My Journal

[merrix]

Day 26 post op

The weird symptoms
Alibaba, who wrote a reply in the 'Weird post op symptoms' thread, is probably right. And I believe that as well.
The problem though is that right now, what is stopping me from feeling quite ok, is not really the implant itself. It causes minor issues which I know are improving and soon will be gone (slight discomfort when increasing activity level, practical issues as how to fit my flaccid in my suit...). Plus, it has already started to let me reap the benefits in the bedroom.

What really bothers me and keeps me in a 'feeling weak and sick mode' is rather these other weird issues.
Feeling blushed, weak and easily fatigued, waking up sweating like crazy in the middle of the night, wondering whay the heck my blood pressure is elevated and wondering why my urine is dark yellow even though I think I drink more than ever before.

To be specific, my BP has been 120/80 for years, and was at the pre op visit to Eid day before surgery as well.
Eid's nurses checked my BP by routine every time I went there post op and it was every time in the range of 140-144/85-92.
Eid recommended me as I said before to get it treated with pills. And if I was lucky, it could still be reversible and a short term problem due to the stress from implant surgery. He thought it was unlikely though considering how long time had passed now. He rather thought I was predisposed to high BP and that the surgery stress had revealed and triggered it, and that now I had to live with it. And take pills for it. He recommended me to go see a doctor for it.

So I did yesterday. Had to go to the emergency Saturday night, since I will be travelling monday to friday the coming two weeks.
They tested the BP, it was 143/87. They took an EKG as well, which was normal. Pulse measured on the finger tip:90, from the EKG: 72.
This GP doc, wanted me to see a cardiologist of course to first of all determine any cause of high BP and decide if or not to prescribe pills. He said he could give me a week's worth of low dose pills till I saw the cardiologist if I was worried.
His opinion was that this level of BP was probably not high enough to take pills, since the lower number 87 was under the limit 90. He agreed however that the increased level is something to investigate - hence the appointment with the cardiologist. He wanted me to get a home device to measure BP if I was to take the pills. To make sure that even though the dose was low, I did 't go too low BP which can cause fainting.

So i took the pills, bought a device, and tested again when I got home late Saturday night.
127/75. A lot lower than an hour earlier at the hospital. In a way an even healthier level than pre op.
Pills supposd to be taken mornings. So I waited till Sunday morning, tested again.
135/78. Manual of device says BP is highest level at morning.
So if this frigging Braun device is reliable the high BP issue is no more.
I skipped the pills, left the device at home and left to the airport.

Managed to get in to my suit with a suspicious straight-up hardon, and now waiting in the lounge at the airport.
Feels good to be back in normal routines.
Looking forward to be back in action in the office.
If I decide to skip worries of BP, sweating and urine (which I will try to), only interesting issue is how I will respond to being up on my feet or sitting for 14-15 hours daily. Nowhere near what I have done so far.

Need to go the gate.
Till next time.

[Kokomo]

West to East Jet Lag won't be helping your situation

I've been doing that route for 30 years and it still takes 2 weeks of very disturbing
symptoms to recover
My blood pressure rises considerably
Cabin pressure significantly affects reactive arthritis I caught from a mosquito bite

With what you've been through the last few weeks I'm sure you will have exaggerated symptoms

You'll get through it

Great journal

[alibaba]

