Raul's Journey-28Years-Single-Dr Karpman-14Oct2014-Out of US

[raul411]

Hello All,

First I would like to start by thanking Paul for providing such a great forum and obviously the wonderful people of this forum.
I really got a lot of support from the people over here, would rather call them mentors, which helped me in choosing this path of penile Implant.
The only thing that scares me is the infection / botched outcome. However I have realized that the Penile Implant is the only option for me and made my mind strong to accept and go for it.

I hope & pray everything goes well for me tomorrow i.e Oct 14th.

I would like to record my entire journey over here so that this may be helpful for other people. I'm assuming that I can edit this post multiple times so that I can place all the information in one single post.

Background:
This is Raul - 28 Years - Single - Out of US.
I have been suffering from ED for the past 6 years, since 22, & have been on pills for the past 4 years with a little to no success.
I couldn't find my root cause and all of my test results are good.
My doc says it may be psychological but I didn't even had any morning woods too.
I have lost all of my three relations because of my ED.
My partners were not happy with me being using pills at my age. More over the pills are not consistent. Even though the pills work some times it's not hard enough and doesn't stay long.

The Decision Process:
1) I'm single & young.
2) I don't want to reveal to my partners that I have problems with my errection and I'm on Pills to keep up.
I learnt this the hard way as my partners didn't accept that. Probably I may have chosen the wrong partners or failed to choose the right one who can understand
my scenario.
You may debate on the fact of hiding some key facts when beginning a new relationship but well it's my personal choice based on the experiences I had.
3) Pills are not consistent.
4) I even hated to take pills. I have to hide them as I don't want to reveal to my partners. I even have to plan for this.
Even though the pills worked a few times, my errection is not firm and strong.
5) I'm asked to go for Injections. But this isn't a viable option for young people as you have to plan for this and inject needle on your penis every time you want to
have sex.
6) So the final option is to go with Penile Implant.
7) I have sent many personal messages to folks over here and learnt that every one who had a successful implant are happy with their outcome.
I have sent some lengthy questionnaire and I'm surprised with the fact that I got detailed responses to each and every single question. I couldn't name every one
who replied over here but they meant a lot to me. Once again thank you.
In fact I liked this statement from one of the persons in this forum and this motivated me to go for implant.
"You have everything to gain and nothing to lose from Implant"
Note: Assuming everything goes well with the implant.
8) The only downside I see is with the infection.
9) I decided to take a chance and I hope and pray that I my surgery goes well and have similar experiences to that of the happy campers over here.

Expectations from the Outcome of Surgery:
1) Successful Implant
2) Pain and swelling to subside with in a week
3) Go to work, desk job, with in a week
4) Inflate & Deflate with a little to no pain after a week
5) Intercourse after 3 weeks
6) Good Errection - Ability to keep hard for 15 min and at least 3 sessions , Good Orgasms
7) Hide the implant with my partners
8) No Healing of Pump on the top
9) Ability to learn the technique of hiding my Inflate and Deflate actions when I'm with my partner
10) No Soft Glans ( Some people complained about this )
11) Should be fully satisfied with my implant and shouldn't have any regrets for having implant
12) Good Mechanical reliability of the device (10 years)
13) No pain during intercourse
14) No weird/abnormal feeling of carrying an implant
15) No difference in my Penis and Scrotum appearance
16) Should father a child with my implant

These are some of the expectations I'm having prior to the surgery. I will update on the above post surgery.
I may be setting up high expectations. I will realize this over a period of time.
This may be helpful for people on the expectations of the surgery.

Surgeon Selection Process:
1) I'm out of US. I don't have insurance. I have to pay from my Pocket.
2) So cost is a criteria for me.
3) Looked for high volume or reputed surgeons.
4) Considered Kramer(20K), Perito(25K), Karpman(19K), Milam
5) Kramer - Couldn't get dates from him. Mostly performs Scrotal.
Milam - Didn't accept International patients
Perito - Got dates. Scheduled with him but dropped when I got dates from Karpman.
6) Chose Dr.Karpman because I got great feedback from couple of folks over here. Uses Infrapubic approach and people whom I talked to said the healing was quick
and had sex with in 3 weeks. Finally he costs 6K less. Looked like a better deal for me.
7) For International Patients:
Dr.Karpman advised me to stay for a week. The hotels in Los Gatos area are very expensive.
So browse "airbnb" site. Search for rooms in Cupertino, Sunnyvale or enter the zipcode of surgery hospital and look nearby rooms.
I found a furnished private suite with attached bath in a large individual house for 70 $ per day.
Make sure you are less than 10 miles away from hospital and use "Uber" for transportation (private cabs). It's cheaper when compared to local cabs like "yellow
cab".
My total expenses with cabs, medication, pre-operative tests should come around : 19K(Surgery)+150(Medication)+750(Accomodation/Hotel)+300(Cabs) = 20200 $
Note: When I inquired about EKG test at a different location I was quoted 800$ but I got it done for 30$ at Karpman's recommended office.

Wish me best of luck and pray for my successful surgery.
I will be updating this thread in the next few days and weeks.

