Implant Recovery

[Mikeneedstorecover]

I had my Radical Prostatectomy two years ago and realized that by now I would never have any type of an erection so my wife and I began to think about a penile implant. Considering all the other devices that were available, with the help of my Urologist, the AMS 700 MS device (3 piece) would be the best at this point.

On November 9th I had the surgery which really went great. No side effects from anesthesia but I was placed on an orthopedic floor, not in urology, due to a full house at the hospital. Sorry to say that the nursing and in house doctors on an orthopedic floor have little to no experience with penile implants. Not at all happy about that and we left the hospital with no information on what to expect or do to help speed my recovery.

Week one was just about the worst pain that I have ever had. Forget black and blue my guys were just black. No offense to any one out there. Level of pain certainly a 10 out of 10. I kept asking myself if it was normal to feel this bad? So, the internet is where I turned to get some answers on what was going on and why?

Week two was a little better for pain but not by much. After scouring the internet, all reports were about patient satisfaction in the performance of the implant but there is no information (in detail) about the recovery process.

Week three and I am still in much discomfort especially the bulb placement in the scrotum. Cannot sit normally for any length of time, and walking any distance is a nightmare since the two cylinders in the penis is is like walking around with an erection. Oh just great why now. My wife bought special under garments (Under Armour) which are costly but at this point it really does not matter. I have no level of comfort after three full weeks. I am feeling less and less confident that we made the right decision to have this surgery. My thoughts are certainly not about having sex but rather about having the device taken out. It’s really starting to become an issue and extremely discouraging. Any helpful suggestions or encouragement about the healing process would be greatly welcomed.

[radiodec]

First of all get down as much as possible. Not sitting, not reclining, Get your butt above your heart and you scrotum higher than or at least as high as your butt. That will help stop and begin to reduce swelling. Second contact you urologist, something is not quite right.

At week two the uro should have seen you at least once and made sure that your implant was fully deflated. It is not unusual for the surgeon to leave some fluid in the tubes for initial healing, but to fully deflate by week two.

I have been enjoying a very uneventful recovery so far. The nurses at my hospital were not well versed in what to do for implant patients but were helpful and listened to the doctor well. From my pre-surgery study I know to keep the foot end of my bed elevated so that gave me a good start. The surgeon also left instructions on how to change the initial dressing to help hold down swelling. This included rewrapping the dressing around the scrotum to maintain a small amount of pressure to reduce swelling and to place a roll or two of gauze under my scroum to elevate it some again to reduce swelling. It worked very well!

The first order of business for you is to contact your urologist!

There are others on this site that have had swelling problems for a while and have had them correct themselves and ended with good results.

As to the larger size and some stiffness fully deflated, that can be an adjustment but it will need to be made. I am at 3 weeks plus 4 days (implant 11/7) and doing very well, but still adjusting to a larger and somewhat more stiff penis. That is a permanent effect; went from 3 inches flacid to 5 inches. First two weeks were more problematic as implant was just slightly inflated for healing. By the way, it is an AMS700LGX here.

Sorry to hear about your pain and swelling, but it will get better. I had to undergo one attempt where nothing was done but remove scar tissue from the bladder neck and got to go two weeks with a catheter after the first attempt. Implants do work out well, but the path often is not a straight one.

Radiodec

Radiodec

[Dave92014]

I have come to realize that our bodies react differently to the surgery. And from what you have said, you had an experience that is more painful than average. I second the suggestion to get to your urologist and have him check you to see if there is any infection going on. My urologist wanted to see me every week for the first few weeks.

My urologist has done 1000 implants. He had me wear special underwear, 24 hours/day. I only took them off to shower. They are Jockey brand Poco Briefs. He had me wear 2 pair, to supply more support and to add a few 4 inch x 4 inch gauze pads between the two pair of underwear and under the scrotum to supply more support to the scrotum. With this all in place my penis is pinned pointing upwards and against the abdomen and my scrotum supported. This helps out walking a lot. If you don't have the Jockey underwear, I suggest you try to create roughly similar support conditions.

Ibuprofen helps the pain and reduces the initial swelling. Use the max the directions on the bottle say or more if your doctor okays it.

As far as the hospital goes, my hospital nurses checked me for bleeding but they didn't need to do anything so they did not need specialized implant knowledge. Your doctor should have given you exact instructions on what to do after leaving the hospital. My doc gave me a written list of do's and don'ts and what to expect as far a color and bruising. Plus when I still had problems with my urine stream the Sunday after my surgery I called him and he returned my call within a few minutes. Then had me come in the next day to see him so he could check me further.

My doc recommended warm baths with epsom salts. I didn't do that but I have a spa and have been using it once or twice a day set to 101 degrees F. This is not a miracle cure but does help some. I also used a heating pad on my groin area for many hours per day. My doc also suggested that.

