3 weeks post op

[tampagay]

This time last week I had seen the doc, the swelling was gone the incisions were pink and I was ready to have the stitches out. I was on top of the world. I was told the stitches would dissolve and to assist the process by wiping down with hydrogen peroxide along the insicision. I was told to cycle daily by inflating until it hurt and stay there an hour. Well tomorrow I have the task of calling the call center to have them deliver a message to someone at the office that I think my incision is now infected. The dissolving stitches basically aren't dissolving completely and now I have little puffy pockets and deep red irritated areas where the scrotum joins the shaft. And it stings like a b*tch. Yep I am working on an infection. Now mind you I am still cleansing with Hibiclens in the shower every morning So it's not because I haven't kept things clean. And to add icing to the cake, I have carpal tunnel surgery tomorrow morning, so it will be noon before I can call Carrion's office.

Length MIGHT have grown a quarter inch in 3 weeks. Basically at this point I am down about 40%. I have no choice but to continue to cycle and hope it gets better. It's just it's a real head trip to know that there is 19 cm of implant and tips plus another cm of the glans beyond the end of the cylinders. I don't know where it is, but there's a good 10 cm that is either missing or inside me. So the net is I'm still down 40% and I went to a Rock Star. And the amount of money Tampa General billed the insurance company was just shy of $63K! I was there less than 4 hours. United Healthcare negotiated a huge discount and paid the rest so I am out nothing, but seriously the discount was 75%. If you don't have insurance, you better have a lot of cash.

Also I seem to be auto inflating partially at night and sometimes during the day. When I wake in the morning I have to deflate it so I don't have to contort myself to urinate. Anyone else having auto inflation issues?

Once I know more about what's going on with the possible infection I'll post an update to this chat.

[tampagay]

Well after spending 15 minutes to get through to the "I'm not a call center agent. I am the after hours answering service" I was told I would receive a call from the "on call doctor" who was really the on call resident. He told me to lay off the peroxide and start taking Bactrim. Considering they gave me 3 scripts for the stuff on leaving the hospital, I happened to have spares. Seriously this outfit falls all over itself at every opportunity. When they call you back, they have the call center call you and then they patch you together. Don't these idiots know *67 before the number will block callerID except to 911 and toll free numbers?

Tomorrow I have my fourth operation this year. I'm getting my other hand carpal tunnel surgery. I have that surgeon's home and cell numbers. I've never used them. The surgeon who did the triple abdominal hernia in March...I have his cell number which I have never used. Carrion? I get to talk to his lackey through a recorded switchboard where they didn't warn me it was being recorded. In Florida, a two party consent state, recording without the other party knowing is a felony. But I digress.

Overall I seem to be progressing at the rate of most. I was doing great a week ago and the incision was clean and Carrion said I was a couple of weeks ahead of the curve. Tonight it burns and has little puffy nodules. A happy camper I'm not.

[pockie]

This time last week I had seen the doc, the swelling was gone the incisions were pink and I was ready to have the stitches out. I was on top of the world. I was told the stitches would dissolve and to assist the process by wiping down with hydrogen peroxide along the insicision. I was told to cycle daily by inflating until it hurt and stay there an hour. Well tomorrow I have the task of calling the call center to have them deliver a message to someone at the office that I think my incision is now infected. The dissolving stitches basically aren't dissolving completely and now I have little puffy pockets and deep red irritated areas where the scrotum joins the shaft. And it stings like a b*tch. Yep I am working on an infection. Now mind you I am still cleansing with Hibiclens in the shower every morning So it's not because I haven't kept things clean. And to add icing to the cake, I have carpal tunnel surgery tomorrow morning, so it will be noon before I can call Carrion's office.

Length MIGHT have grown a quarter inch in 3 weeks. Basically at this point I am down about 40%. I have no choice but to continue to cycle and hope it gets better. It's just it's a real head trip to know that there is 19 cm of implant and tips plus another cm of the glans beyond the end of the cylinders. I don't know where it is, but there's a good 10 cm that is either missing or inside me. So the net is I'm still down 40% and I went to a Rock Star. And the amount of money Tampa General billed the insurance company was just shy of $63K! I was there less than 4 hours. United Healthcare negotiated a huge discount and paid the rest so I am out nothing, but seriously the discount was 75%. If you don't have insurance, you better have a lot of cash.

Also I seem to be auto inflating partially at night and sometimes during the day. When I wake in the morning I have to deflate it so I don't have to contort myself to urinate.

Once I know more about what's going on with the possible infection I'll post an update to this chat.

Sorry to hear about this, sounds like you're suffering quite a bit both physically and mentally.

