Pump Flat after a few pumps

[Entourage]

Hello, I hope all my friends are doing very well.

It has been quite some since I have came to Frank talk my apologies. I try to stay away Because I have anxiety and i over think. But I always miss my friends on this page. It has been a year and three months since I was implanted by titan at the beginning I had a really rough journey, but things turned out really great. I was having a really good run till recently. I was trying to have sex and I realized after 12 or 13 pumps, the pump went flat and it really scared me I deflated, but ever since I deflated the pump feels smaller and less firmed than before, and it feels very soft. I can touch it and feel that the pump is not the same size anymore, I’m scared is this a sign of leakage? Also, when I tried inflating again today in the shower, it did not max to where I used to before and still feels small any one with the same issue.

[wilsonmill]

Sounds like a leak, if you are no longer as stiff as you use to be than a good probability that you have a leak, my Titan failed after 5yrs, I pumped one night got about 5-7 pumps in then the bulb went flat. Released the valve and only got 3 pumps and went flat again. If this is happening than go see your surgeon or your urologist and get put on the schedule for a revision and the revision is a whole lot easier, I am very serious about that, you will be up in no time, so much easier.

[Gt1956]

I don't read in your post that you've actually verified that your not as hard. I'm guessing that anxiety is holding you back. You need to pump to max inorder to verify that you can run out of saline. If you have a leak then you should get a flat bulb at some point during inflation.

Once you verify that your bulb can go flat then a call to your dr is in order. Fixing this can go from just a bulb replacement to a complete new implant. Changing an implant or parts of an already installed implant is easier on your body that putting the first one in was. Less shock to your body. If surgery is needed? Nearly all men report that it was a quite easy recovery.

You can do this. Good luck & stop in for some encouragement.

[nuance]

Is immediate replacement necessary (assuming not planning to have sex) or can one continue using VED to avoid shrinkage. At some point, after a few revisions, we may need to give up. Anyone know how many surgeries can a certain part of your body take (assuming no infections)? Failure rate with these is just too high, I rarely see people who’ve had it for 10 years.

[Oldcrohny62]

Entourage-
I had very similar happen couple months ago. Implanted six and half years ago with AMS 700. Both urologists - one local and specialist who implanted - said leaks happened. No fluid remains for pump to use. Both said only option is replace the entire system. I know, very discouraging and upsetting.

I am seeking replacement surgery which is costly without insurance.

[nuance]

What’s the warranty on AMS?

[LastHope]

Is immediate replacement necessary (assuming not planning to have sex) or can one continue using VED to avoid shrinkage. At some point, after a few revisions, we may need to give up. Anyone know how many surgeries can a certain part of your body take (assuming no infections)? Failure rate with these is just too high, I rarely see people who’ve had it for 10 years.

Using a VED is a good idea. There's no reason to stop as long as health and finances allow it. The odds of success are high if we go to a high-volume, dedicated implanter, given that 52% of implants seem to be still functioning in their 20th year. I'm sure these survival rates would be even higher with top surgeons. There's always the option of a malleable implant if, for example, we lose hand dexterity due to a stroke or Parkinson's disease...so there's no need to give up.

7% of implants fail by the first year
9% of implants fail within three years
13% of implants fail within five years
23% of implants fail within ten years
36% of implants fail within 15 years
48% of implants fail within 20 years

Source:
Long-Term Survival Rates of Inflatable Penile Prostheses: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Larry E Miller et al. Urology. 2022 Aug.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35421510/

[LastHope]

What’s the warranty on AMS?

I think 5 years for AMS and 10 years for Coloplast products.

[Entourage]

I am so frustrated. I paid 20k out of Pocket. Now I don't how its going to work out for me pay another whole thing out of pocket. Honestly they should at least cover us for 3 years on the whole care. Im already in debt I couldn't even pay off the last surgery and a new one comes up.Somehow I think the they can make better devices they just don't want to knowing it might last us forever. The whole medical system is greedy for money.

[Gt1956]

I am so frustrated. I paid 20k out of Pocket. Now I don't how its going to work out for me pay another whole thing out of pocket. Honestly they should at least cover us for 3 years on the whole care. Im already in debt I couldn't even pay off the last surgery and a new one comes up.Somehow I think the they can make better devices they just don't want to knowing it might last us forever. The whole medical system is greedy for money.

Some of the advancements have run up prices. The quest to lower infection rates is one area. You see in old movies the trays of stainless steel tools in the movies. Now most if not all of that stuff is disposable. Either plastic or made cheap enough to throw away. Since its medical waste. It has to go to a special medical waste site. Also, it comes in a kit for the procedure. Everything is there even if it isn't used. So there is a very real possibility that brand new instruments are thrown away in an expensive waste stream.They have found that some viruses are very resistant to sterilization. Case in point. Many years ago my brothers wife was infected with HPV from her gynecologist.

You can try pressing your dr for just a pump replacement. It should be at least some what cheaper. I guess that it might even be easy enough to avoid a surgery room. But that might be up to your dr. As I recall, vasectomies are done in a less formal setting. In my mind I fail to see a big difference in the work being done.

This is best discussed with your dr. Also, I suggest to not delay that visit. He might have more sympathy for you now than if you wait a year or two more.