My Frustration

[Tom frustrated]

Hi All, My name is Tom. I am 73 years young. I'm a retired (@ age 63) engineer. I have had Parkinson's disease for 11 years. Underwent a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) to control the tremor and with that and some meds my PD is rather well controlled. Also controlled high blood pressure and Atril fibrillation.
I've had ED problems for about 12 years. Like most, I guess, in the early stages Viagra worked rather well, although I did experience some blue dots in my vision once and it generally left me with a slight headache. My gorgeous beloved wife of thirty years passed away about 4 years ago. She very much minimized my problem because she found it quicker and more convenient to give me oral sex. I had no real problem "getting off". I did not realize how good I had it. Please, I do not state that in any way to be obscene, I loved that woman with all my heart and soul and I do believe she loved me as much in return. I mention it because I feel it is relevant to where I am currently.
About 2 years ago I met, via the internet, my current Love. She's 65 years old, (Yes I lied about my age on the net, but that's another story. She now knows all and still Loves me.) She's beautiful with a fantastic body for being 65 and has always enjoyed sex although most all in a regular intercourse manner. For oral sex she wants me to have a condom on which, of course I cannot do with my ED. The best I got was slightly swollen which even that went away with any pressure. I think you will most all agree intimacy is so important in any good man/woman love. She says it does not matter, for me it does as to the intensity (for want of a better word) of the love.
So I see a Doc who specializes in ED and after trying all methods decided I was a candidate for an implant.
Fast forward to today. Not a happy camper here. Totally frustrated. I'm eight weeks out of the implant of the Titan OTR and have yet to get it inflated. The Doc did it in the office when he gave me the OK to fly after six weeks. It feels like a hard ball when I try to operate it. After one week went back to the Doc, sure that the thing was plugged up, and damn he inflated it again, which I was actually happy to see as I was having visions of having to go back into the OR. He told me it takes time and to give it time. Now this is the same Doc who before the operation held out a sample of the Titan and told me to pump the ball which I did easily with my thumb and one finger and pump pump pump, up up up it went, marvelous. Now this last time in after inflating me, he again presented the sample and once again had me pump it up. I said Doc that can't be the same thing as that "stone" down there, of course he assured me it is. By the way as many as he has inflated he was squeezing very hard to inflate me. I did not think of it then but I intend to ask him why did you not tell me expect it will be quite difficult to operate at the start. I've seen the demo videos where all the guy does is reach down there and pump pump pump up up it comes. I read where one should start out more forcibly to get the valves in the correct position; a hammer comes to mind and then slow firm pump and release; a pair of vice grips although with plastic pads where the teeth are, comes to mind!! Ha. Picture this I did become so frustrated I had my scrotum on the bathroom sink vanity top and tried pressing down with my thumb on the hard rubber ball. I got it squeezed but nothing happened? As most of us know you cannot compress a liquid rather this system transfers the liquid from the reservoir to the penis. Yes, they make it somewhat difficult because they don' t want one to get an erection when you put pressure on it say when sitting. I'm sorry nut I feel the design could be improved quite a bit that I will be telling Coloplast.
I must say I've learned more reading your experiences, input, suggestions and feel more encouraged then I ever did in the Doc's office and I thank you guys for that!!
Please anybody that has any further ideas and suggestions please come back via this forum. I am now almost convinced that with perseverance I will get this thing to work. I just hope my scrotum and testicles can survive the onslaught. Thanks again, Tom

[jerryc129]

Tom, Im sorry to hear about this problem. May I ask who your doctor is? I have an appointment with Dr. Eid on 2/17/12 for the Titan OTR and I hope this doesnt become the norm in operating the device. J

[Tom frustrated]

Jerry, No my Doc is not Doc Ed. Ask him if you can expect to have difficulty operating it. Mine was done thru the abdomen and not the scrotum. I'm not sure why, perhaps because of scar tissue from a prior vasectomy? I'd recommend you make up a list of any questions you have and make sure you get answers. These doc's, that do a lot of the same thing, get into a routine of how they process patients thru and do not like it if interrupted. I had a list and somehow the entire office visit was over and I still lacked some answers. I got hell from my women on that as she was the one that insisted that I make up a list. Good Luck, I'm certain you'll be OK. Let me know how it goes. Thanks, Tom

[bob1138]

Welcome Tom,

I also replied to your post on "Introductions and Hellos".
Since the doc can inflate your Titan OTR in his office, it appears all the mechanical components (pump in scrotum, reservoir in abdomen and Bioflex tubes in corpora cavernosa of penis) are in good working order.
I developed ED Post-Prostatectomy in 2004 and was implanted with the Coloplast Titan in December 2007.
In the beginning the pump felt a bit stiff but I just kept working it until it was "broken in".
Today, both inflating and deflating my Titan are second nature to me and my wife and I both love it.
Tom, eight weeks is still pretty close to the implant procedure --- took me about 4 months to feel completely comfortable
with it. I would suggest you just keep working it until it gets easier to inflate.
An occasional visit to your URO to have him pump it up should also increase your comfort level.
I wish you the best of luck and many years of pleasure with your new Titan Implant.

Bob
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Age:73; Developed ED Post-Prostatectomy in 2004; PSA remains undetectable as of 12/13/2011;
Implanted December 13, 2007 (Coloplast Titan)

Posts: 89
Joined: Wed Sep 28, 2011 5:41 pm
Private message

[dg_moore]

My Titan is still pretty stiff (to operate, that is) after more than 3 years. I was, and remain, surprised at how much pressure it takes to inflate and deflate (pre-implant I couldn't image squeezing my penis that hard!).

Even though we have no sex life due to medical issues on my part and lack of interest on hers, I still inflate/deflate now and then just to keep it in working order. If I had known in advance that I would eventually use my implant a total of 2 (two) times in three years I would not have had the surgery, but that's another story - there are no guarantees in life. Sometimes it just sucks.

[knotreel]

Try using both hands for squeezing. Grasp the bulb with the normal two fingers that you use then put the fingers of the other hand over those fingers to apply extra force. Also you don't have to make full squeezes each time, make more small squeezes till it becomes easier.
It will take maybe a month more before the all the swelling is gone, you had the pubic approach but there may still be some swelling in the scrotum walls that make it more difficult now. Here you are all fixed up but can't get it working, keep at it and before you know it, you will using it.
I have the lgx and the first squeeze must be "sharp" to pop the valve so that the pumping will deliver the fluid to the cylinders, and the first squeeze must be against a tight bulb. If the bulb is not tight ,or completely full, push the valve button in a little to refill the bulb then try to pop it and do the filling squeezes.