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Decided to go bionic, need your prayers

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Posted 3/26/2012 3:28 AM (GMT 0)
Jeff, I Completely understand, as I had the implant a little over a year ago. I even removed my own catheter the next day.....piece of cake.

You may want to check out dr Gerard henry's utube video of the procedure. He was my surgeon as well. Infection is a big concern. Dr Henry had me wash nipples to knees every day for a week prior to surgery, and also the morning of surgery with Hibiclens soap.

The most aggravating part of the process was keeping little kbota pumped to half mast for six weeks. This is done to control scar tissue.

I am more than willing to share my experience and answer questions offline, via email, or even phone. That's up to you.

Also, I fully understand your need for prayer. I feel the same. When I went in for RRP surgery, there were many friends and family, along with their friends and family lifting up prayers for me. I took great comfort in those prayers, and believe to this day, that they made a huge difference for me. I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer, and the healing power of our Lord.

You will be lifted in prayer as soon as I make this post.

Love in Christ

K
Posted 3/27/2012 1:20 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks, K
I may take you up on Q&A. about 12 hours to go -- see you guys on the other side. I'll post after surgery when I feel up to it.
Thanks again for your prayers!
Jeff
Posted 3/27/2012 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Jeff praying for you that your surgery goes well and easier than prostatectomy for sure.Looking forward to your sharing the results and aspics of it with us. I may be going that route myself.Good luck and hang in there.
Posted 3/28/2012 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I just finished praying for you.

yeah

 

Posted 3/28/2012 4:17 PM (GMT 0)
Jeff...my prayers are with you. Please keep us up to date on all phases of the procedure and follow-up. If my ED continues to be my only SE after my surgery 9 months ago I am absolutely going to go to the penile implant and I want to know all I possibly can about it. Which one is the best, is it covered by insurance at all, possible downsides/risks, recovery time...etc...etc.??? Recovery of the sexual intimacy/bonding with my loving and patient wife is of utmost importance to me. As I said, I will be keeping you in my thoughts and my prayers! JOE
Posted 3/29/2012 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Finally in the mood to post! Thanks for your prayers and kind thoughts. I'm going to try to treat this like a diary for the benefit of others considering this.

Day 1 (surgery, Tuesday):
Checked in at 6:30am. No prep on my part, just no food/water after midnight, and shower well in the morning. Talked to the doc. One of the things that I not had answered before was whether we would go with the Titan series or the AMS LGX. He is accustomed to using the AMS series, but sometimes the Titan is preferred for peyronie's patients. He opted for the AMS, he believes my peyronie's is not severe enough to change course. I'd just as soon go for the AMS since you can gain some limited additional length over time (doc says maybe 1 cm). Came to from surgery with pain, but manageable. I was relieved - I have a very sensitive right testicle from a previous surgery. No pain there. Catheter was already out. They wanted me to pee before I could leave the outpatient clinic. I did at about 10:30, and I was out by 11:30. Given percocet 5/325 and an antibiotic (they did IV two different antibiotics as well). Continued the percocet every 4 hours. For the first 24 hours, pain was barely managed by the percocet. The first night was miserable - the percocet made me itch like mad. I took a full dose of benadryl, but that didn't make a dent in the itching, some hives. Did eat a limited amount at dinnertime. Alternating 30 minutes on/off ice, plan to continue that for several days, until swelling is down.
Day 2 (Wednesday):
Ate a normal breakfast. Took a percocet at 9:00am. Itching continued. I had a significant amount of abdominal troubles - gas that I just could not fart out. I was very worried about digestive troubles since I had an ileus after my prostatectomy, brought on by the pain meds. What worked then was to go completely off the pain meds and wait for the digestive system to start to work again (it took days then). Although there was some pain that day, it was manageable (naproxen). I didn't eat hardly anything for the rest of the day, with that unsettled bloated feeling. A little farting by the end of the day. Itching continued, but was slowly decreasing without the pain meds. I slept extremely well without the pain meds and the itching that they caused.
Day 3 (Thursday): BM! That was a relief. Things are moving now. Not really any consequential pain. Allowed to take a shower for the first time, and an opportunity to inspect the damage. Surgical site looks clean, no infection so far. Major bruising on the sides of the penis. He is somewhat flattened out, and the swelling is making him look like a cobra. Bruising in the scrotum as well (my doc went in via the scrotum for surgery). Swelling throughout the scrotum, penis, and the abdomen nearby, to about 2 inches above the penis. However, this swelling is nothing like what I experienced for my prostatectomy, which gave me softball-sized testicles. Here, they are just larger than golf balls. Pressing around, there is pain on the left side into the abdomen (he put the pump and reservoir on the left side), but not on the right. Swelling in the abdomen is about 1 inch out, 2-3 inches at the base of the penis. I can move around without so much hobbling as the last couple of days. There is too much swelling to be able to find the pump in the testicular region just yet. All in all, wife says I look lucid and without that pained look on my face that she grew accustomed to the last couple of days. Definitely on the mend.

