Day 8 post implant - progress and challenges

[Guvna98]

Got my AMS 700CX last week. In the OR at 8:15am, back home at 4pm. Went well, but I could use any input from you guys on the following:
- Pump location: sits well down in the sack, slightly right of center, with the block uncomfortably causing chafe against my underwear. Was worse when I was wearing my jockstrap to keep me northward. Now I'm using my biker shorts instead, and Apolquel ointment to soothe the irritated skin. Does the scrotum skin eventually get used to the third nut (and the block on top of it)?
- Swelling/bruising at the reservoir site: maybe worse than I expected but maybe I should have expected it given that it's a cut through the abdominal wall. No sign of infection but it looks pretty ugly. Bruising is also around the scrotum (more on the right side) but not much swelling. I'm sure that some was due to my being lazy about ice (my fault for sure) but wondering if I should have an expectation for how long this will take to subside.
- Pain: Bad on day one, but quickly moved to something easily managed with Tylenol and Mobic (moxicam). At this rate it feels like it will be pretty minimal in another week.
- Weight: laying around a lot but lost about 8 lbs so far but nothing in my waist. In fact I feel like I've gained 1-2 inches on my waist. I think that lack of my exercise routine (30 miles on my bike, 3-4x weekly) has caused my legs to lose bulk. Can't wait for the all clear to get back in the saddle (in more ways than one!)

Thanks to all of you for your contributions to this board and your support. Wouldn't have thought of doing this without the brotherhood!!

[SWorks17]

Got my AMS 700CX last week. In the OR at 8:15am, back home at 4pm. Went well, but I could use any input from you guys on the following:
- Pump location: sits well down in the sack, slightly right of center, with the block uncomfortably causing chafe against my underwear. Was worse when I was wearing my jockstrap to keep me northward. Now I'm using my biker shorts instead, and Apolquel ointment to soothe the irritated skin. Does the scrotum skin eventually get used to the third nut (and the block on top of it)?
- Swelling/bruising at the reservoir site: maybe worse than I expected but maybe I should have expected it given that it's a cut through the abdominal wall. No sign of infection but it looks pretty ugly. Bruising is also around the scrotum (more on the right side) but not much swelling. I'm sure that some was due to my being lazy about ice (my fault for sure) but wondering if I should have an expectation for how long this will take to subside.
- Pain: Bad on day one, but quickly moved to something easily managed with Tylenol and Mobic (moxicam). At this rate it feels like it will be pretty minimal in another week.
- Weight: laying around a lot but lost about 8 lbs so far but nothing in my waist. In fact I feel like I've gained 1-2 inches on my waist. I think that lack of my exercise routine (30 miles on my bike, 3-4x weekly) has caused my legs to lose bulk. Can't wait for the all clear to get back in the saddle (in more ways than one!)

Thanks to all of you for your contributions to this board and your support. Wouldn't have thought of doing this without the brotherhood!!

Yeah Guvna, you're only out one week from surgery and yes everything will hurt. I had all the same problems and for me it started getting better around week 4, but we all heal differently, so listen to your body.

My doc had me pulling down on my pump to keep it down in my scrotum. It was very difficult to try and grasp anything on the pump because everything hurt down there.

My abdominal wall hurt for a good while where the reservoir was placed, especially when I would lean against my vanity while shaving. I still feel it when leanig against my bath vanity but I don't notice it any other time.

Keep icing and taking your pain meds, at 4 weeks I went for some long walks with my wife in Austin, Texas and I would have medium amounts of pain once back to our resort room. I also had pain when sitting in hard chairs, so I usually had to use a pillow or sit in a soft chair to keep from having pain.

The pump is big, but over time it starts to feel better down there with his two brothers. I don't even notice it now, not unless I'm touching or pumping it.
At 6 weeks when I had my device training, my scrotum was still tender and the big MS pump hurt to pump. I could only get in around 10 pumps at that time.

Give it time Guvna, things will get better soon
SWorks

[GoodWood]

Hang in there. It WILL get better.

