What kind of heating pad?

[satyrum]

I understand that ice will be one of my best friends for couple of days after surgery. At some point, heat will be added to the equation.

What kind of heat-pad did you use? What size? Which brand? Is it just to warm scrotum or entire genital area including penile shaft? (Assuming it's penoscrotal approach)

I'm not from the States. I'll be flying from Eastern Europe. I won't bring anything with me other than clean briefs. Can you guys recommend a heating pad (and a shopping mall that i can buy a heating pad from)?

[Old Guy]

There are many stores in the US to buy a heating pad. Wal Mart, Target, most pharmacies. Just remember they operate on 110V A/C current so bringing it to a foreign country may not work.
Yes, ice for the first few days until the swelling goes down. Bags of frozen peas work great. Heat works for any pain/soreness you might have in the next few weeks. A large soft heating pad can be placed on or around the area. Baths were my choice to ease the soreness after my surgery.

[Stayingstrong]

There are many stores in the US to buy a heating pad. Wal Mart, Target, most pharmacies. Just remember they operate on 110V A/C current so bringing it to a foreign country may not work.
Yes, ice for the first few days until the swelling goes down. Bags of frozen peas work great. Heat works for any pain/soreness you might have in the next few weeks. A large soft heating pad can be placed on or around the area. Baths were my choice to ease the soreness after my surgery.

Baths for me as well starting day 3 post-op, per Dr. Eid's instruction
However, most surgeons say no bathing but I believe Dr. Eid seals, stitches, and dresses the small one inch incision he makes to form a watertight barrier.
With over 8000 implants behind him since 1988 and 0.4 infection rate (world's lowest) for over 4000 implants since implementing the "no touch" technique in 2006, I am not questioning any of his directives

[satyrum]

I'll be implanted by Dr. Hakky in Atlanta. Pharmacies will be my first choice to buy a heat-pad. Thank you Old Guy.

Yeah, you're right stayingstrong. Eid uses watertight sutures. Hakky does not. No bathing can be done for 4 weeks for Hakky's patients. I'm not saying one of them is better than the other, but they use different techniques that should be followed by different post-op instructions.

[newbie443]

For ice packs I use dry beans. I get several small bags of pinto beans and then cook them later and eat them. Thet are cheap and there is no water or moisture to worry about so less chance to cause an infection. I put the bag in another zip lock plastic bag and into the freezer. I had 3 i think and would rotate them. Heat helps for cycling as it will soften the pump bulb and the cylinders. I have 2 old ones like this one. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Sunbeam-Heat ... om=/search Walmart has delivery so you can get it delivered to where ever you are staying. Amazon has them also. I use both of mine on really cold winter nights to warm my bed. I would ask Hakky about when to switch to heat. You are correct in that most doctors do not use surgical glue to make a watertight incision. And that most men then will have a bath restriction for a lengthy amount of time. And the reason not to use an ice pack with moisture. The moisture ice packs will also clump where the beans will not. Good luck.

[Gt1956]

I went to Walmart. One of what we call "big box" store in the USA. They are not a fancy building, just a big box. I think they had two models. Both about the same size. I bought the cheapest one. I think it had 3 power settings. I think I only used the lowest. It covers a little larger than a sheet of computer paper. All you need is your crotch covered.

Read the box. It should give you the cord length. Most likely it will include the metric length also. All the USA uses the same voltage & plugs. You might consider buying a suitable extension cord in case your room doesn't have an outlet close to your bed. If you buy a cord. Look at the heating pads end. Some appliances have a third grounding prong. Not all extension cord have the three prong holes. Basically the only difference here.

[Old Guy]

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You might consider buying a suitable extension cord in case your room doesn't have an outlet close to your bed. If you buy a cord. Look at the heating pads end. Some appliances have a third grounding prong. Not all extension cord have the three prong holes. Basically the only difference here.

Got to jump in here with a warning. Heating pads use a lot of watts and extension cords restrict the full wattage. A cheap extension cord can also get hot enough to start a fire used with a high wattage appliance. I think all manufacturers of heating pads recommend they not be used with an extension cord.

[Gt1956]

.
You might consider buying a suitable extension cord in case your room doesn't have an outlet close to your bed. If you buy a cord. Look at the heating pads end. Some appliances have a third grounding prong. Not all extension cord have the three prong holes. Basically the only difference here.

Got to jump in here with a warning. Heating pads use a lot of watts and extension cords restrict the full wattage. A cheap extension cord can also get hot enough to start a fire used with a high wattage appliance. I think all manufacturers of heating pads recommend they not be used with an extension cord.

I totally agree with you. In fact I usually go for the largest gage that is reasonable.

Of course this was only my experience. With my Walmart heating pad, I do not remember going above the lowest setting. At least to me it was as hot as I felt I needed.

I had kind of hoped that telling him to verify the prong arraingment would help keep him away from the worst cords. Btw, I used a 12 gage extension cord of less than 5 feet. Might only be 3 foot.

My brother has a Master degree in electrical engineering. He'd kill me if I made much of a mistake.