The erection is at least half-mast, and a hassle to keep pointing upward inside the jock strap. I can't sit on the toilet seat to have a BM with the erection. Had to use a cup there while sitting (since I pee at least a little during a BM since my prostatectomy). I realized that it is much easier to pee with that erection into the cup than trying to keep the stream in the toilet while standing (duh). Not sure how long doc will have me keep this erection, but I think I heard 4 weeks. I see him in 2 weeks, although I will be in his clinic for another reason (testopel insertion) in 1 week, so I may see him then.

Bottom line, I think I am over the worst of it (God willing), and compared to the prostatectomy, this was a piece of cake!
Thanks again for your prayers!
Jeff
Posted 3/29/2012 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
Glad you came through ok. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Posted 3/31/2012 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you are alive and well and bouncing back for the most part-you are one brave soul!Awesome hearing your description of the surgery etc. and thanx for sharing.
Wish you a speedy recovery and most of all full function of the organ you are wishing to preserve!!Looking forward to any updates you can provide.
Posted 3/31/2012 2:55 AM (GMT 0)
Day 4 (Friday):
I slept quite well last night, was able to partially sleep on my side, which I prefer. Swelling has decreased somewhat. However, I am still itching all over, not as bad as close to the surgery. Not sure if this is just the hives going away, or if I am allergic to the antibiotic I am still on. Taking Benadryl to combat. Also, the outer side of my right testicle has been in contact with my leg continuously since the surgery, and has been sweaty and moist. The skin is red and very angry there. It does not look like it is infected or threatening to penetrate the skin, but I have put gauze and/or washcloth there to try to dry it out. I called and asked the nurse at my surgeon's office about it, and she said that there were no doctors there today, and if I needed a consult before Monday to go to urgent care or the ER. I don't think it is bad enough to worry about yet.
Now that the swelling is down some, I can feel the tubes in the shaft. I no longer have any pain in the penis, and can push the tubes against the base at the pelvis without pain. Because I have to keep junior upward against my body, I can feel a definite kink in the tubes near the base. I have to believe that this is normal while only partially inflated. There is still too much pain within the testicles to feel around there yet to find the pump. I am still walking funny, but not quite so much so.

A couple of observations:
- don't forget how flexible the jock strap is or let the belt slip through your fingers - ouch!
- the AMS implant comes with a users' documentation package that includes a keychain - get this - in the shape of the pump! tongue It would be a great conversation piece if I were to be interested in discussing it casually with everyone I meet. Perhaps it is just to practice operation.
- are partially related subject: In 4 years of very little activity (and no night-time erections), I have lost at least 20% of my length. According to each surgeon I have heard on the subject, I won't get this back. Bottom line, the longer you wait to get a prosthesis, the more length you will end up losing. I used the VED almost daily for several weeks before my surgery to hopefully at least make sure it wasn't getting any shorter in that period of time.

A few interesting statistics:
Incidence of prostate cancer in the US: about 240,000 per year.
Incidence of breast cancer in the US: about 230,000 per year.
Incidence of breast reconstruction surgery in the US: about 56,000 last year.
Penile prosthesis implants performed per year world-wide: about 5,000.
Why are there so few men making this choice?