Sounds like another day moving forward. Don't over think things and concentrate on moving into your normal routine. I think you will be fine. I have taken Metoprolol for a decade for high B.P. and probably should have for 2 decades. Ever increasing doses till now I take 50mg extended release 2x a day ( B.I.D.) plus spike it with 10 mg cialis in the morning and 20 mg in the evening. Metoprolol as with most B.P. meds can kill your erections but that is no issue for you now. Other than that, I have found Metoprolol to be very benign and does an excellent job. No stuffy nose like Cialis. Dr. Brandes told me that most people with high B.P. over a long period of time have the same issues I did. Your dick gets used to operating on high blood pressure from the high stress work, though over time it will ruin it, then you adjust it to a safe level and there is nolonger enough B.P. to run a now high pressure dick. I have an international commercial drivers license that has a restriction that I have to maintain a B.P. below 140, even though my passport application has laid on my desk for years un-applied. Until the last 10 months it has been in the upper 120's. Mid 140's is getting to be a common occurrence again now. Keep your arm level with your heart for a proper reading. Gravity affects B.P. Arm in lap will be higher. B.P. meds lower your pulse. below 60 bpm is the usual threshold where you should see the doc. 50 bpm or less and they say go to the emergency as you have a high risk of heart failure, blood clots or stroke. I know some extreme athletes normally have low numbers and that is their norm. Our son's pulse is always around 62-65. Mine is but med induced which is better than the stroke of 2009 or the B.P. of 212 on St. Patrick's day 2011. Your body is adjusting. B.P. meds are pretty benign and you may well not need them quite soon. If you are feeling horny and a built up desire to release which this surgery has kept you from or high testosterone, that can raise B.P. Hot baths and earplugs or hearing protectors can raise B.P. too. Cheers. Don't stress. That girl with the big tits across the concourse is looking your way. d.

[merrix]

Day 26 post op

So I checked that bloody BP again on sunday morning at home, and it was as said 135/78.
Way much better than the 140/90 I've been at ever since surgery.

I boarded the flight for my business trip, a 4.5 hours flight.
I had to pee 3 times on the flight, and immediately after landing.
4 times in 5 hours. Lately it's rather been 4 times per day.
Urine still not as clear as it normally is, but at least better than lately.

Arrived late sunday night at a huge city in eastern Asia.
Have a busy week ahead of me in a 'smaller' city without premium international hospitals.
Then only a weekend back home, and then travelling again.
Not easy to make an appointment with a doctor.
So, I went to the emregency late sunday night at a very good international hospital, where all the expat families of this huge city go, and told my story to an american female doctor.
She confirmed with tests (twice) that my BP was normal again (128/77 and 125/75, two measurements). She absolutely didn't think the pain killers I took was enough for an overdose reaction, and wasn't paricularly worried about the urine issue. Sweating another story, could indicate something.
She ran all the tests she could get a response on in the middle of a sunday night.
I waited an hour, got a long list of blood/urine test items back and everything (including kidney function) was normal.
She still thought I'd go and see an internist when I have time to discuss the sweating issues.

As I finally got to bed around 3 am that night, I had 5 hours sleep and the sweating was still there, even though less than before.

Overall, I feel better. I am glad the BP issue seems ok, let's see if it stays that way.
Urination as said starting to feel better, and so does sweating.

I'll take her advice and see an internist on Friday back home.
But since I do not believe in that I have all of a sudden developed some serious condition totally independent of the implant at the same time as that surgery, I like to believe that all these three issues in some way was a stress reaction on pain, painkillers, mental stress etc.
And since one seems reverted, one is getting better, I expect the third one to reverse as well.
We will see.

Right now sitting at a train station in the huge city, one of the largest in the world, having a coffee at Starbucks and waiting for my train out to one of our factories.

I tried to wear the flaccid in the 'normal' (is there such a thing anymore..?) position, i.e. down and bent back. It worked for 30 minutes and then got uncomfortable. Now sideways...
But it is getting better.

Pain is not there anymore, just a slightly uncomfortable feeling from the scrotum, and the penis if I don't point it straight up. Absolutely not 'pain' which requires pain killers or affects me. Just slight discomfort and unusual feeling. Well, get used to it.

Regarding my 2 o'clock erection which grew famous here on FT, it is no more. I'd say it is now 2:30.
But my flaccid is down to 4-4:30 instead of the previous 3-3:30, and can be pushed down to 5 without much resistance.
The 2 hours difference between the erection and the flaccid seems to be constant...

