Question about the Pump Ball

[Steven1111]

Hey Guys,

This will seem obvious to those of you with working implants but I'm still new to this and don't understand something and forgot to ask my doctor. At present (2 1/2 weeks out) I'm still deflated and my pump ball is tight and hard and full of liquid. Is this always the case or does the ball empty when you inflate the implant and stay empty while you use it and then fill up again when you deflate or does the ball get soft and stay that way at any time at all? I don't quite understand the mechanics of the system I guess. And living with this hard ball in my scrotum is difficult and I have a hard time imagining that I'll get used to it, especially if it doesn't get soft when I'm hard and using the implant. It hurts. So, do you get used to it, does it get soft, what actually happens with it and exactly how does it work?

Thanks for any responses.
Cheers,
Steve

[Bionic_by_AMS]

Is this always the case or does the ball empty when you inflate the implant and stay empty while you use it and then fill up again when you deflate or does the ball get soft and stay that way at any time at all?

The pump ball stays full all the time (except when squeezing it to pump up) ... it's a closed system full of fluid all the time.

I have a hard time imagining that I'll get used to it, especially if it doesn't get soft when I'm hard and using the implant.

Yes with time you will get used to it and hardly notice it ... you will learn however to sit gently.

As for how it works ...
http://winhelp2002.mvps.org/cylinder.jpg
In the above image you will notice one cylinder is expanded to show the difference (in cylinder size - LGX model) when pumped. There is a check valve in the square portion near the deflate button, so when you initially squeeze the first pump, you will feel a "pop" where the fluid being squeezed opens the valve and let the fluid fill the cylinders. The amount of pumping is different for all of us, depending on the size cylinders. When you squeeze and hold the deflate button ... this action holds open the valve, which lets the fluid return to the reservoir. You may need to repeat this process ...

[Steven1111]

Hi Bionic,

Thank you for the clear answers. I figured it was a closed system and that maybe this was the case but I needed to know for sure. I already understand the "sitting gently" part... Now I understand the rest of it better. I'l look up the image you offered and see how it looks. I still can't imagine getting used to this, especially when I'm using it, but if everyone else does then I guess I will too. All in good time, eh?

Thanks again,
Steve

[rschweiger]

Hey steve,
That ball will soften up.
That first squeeze is a doozy, I thought it was gonna take me 2 1/2 men to pop that damn thing.......lol
Rich

[Steven1111]

Hey Rich,

Yeah I've read that that first pump is something! It's good to know that the ball itself will soften up in time. I'd hoped it would. That'd make a difference. The jpg Bionic told me about was very cool to see btw. It's good to see the difference in size when it's pumped up. That feels good to know too...

Thanks for the info.
Steve

[bob1138]

Hi Steve,
First, congratulations on your new Implant.
I am a fellow Prostate Cancer Survivor and was implanted with the Coloplast Titan in December 2007.
After 5+ years the Implant has just become part of my body.
Other than being able to achieve a rock hard erection 24/7, I really do not notice it at all anymore.
Wishing you a lifetime of enjoyment with your new Implant.
Bob

[Steven1111]

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the congratulations and good wishes. It's nice to hear from someone who has had the implant for as long as you have and to hear that you don't even notice it anymore. That's what I wanted to know... It gives me hope that I too will get used to it and be OK as time goes on. I'm glad to know that you're still going strong 5 years into it. I hope it lasts another 10 or 15 for you! (And for me too...

All the best,
Steve

[Rondeb14]

June 3 , start my experience with pump
It pumped up but when I deflate its painful
And I'm not sure how much pressure to put on button
Maybe I'm pressing to hard , scrotum is sore
from pushing on it. It stay semi and its uncomfortable.
How do you know if release is pushed in with out pressing hard. May 16
Was surgery. Still healing

[Dave92014]

June 3 , start my experience with pump
It pumped up but when I deflate its painful
And I'm not sure how much pressure to put on button
Maybe I'm pressing to hard , scrotum is sore
from pushing on it. It stay semi and its uncomfortable.
How do you know if release is pushed in with out pressing hard. May 16
Was surgery. Still healing

I have an AMS. Since you say "button" I assume you do too. I did not operate mine until 7 weeks post-op. But when my doc operated it at weeks 1, 2, and 4 post-op, it hurt quite a bit. By the time I was taught to operate it at week 7, it was almost painless and by a couple of weeks later it was painless. So I think you might want to wait a bit longer before operating it yourself since you are finding it painful. You might not need to wait to week 7, but listen to what your body wants.

When I press the deflate button, I feel a buzzing sensation caused by the fluid moving, so I know the pump is deflating. My doc also told me that the AMS pumps deflate best if you squeeze the penis at the same time you press the button. So I always do that. If you squeeze the penis with one hand and press the button with the other hand, you will probably feel the buzzing sensation and know you have pressed the button hard enough. You might be staying semi and uncomfortable because of some residual inflammation or swelling in the penis. I didn't get really flacid until about week 7 post-op. Be patient as the healing process takes some time and is different for different people so unpredictable.

Hang in there and you will be happy with the results soon.
Dave

[Robert S]

I am new to the site. What I really want to do is post a question about the pump ball. What I want to know if anyone has had any experience post surgery with the pump riding a bicycle or playing tennis.

Robert S