Just got implanted. Questions for people who remember what post-op feels like

[PeaceofPain07]

Hi Guys
I just got implanted with the titan this past tuesday with Eid. Penoscrotal incision. Appreciate any help.

1) Depending on how I get out of bed, I sometimes feel the reservoir pressing against me a bit with a little pain.

2) A strong cough or clearing of the throat cause sudden pain in groin for anyone postop, and did it go away? I probably coughed and cleared my throat on average 5x a day. I googled "penile implant coughing" and came across this:
https://www.hsadeghi.com/reservoir-herniation/
I do have a history of moderate left side lower back/core pain, but stretching kept pain minor. That might make me more susceptible to a hernia on that side. As I know pain is normal early on, I'm hopeful this might be nothing and will go away in time.

3) Also, some pain in the perineum area after flexing it yesterday. I think this pain is getting better. I believe this is called a kegel. I don't do kegels voluntarily but every few hrs, seems my body just has a habit of flexing the perineum. Almost involuntarily.

4) No bowel movement yet. Been eating healthy and started taking milk of magnesia last night and this morning again.

5) I've mostly been flat on my back in bed as prescribed (sometimes with pillows under my knees). Back pain is creeping in. Starting today, I may use a recliner if ok (leaned back but not fully flat).

6) Will start hot bathing tomorrow and will try to keep the bathtub clean. Should I apply antibiotic ointment to the incision?

[alfa88]

Try not to let your over-thinking overwhelm you. Your sack and penis had a bit of trauma and it will take at least a week before healing begins in earnest.
Hopefully you didn't get opiodes for pain. They can cause constipation. I was given extra strength Tylenol and Motrin and did just fine although a bit of cannabis helped any remaining discomfort and put a smile on my face.
I couldn't poop for a few days and finally forced thing out. I wouldn't recommend that. If you have access to some sort of enema device that would probably do the trick. Once I had that 1st post surgery poop I was like clockwork again. Of course drink lots of fluids.
My instructions were not to use any lotions or ointments on the stitches but to keep the area clean and dry. I did, however, use disposable wipes and witch hazel which is an astringent with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. I had a scrotoplasty done at the same time so I had a few extra stitches to attend to

[SteveSW]

I was implanted 2/18, so I guess you could say I'm still in the recovery phase. I'll try to answer your questions from my perspective based on my recovery experience.
1) I felt some pain for several days. It went away gradually. Remember, you just had a foreign object stuck in your body and it takes some time for it to adjust and accept.
2) OMG! Yes. I also had penoscrotal, with an abdominal incision and coughing hurt, a lot. But like everything else, it got better every day. You will too.
3) I didn't experience pain in the perineum, but it was totally black and blue. Cleared up rapidly.
4) I didn't poop until the 4th day. Used Miralax once, and I was off to the races and perfectly normal since. Pain killers and the anesthesia during surgery will cause constipation. You will return to normal.
5) The recliner is your friend, but I would recommend the bed for the first 3 or so days.
6) Bathing as in soaking? Did your Dr. give you clearance for this? Mine vehemently forbid anything but a shower for 3 weeks. Check to make sure it's ok. And I wouldn't apply anything to the incision unless Dr. said it was ok.

It's a journey, and no two men have the same experience with recovery. Just relax, do exactly what your Dr. tells you to and remember, it's only been two days since a fairly major surgery. Time. Give everything time, as frustrating as that is. Good luck!

[AST2123]

Congratulations! Best wishes for you.
I got Fleet Enema and and the suppositories before the surgery. My surgery was on Tuesday as well. Used Fleet Enema on Thursday, when I had the first bowel movement, then used the suppositories on the next 3 days, till everything got back to normal.

[rjdoan]

I had pain, not severe, but I took Tylenol religiously for four days and then as needed. I only took one of the high octane pain pills I was given and that was the night I got home form the surgery. I also iced for four days. The pain was not great and the ice both helped with the pain and the swelling. I was very bruised because of the additional procedures I had done--left orchiectomy and cyst removal on right testicle. But still, I had only mild pain. I confess, I do not have any idea where the reservoir is located as I have never felt it.

