Post by Rick Redner on Jan 22, 2015 9:34:53 GMT -5
The Decision:Within 3 months of surgery I'd used the Vacuum Pump, ED medication and Penile Injections. All worked for a while then stopped working In the 3rd year post surgery I was still having some success with ED medication, but success rate which at it's best was 80% dropped down into the low single digits. Eventually I landed with zero success. Four years post double nerve sparing surgery I was totally impotent. Neither my wife or I wanted to go the rest of our lives without intercourse. An implant seemed to be the way to go. It wasn't easy decision because it means I'll become a bionic man.
The decision meant giving up that I'd ever be able to respond to previously exciting sexual triggers involving sight, sounds, smells, or touch. Instead I'll get pumped up and physically able for sex whether or not I'm excited or even interested. An implant disconnects you in some way from the possibility of responding to sexual triggers in a normal way. Since I'd already lost that, it seems surgery could do no harm in terms of taking things away, it could only add to our enjoyment of our sex life together. That's why I decided to go for surgery.
I've from some men who are so angry about where they landed post surgery they vow never let another Surgeon touch them again. I understand those sentiments, but I whole heartedly disagree. An implant is to restore what's been taken away. If it was necessary to surgically remove a limb, I wouldn't avoid another surgery especially if the next surgery involved getting an artificial limb. Penile Implants are the most successful way to treat ED. Additionally it has the highest patient satisfaction rate, yet and at the same time,it is the option that's least chosen by men with ED. I'll soon discover whether this option is a good one for me and for my wife.
The Surgery
Since I've had many surgeries I knew in advance a number of issues that I needed to be discussed and resolved prior to surgery. For example, my Surgeon said he doesn't give narcotic pain meds. This was unacceptable to me. I would have consulted with another surgeon if I could not get the relief from pain I knew I needed. Based on my pain level following surgery, my request for narcotic pain medication was very appropriate. The pain control for the implant surgery was outstanding. Unfortunately I have a long history of bladder spasms. After the implant surgery, I'm certain it was the catheter that caused my bladder to give painful spasms every fifteen seconds or so. My pain was excruciating and unbearable. It took more than four hours before the right cocktail of anti spasms medication were given to me. After dealing with surgical pain and bladder spasms my pain level was within the 0-2 range and I was very comfortable. Since I have a history of throwing up in the recovery room and the next day when I eat solid food, I had the anesthesiologist give me medication via an IV rather than a mask and he added anti nausea medication. I didn't throw up in the recovery room. I also asked for an anti nausea medication from my surgeon. That way I was able to eat solid foods without redepositing them in the vomit container. If it weren't for the bladder spasms it would have been a relatively comfortable surgery.
At Home Healing
I watched the procedure on utube but nothing prepared me for what I'd look like after surgery. My lower abdomen is black and blue. My penis is very swollen, perhaps twice it's normal thickness. It's sore, partially erect in a way that's very uncomfortable. For maximum comfort you want your penis pointing upward. However it seems to have a mind of it's own and wants to point straight out which is both uncomfortable and painful. Today I might work with gauze and tape to see if there is any way to keep the penis comfortably pointing upward. Then there is a swollen scrotum. Mine is the size of a small grapefruit. The level of pain isn't high, but the level of discomfort is. I'm using ice multiple times a day. This is my 3rd day at home. The swelling, discomfort and pain have not lessened to any degree since I came home from surgery. Still trying to find comfortable ways to support my swollen scrotum. Wearing a jock strap outside of your underwear is much more comfortable than wearing the strap directly on the penis and scrotum. At this point, all I've found are athletic jock straps. Even the strap I received from the hospital was very uncomfortable. I don't understand why there isn't a medical jock strap for men who've had a penile implant. On day 3 still very uncomfortable to be wearing clothing or taking extended walks.
Day #3 At Home
This isn't as easy or painless as I've read from other accounts. Having a scrotum the size of a grapefruit hurts to carry around. No amount of jack strap support eases the pain. I'm calling my Surgeon's office today to see whether anything else can be done other than apply ice. Another source of discomfort comes from the penis, which wants to stick straight out. It's important to keep it in the upward position. Bending it upward hurts. I haven't found a reliable way to keep it upward. Both the penis and scrotum are very swollen. If anything the swelling is getting worse not better. Until the swelling goes down, this is very uncomfortable. My Surgeon said some men go back to work two days after surgery. That's an impossible concept for me. I can't think about driving, wearing regular clothes or sitting in a normal position in a chair. All of this means I'll be home for a minimum of two weeks, possibly four depending on my level of swelling and pain. I want to make this clear some men have a much easier road to recovery, but from my perspective, this isn't a surgery for the faint of heart.
