Severe Depression and Anxiety post implant

[Ezramoakes87]

Hey

I know this is a fairly old thread now but I'm awake at midnight, googling this issue I've had with my Titan implant and found this thread shadows my same experience to the letter. I read through it thinking I had written it myself. I too have had the exact same issue post implant, same exposure to medication and the same issues with communicating my concerns to my surgeon and other health professionals. The glans for me look irritated, red and I have continuous pain. I've tried everything and feel like I'm getting ignored.

I'm hoping you may be able to provide an update on what's happened with you since you've posted this thread? Or whether anyone can please help.

Thank you

[Benjohn]

Hey

I know this is a fairly old thread now but I'm awake at midnight, googling this issue I've had with my Titan implant and found this thread shadows my same experience to the letter. I read through it thinking I had written it myself. I too have had the exact same issue post implant, same exposure to medication and the same issues with communicating my concerns to my surgeon and other health professionals. The glans for me look irritated, red and I have continuous pain. I've tried everything and feel like I'm getting ignored.

I'm hoping you may be able to provide an update on what's happened with you since you've posted this thread? Or whether anyone can please help.

Thank you

Hi Ezra.

Balanitis is a fucking nightmare, it's the whole reason I left my foreskin retracted which is what caused my erectile dysfunction... So don't do that!

I'm guessing, like me, you're not circumcised? My advice would be to have a circumcision and it can cure the Balanitis for good.

I plan on getting a circumcision just before I get implanted. In the meantime, the urologist has advised me not to get a circumcision done because it'll reduce sensitivity and make my ED worse. Pain in the neck foreskin as far as I'm concerned

[bldoink]

I don't know the cause of your symptoms, as I understand them, as there can be quite a few. You didn't describe your condition in any detail.

I have suffered for years from a similar condition, not related to an implant as I don't have one. I am circumcised. I believe what I have is called Balanoposthitis although none of my doctors have used that term. For years doctors treated me with cortisone of one type or another. It was somewhat effective but required frequent use. Antibiotics as well as antifungals were also tried. Many doctors and years later my own research caused me to request a trial of Tacrolimus Ointment. It's expensive but a little goes a long way. It works well for me with most of my issue except one tiny spot that seems to prefer to be treated with cortisone. It will make the condition completely disappear but it isn't a cure and requires retreatment after a time. This drug has scary potential side effects listed but my newer dermatologist advised that those were for the stronger oral use of the drug.

I should clarify before you rush out and ask for a trial. I suffer somewhat mildly from eczema and psoriasis, which are both listed among potential causes of the condition. It can also be related to type 2 diabetes of which I'm borderline with. There are numerous other potential causes, many or most the same as with Balanitis. The point is that the Tacrolimus Ointment would be for cases related to autoimmune related issues like eczema and psoriasis often are. If that isn't your case then look elsewhere.

I'll also mention stress. Stress exacerbates the condition, which causes more stress, etc. Try to calm down and just methodically look for an effective treatment.

My issues probably don't relate to yours but I decided to post this on the outside chance that they do.

Good luck.

[oldbeek]

See a dermatologist. It is skin. I had a allergic reaction to a cipro drug Levofloxin prescribed for a lung infection. The skin on my glans and inside my mouth shed off and started to bleed. MY uro had no clue. My dentist ordered a biopsy for cancer. Your glans skin and mouth are different from your other skin. They are normally covered. I was circumcised at birth but type of skin is still different. Dermatologist prescribed Tacrolimus for both areas. There is one designed to be used orally.

[Ezramoakes87]

Hey

I know this is a fairly old thread now but I'm awake at midnight, googling this issue I've had with my Titan implant and found this thread shadows my same experience to the letter. I read through it thinking I had written it myself. I too have had the exact same issue post implant, same exposure to medication and the same issues with communicating my concerns to my surgeon and other health professionals. The glans for me look irritated, red and I have continuous pain. I've tried everything and feel like I'm getting ignored.

I'm hoping you may be able to provide an update on what's happened with you since you've posted this thread? Or whether anyone can please help.

Thank you

Hi Ezra.

Balanitis is a fucking nightmare, it's the whole reason I left my foreskin retracted which is what caused my erectile dysfunction... So don't do that!

I'm guessing, like me, you're not circumcised? My advice would be to have a circumcision and it can cure the Balanitis for good.