So much for now. More progress in healing today!
Jeff
Posted 3/31/2012 2:50 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to hear you got some sleep.Your update is quite fascinating and very interesting.Does the redness of the one testicle come from the procedure ?Where is the incision that they insert the pump etc into?The key chain is a real hoot-you darn well deserve a bit of a bonus for what you've gone thru.Yes amazing more men do not got the way of implant.Is it covered by health care?
Posted 3/31/2012 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
If you are not already doing so, I would suggest you also share your recovery with the guys over on   franktalk.org  . This could be very important to others dealing with ed issues. .  Thanks for your effort, it helps us all. Get well soon....
Posted 3/31/2012 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Day 5 (Saturday):
Not much new to report. Still Itching but mostly cleared up. Swelling has decreased some more, can walk a little easier. I haven't used ice for a couple of days now. Still reclining most of the day per orders. I can finally feel around a little to find the pump - it seems to be just in front of the right testicle. For others that have an AMS - is this a typical location? The abdomen and the testicles are still mostly too sensitive to touch. While I am reclining there is no pain, only minimal when i am moving around.

Nick, that right testicle is red and irritated from the fact that it has not had a chance to dry out since the surgery. It is definitely improved since I have been trying to dry it out.

My incision was into the scrotum, maybe 1.5 inches below the bottom of the penis. All parts of the prosthesis were inserted through that single incision. The other place that some surgeons enter instead is "infra-pubic", I believe it is called, which is into the abdomen about 1 inch above the base of the penis (toward your belly button). In either case, they insert two tubes, one in each side of the penis, into the corpus cavernosum (the things that inflate during an erection). They are grounded into the pelvic muscles at the base. They have small tubes running to them from the pump, which is inserted into the scrotum (competes for space with one of the testicles - in my case the left). The pump is also connected to a reservoir which is inserted into the body cavity (they produce a hernia, then stitch it up when finished). I haven't been able to feel around and find that reservoir yet.

Regarding coverage, I have an HMO, which is not terribly impressive in terms of what they cover. They do not cover a penile prosthesis for "organic" causes (meaning you just can't get an erection anymore for unknown reasons), but they do cover one after a prostatectomy, if you have proof that you have tried ALL of the other options: oral meds, VED, injections, etc.

All for now. Another day of progress.
Thanks, Jeff
Posted 3/31/2012 9:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, Lifeguyd
I think I will post over there - it looks like there are a lot of threads over there on the subject.
Jeff
Posted 4/2/2012 2:29 PM (GMT 0)
When does the Doc say you will be able to try out the implant with your wife?Or does he leave that up to when you feel it's OK to do so?Is the draining any better now?

Nick
Posted 4/2/2012 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
Day 6 (Sunday):
Swelling is further reduced, itching nearly gone. However, gravity seems to be a problem - I am in no pain when reclining, but when up and about, the left testicle (the side with the pump - I mistakenly said the right side in a previous post) is painful. Doc said to stay off my feet for 1 week, which will be Tuesday, so I will have to see if this is better by then. The left side of my abdomen where there is bruising is also still sore to the touch - right side not so much. Used ice for the first time in several days. Otherwise, things seem to be healing just fine - the incision looks healthy, almost closed up, have had a gauze pad over it continuously. Keeping the erection pointed upward using the jock strap is getting old - not sure how well this will work when I return to work, a little concerned about that.

I believe that the doc wants me to keep the erection at least until I see him 2 weeks post-op - if it is less sensitive by then, maybe we can lose the erection. Nick, doc told me I should be pain-free, even when pumping, and ready for sex at 6 weeks.
Jeff
Posted 4/3/2012 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
Jeff

Delighted to hear of your good progress. I've been using Trimix. I had not considered the inplant option until I read your reports which were very well done. Thankyou so much. Hope your good progress continues.

Jim
Posted 4/4/2012 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
Day 7 (Monday):
No real changes, pain when up and around, none when reclining. Go in tomorrow to see the doc. Walking a little less funny each day.
Day 8 (Tuesday):
Saw the surgeon today. He is very happy with my progress. I was a bit concerned about some white spots at the surgery site, afraid they might be pus. He said that they are a glue for the stitching, and will come off eventually. Wound looks very good. Although the plan is normally for me to see him at 2 weeks, and he deflates erection then, he is out of town next week, so I see him in another 2 weeks. He gave me the option to deflate it today, but it is too painful still to manipulate that pump just yet. I am stuck with this erection for an extra week... sure will be fun hiding it from everyone at work. Actually, I don't think it will be too bad, it is not noticeable against my stomach. The biggest problem will be that I will need to take a cup with me to the restroom for a BM. I guess I'll hide it in a paper bag. Took a pain pill just after the appointment for the way home - gravity hurts today. As usual, pain goes away after I reach the recliner. I plan to stay at home the rest of this week, but will go in next week. I may do half-days if I am still hurting then, we'll see.

