Well. Here I am. It's showtime!

[ThailandBound]

Please do tell me about the flight home. How did you feel going through security and walking to the gate? How were you during the flight itself? I plan to fly home on day 3.

[AmansinCali]

Hi Thailandbound,

Welcome to the site. Waiting for your surgery date is difficult because your mind throws all the "what-ifs" to you, and you end up worrying about all the wrong stuff. I like to tell guys that they have done all their homework and have chosen their surgeon with care, now is the time to just go submissive to your doctor, let him be the Captain, I know that is hard, I was one for many years too.

You have chosen an experienced, high-volume, respected doctor, who knows his job and he will take good care of you. He knows what works and what doesn't, follow his instructions as close as you can.

Another thing I recommend is to lay flat as you can for as many days as you can, it really helps keep the swelling down. You will feel the pressures in your body change when you go from laying flat to sitting or standing. Standing is preferable to sitting, I was told not to sit with your feet on the floor and that turned out to be good advice. When you get home lay flat as much as possible.

The pain for me was easily managed, but I was careful to take my meds as prescribed, if it said "Every 8 hours" I did it exactly that way. I only used the oxycodone for the first two days and then only once the third morning, then I was able to control the pain with 1,000 mg of Tylenol every 8 hours. You can only take 3,000 mg a day and it works well.

My surgery and recovery went perfect as most of them do. Sometimes you can get the idea on FT there are a lot of problems in recovery, but remember, the guys that have an easy recovery don't usually post, the guys with the problems post a lot.

Above all, stop worrying, everything will go just fine, there is nothing to fear. This surgery is life changing and you will never regret it.

You are going to have an enchanted life ahead of you, I love Thailand too and the people are wonderful, especially the women.

[Tokyo_123]

Thank you for your reply. Since we have the same surgeon, please tell me about your experience. You’re 4 months in. Can you share a summary of your experience thus far?

The nerve block he administers. How would you have felt about traveling by airplane (2 hour flight) on day 3, as he is recommending to me?

Pls check you PM.

[riseagain]

I am hoping they change the age to 67.

[ThailandBound]

I am hoping they change the age to 67.

Oh gawd. Not me. I was in my 40's when they changed it from 60 to 65. As you apparently know, that slows the baby elephant walk to advancement back 5 years, since most guys stayed to 65. I have the opportunity to fly the coop next year, on my 64th birthday. Regardless of what happens with the age restriction, I'm outta here. (Loved the career though, just genuinely ready for some "me time", after raising two sons, two ex-wives, and 40+ years of career related stress. Regards amigo.

[ThailandBound]

Hi Thailandbound,

Welcome to the site. Waiting for your surgery date is difficult because your mind throws all the "what-ifs" to you, and you end up worrying about all the wrong stuff. I like to tell guys that they have done all their homework and have chosen their surgeon with care, now is the time to just go submissive to your doctor, let him be the Captain, I know that is hard, I was one for many years too.

You are going to have an enchanted life ahead of you, I love Thailand too and the people are wonderful, especially the women.

Thank you so much for the encouraging words. I gather we have had the same career. And you are right....let the Captain be the Captain. That old adage.

Rule #1: The Captain is always right.
Rule #2: When you think the Captain is wrong, refer to rule #1.

What you said about Dr. Clavell being respected and high volume seems on the mark. He has been the picture of compassion and information so far. Like you, I'll do everything he said. On schedule, on time. I'll let your words soak in about relaxing and just let him be the Captain. You're right.

[etj4588]

Please do tell me about the flight home. How did you feel going through security and walking to the gate? How were you during the flight itself? I plan to fly home on day 3.

The plane ride yesterday was not bad. The long walk through the airport, however, was rough. I couldn't walk as fast as I usually do and I found that the longer I walked the more I experienced pain. I even took a Ketorolac before the Uber picked me up.

I was worried about TSA and walking through the Xray machine, but nothing happened (I am TSA Precheck, so not sure if that made it easier). Coloplast does give you a card to show if you do get stopped which explains that you have an implant that contains metal.

I forgot to check my bag and so I had to lift it (about 30 lbs) into the overhead bin on the plane - you're not supposed to lift anything more than 10 lbs because you can shift the resevoir in your stomach wall. Nothing happened, but I was worried about it. I flew home in a Delta Comfort Plus seat which gives you more leg room - totally not worth it btw. I had no problem sitting in the seat other than they don't use a lot of padding so my ass hurt (more than my junk). I was fairly comfortable during the 3 hour flight home - maybe the drugs kicked in by then.

My wife picked me up at the airport and we had a 20 minute drive home which was fairly easy.

[ThailandBound]

Please do tell me about the flight home. How did you feel going through security and walking to the gate? How were you during the flight itself? I plan to fly home on day 3.

The plane ride yesterday was not bad. The long walk through the airport, however, was rough. I couldn't walk as fast as I usually do and I found that the longer I walked the more I experienced pain. I even took a Ketorolac before the Uber picked me up.

I forgot to check my bag and so I had to lift it (about 30 lbs) into the overhead bin on the plane - you're not supposed to lift anything more than 10 lbs because you can shift the resevoir in your stomach wall. Nothing happened, but I was worried about it. I flew home in a Delta Comfort Plus seat which gives you more leg room - totally not worth it btw. I had no problem sitting in the seat other than they don't use a lot of padding so my ass hurt (more than my junk). I was fairly comfortable during the 3 hour flight home - maybe the drugs kicked in by then.

Thank you very much for your reply. Yep. I envision making that walk through the Houston airport looking like a self-conscious "night of the living dead" zombie, but your words were comforting. I received a message from another Dr. Clavell patient who flew home to his Asian destination with a 15 hour flight and all went well. Just going for it. Thanks for writing. And please keep me/us posted on every aspect!

[etj4588]

Thank you very much for your reply. Yep. I envision making that walk through the Houston airport looking like a self-conscious "night of the living dead" zombie, but your words were comforting. I received a message from another Dr. Clavell patient who flew home to his Asian destination with a 15 hour flight and all went well. Just going for it. Thanks for writing. And please keep me/us posted on every aspect!

I am a bit concerned about my recovery but I am not panicked just yet. My surgery was on Tuesday around 12:30pm. It is now Sunday at 2:30pm EST. So I am a full 5 days post surgery and I still cannot feel the underside of my shaft. It is totally numb. The pain in my groin region is subsiding a bit but I would have thought it would be much less by now. I'm no spring chicken at 52, but i am on the younger side of things for this surgery so I thought the recovery would have been faster.

I'm going to check in with Clavell if there isn't any noticeable changes by day 7.

[Mr.Wiff]

Thanks for sharing. I’ve been to Thailand and I actually had another trip planned there last month but when trimix stop being reliable you know I cancelled. I’m 10 days after surgery and the only real pain I had was removal of the catheter. I also spent most of my time alone after but it was by choice. I just the confidence to know I will be ready whenever I want makes it all worth it to me. Regardless of possible revisions I do not ever want to return to the day of seeing a gorgeous woman with her legs open egging for it as I am only semi erect. No thanks. good luck and I’m confident whatever you go through will be worth it.