I plan on getting a circumcision just before I get implanted. In the meantime, the urologist has advised me not to get a circumcision done because it'll reduce sensitivity and make my ED worse. Pain in the neck foreskin as far as I'm concerned

Apologies it's taken this long to reply. Life happened- so anyway, Yeah I'm circumcised. In fact after my implant , about a couple of months after I had it installed I several major case of jock itch. I'd never had anything like that before, not a single case of fungal infection. I was given hydrocortisone to treat it and it did nothing. I was told to use it for a week and stop, wait a week and then start again till the infection cleared up. It didn't, and spread to my penis. Causing irritation under my foreskin. Eventually after 8 weeks I was given Fluconisole to traleat it and within two days it was gone. About 10 weeks later, I developed these red marks under my foreskin. I went to the doctor's and they told me it was thrush, then balanatis...again hydrocortisone. Within a week my penis went bright red, swollen and sore. I had a circumcision about 9 months after my implant to resolve this.

Then, I developed this slightly red-pink colourisation over my glans. Which depending on whether I've ejaculated or urinated will go angry and bright red until it calms down. There is also the slight feeling of a ice burn and the scar tissue is also pink. I've developed these strange spots which apparently by a dermatologist are normal but strange they'd develop only after all these procedures.

Overall, it's calmed down but my penis is a temperamental creature now, either it's fine or it's not fine depending on how it's reacting to anything external, like heat, lotions or environments.
I do believe that the hydrocortisone has damaged the skin as where I applied the Ointment to my legs has thinned the skin and caused straie (stretch marks), I'm a slim bloke so it's strange to note that having never had astretch marks till after the use of hydrocortisone is noticeable. I've seen a dermatologist, urologists and again my surgeon several times as sometimes I would like to remedy the issue. I don't believe it's as bad as it used to be but again, my penis is very sensitive to any change. I'm currently giving it a wide birth after using a scar reduction Ointment to help relieve some of the keloid scaring and remove some of the pink but I think it's irritated the skin. I have a low and tight circumcision scar also to no frenulum remaining and with the steroid Ointment use I think the pinkish hue comes from the diluted blood vessels.
Anyway, I'm rambling.

Hopefully this is enough detail.

[bldoink]

I'm no doctor but that sounds more like allergic contact dermatitis (allergic eczema). Find out what you're allergic to. It could even be laundry soap or softener your underwear gets washed with, or something else. I fought jock itch for years until I figured out it was the fabric softener and laundry soap causing the contact dermatitis and not jock itch.

[Ezramoakes87]

I'm no doctor but that sounds more like allergic contact dermatitis (allergic eczema). Find out what you're allergic to. It could even be laundry soap or softener your underwear gets washed with, or something else. I fought jock itch for years until I figured out it was the fabric softener and laundry soap causing the contact dermatitis and not jock itch.

Afternoon- so, last year (perhaps the year before, COVID has me loosing count) I had a dermatologist allergy test and came back clear on everything including the same materials the implant is made out of. It's increasing difficult to project your concerns to consultants who completely waive your issues. They do a test, nothing comes back in terms of results and then they don't investigate further. It's an increasing frustrating scenario.

I'm going back on Thursday to see my GP. Hopefully get a new referral out there but the current waiting time is 56 weeks. I don't know what else to do.

[bldoink]

I'm going back on Thursday to see my GP. Hopefully get a new referral out there but the current waiting time is 56 weeks. I don't know what else to do.

Medical professionals don't always seem professional. You can see if your GP will work with you. Do some research on your own. Explain your frustration. Plead your case and see if your GP will help you work through some options and trials. I've had to do that. You have to be very careful dealing with your GP. Doctors, surprisingly, often seem to have fragile egos so you have to be very tactful in guiding them in trialing options. I've had good luck with several GPs doing this but it has been touch and go on occasion.

I have no idea what is causing your issues. However, I'd try switching to hypoallergenic laundry detergent, laundry fabric softener and bath soap. Chances are not great that any of those are your problem but the miniscule cost of trying that makes it a no-brainer to test it. I'd do all three at once and give a pause to anything else you're putting on your groin area. I know I can only use grease based ointments for a limited time before I'll start having an allergic eczema reaction. I still use them but only for brief periods of time.

In a previous post I mentioned Tacrolimus Ointment. I believe the brand name is Protopic Ointment. It's very expensive and not risk free but it may be worth a trial. It has worked well for me but I don't use it constantly or more than necessary and I will occasionally use foam or liquid steroids but not often.

Good luck.