Thanks for all of your kind thoughts and prayers - healing has been going well (kind of the theme of this site, yes?)
Jeff
Posted 4/8/2012 3:54 AM (GMT 0)
So how are u feeling thus far?I hope no regrets on ur part.Hope better sleep and walking for you as well as no swelling.Did the one testicle dry out and stop being red?
Posted 4/8/2012 7:55 PM (GMT 0)
Week 2: Gradual reduction in swelling. Once the swelling went down, the redness beside the testicles went away as well - it had time to dry out.
When I am sitting in my recliner, no pain. However, if I get up and about, walk any distance, stand, etc. gravity works against that left nut, and I have pain. Have taken a pain med here and there (about 1 per day) to deal with the pain afterwards. I have taken vacation up to now, plan is to go back to work tomorrow for a half-day or as long as I can manage.

As much as the pain allows, I have been groping around to feel the outline of the pump in the left side of the scrotum. It is in front of but very close to the left testicle, which makes trying to get my fingers around it difficult. There is just too much pain to be able to push the button - since my doc was willing to deflate it last week, I figure if I can I will to make this week easier. So far, no dice. It does not seem to me that the pump is optimally located, but I will have to ask the doc next week. In the meantime, I still have the jock strap keeping the erection upright. Wearing my usual pants/jeans etc is not a problem, and the erection does not show. I just am not getting enough support for that left testicle when standing.

I'll report how the work week goes, it is only 3 days this week, as I am going with my son to check out his college on Thursday/Friday (he's a senior in high school this year).

Nick, no regrets so far. I feel like so far this is all worth it - I believe that what is there will serve me well when healed. It seems to me that the tubes are just the right length, partially into the glans. Plus, I am through the worst of it.

He is risen!

Jeff
Posted 4/15/2012 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
Week 3: No more swelling in scrotum. Still some swelling in the left side of the abdomen, probably near the reservoir site.

I went to work this week for the first 3 days, only about 4 hours each day before I got uncomfortable and went home. Took a pain pill or two each day after getting home. Thursday/Friday went with my son to an open house at his chosen college: lots of walking. Increased the pain pills to basically tolerate the entire days. Returned Saturday, didn't need meds the 2nd part of the day.

I had been feeling around each day, trying to get a better idea of where the pump parts are in the scrotum (still can't find my left testicle!). Finally, Saturday night, it was comfortable enough to actually squeeze the button to deflate (Yeah!). It took a good hard squeeze on each side for several seconds. I squeezed the tubes to eliminate the fluids and become flaccid. I can't tell you how nice it is to not have an erection 24/7. As you know, a usual flaccid penis is maybe 1/3 the size of when fully erect, but with the implant it is about 2/3 full length or more. I can bend it downwards so that it sits more or less normally. The tubes inside are bendable, somewhat wiry; I am just trying to keep them straight until I see the doc. He is back this week, but I don't see him until Thursday. I will be in his office tomorrow, so I will ask if it is Ok to keep it flaccid until I see him. I'll probably try to inflate and deflate it tonight. I am encouraged - no pain in the penis, just a bit in the scrotum when I am up and about or messing with it, but having it flaccid has made it much more comfortable. I am hopeful for a full-time week at work this coming week - we'll see.
Jeff
Posted 4/16/2012 4:26 AM (GMT 0)
Woohoo! My new toy works!