Day #8 At Home
I'm not feeling any better than I was in day 1. The only difference is I'm taking strong pain medication. My journey is very atypical. Most men will NOT have their scrotum swell up the size of grapefruit. Most of my pain and discomfort is a result of this swelling. I've written a blog of things I wish I would have known before surgery. If I'd known these things I'd probably be relatively pain free and back to work. Instead my pain without medication is at a level 8 and I know I'll be out of work a minimum of another week, possibly more. If you want a better experience than me, check out my blog:
Things You'll Want To Know Before Implant Surgery
Week 2
I'm glad my wife is an RN. She noticed some oozing from the surgery site and insisted I call the surgeon for a second round of antibiotics. I followed her directions. Within two days my scrotum returned very close to normal size. Since my pain suddenly stopped, I made the mistake of abruptly stopping my oxycodone. I'd been taking 50mg daily for 8 days. I thought I was suddenly struck with the flu until I read the symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal. The next 3 days I spent alternating between hot and cold spells, restlessness, a runny nose, and inability to get to sleep. Withdrawing from oxycodone was one of the worst experiences of my life. So if you are taking pain medication, my advice is to taper off gradually. Since there was no warning on the bottle, I had no idea how quickly your body can become dependent upon a narcotic pain medication. It was the most unpleasant part of my journey so far. Now it's time to continue to heal until implant activation. That's 3-4 weeks from now. I CAN'T WAIT!
Week 3
The best week so far. Minimal pain, but enough to prevent me from sleeping on my stomach, so I'm still not sleeping well. I use non prescription pain medication at bed time, and then about 4 hours later. In the day time I don't need any pain medication. Everything is back to normal size, so I can call UCSF for my appointment for activation!
Week 4
Scrotum back to normal size. Still some pain but very infrequently mostly at night when I'm going to sleep. Finally able to sleep on my stomach comfortably. I've tried to give myself a single pump. I've put as much pressure as I feel comfortable placing on the pump, but it doesn't move at all. I decided to wait for activation day. As I've read comments from other men the pump takes a lot of pressure at first, but gets easer over time. A number of men suggesting pumping while in a warm bath. I'll try that once I'm activated. No baths allowed during the first 6 weeks post surgery.
Activation Date Set For Week 6 This week I called to set an appointment for a 3/9/15 activation date. From what I've read, some men suggesting taking medication for pain about an hour before the appointment. I intend to follow this advice. Once I learn how to pump the implant and use the release valve, I should be medically cleared to use the implant. I have this fear I'm going to get home, pump myself up, then find myself unable to find the release valve. I'll have to go to bed with an erection, wake up the next morning, drive 85 miles to San Francisco for an emergency appointment in order to be shown again how to use the release valve. I'd sure feel a whole let better if I could find it before my appointment, so I'm going to spend some time in the next few days trying to figure this out. Some men say they were able to use the implant that day, others say it was too painful to use on activation day. It took them a few weeks of pumping multiple times per day before they could their implant. I hope I'll be able to use the implant on activation day, but I'm preparing myself for a few weeks of waiting.
Activation Day I took an over the counter pain med about an hour before my appointment. It was a little embarrassing having my pants down with my surgeon pumping on my scrotum to get me erect. Once he activated the pump it was easier for me to pump myself. I'd tried at home, which was very stupid of me since I no clue how to deflate the implant. I'm glad the pump was too hard for me to activate. I was very glad my wife was with me. As it turns out the pump is not positioned the way it's supposed to be positioned. It's sideways. While my surgeon said it would straighten out, it never did. It's not a big deal until it's time to find the button to deflate the implant. On our first night, I found myself unable to find the deflate button. If I went alone, I would have been necessary for me to drive 90 miles back to San Francisco to have my surgeon deflate my implant. If you can't take your partner with you, make sure you can inflate and deflate your implant BEFORE you leave the office. Make sure your partner can as well. Think of this appointment as your goodbye to impotence party.
Three Weeks Later We live in an amazing age. I can't describe what a blessing it is to get back what prostate surgery took away. My wife and I are enjoying our new found ability to make love once again. I've learned that I can only pump ten times. If I try to get harder by pumping longer I end up feeling pain which makes it impossible attain satisfaction. It's amazing to have the ability to get an erection and stay hard as long as your partner wants you to be hard. Most of the time, I like to deflate the implant after I've had an orgasm in order to mimic what sex was life prior to surgery. I understand why an implant has the highest satisfaction rate than every other form of treatment for ED. I'm glad I had the surgery and recommend it to every man who is healthy enough for surgery and who doesn't want to be impotent for the rest of their life. Don't let your anger or sense of betrayal toward the surgeon who removed your prostate stop you from going under the knife one more time. You'll be glad you did!.
