Thinking Out Loud

[sliphill]

Keep us posted brother. We are praying for a successful surgery.
Donnie

I will Donnie, and thanks for the prayers.

[ThePlumber1964]

You will be fine, brother, and we will be here for you.

[Larry10625]

Thinking aloud about where to have my penile implant (obviously, in my penis)

Local surgeon or highly experienced surgeon)

While I still have misgivings about proceeding with my local urologist (who has relatively limited implant surgery experience-20 in the past 12 months), the roadblocks to having the surgery with Dr. Kramer are substantial.

I live in Alaska and have medical care provided by the Veteran's Administration. Alaska VA is cooperative, but Maryland VA's bureaucracy is difficult to navigate. Bypassing Maryland VA to go directly to Dr. Kramer by Alaska VA authorization is possible, so I have a choice between my local urologist or Dr. Kramer (or even Dr. Eid, though all the groundwork has been laid for going to the Maryland VA Hospital or University of Maryland Hospital).

The arguments for having the operation in Maryland are

ability to choose the appropriate implant manufacturer and model AFTER the operation has begun (not available in Alaska)
surgical team well-practised and surgical suite optimally set up for implant surgery (at U of M, not so much at Maryland VA)
low infection rate
Dr. Kramer's reputation and expertise in placement of peripheral components, pump, reservoir, etc
Dr. Kramer's reputation for optimal sizing of the implant, distal tip placement, crus placement and using as few rear tip extenders as possible
Dr. Kramer's reputation for minimal bleeding, swelling, post-op pain and swift recovery

the arguments for having the operation in Alaska are

Fewer bureacratic surprizes/roadblocks likely
Recovery at home without waiting in a hotel a few days for swelling to subside before flying 13 hours
Recovery at home with a friend to help
Followup doctor will be the one who actually did the surgery
Local surgeon leaves inflation at a very high level, suggesting an easier activiation regimen
$1500 to $2000 cheaper out-of-pocket (at my income level, this is substantial)
Likely to be completed before July. Maryland may take a month or two longer, with additional risk of bureaucratic roadblocks

Any thoughts before I make the decision final?

Good morning Lost Sheep. Yes, Dr. Kramer may be exceptionally BUT, I am certain there are others out there that are excellent as well. Even the great Dr. Kramer was a rookie at one time. I got my implant in London Ontario CANADA, and Dr. Kramer did NOT do it. My Dr. was great. If you have not heard BAD things and you trust your local guy, go for it. Don't listen to BS like "he rushes me out the door" or "he doesn't listen to me" That was the crap that was posted about my doctor BUT, Dr. Brock phones me to answer all my questions (and I had a lot), he provided me with his personal email and answers it within 24 hours... this week he is in Australia on business but still took the time to answer my emails. Go with your gut. I will tell you, my Dr. is 7 hours away so I see another guy for post op care. Although he is great, I find it difficult talking to him about things that another Dr. did.

[Lost Sheep]

Dr. is 7 hours away so I see another guy for post op care. Although he is great, I find it difficult talking to him about things that another Dr. did.

My local surgeon does not like to talk about what he intends to do OR about what another surgeon would do. So, ease or openness of conversation is not really a factor for my decision.

Pity. I would definitely welcome that.

[sliphill]

You will be fine, brother, and we will be here for you.

Thanks, just trying not to think too much about it. Fortunately, I have been busy most of the day.

[radioradio]

I have the same decision to make -- Local or Kramer?

Since I'm in the Philadelphia area, the trip to Baltimore is not a big deal. I have an appointment in Phila. in a few days (Dr. Wm. Jaffe at Penn), presumably for doppler test, etc. Injections not working well, and they are a pain - (literally and physically).

A friend highly recommends Dr. Jaffe for the implant, if that is where this is going. Does anyone else have any input re him, or the decision in general?

Bob

[Tybeeman]

I have the same decision to make -- Local or Kramer?

Since I'm in the Philadelphia area, the trip to Baltimore is not a big deal. I have an appointment in Phila. in a few days (Dr. Wm. Jaffe at Penn), presumably for doppler test, etc. Injections not working well, and they are a pain - (literally and physically).

A friend highly recommends Dr. Jaffe for the implant, if that is where this is going. Does anyone else have any input re him, or the decision in general?

Bob

Just curious, A implant this close to your RP (3 months) How is your consistency? It was 3 months before I could go with out a pad

[radioradio]

Continence is good, but not perfect. I still wear a pad for safety -- in case I sneeze or hear a really good joke before I have a chance to "tighten up". Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with my progress on this count.

I don't know that the implant is next, but given my ED prior to the RP, my surgeon suggested it might be time already. Everything I've read here, and what I've heard directly from "Bionics" indiciates the biggest regret is that they waited so long. (My surgeon told me that some guys have had the RP and implant at the same time -- brave or crazy, not sure which.)

Maybe I'm impatient, but the pumping, injections, and continuing ED are getting to me mentally and emotionally. Self esteem taking a huge hit.

Bob

[Tybeeman]

Continence is good, but not perfect. I still wear a pad for safety -- in case I sneeze or hear a really good joke before I have a chance to "tighten up". Otherwise, I'm pretty happy with my progress on this count.

I don't know that the implant is next, but given my ED prior to the RP, my surgeon suggested it might be time already. Everything I've read here, and what I've heard directly from "Bionics" indiciates the biggest regret is that they waited so long. (My surgeon told me that some guys have had the RP and implant at the same time -- brave or crazy, not sure which.)

Maybe I'm impatient, but the pumping, injections, and continuing ED are getting to me mentally and emotionally. Self esteem taking a huge hit.

Bob

No one is more impatient then me and it has been 15 months. I wanted to do it last summer but doctors told me I need to wait at less a year. I hear of very few success stories for erection after RP. I think some get some of it back and they are happy with it. I am getting nothing. Been ready. Go for it I wish I would have done it sooner

[ShopMan]

I decided to go with my local guy too. Although he only does 2 a month, he's been doing them for 30 years. I figure that is some good experience. Charlotte NC has top notch doctors. My wife has really good intuition, and she felt good about this doctor. But all that aside, I'm still nervous. Tomorrow's BD-Day! Bionic Dick-Day. [/quote]

That's what I did also. He was the elder surgeon in a 8 Dr.Uro office. I was very comfortable with him.
He did, as far as I am concerned a good job. I did loose maybe 1/4" but have gained that length back and more in girth.

Gongrats on getting you new implant. I am assuming you have had it done already. Welcome to bionic world. Let us know how it goes.

Charlie