AMS LGX cylinder feels different

[sonnyjim]

Hi all,

I was implanted 5 years ago with an AMS LGX and only recently noticed that while deflated the left cylinder feels different to the right cylinder.

It’s hard to explain but it feels like half way up it feels kind of like when you bend a straw and it goes like sharp and pointy.

I have been afraid to pump it up recently. Is this a sign of failure and should I even pump it up ?

[edjohn]

This is what everyone means by dog ears. It might be unusual, but I, for one, have noticed the folds fluctuate as well... in other words my folds seemed better then worse then better. It's not something that necessarily just goes away and stays fixed.

It is definitely not something AMS is known for, so you may see it improve long term, but it is certainly the nature of folding a tube/hose so I wouldn't bet on anything.

[sonnyjim]

It was only last week that I noticed it actually.

Just fearing the worst at the moment because the left cylinder does feel different to the right one. The right one feels the same as it always has, the left one feels like it crinkles and goes inward.

I guess if the worst does come to the worst, I just have to wait.

[Gt1956]

I only have a dog ear in my right cylinder. At first it could be quite painful. That quickly went away.

I think that you're ok. But I do suggest to not fondle it. That will make it hurt if you do. But it will calm down if you leave it alone.

[Rider1400]

Even after the length of time you’ve had it possibly it’s just still breaking in. I wouldn’t stop using it though. If it’s broke you may as well find out and get it fixed. If it’s not then don’t stop using it and enjoying it.

[wolfpacker]

Nothing wrong with the device, just a dog ear like others have said

[cbinspok]

we are about the same regarding 5 years, my Lgx has the dog ear on the left side , kink being close to base. I have noticed minor changes over the years, I chock it up to life cycle of the device. My view is keep using it as long as it lasts, hopefully we'll get lots more years!

[ElbowRoom]

One reason the cylinders feel different from each other could be differential inflation. If the tubing paths are different length or one side has more resistance for whatever reason, one side could inflate faster or not deflate as fully as the other.

I had this happen at first with my Titan, when inflating the right cylinder wouldn’t inflate with the first few pumps, but then would “catch up” and both would be inflated the same amount after 6-8 pumps. That seems to have gone away, I think the cylinder just “broke in” a little differently.

Your implant has been in place a while, so maybe one has broken in more than the other, or the one with the dog ears just deflates more than the other one for whatever reason. If you want to even them out you can pump a little while holding some pressure on the non-dogeared side and that should force fluid into the dogear cylinder until they even out.

In any case, this appears to be a pretty benign situation and it doesn’t seem like anything is failing or seriously compromised. Maybe ask your surgeon about it on your next follow-up.

[wfr1952]

Has anyone made a correlation to whether one is grower or shower for the development of dog ears?

[sonnyjim]

I’ve been reading about “cylinder rupture”.

Does anybody have any information about that? I’m reading that it presents as a bulge or loss of asymmetry in the cylinders which i am worried could be what I have.

I feel a little bulge in the left cylinder. And inflating the implant seems a bit harder recently.

What would a ruptured cylinder feel like??