the recent Belgium hippies if they have any further tips

they

> > can pass on when they are transferred from the hospital to the

> > Holiday Inn Hotel, do you feel out on a limb there or is it ok?

> > Hope to hear from you.

> > Rosemary

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I wrote the following message yesterday but it never was posted. I am trying

it again to see if it works this time.

Jim RBHR Feb 4th 2004

Re: Off to Belgium in March

Rosemary, you'll be fine! Take really simple baggy clothes, roomy slip

on shoes and little else. Koen's brother-in-law Hugo will give you a

ride over from th hospital in his PT Cruiser! The hotel staff is very

helpful and all speak at least some English. They will give you a

doubled up mattress and toilet seat riser if you need either. The food

is great (don't tip more than 10%) with delicious breakfast buffet

included. Phone calls home are cheap! Taxis are free evenings and

weekends from the hotel into Gent and and they'll sell you a travel

voucher for a taxi to take you to the airport when it comes time for

you to go. You'll only have lots of cigarette smoke to avoid during

peak people times but it's a minor inconvenience. The lobby " gift

shop " has lots of neat stuff. The butterflies you have now are normal.

You'll be overwhelmed by the hospitality and friendliness of everyone

you meet.

Bon voyage!

Steve Vince

Bilat BHR De Smet Jan 6, 2004

> Hi all,

> I can't tell you what a source of information and inspiration

> reading all your messages have been to me whilst making my mind up

> on resurfacing. I only heard about resurfacing from my consultant

> last May who thought I would benefit from this procedure. Needless

> to say I came home and went straight on the internet to find out

> more about this BHR. I have since decided through various reasons

> to go to Dr De Smet in Belgium to have resurfacing. He has told me

> I will probably need a displaysia cup with screws because my hip is

> fairly bad but I am confident that I am in the best hands. Can I ask

> from the recent Belgium hippies if they have any further tips they

> can pass on when they are transferred from the hospital to the

> Holiday Inn Hotel, do you feel out on a limb there or is it ok?

> Hope to hear from you.

> Rosemary

[Guest guest]

WOW! You'll be heading home almost right away. aka twyko64 had

his 2nd uni done just before me on Jan 6th and took the tunnel back

home to UK all of 2 days later! I'm sure you'll do famously! Just

bring along something to sit on so that your hip doesn't rub the side

of your seat.

Take good care and have a safe cruise under the channel!

Warmest regards,

Steve

> Hi to ,Steve and Jim,

> Thanks a lot for your suggestions as to what to take and what to

> expect. I am only a short hop across the channel from UK so will be

> taking the car. I hope I recover just as quick as you guys. You

> all seem to be doing so well so soon.

> Rosemary