[Old Guy]

Yes the pain at first for me was terrible. Hydrocodone and Tramadol did nothing to ease it, doc finally gave me Percocet. That caused severe constipation, and after 4 days an enema suppository was needed. After that all was fine as far as bowel movements. I could not bathe for about 5 weeks per doctor orders, too much risk of infection. After he cleared me it was a hot bath every morning for a couple of months. After the Percocet week it was cannabis for pain. And that made me cough, which hurt some but the relief was worth it. I spent the first month+ on the couch in what ever position was comfortable at the time. I have back issues but the weeks of laying around made it feel better.
Give it time. That surgery was not a band aid fix, it was major surgery. Good Luck.

[PeaceofPain07]

Thanks brothers. The answers have comforted me. I went into knowing I picked a good doctor and that it gets worse before it should get better, but still, the mind races with nothing to do in bed all day, but experience pain in a bunch of different areas. I’ll stop overthinking.

Yes, Eid’s instructions were to take a hot bath after 3 days, 40 minutes twice a day. Perhaps you received a different incision than me and that may change how soon doctors want you to bath. Penascrotal incision here.

[Txagq8]

I’m not an all the time poster, but frequently enough that some people who have read me have probably decided I’m about half crazy,

I had mine done New Years Eve. I really had no pain, but that may have been because I take the pain pills as prescribed for a day or two. I was bruised from navel to knee. It really looked like they had knocked me out, taken me out to the parking lot, and run over me with a large SUV. Several times. Sore as hell. But no pain. Used ice but not as much as I should.

New Years Day. College son having car trouble. So I drove 95 miles each way to pick him up and bring him home. Wife was visiting her sis, daughter went over with her, really didn’t need son to see dad purple from knee to belly button, so suggested he spend a night or two at his grandma’s.

January 3rd. Drove myself to Austin and back (60 mi each way) to get drain removed and see Doc

By January 8th: i has pre staged cattle cubes on a trailer near pasture fence so I just had to drag bag thru barbed wire, no lifting or carrying required. I was back to feeding my own cattle. Maybe still sore but nope, no pain.

After that it was just lobby the doctor to let me do stuff, got clearance to go back to gym March 1st but COVID was starting to be an issue so I just did dumbbells at home.

The earlier poster who said no two guys handle this the same way nailed it. To me, it was no worse than a hernia repair, less annoying than a rotator cuff, and lots more fun than a kidney stone the size of a grape.

[GLE Man]

Hi guys,

I just had my implant on Tuesday. So I'm very much interested in all post op advice I can get. I had a follow-up with my doc yesterday and he removed the drainage, said all went well but that I was still pretty swollen. Couple of things of note 1) I'm not in nearly as much pain as I thought I would be. Don't get me wrong as there is "discomfort" but I've had more painful dental work. 2) PeaceofPain issues and concerns were very helpful to me. Especially the constipation part, I realized I haven't gone in a few days now and was worried until I read SteveSW's reply about pain pills and the anesthesia causing constipation; it makes sense now. 3) I guess I also need to stop over thinking things in that I guess you tend to think too much and expect things to return to normal the next day. As far as that goes, once again SteveSW said it best, "you just had a foreign object stuck in your body and it takes some time for it to adjust and accept". My swelling has gone down some but patience truly is a virtue, (I am still icing). I find myself moving slowly, not bending over, and walking as though I'm bowleg or just got off a horse. Also, it was really tough the first night getting out of bed (still is but now as not as the night of the implant)

You guys are great. I will accept all advice and helpful hints you are willing to offer. Just hit me up. We are all part of a unique fraternity.

GLE Man

[October26]

Even if you don’t have ‘before’ pictures, start taking some smart phone pics every so many days. Get good lighting and take the same angle/view. You will see you body heal before your eyes and be encouraged to see progress. Just as the visual pic will improve, the internal conditions will heal and improve every few days. This is a short process of restoration of an amazing body part!