Lessons learned to date!

[Docmartin]

I am 25 days post-op from implanting the Titan OTR by Andrew Kramer at the University of Maryland. For the most part, so far, so good. I have been self inflating for one week now. I can go to 100% with just some constricting pain at the base of the penis. I have been inflating twice daily; late morning and at bedtime. My main, on-going pain/discomfort is a great deal of skin irritation on the left side of my penis (that is the natural hang direction). However, it seems that the left Titan tube has a little kink on that side, too. I am hoping it resolves itself. I have tried lotion, cream and powder to help. The powder seems to help most.

So, what have I learned so far (beyond it is great to see a "rising" friend down there!!)! Well, here are some thoughts:

1. Bath towels are not always my friend! I have learned to be very careful after bathing or swimming. It used to be that toweling was about getting everything dry. Not it also includes goo towel "navigation". The first few times I let the towel dangle while drying it came painfully "head" on (pun intended) with the new dangling parts of my new implant!!! Ouch in spades. So, now I carefully maneuver the towel around that region using all hands available. Recently it also occurred to me that a better implement for drying those dangles is a microfiber dish towel. They are soft and super absorbent. Patting the boys dry works but you can also be more vigorous if you want.

2. Why bother with a towel-only dry? I was in the shower watching my wife blow dry her hair and I had an ephany; why not just blow dry that new, dangling region? It. Works like a charm with the added benefit of leaving things smooth. I also think it helps make the "inner tubes" softer and more adjustable. So, now I do a quick pat down with the microfiber towel and finish off with a blow dry to leave things smooth and comfortable. And, yes, I am aware that I have figured out how to give myself a "blow job" at the same time! Trust me though, it is a poor substitute for the real thing!!

3. Underwear can be a bitch! I tried briefs, boxers, boxer briefs, straps, thongs, nothing at all; some tight, some loose and, well you get the idea. We all know that it wants to hang to its chosen side and the boys like to hang. So, I went on an extensive quest for some comfort. I tried the usual Jockey Pouch, Calvin Klein, Sears, etc. I tried cotten, nylon, spandex, modal, etc. I tried compression shorts to just squeeze envy thing into one place. In short, if it was on the web, I ordered one. I finally came across underwear designed in Australia that has a "pocket" for the boys and their buddy. It is a generous area where a pouch would be, but it is much larger and accommodating. There is also a little bit of fabric behind the scrotum. This tends to lift the boys and make them more forward. What results is a very, very comfortable with and face forward feeling. It also gives the penis the option to lean left, right, or simply face forward. It's been decades since I've slept in underwear, but these are so comfortable that I enjoy sleeping in them as well as wearing them all day. The brand name is Obviousli Male. When you see them the name will make sense.

Well, theses things may not be quite on par with the discovery of fire, but they have helped me. I guess that in retirement I enjoy trying to figure things out so while I am recovering I will continue to get better at the process of recovering.

I hope all are doing well and enjoying our path back from the ED abyss!!!

[Bionic_by_AMS]

Docmartin,
The "kink" you describe ... do you only feel that when flaccid?

Would you say it is like folding a straw, where the fold in the straw gets wider ... I had that same feeling. Actually I had that "fold" on both sides, mentioned it to URO at my 6 week check-up and he said it was normal. Sometimes I would just pump one or two times to add enough fluid to "unkink" the fold ... seemed to help at the time.

Sounds like you are recovering nicely ... keep us posted on your progress ...

[Docmartin]

Yep, the kink is like a folded straw only when flaccid. Inflation completely straightens it. Similar kink to the penis base when flaccid. That's why it almost feels most comfortable inflated. Your suggestion to leave a bit of fluid there makes sense. I will give that a try. Thanks. Don

[knotreel]

I am 20 months out with the AMS700LGX and the pain from the kink where it bends near the base gradually went away. I think at 6 months the implant was getting comfortable, Now it is quite natural feeling and other than sitting wrong on the pump I would forget I had an implant. I imagine this will be your experience when it gets all streched out. I worked up to max, or as much as I could stand, inflation for up an hour a day. At first about 15 minutes was all I could stand but after a month or so of inflation, things got better fast. Good luck with your new implant.

[Docmartin]

Thanks for the words, knotreel. I see the doc this Thursday. When I talked to him today he essentially said the same as you wrote. Each day gets better with the inflation. It sounds like you built up both time and amount of inflation. I may have jumped in too much too quickly. I am now inflating to a reasonably comfortable level for about 25 - 30 minutes twice daily. I can go to full inflation but the discomfort at the base of the penis increases a lot.

The other thing that I have not figured out is a skin discomfort along the left side of the penis while flaccid. There is no rash or visible irritation. It goes away when the skin is stretched while inflated. I tried lotion and cream, but the best relief comes from using a bath powder. I am seeing a dermatologist tomorrow to see if he has a clue. The skin discomfort is actually more of an issue for me right now because it wakes me sometimes and can be painful when towel drying, etc.

Any other advice you can think of is always appreciated. Don

[buckshot]

Well, here I am, 20 days post op and experiencing some discomfort along the scrotal incision line. Nothing else is bothering me, just that incision line. I go back to my uro/surgeon again in 4 weeks and he is planning to get me started on inflation and deflation then...I'm sure looking forward to it....and looking forward even more to really using it regularly with my wife!