An Infection After Surgery

[RickRed40]

I'm 13 days post surgery. Today my wife who is an RN noticed "yellowish crusting" on the surgical site. I looked and I didn't think it was very significant. I was wrong. Crusting, no matter how small, means there is an infection in my scrotum.

Hopefully antibiotics will take care of it because the worst case scenario a removal of the implant, then another surgery to try again seems to me an awful possibility. I don't know if I could go through this a second time. I hope the antibiotics work. I was surprised that I was only given a 5 day supply post surgery. I'd expected to have a two weeks of antibiotics post surgery. I'm curious how long others were told to take antibiotics post surgery.

[upandhard]

Man, RR! You've had a tough go of it. I am sorry you are going through all of this. I wish you all the best as you and your surgeon work towards resolving this situation. To answer your question, I was given a 5-day supply of antibiotics upon discharge as well (2 pills a day for 5 days).

[RickRed40]

Upandhard,
It has been tough. The idea of going back to UCSF to take the implant out and then to have the procedure performed again is something I'm not sure I'd be willing to go through. So I'm hoping the antibiotics work. I'm glad to hear you had 5 days of antibiotics. Both my wife and I expected a 2 week supply. I have no idea why I'd be infection free for 13 days, then start oozing from the surgery site. Besides antibiotics, I'm washing the site a few times a day and putting a topical antibiotic on the site a few times a day as well. Monday if all is clear, I'm good. If not I go back to UCSF. According to the research I've done these are two options:
In the presence of an infection the implant and all foreign material should be removed. A salvage procedure, during which the wound is thoroughly washed with antiseptic solutions after device removal and placement of a new implant during the same procedure, has a high success rate and is becoming a popular approach. The alternative, device removal with return at a later date for placing a new implant, entails a more difficult corporal dilation, and the resulting erection is noticeably shorter.

If I do need a removal, I'd like to have the salvage procedure rather than come back for a second surgery. Hope all of this isn't necessary.
Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Rick

[dothetime]

Had my implant last May, also had an infection. Antibiotics took care of it.
Hang in there. You should be OK with the antibiotics.
Dave

[RickRed40]

Dave,
That's VERY encouraging. Thanks for sharing your story.

[JDavid]

It seems to me that you need to meet Dr. Karpman.

[Neisseria]

An infection can occur up to months after the implant surgery, it all depends on the etiology, your inmunity, how "clean" the surgery was...
The prognosis of the infection also depends if it is in the closure of the wound ("good") or deeper around the implant (bad).
If you need a removal of the implant because of the infection i seriously advice you to take the salvage procedure: When the implant is taken out and not replaced, the corpora cavernosa is replaced with fibrous tissue, making a reoperation EXTREMELY difficult and with a LOT worst outcome (-2/4 inches).
I hope everything goes fine!

[gregorbehr]

Who did the surgery? I had my 2nd one done there... lost the first one due to infection.
I'm having "touch up" tomorrow, as the right cylinder has shifted and in danger of poking through the skin.

[Bigtime071]

Hi, Bionic Brother If you are not in terrible pain and dont have tremendous swelling and don't have chills or night sweats, you may be ok. Ive had it all. I'm on my 3rd implant in a year. Titan, semi ridgid, now Ams. So far so good. But the infection that I had was the worst feeling in my life. I thought I was dying. And it took 4 months to get rid of the infection. And the swelling. So, I hope you are ok. Take Care.

[PCHelp76180]

Dave,
That's VERY encouraging. Thanks for sharing your story.

How's the healing coming along RickRed40 ?