Prosthesis activation

[CurDog]

Hello guys,

I am new to your forum, but have been reading your posts for several days. I battled Peyronie's Disease and ED for 4 years and finally decided on a Prosthesis. On Friday 7-15-11 my doctor activated the AMS LGX implant. However, he did not explain clearly the procedure, especially the deflating process. I tried to pump it myself on Saturday and manage to pump it up to the point of pain. I had a difficult time deflating because I was not sure if my finger was on the button. (Kinda like looking for a clitoris the first time). On Sunday I was not as awkward, but did not manage to get it deflated enough, apparently, because I am very sore today. I am in my 7th week and my questions are: What can I expect about pain, how long does the entire process take before everything is seated, how often should I pump, how long do I need to keep it erect each time?

From what I experienced yesterday, I am very pleased with what I saw: girth increase, length is acceptable and symmetry is very good.

Another problem I am dealing with is the surgeon. He is very arrogant and comes across as Medical Diety instead of Medical doctor. He was recomended as being the best in the field by several people and he is affiliated with a great hospital. I ain't impressed! I tried to explain that I had experienced a lot pain and he retorted: "I am not here to assess your pain." I left his office at that point.

I certainly understand that this a personal problem and maybe shouldn't be brought up here, however, this issue has clouded my judgement somewhat. I would appreciate any answers and advice.

Thanks,
Larry

[antelope]

Many surgeons seem to take a course in asshole. Fire him and then file a complaint with the State Medical Board. There is no excuse for his attitude or his behavior.

[knotreel]

Wow! you sorta got dumped. My doc has a great PA who is(was) very helpful. Since we both have the same implant I will tell you what i was told.
Pump up once a day and and keep it inflated for an hour. You probably will have to work up to the hour. Expect some pain for a couple of months. My first pain was at the tips after that got better the "base" where the rear extension tips go into some body part would ache as the hour was ending. After i pump mine up, afwe a few minutes I can pump it up more whth some noticable effect, I can repeat this several times but pumped up that much it is dificult to last an hour an I am nearing 6 mo. post activation an it still is. It took me a couple of weeks after activation to get to the right level of infaltion fot training. I did use mine a few weeks after activation but I should say "tried" to use cause it began to hurt very soon. One hint I learned was not to pump it up more that one time after the initial inflation ( initial inflation defined as pumped as much as I can) or it would begin to hurt. Still if I pump it several times to get it as tight as it can be, it begins to hurt while in use. So, it doesn't have to be super hard to use.
Now about deflation. There are two ways to go about it. First and most simple it push in the button once and leave it alone. It will slowly deflate but your penis will look about like it did during the recovery period, full, just a wee bit of a semi errection, Really it's just full of fluid but with no pressure.
The other way to deflate is push and hold the button down while you squeeze your penis. Doing this you can virtually empty the cylinders and you penis will be small and very flexible again. I was very relieved to be able to do this as I was used to the old me not having to worry about where to put the thing.

Don't expect much soon, just keep inflated to break in your new equipment. It definately has a breakin requirement and in two months or so you will begin to think this whole deal is pretty good.
Ron

[CurDog]

Ron

You told me more in your reply than I have heard from the entire treatment team, which includes nurses, PA, interns, and the Surgeon.

I sometimes wonder if I would have been implanted if I had known about the pain, the hospital process, the length of recovery and all the unknown factors. I just keep reminding myself that all good things are supposed to work for good.

I really appreciate the time you took to explain the pump procedure. Thank you!

Larry

[knotreel]

I agree, I had no idea and I guess I expected it to hurt after surgery but even though some guys put theirs to use right after activation, I think most of us are then into a 2 month break in period. However, considering all the negatives, I am glad I got it done. It is really nice nice to not have to worry if I will get an erection and if it will last. So, start pumping! Another thing, as it is sometimes to difficult to find a good time to sit around for and hour with a major woody, which I did for months. I now like to pump up as I go to bed every night and do my time while I read and my favorite is pumping up after my 5 am piss. I pump up before gettting back in bed and have the morning woody like days of old. Even after about 5 months after activation the lgx does give me pain as it continues to try to grow.

[Illuminist]

I would say it all depends on your surgeon. Mine treated me like he was my best friend. I received a key chain to practice with after seeing him for the first appointment since I told him I would definitely be scheduling an operation within the next month or two. This allowed me to get used to the release valve and how to squeeze etc.

The second thing I noticed with most people on this board is they opt for the scrotal approach. This looks far to painful for me and must be the reason people are still not using their implants months after surgery. Infrapubic approach had me walking around normally right out of surgery. I was able to feel and activate my pump the day they released me from the hospital. My surgeon prescribed me percocet to kill the pain while I was getting used to deflating and inflating. I would be 100% healed if it wasn't for my severe scarring that caused him to make an incision on my under shaft as well.

I am going to see him for the post op appointment where he will see how much things have healed. Had I known my frequent priapisms would cause the scarring it did, I would have got an implant a year ago. Then I wouldn't have lost any length at all. I am happy with my length and added girth now though.

[knotreel]

Illuminist, you have a point about scotal vs infrapubic, sometimes I forget and assume everybody had the scotal approach like I did. Major scotal swelling! However, I had no choice as the implant was an add on to my artificial urinary sphincter proceedure which has a scotal approach for the cuff placement. That said, the shafts, particularly the tips were painful during the intial streching exercises. I don't know if that would be different with either appoach. After almost six months streching is still going on with my lgx. but tips are good now.

[CurDog]

My procedure was infrapubic.

I talked to American Medical Systems (AMS) today. I discovered that pain is not unusual for 6-8 months. The small amount of instruction that I got at activation was of no use. AMS is sending me a packet, which includes a practice pump. They also publish an "owners manual" (that is funny) on their website. I just hope I don't die before I get this thing up and running.

That elusive little button just won't give up. Seems like I have been chasing a magical little button all my life! My wife seems to think I know where a little button is. This whole scenario is rather comical at this point.

Thanks, you guys, for the input. This is no longer a problem for me - it is an unsolved opportunity.

[knotreel]

Unless your scrotum is still swollen the button should be pretty easy to find at this point. My pump is on my left side and the button is facing out. In fact when I push the pump unit over to the outside I can easily see the button. It seems pumps are placed in all sorts of positions like some are between the testicles, or at least that's what some say. So if that is how yours is I don't know what to say other than try pulling it into a position you can work it properly. You might have seen that there has been a lot of discussion on this site about where the pump is, moving the pump,ect. When mine was new it sorta got tangled up in some of the cords? ducts?, or what ever is in there, but I has able to gently untangle it. Now as others have reported, my pump has made it's own area that it stays in and does not move around much. I think the pump is free to move but the tubes seem to have anchored themselves into surounding tissue. If you think the pump needs moving, genltly pull it several times a day holding it in position for a while before releasing it. As time goes on you will not be able to move it much later. My doctors never mentioned anything about moving either of my pumps and other than the tangle, they are both located where I like them. Other's report doctors telling the to pull it down. So, if it's not in a good spot or it's too high pull it down. If it is between your testicles I don't know, but I doubt you can move it over to a side, but I think you can work on getting the button to point to a good direction for use and still you might be able to pull it lower if need be. I am telling you all this but I have never done this as mine was good. I hope somebody else comments. If you think your pump needs adjustment, start a thread on that subject and you'll get plently of advice from people who have done this.
Well good luck with the break in and I hope you can soon put it to use.
Ron

[CurDog]

Illuminist

I am interesting in knowing about: "people are still not using their implants months after surgery"

I am beginning to believe that an implant may be a huge mistake.