Stretching and Pat Search

[sooner]

I had my IPP surgery on January 21 and all is going well. I go for two week check-up tomorrow. I have a couple of questions.
1. Seems quite crowded in my scrotum. Has anybody experienced their scrotum stretching to accomodate the pump?

2. I work in a secure environment which requires all employees to be pat searched when entering some areas. Anybody ever had an issue with pat searches and their IPP? Officers are taught to use the back of their hand to go up the leg into the crotch area and I think an officer might feel the pump. I'd rather not have to explain my impant at work. Never thought of this before the implant. Anybody been through this experience?

[Techman52]

Things will improve with time. Is the pump loose in the scrotum, did you get the usual instructions to keep tugging it down as much as possible to prevent adhesion? This will ( or can be ) painful or uncomfortable but needs to be done . Soaking in a hot tub or warm bath with epsom salts not only feels good but makes the boys relax and easier to tug.

With regard to pat-downs, did your surgeon give you a card to carry in your wallet? With the LGX the mfg supplies the surgeons a card that describes what is implanted in a very clinical format. You might also want to talk with your Human Resources or Security Office and advise them. It's not something "personal" but from a medical standpoint.

Best regards for a speedy recovery and years of enjoyment
Larry

[Dave92014]

I think that the scrotum with pump will not feel much different to the security people than the garden variety scrotum. But it is always possible that a security person could detect something different and want further info or inspection. I second the suggestion above that you discuss the situation with the head of security. A discrete conversation with that person in a closed office would be more comfortable than explaining to security guards during a search. Possibly the head of security could give you a written statement that he has researched the implant in your scrotum and verified that it is not a security threat. Then if a guard does detect a difference you could just hand them the written statement and let them read it. That would be easier than a discussion of the subject.

I will relate a small story which is somewhat similar. When my doc gave me the pre-op instructions, one was to buy the special Jockey underwear to provide support after the surgery. His nurse said there was a Jockey Outlet store two freeway exits from the doc and I should go there. So I did with my picture of exactly what underwear I should buy. The store had many different kinds of Jockey underwear so after looking for a few minutes I could not find the right kind. I went to the female clerk, who was about 60 years old and showed her the picture. She knew exactly what I wanted and led me over to the display of them. And then she said “they come in several colors but I suggest you get white so that any bleeding from the surgery incision will be obvious”. My thought at that point was “wow, even the clerk at the underwear store is going to be aware of my surgery.” So counting all the nurses at the hospital, the hospital admin staff, various insurance processors, my doc’s two assistants and my doc, a lot of people are aware of the surgery. I don’t talk about it in general but it seems necessary for quite a few people to know about it for various reasons. You might as well add the head of security to your list.

BTW, I have flown on commercial air once since my surgery and at one end had to go through the body xray scanner that now is being discontinued because it shows all your body parts. They immediately okayed my body scan and did not do any additional checking.

[rlm1818]

did you get the usual instructions to keep tugging it down as much as possible to prevent adhesion? This will ( or can be ) painful or uncomfortable but needs to be done .

I don't think these are the "usual instructions". Yes, many patients do get this advice. But, in my case, the instructions were pretty much the opposite. Don't do anything to knock it out of position during the initial healing process. I think it varies depending on whether the incision was scrotal or pubic, and especially if scrotal, whether the surgeon places the pump is a specific position and attempts to secure it there. It seems, from reading accounts here, that many times when the incision is pubic, the doc has trouble placing the pump in an exact location in the scrotum, and so the instructions tend to be to tug in into place. With a scrotal incision, my doc, and others, place the pump in a specific place and fashion a bit of a pouch for it. I think trying to move it around is counter-productive in these cases.

I think what you should do depends on what your surgeon instructs and how he has done the surgery.

Whether the pump can be felt on a pat or other touch depends a lot on where the pump ends up. In my case a gentle direct touch will not reveal anything. It takes a significant direct touch to feel it. Mine is placed in back and somewhat high. For some guys, it hangs lower and maybe more forward.

[sooner]

Thanks for your replies. Mine's a scrotal incision and the surgeon didn't give any instructions. The pump is like a third ball in the middle and low. Seems like it might feel a little hard compared to the usual equipment if the search is conducted properly. I don't have low hangers, so there's not a lot of room to pull it down. Seems as low as it can go now. I'm a senior executive, so talking to the head of HR or Security would mean talking to people I know very well, but I agree that's the best way to approach it. No matter. I'm a very happy man to have the IPP and I've had minimal pain and healing quite quickly.
sooner