Hang in there and most likely it will get better. I am 4 1/2 weeks post surgery. Comparing my recovery to Radiotec, he is healing twice as fast as me and I am envious. But you are having a much worse time than me. It seems you drew the unlucky straw. In reading other guy's posts here on Frank Talk, some were ready for sex at 4 weeks and some not until 10 weeks. So it seems that each one of us has a different recovery and each has to deal with what their body does. In reading the guys with six months or more post op, they are happy with the end result. Most likely you will be some day too even though your journey is a tough one now.

[knotreel]

all that pain at three weeks is not usual and not what my experience was, it might be too late to help now but it might give you an idea about why things are not going well for you. First I was given pain meds , some type of oxy, and although I have never used them for my other surgery's, I took them every four to six hours form day one for the first two weeks. My doctors suggested this as well as people on this site. Second, I used plenty of ice packs the first week to keep swelling down, when your scrotum is blown up like a soccer ball you will be very uncomfortable 24/7. Next i stayed off my feet as much as I could the first two weeks. Next, I tried wearing several types of underwear, (compression shorts, jock straps, and pocket briefs) and only the pocket briefs were comfortable for me. Some have and tried the other choices and found them to be effective for them and not the briefs. Next I kept my penis pointing up and I think this is especially important if you were left inflated which I wasn't.
Possibly you weren't prepared by your medical people like some of us were?
At this point, ice may be too late so maybe hot soaks in the tub? Get some more shorts. Stay off your feet, keep Mr. Willy pointing up, proper briefs or shorts help here. See you doctor to check that you don't have any infection and things are healing properly. ( maybe hold up on the hot soaks till you do the doctor visit?) Start taking pain pills.
I hope you can soon get over the hump and things start to get better. There are a lot of others on this site who can help you and some probably had the same thing happen to them and can be of more help. Good luck and let us know how your are doing.

[Mikeneedstorecover]

Thanks all. I saw the Doc yesterday and no infection other than yeast from the antibiotics. Another problem but have stuff to treat it. He is reassuring that things will get better and I will take everyone's suggestion that it will get better with good results down the road. I'll hang in there no pun intended. I am getting better so I know I'm not going backwards or downhill. That's a plus. So I guess you could say I have nowhere else to go except up.

[Dave92014]

Mike, I am glad things are looking up for you and that you have no infection other than the yeast. I took Acidophilus pills 3 times a day while I was taking the antibiotics as I have read that is a thing to do to keep from getting yeast infections, which the antibiotics can cause. My doc did not suggest that but was something I had read previously.

[rschweiger]

Hey mike, keep your head up(no pun)like you my pain was horrible could barely walk into 1wk appt. And couldn't really stand for long for wks. After, at 4 wk appt. Still didn't want doc. touching me, I am now 4 mo. out and everything is good,pain effects everybody differently,but I am like you,,real quick I wondered what the hell I did?...lol when I did my research it seemed like it wouldn't be bad. WRONG!
I realized it just wasn't bad for everyone else. My pain tolerance sucks(medical pain) yet I have tattoos everywhere......go figure....lol. lesson to take away......it DOES get better.....its got to right? I feel your pain........I sure don't wanna do it again for a very
Long time......stay positive.
Best wishes,Rich......any questions glad to help.

[knotreel]

Glad to hear you may be on the other side of the worst of it. It is very true that this operation has different effects on different people, while most are are not having quite what you had, some even have reported trying sex at 2 weeks or so. Me, I didn't even start to dream of that till about 8 weeks then it probably took another full month before I even tried. First time wasn't so great but eventually my implant became part of me and things good. Just in case you don't recieve "streching" instructions at your 6 or 8 week doctor visit, be sure to read up or ask about that when time comes. Just because you got the implant, things won't be "fixed" till you rehab you your rebuilt unit.
Anyway, glad to hear you are gertting better.

[SteveTex]

I second the warm baths and try to walk s much as possible. I am now at 9 weeks and all is great. I've tried it a few times and it is great. No issues other than I lost size, but I'll live with that for an on-demand erection. I actually like my new "flacid" state which is semi-hard and at 3".

Hang in there as it will all be worth it.

[bob1138]

Hi Mike,

I was implanted with the Coloplast Titan on December 13, 2007 after developing ED Post-Prostatectomy in 2004.
The Implant completely correct my ED and restored the emotional bond with my wife.
Any discomfort which I experienced Post-Implant is just a distant memory now.
My wife and I have fully enjoyed my Implant for almost 5 years now.
As the tissue in your body grows around the components of the Implant, it will just become part of you, as it did for me.
I completely agree with all the advice given in the previous posts, especially, looking forward to many years of enjoyment with your new Implant.
For your peace of mind, never hesitate to contact your URO with any questions.
Best of Luck,

Bob