The reason your penis length is not as long as your implant is because a part of the implant goes in your body. From what I've seen here, to be close to 7 inches you usually need have an implant of at least 22 cm. But it varies from person to person, I'm generalizing and there are exceptions

If I recall correctly you said you were around 7 inches pre-op, so if the surgeon decided for a 19cm implant it seems that he undersized you a bit.
Check out this thread for more info on the implant size vs penis size:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=5525

[tampagay]

From what I read you can lose from .5 to 1.5 cm per year when you are completely impotent like I was. So at 5.5 years that range is 1.08 to 3.25 inches. My pre-surgery stretched length was about 5.25 inches by my estimate. I have 19 cm of tips and cylinders. From the tip of the cylinder to the tip of the glans is another 1 cm. So there is 20 cm of length. I am quite familiar with how these devices are positioned within the body and understand that part of all of this is inside me. I find it difficult to grasp that 3.8 inches of it is inside me. That is 49%. I even considered that I could have faulty memory of my pre ED length of 6.75 inches. One thing I always wanted was for my penis to reach the top of my navel when erect instead of the bottom of the navel. Yesterday when fully pumped to "it hurts" I held my penis against my body and instead of just touching the bottom of my navel as it once did, it was about 2.5 inches below there. I just measured top of shaft to lower edge of navel and it's a little less than 7 inches.

Question: Many have stated they gain length over time after surgery with most stating substantial gain after 6 months. If the implant stays the same size, how does that work? Does it get bent until the tissues are stretched and then it straightens out?

Dr Carrion insists he oversizes. He also stated that after I am cleared, if I pump to max and leave it there 2 hrs every day, in a year or so I will need another implant as this one will be too small.

Some days I deal with the loss of length better than others.

One odd thing did happen this morning. I inflated and kept pumping just managing to do very small compressions at the end. I don't know how to explain it but to say my penis clicked and suddenly did not hurt as much. I did not measure then. I had carpal tunnel surgery yesterday so my left hand is kind of useless making measurement difficult.

The Bactrim is working on the infected stitches.

The pump is getting easier to squeeze.

[pockie]

I thought that you said you measured at 7" days prior to the surgery.

If you were 7" a few years ago, and were completely impotent for a few years than you've definitely lost some length due to this, so
the surgeon might've actually sized your correctly.

Hopefully you'll be able to restore a substantial amount of length and girth by cycling daily.

[saytar]

The Bactrim is working on the infected stitches.

The pump is getting easier to squeeze.

If your down in Florida are lots and lots of moisture and high humidity.....fungal growth is rampant in that eviroment (spent a yr in Biloxi, MS several years ago, crotch rot so to say was a constant problem). I am using Betadine ointment on and around the incision as it will kill - & + gram bacteria, HIV on the skin, MRSA, and most of all fungal & mold spores. I also "wash around the boys" with it in between showers with anti bacterial soap. But be careful as some are allergic or sensitive to it......I've never had an issue with it and have used it on and off when needed........I NEVER want to get a case of what I call Nuclear Crotch Rot like I got while in training at Keesler AFB.......It was deep, nothing the base Dr. gave out did diddly squat with it, on thigh AND scrotum. Ugly scaly, cracked, thick and sore. Took 3 weeks heavy dosing with Bacterine sore muscle roll on (you could hear me scream for blocks when applied, almost pure 91 % alcohol) to get it under control and gone. I've used the Betadine (didn't know about it back then...young and dumb) anytime ANY issue comes up down there.............so far it clears up and makes anything go away.......before it gets very far. And mostly never stings................if it does not much.

Another thing to use is Hexachloridine. You can buy the plain, unscented, non soapy type at most vet supply places (got mine on Ebay) at 2%, way cheaper than buying the small bottles at Drug stores, hey we're animal's too.......................if you can find it. That concentration is great for wounds, cuts,excetra. If you want cut it down to .5 or 1 % with once boiled distilled or sterile water. From what I've read, anything over .5 % is about as effective as 2 % and it persist on the skin several hours........................

Just a few thoughts. Think I'm going to wash at least once a week lightly with either.............even after all this heals up. I hate infections...hate, hate......

[tampagay]

The infection of the stitches is definitely on the retreat. As far as Florida and humidity and various fungal infections like jock itch, let's just say I am a FL native and have experience with those things. My daily routine involves bathing wit soap (Ivory), antibacterial soap (Zest) and then any areas where I tend to get the crud with Hibiclens. The infection along the incision is from the dissolving stitches. The outside parts dissolved at a faster rate than the inside parts. If the inside parts don't dissolve quickly enough, your body sees them as an intruder and proceeds to fight them with swelling and inflammation the result. The Bactrim is to prevent that from becoming an issue. Per the resident's advice, I discontinued the peroxide wipe and things have improved.

I've knew I had lost length. The first urologist I approached responded poorly when I asked was it possible to recover any of the lost length. Mind you I did not ask for a big penis, I asked can I get back any of what I lost. His reply was "We're not here to build a circus act." He said that on two different occasions. His name is Timothy Weber. Needless to say I went looking for a new doc.

Prior to ED I was 6.76 inches after 5.5 years of total ED, as near as I could tell my stretched length was 5.25 inches. Since surgery I am just barely 4". If I could return to 6 I could live with that. If it's going to be 4, I just don't know at this point. I sincerely doubt that I will gain 50% over what I am showing now.

Meanwhile I am hanging in there.