Postby Jage64 » Sat Mar 04, 2023 1:59 pm
This is your journal and your experience, and it will be helpful to many others as the journals I read before my surgery were very helpful to me.
A few points:
I had no catheter placed before or after surgery. I also had an extra incision below the glans to clear out unexpected scar tissue in my corpora that wouldn't dilate from the scrotal incision. I knew I was going to have to pee to be released from the surgery center, so when they asked me if I needed to pee before surgery I told them I didn't (I probably could have, but wanted to 'save' it for after surgery) There is clearly an implant surgery approach that does not require painful catheters, I looked for a surgeon that didn't put one in as a matter of course. If I had not been able to pee after surgery, then one would have been put in to relieve me. I'm happy to say I damn near filled that bottle when it meant I could leave!
I also had no drain placed, another thing I confirmed with my surgeon before choosing him. Drains require removal, either by me or by the medical staff. No thanks.
I followed my doctor's orders (and maybe yours too) and applied a fleet enema the morning of surgery. Results were mixed, I guess it worked a bit. I never had any issues with constipation, never needed to use the 2nd bottle from the 2-pack. #2 has not been an issue whatsoever. I also have never taken anything more than Tylenol and Advil.
I hope those Tommy John underwear work better for you than for me. Although the pocket puts the head of your penis straight up, the fabric is not strong enough to keep it there. My penis just ends up falling back over and pointing out. I wore them once for a few minutes. It looks like the PERFECT answer on paper, but not in application.
As for your surgeon list, I think it's a bit dangerous for users of this forum to start compiling a list that would look like we know what we're talking about. Maybe nothing more than a list of names and locations would be best. There are so many factors that we can't know, and each one of us only has our own experience to refer to. I don't think it's a bad thing that men interested in IPP have to spend hours and hours wading through FT to form their opinion on surgeons. Those hours were invaluable to me, I learned the pros and cons and made lists of questions I didn't even know I needed to ask of my surgeon prior to implantation. Also, as you point out, some surgeons could be "Double Dog Diamond" award winners from one manufacturer, based on units implanted or some such economic barometer. That doesn't say anything about the outcomes for the patient, or the level of comfort along the way. The surgeon I chose uses both Coloplast and AMS, since he seems to move between products depending on what's best for his patient, maybe he hasn't reached "Double Dog Diamond" status from one manufacturer. I know for a fact he implanted a Titan the same day he implanted me with an AMS, and he explained to me why he recommended AMS and which model to me based on my particular physiology. One implant is considerably more expensive than the other, cost to the surgeon (and ultimate profit) which MAY be a factor in why some surgeons focus on one over the other.
Let's face it, probably less than 1% of men getting an implant ever stumble on FT. Most men go to their insurance urologist, get the pep talk and schedule the surgery. We're a fart in the wind here. FT is populated by the researchers and investigators, we're the ones that took it upon ourselves to find out more, see what other people felt, read journals and form our own opinions.
I laid flat on my back nearly 40 hours post surgery with ice constantly on my balls and shaft. I had no bruising, minimal pain that Tylenol addressed. The ice numbed any pain that could have been there, I don't know... I didn't feel it. My doctor did not tell me to do this, I read this from others on FT that had very easy recoveries. I figured there is no downside to doing this, but I can't get back those first 48 hours and ice later. You're not going to cause any issues by icing. Either you do it in the first 48 or the window is missed and swelling has taken hold. I wonder if doctors don't tell patients to do this because it's a hassle and inconvenience, and they'd just rather you take a pain pill and not ask you to stay on your back for a couple days.
As for a jock, I too found them too tight and would rub on the top of my glans, even with a baby sock on it. I learned that the trick is to move the jock waistband down lower on my hips so that the 3" waistband runs across the shaft of my penis, pinning it to my abdomen, rather than try to have the waistband high on my belly above my penis. When it's high, it slowly rides down and pushes on the head. Across the middle of the shaft is the answer for me. During the day I wear loose sweats and let him hang naturally, only pointing him up when I have to stand up and see other people, but at night I wear the jock and pin him straight up all night. I'm cognizant of wanting the best up angle I can get when all the scar tissue has formed, but I'm not obsessed by it.
I don't mean to hijack your thread, you're doing great and every day will be better. I appreciate opening FT and seeing replies and conversation, hopefully this helps take your mind off of other things as you recuperate.
Last edited by
Jage64 on Sat Mar 04, 2023 7:27 pm, edited 2 times in total.
2/22/23 AMS 700 CX 21cm + 1.5cm RTEs. 58 yrs old, wife of 37 yrs. Penoscrotal. 100ml Conceal reservoir. Dr. Clavell. Pills failing and went right to implant, skipped the injections. 12 mos. later: 7 1/2" x 5 3/4"