I inflated it this evening. It did not take many pumps to get it about as erect as I would want it. I am relieved that there is no evidence of my Peyronie's - no bias side to side, straight as a flag pole. Just about no curve upward as well. My wife believes that it is at least as long as on the injections, and harder than the injections ever were. Although a little uncomfortable to be that rigid, I believe that the discomfort has more to do with the tissue still healing than anything else. It is a bit oval-shaped - the two tubes are side-side and when inflated, it is not round. My understanding from others that have posted, over time, the corpus spongiosum, which is another component of erectile tissue in the penis, which runs along the underside and surrounds the urethra, can become more erect and makes the penis more round in appearance (I understand it can take over a year, and sometimes never). At present, it is certainly usable the way it is, and I am considering myself blessed with a successful surgery. I can't wait to get the go-ahead from my doc to use it!
Posted 4/16/2012 4:23 PM (GMT 0)
That is so awesome -great to hear you're recovering nicely and that it wasn't all for not-Great to hear the implant pump works!Keep us posted on the progress and how things go with actually using it .It will be interesting whether or not you and your wife are satisfied with the result.Good luck.!!
Posted 4/20/2012 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
Week 4: I managed to put in almost full-time at work, left 1 hour early each day. Still a little pain in the evenings. Part of it comes from inflating the implant each day for 30 minutes to 1 hour. I have been pumping it up until I can't seem to pump it up anymore. It gets sore after a couple of minutes in that state. I just tolerate it for the rest of the time. Because I have it deflated the rest of the time, I checked with the doc, and he said to keep doing what I am doing until I see him for my Thursday appointment.

I saw the doc yesterday for my appointment. Based on the fact that I have been working the implant each day and able to inflate and deflate, he says that I am weeks ahead of the curve. All looks well. The wound is completely healed, water-tight so I can jacuzzi, etc if I want. The risk of infection at this point is very low. He located my missing left testicle - it is pushed against the device. I guess I have been able to avoid it while working it. He was getting ready to tell me I still need a bit more time before trying things out, but I told him I'd like to give intercourse a go tomorrow. He said go for it, let pain be my guide. There is nothing I can do at this point to mess anything up. He told me the reason that they have you keep a partial erection, facing straight up for the first couple of weeks (some docs recommend longer), is to prevent the implant from pointing downward when you pump it up. This enables it to remain at 90 degrees or so. Mine is pretty much 90 degrees at this point. He no longer needs me to keep it erect all the time, I can deflate it most of the time, but he would like me to keep pumping it up once a day. I told him that it seems that I can only get it pumped up so far and then no more, and that it is sore past a point. He said, keep pumping it up, and it will get bigger over time, and the pain will go away. He decided that I am in good enough shape that he is cutting me loose - I only need to see him again if I want to.

My wife and I tried intercourse this morning. I inflated it not quite all the way - I tried to reach the point that it is not yet painfully erect but still would stay where I wanted it. When I was on top, I got pain from my abdomen, where the reservoir is located (there is still some swelling there). When she was on top, things were OK for a little while, long enough for her to enjoy it. It was not long before I was feeling pain in my penis from the activity, so we called things off. I good first outing, although I think it is now clear I wasn't yet ready - I am now in more pain than I have felt for quite a while, mainly at the abdomenal site where the reservoir is (the penis pain went away immediately). Pain was my guide, and is guiding me to wait another week to try this again. I'm calling it success, though! My wife says it was harder and felt better than it ever did with the injections. The problem I seemed to usually have with the injections was that I was erect enough for a few minutes, and then it would decrease just enough to make it hard to keep in place, especially with my peyronies (or I used enough that I was pushing priapism limit). Now, no functional problems - it stays fully erect as long as desired, and aside from the pain, and I can tell it will be much easier to let go and not be preoccupied. The spontaneity is going to be wonderful (I can pump it up in less than a minute, and if I can reach a point where it is fully erect and tolerable for a long time, it could be pumped up ahead of time and we can be in no rush for any reason).

All told, a mild setback, but things have gone extremely well. First try is at 3 1/2 weeks out from surgery.
Jeff
Posted 4/20/2012 10:08 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations. It sounds like a really good first try. Good luck in a week or so.
Posted 4/24/2012 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Being able to try at that time frame is amazing-good first try I'd say.I am sure the pain is from the internal areas that have yet to fully heal.Wish you both success on your next try.Hope you will keep us posted on your progress.So many here may need to consider going that route.I myself may be at the point of going Trimix-having some difficulty with the MUSE.Not losing hope tho and you are an inspiration to us here>Thanks for sharing man.

Nick
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