Everything you describe is in the range of normal experiences guys have with this surgery.

A week out I found a heating pad better than ice. I figure ice is for the immediate swelling the first couple days postop. After that the increased blood flow from a heating pad should speed healing. But listen to your body. Whichever feels better is the way to go.

I continued ibuprofen for a while. It just made moving around a bit more comfortable. I think it helped me sleep better as well. Rest is important.

Increasing activity is good after the first few days but make sure to get your feet up when you can and get plenty of rest.

I found soft gauze pads behind/around my scrotum helped decrease the irritation of the pump for the first week or two.

It WILL get better. Everything will calm down and discomfort will decrease.

You are on the road to recovery. Be patient with yourself.

[rdnkbiker]

I'm with you good wood heat pad felt so good

[Rider1400]

I agree with all. Give it time… all sounds perfectly similar to what I remember. There will be times you get more and less sore as you begin to pump and use it. Then you’ll experience some soreness in your shaft as you begin to keep it deflated and bending it down… dog ears are common to some degree in both brands. It’s just where the cylinders bend… I experienced some varying degrees of soreness and discomfort all the way out to 4-6 months as it stretched and started using it regularly. Been the best thing I ever did in previous 12 years!! Love my bionic dick
Hang in there!! Time heals!!

[ballhog47]

Second the heating pad especially for the reservoir area. You can use it on and off as per the instructions Dr. Patel gives you.

Hot showers also helped me and typically by 3-4 weeks if the incisions healed up you can go in the warm bath.

Unfortunately the bruising takes time, but it seems you are ahead of the game already for 8 days out.

[Kodixx]

Guvna98, congrats on a successful surgery and start of a smooth recovery ! That's all good advice above from the brotherhood

- Chuck

[LGXDownunder]

Well done brother, now you are in healing mode and can look forward to actually using your new implant.
The other guys have given great advice. I'll add my 2 cents worth from my own experience so far.

- Pump location: sits well down in the sack, slightly right of center, with the block uncomfortably causing chafe against my underwear. Was worse when I was wearing my jockstrap to keep me northward. Now I'm using my biker shorts instead, and Apolquel ointment to soothe the irritated skin. Does the scrotum skin eventually get used to the third nut (and the block on top of it)?

Yes, it does. My pump placement is similar and now I don't even know it's there unless I actually use it. But early on it was quite uncomfortable.

- Swelling/bruising at the reservoir site: maybe worse than I expected but maybe I should have expected it given that it's a cut through the abdominal wall. No sign of infection but it looks pretty ugly. Bruising is also around the scrotum (more on the right side) but not much swelling. I'm sure that some was due to my being lazy about ice (my fault for sure) but wondering if I should have an expectation for how long this will take to subside.

Ugliness, bruising and swelling is all normal. It generally subsides over time but how long seems to vary a bit.

- Pain: Bad on day one, but quickly moved to something easily managed with Tylenol and Mobic (moxicam). At this rate it feels like it will be pretty minimal in another week.

I found it took a while for the pain around my penoscrotal incision to settle down. And it was uncomfortable to sit down due to the pain in my scrotum.
Relieving the pressure by sitting on a soft pillow or similar helped, as did letting everything hang over the edge of whatever I sat on. And keeping up with the OTC pain killers. When you first start cycling the implant it usually adds more discomfort, but gets easier the more you do it. I now look forward to it.

- Weight: laying around a lot but lost about 8 lbs so far but nothing in my waist. In fact I feel like I've gained 1-2 inches on my waist. I think that lack of my exercise routine (30 miles on my bike, 3-4x weekly) has caused my legs to lose bulk. Can't wait for the all clear to get back in the saddle (in more ways than one!)

As someone who is very active I struggle with any prolonged downtime. But you won't lose that much fitness and will regain it quickly once back in the saddle(s) . Getting back on the bike might be uncomfortable if you do it too early. Go with your surgeon's advice but make him aware of its importance in your life and routine.