The decision meant giving up that I'd ever be able to respond to previously exciting sexual triggers involving sight, sounds, smells, or touch. Instead I'll get pumped up and physically able for sex whether or not I'm excited or even interested. An implant disconnects you in some way from the possibility of responding to sexual triggers in a normal way. Since I'd already lost that, it seems surgery could do no harm in terms of taking things away, it could only add to our enjoyment of our sex life together. That's why I decided to go for surgery.
I've from some men who are so angry about where they landed post surgery they vow never let another Surgeon touch them again. I understand those sentiments, but I whole heartedly disagree. An implant is to restore what's been taken away. If it was necessary to surgically remove a limb, I wouldn't avoid another surgery especially if the next surgery involved getting an artificial limb. Penile Implants are the most successful way to treat ED. Additionally it has the highest patient satisfaction rate, yet and at the same time,it is the option that's least chosen by men with ED. I'll soon discover whether this option is a good one for me and for my wife.
The Surgery
Since I've had many surgeries I knew in advance a number of issues that I needed to be discussed and resolved prior to surgery. For example, my Surgeon said he doesn't give narcotic pain meds. This was unacceptable to me. I would have consulted with another surgeon if I could not get the relief from pain I knew I needed. Based on my pain level following surgery, my request for narcotic pain medication was very appropriate. The pain control for the implant surgery was outstanding. Unfortunately I have a long history of bladder spasms. After the implant surgery, I'm certain it was the catheter that caused my bladder to give painful spasms every fifteen seconds or so. My pain was excruciating and unbearable. It took more than four hours before the right cocktail of anti spasms medication were given to me. After dealing with surgical pain and bladder spasms my pain level was within the 0-2 range and I was very comfortable. Since I have a history of throwing up in the recovery room and the next day when I eat solid food, I had the anesthesiologist give me medication via an IV rather than a mask and he added anti nausea medication. I didn't throw up in the recovery room. I also asked for an anti nausea medication from my surgeon. That way I was able to eat solid foods without redepositing them in the vomit container. If it weren't for the bladder spasms it would have been a relatively comfortable surgery.
At Home Healing
I watched the procedure on utube but nothing prepared me for what I'd look like after surgery. My lower abdomen is black and blue. My penis is very swollen, perhaps twice it's normal thickness. It's sore, partially erect in a way that's very uncomfortable. For maximum comfort you want your penis pointing upward. However it seems to have a mind of it's own and wants to point straight out which is both uncomfortable and painful. Today I might work with gauze and tape to see if there is any way to keep the penis comfortably pointing upward. Then there is a swollen scrotum. Mine is the size of a small grapefruit. The level of pain isn't high, but the level of discomfort is. I'm using ice multiple times a day. This is my 3rd day at home. The swelling, discomfort and pain have not lessened to any degree since I came home from surgery. Still trying to find comfortable ways to support my swollen scrotum. Wearing a jock strap outside of your underwear is much more comfortable than wearing the strap directly on the penis and scrotum. At this point, all I've found are athletic jock straps. Even the strap I received from the hospital was very uncomfortable. I don't understand why there isn't a medical jock strap for men who've had a penile implant. On day 3 still very uncomfortable to be wearing clothing or taking extended walks.
Day #3 At Home
This isn't as easy or painless as I've read from other accounts. Having a scrotum the size of a grapefruit hurts to carry around. No amount of jack strap support eases the pain. I'm calling my Surgeon's office today to see whether anything else can be done other than apply ice. Another source of discomfort comes from the penis, which wants to stick straight out. It's important to keep it in the upward position. Bending it upward hurts. I haven't found a reliable way to keep it upward. Both the penis and scrotum are very swollen. If anything the swelling is getting worse not better. Until the swelling goes down, this is very uncomfortable. My Surgeon said some men go back to work two days after surgery. That's an impossible concept for me. I can't think about driving, wearing regular clothes or sitting in a normal position in a chair. All of this means I'll be home for a minimum of two weeks, possibly four depending on my level of swelling and pain. I want to make this clear some men have a much easier road to recovery, but from my perspective, this isn't a surgery for the faint of heart.