Finally, a little advice:
I have found it hard to find the best way to keep the penis while sleeping.
I want it to point up, and in the early days that was the only option.
How to keep it firmly pointed up without causing discomfort though?
I tried the jock straps and the waistband is just too low.
That means either the waisband must be across the glans which just hurts over time.
Or they must be pulled up high over the dick, which crushes the scrotum and causes discomfort over time.

So - take a toilet paper roll (without the paper of course), put your dick in it covering the glans.
Then wear your normal favorite underwear with the waistband right across the penis.
Only now you won't feel any discomfort from the waistband since the dick is protected by the paper roll.
The waistband holds the roll in place, and the roll holds the penis in place.
And you feel no discomfort!
I wish I had found this out in the early days, I'd have wore that paper roll 24 hours a day.
Now it doesn't work in daytime - that would be a bit too much to show in the office - but it works wonders in night time.

[alibaba]

I've been trying on various underwear trying to figure out what will work and the elastic over penis issue is one I've been struggling with. Toilet tube is an interesting discovery. Glad your urine culture on your urinalysis has no issue. Urinary tract infections can cause sweating but won't show a spike in your white blood cell count unless quite an infection. Throw yourself into your work routine to take your mind off dick throbs, don't stress. It's only been a month. Your body is probably still trying to figure out "What the hell is going on here?" with your new parts. Stress, surgeries, bodies general reaction can trigger histimine responses or adreneline response. Either or both can raise B.P., pulse rate and temp. It is simple built in survival response to something it is not used to be it stabs of pain. Keep in mind, before the implant if something caused a stab of pain in your penis or hit it, it would with draw up. It still has to figure out you do not have the withdraw reflex any more. Another WTF is going on here that your body has to figure out. The implant keeps it from shrinking or pulling away. My balls do not have the reflex action after 4 hernia repairs. My wife used to love to touch them and watch them move around on their own. Be well. Get back to work. Ignore your dick and you will get used to it faster. Thank you for sharing the paper roll idea. Cheers. d

[merrix]

Day 27

Two of three of the weird issues cleared. BP two days ago, urine issue today. Been drinking lots of water in the office and pissing clear urine all the time.
In bed now and we'll see what happens with the sweating tonight...

Very good to be back in action at work, even though I'm still walking like Zeb Macahan through the corridors.
And it's still a challenge how to place the flaccid in a suit. I am 100% sure that it will be fine with time since I can conceal it nicely. It's just that with time it gets uncomfortable and I need to cycle the positioning between up, left, down, right with every toilet visit.
But hey - no problem. I'll happily do so for as long as it takes till I can comfortably keep it pointing down a full day.

Most of all just great to be back in action and having something else to focus on.

Good night from merrix.
With his dick in a toilet paper roll..!

[alibaba]

You are the cause. I packed a toilet paper tube for the trip. d

[Watsupp]

I haven't had an implant but typical after most surgeries or temporary medical conditions like tension/migraine headache, the pain can drive up the blood pressure, also with all the stress chemicals the body releases after a major surgery, the BP can go up. As was typical, as the days progressed so did your BP ( went down). But always safe to rule out things by visiting your primary Doctor

[cincinnatus1951]

Merrix: I'm only 6 days post op, today I went to my Monday card game, I wore underarmor compression shorts. They are not so tight as to be uncomfortable and I had ample room for my penis lying up, but to the side. We able to get in and out of the car move around inside with minimal discomfort. Don't envy you with lots of moving around in a suit and having to be tied down essentially all day. i only had to tolerate it a couple of hours. I imagine after six or eight, it would become most uncomfortable. The TP roll sounds like a good temporary solution.
Cincinnatus

[moetheman]

Most of all just great to be back in action and having something else to focus on.

I think this sums it up for me as well. Being back at work really helped me too. I was going crazy at home with all sorts of weird thoughts in my head. I really have started to accept the implant now. Not sure when I'll get the opportunity to "test drive", but looking forward to it anyway.