Journal of Sorts

[Courage]

Day 1

One step forward, two steps back. On the plus side, urinating is largely pain free and mostly clear of pink.

Now the steps back . . . I finally had my first bowel movement in days despite taking colace consistently. From finding the position to sit in to getting a big load out to getting up afterward, it was kinda difficult. Then I noticed swelling of the area above the penis, where they put the reservoir and the drain opening. I must admit the swelling scares me a bit.

Getting up and down from bed or sitting is another challenge. My lower abdomen is sensitive to just about any movement and is uncomfortable with contracting my core or bending. Not pain, per se, but discomfort.

I know there would be bumps no matter what and I'm starting to hit them.

[equusAz]

Yeah - hang in there. I had Dilaudid to help me through. Swelling is normal - but running a fever is NOT. Keep that in mind. Ibupropherin and Tylenol CAN be taken together remember - just alternate them - every three hours and use ICE for the first couple of days.

[Courage]

Yeah - hang in there. I had Dilaudid to help me through. Swelling is normal - but running a fever is NOT. Keep that in mind. Ibupropherin and Tylenol CAN be taken together remember - just alternate them - every three hours and use ICE for the first couple of days.

Thanks, man. Doing my best with the icing. The cold compresses I had were sadly inadequate. I'm using shipping gel packs. Much better!

[Courage]

Day 2

Pain still at bay. I see in operation notes that they used nerve blocks. Thank goodness.

I was scared of another hard movement so have been taking more Colace, and finally added senna and milk of magnesia. Problem, problem solved.

Mobility is limited because of drain and discomfort in abdomen. Getting in and out of bed is the worst of it.

Tomorrow the drain is removed. Theoretically I could do it myself but I would prefer they do it. A shower sounds good right now.

[Courage]

Day 3

At the risk of jinxing myself, and with apologies to the guys suffering, I'm pain free. I worry that the nerve block is holding back the tide and I'll somehow have to pay later with only Tylenol and an NSAID on hand. But that's later.

I had the drain removed today at the doctor's office--I'm not fucking around cutting sutures next to an incision site. There was some swelling and bruising in the lower abdomen and some bruising on the scrotum by the incision.

I got my first post-surgical shower . . . which I needed.

Pee is still starting a bit pink with some tiny red clots, changing to normal in the course of taking a leak. I also have no aim with the partial erection. There's some sense of urinary urgency, which makes sense given the placement of the reservoir.

I've figured out how to keep my dick pointing upwards for now: rolling up gauze and putting between the shaft and balls inside a jockstrap. Tomorrow I might start doing some exercise the surgeon recommended, moving my penis around like a joystick.

[equusAz]

The blood in the urine is pretty normal - especially if you haven't had a catheter before. More than likely they nicked your urethra - nothing to be alarmed at.

I asked my surgeon how long the pain block lasts - his response was 'a few hours at best.' So - I doubt you are pain free because of that. I came off my Opiods on day three - but stuck with the Tylenol and NSAIDS for quite a while. Don't mess with the sutures - you already have that.

I was pretty sensitive for quite a while - dick wise. Yesterday was my first day wearing pants - today is day two and its much better - I expect it to improve from here on out.

Sounds like you're doing well!

[Courage]

The blood in the urine is pretty normal - especially if you haven't had a catheter before. More than likely they nicked your urethra - nothing to be alarmed at.

. . .

Sounds like you're doing well!

I am! Only previous catheterization was when I was a kid in ICU. That experience sucked hard.

[Courage]

Day 4

After the drain was removed, swelling in the pubic area expanded. I still felt good enough to stand, walk a few blocks to get tea, and sit upright in a chair. Ended up with bruising on both sides of my testes. I don't want to lie down too much, so I'm going to do some more venturing tomorrow.. For now, ice!

Still a bit of blood clots in urine.

I've been feeling around my balls to see if I can identify the pump and feel the parts, and I haven't really found it. It's on the left side (scrotum feels fuller there).

Most importantly, I'm still nearly pain free. I'm incredibly thankful for that.

[Courage]

Day 5

I think things are healing generally.

Eureka! After a good deal of looking I found the pump in my sack. It isn't obvious visually--you have to poke between the testes to feel it. I'm supposed to tug it down daily. That doesn't sound like fun.

Sitting in any sort of chair right now makes my balls sore. I'd like to get back to working my desk job next week, at least from home. Anybody know how to play it stealth with a donut cushion?

[Courage]

Day 7

Feeling the mildest twinges of regret today. I keep wondering if I'd given the Tri-Mix more of a chance or the vacuum pump, would this have been needed? Rationally, I think this is where things were heading if I wanted more of a sex life than difficult masturbation.

I've had some mild pain--the tubes and pump rubbing from within as I start walking and moving more and skin chaffing and soreness from the regrowth of shaved hair and the flaking off of dermabond. I tried the doctor's suggestion of moving the penis like a joystick--what I think he intends to be what are locally called "Peritos"; it's too soon for that. I trust all of these are short-lived.

I finally figured out how to get the shaft to point upward during recovery. I wear the front of a jockstrap low in front, tape the shaft in gauze, and tuck it under the waistband. I'm looking at baby socks to replace the guaze.

At the pump-level I've been left at for recovery, there's still a curve--I had a roughly 30 degree Peyronie's curve fully erect going in. I'm curious to see if a fuller pump mitigates this. Since the two other doctors I saw said a plication wouldn't be necessary, I nixed that part of the procedure (with my surgeon's agreement). I'm guessing the stiffer tubes of the CX will do the straightening job but I'm wondering what it will feel and look like. Currently, my dick looks mostly like a slightly erect version of my pre-implant flaccid after getting mugged. There's a small "dowager's hump" of gathered skin on one side and a bit of "flatness" laterally.

Overall, I'm still hopeful but the recovery process gives you a lot of time to think and feel unproductive things.