Day #8 At Home
I'm not feeling any better than I was in day 1. The only difference is I'm taking strong pain medication. My journey is very atypical. Most men will NOT have their scrotum swell up the size of grapefruit. Most of my pain and discomfort is a result of this swelling. I've written a blog of things I wish I would have known before surgery. If I'd known these things I'd probably be relatively pain free and back to work. Instead my pain without medication is at a level 8 and I know I'll be out of work a minimum of another week, possibly more. If you want a better experience than me, check out my blog:
Things You'll Want To Know Before Implant Surgery
Week 2
I'm glad my wife is an RN. She noticed some oozing from the surgery site and insisted I call the surgeon for a second round of antibiotics. I followed her directions. Within two days my scrotum returned very close to normal size. Since my pain suddenly stopped, I made the mistake of abruptly stopping my oxycodone. I'd been taking 50mg daily for 8 days. I thought I was suddenly struck with the flu until I read the symptoms of oxycodone withdrawal. The next 3 days I spent alternating between hot and cold spells, restlessness, a runny nose, and inability to get to sleep. Withdrawing from oxycodone was one of the worst experiences of my life. So if you are taking pain medication, my advice is to taper off gradually. Since there was no warning on the bottle, I had no idea how quickly your body can become dependent upon a narcotic pain medication. It was the most unpleasant part of my journey so far. Now it's time to continue to heal until implant activation. That's 3-4 weeks from now. I CAN'T WAIT!
Week 3
The best week so far. Minimal pain, but enough to prevent me from sleeping on my stomach, so I'm still not sleeping well. I use non prescription pain medication at bed time, and then about 4 hours later. In the day time I don't need any pain medication. Everything is back to normal size, so I can call UCSF for my appointment for activation!
Week 4
Scrotum back to normal size. Still some pain but very infrequently mostly at night when I'm going to sleep. Finally able to sleep on my stomach comfortably. I've tried to give myself a single pump. I've put as much pressure as I feel comfortable placing on the pump, but it doesn't move at all. I decided to wait for activation day. As I've read comments from other men the pump takes a lot of pressure at first, but gets easer over time. A number of men suggesting pumping while in a warm bath. I'll try that once I'm activated. No baths allowed during the first 6 weeks post surgery.
Activation Date Set For Week 6 This week I called to set an appointment for a 3/9/15 activation date. From what I've read, some men suggesting taking medication for pain about an hour before the appointment. I intend to follow this advice. Once I learn how to pump the implant and use the release valve, I should be medically cleared to use the implant. I have this fear I'm going to get home, pump myself up, then find myself unable to find the release valve. I'll have to go to bed with an erection, wake up the next morning, drive 85 miles to San Francisco for an emergency appointment in order to be shown again how to use the release valve. I'd sure feel a whole let better if I could find it before my appointment, so I'm going to spend some time in the next few days trying to figure this out. Some men say they were able to use the implant that day, others say it was too painful to use on activation day. It took them a few weeks of pumping multiple times per day before they could their implant. I hope I'll be able to use the implant on activation day, but I'm preparing myself for a few weeks of waiting.
Activation Day I took an over the counter pain med about an hour before my appointment. It was a little embarrassing having my pants down with my surgeon pumping on my scrotum to get me erect. Once he activated the pump it was easier for me to pump myself. I'd tried at home, which was very stupid of me since I no clue how to deflate the implant. I'm glad the pump was too hard for me to activate. I was very glad my wife was with me. As it turns out the pump is not positioned the way it's supposed to be positioned. It's sideways. While my surgeon said it would straighten out, it never did. It's not a big deal until it's time to find the button to deflate the implant. On our first night, I found myself unable to find the deflate button. If I went alone, I would have been necessary for me to drive 90 miles back to San Francisco to have my surgeon deflate my implant. If you can't take your partner with you, make sure you can inflate and deflate your implant BEFORE you leave the office. Make sure your partner can as well. Think of this appointment as your goodbye to impotence party.
Three Weeks Later We live in an amazing age. I can't describe what a blessing it is to get back what prostate surgery took away. My wife and I are enjoying our new found ability to make love once again. I've learned that I can only pump ten times. If I try to get harder by pumping longer I end up feeling pain which makes it impossible attain satisfaction. It's amazing to have the ability to get an erection and stay hard as long as your partner wants you to be hard. Most of the time, I like to deflate the implant after I've had an orgasm in order to mimic what sex was life prior to surgery. I understand why an implant has the highest satisfaction rate than every other form of treatment for ED. I'm glad I had the surgery and recommend it to every man who is healthy enough for surgery and who doesn't want to be impotent for the rest of their life. Don't let your anger or sense of betrayal toward the surgeon who removed your prostate stop you from going under the knife one more time. You'll be glad you did!.