[zac white]

All the best Raul will be thinking of you
I am 7 days post op and all is going to plan, we all pray for it to go well but there is so many expectations of this type of surgery so we just have to take it day by day.
So Mate just get over the first few days, take it real easy and that will give you the encouragement to get to the next phase of the process and hopefully before we know it we are enjoying great spontaneous sex and feeling very pleased with our selves.
Cheers
Zac

[raul411]

Thanks for the kind words Zac.
My doc says the surgery went well.
I will have to wait for a week and then 3 weeks to really see how my surgery went.

I'm having a pain of 5 on the scale of 10.
I'm asking for pain medications all the time.
With in the last 7 hours I have asked for 3 shots of 1mg morphil and 1 shot of 2mg morphil.
The pain subsides for 30 min and then comes back.

Right now I'm given oral medications (2 tablets) along with 1 mg morphil.
With that I'm having a pain of 2 on the scale of 10.

I wish I could sleep.
Counting every minute. I hope the pain goes away tomorrow.
I hope and really hope that will happen.
By the way this is first surgery on me. I have never been hospitalized or stayed for a night in the hospital.
As I'm all by myself and I don't have any one to talk or share my feelings right now.
So spitting them out in this great forum..

That's it for now and I will keep posting my updates as well.

[zac white]

Hi Raul
Well mate you have just got to hang in there it all gets better.
I used ice packs in the hospital and have for the last week for pain it's a matter of moving the packs around and wrapping them in something soft, for me placing a flat pack pushed into a U shape and placed under my scrotum has given me the biggest relief. While this did a good job of lessening the pain I also kept mild pain killer tablets up so that I didn't get to the stage when the pain might get to much, looking back I think what I experienced was more real discomfort and that is to be expected. Shit mate you have come this far so you can get through this.
As for being alone I personally chose to have the first few days with no one around to just sleep it off
If you need to talk just drop me a line and I will reply, don't feel alone mate, after all we have a lot in common
Cheers
Zac

[avlis26]

Raul, I thank you so much for all the details you are providing in this thread. This is of great help!! And I'm sure others will be able to help you during your recovery.
Man, if didnt know any better, I would've thought someone else was writing my own story.
I'm a 30 years old guy suffering with ED since my first sexual experiences. I'm tired of all other treatments that failed and I'm currently planning my surgery implant. I also don't live in the US and will have to pay from my Pocket.

I hope and pray you have a smooth recovery!!

Look forward to hearing from you.

[raul411]

I wish I could post all the notes in one single post. Looks like there's a word limit. So i will reserve the next few posts so that my diary and all the required information would be in the first two pages.

Surgery Preparation:
1) Finalized the surgeon. Called the hospital. Talked to Christine.
Note: Christine is the one who schedules appointments for Dr.Karpman. Make sure you ask for Christine when you call the
hospital for scheduling an appointment with Dr.Karpman. By the way, Christine is really great and patient enough to
listen to me and accommodate my requests.
2) I decided on Oct 2 that i will go with Implant. Called Christine and asked if I can get my implant done in the next week.
Dr.Karpman called me in the night and went over my medical history. This guy is really great. I felt comfortable with him
in the first call. He is patient enough to answer all my questions and clear some of the misconceptions I had. ( I will add
FAQ section later - it would be more of the questions I had and the responses I had from the forum members and
Karpman)
3) Got confirmation and scheduled for Oct 14.
Note: Dr.Karpman does surgery on Tue and pre op consultation on mon.
4) Have to do some pre-op tests : CBC, CMP, PT/INR, EKG
Note: (applicable for people paying from their pocket)
I was in charlotte a few days ahead and didn't have my pre op tests when I'm in my country. I used the site
"Anylabtestnow". Looks like they have many locations through out the US. I did a cash pay and came around 130$(doesn't
include EKG).
EKG is very expensive here in US.(800$)However Dr.Karpman recommended a place and it came around 30$.
So my recommendation would be either to get it done in your country or at Karpman's recommended place.
5) Shopped for Boxers and reusable Ice Pack (mueller) -10$ - walmart.
6) (Optional) : its going to be long day on the day of surgery. Dr.Karpman's keeps his patients for 23 hours.
So i got my iPad and iPhone fully charged.
Also purchased "AnkerUltra-Compact Portable Charger Lipstick-Sized External Battery for iPhone/iPad" from amazon(20$)
also better get head phones too.
The above kept me busy and made my time to fly by
7) I was kept on antibiotics 5 days prior to surgery.
8) Advised not to drink or eat anything (not even gums) from midnight prior to the surgery.
9) (Optional - May be helpful for International patients)
A) Hotels are expensive. So browse "airbnb". Look for reviews and ratings. You will find comparatively cheap
accommodation and wonderful hosts. Make sure you check their cancellation policies. I got
a nice private suite with attached bath , jacuzzi style - will be helpful for warm bath, for 70$ a day(all inclusive).
Make sure you are not far away from the surgery location.
I found a place is Cupertino (10 miles away from Dr.Karpman's office - Pre Op Visit, 8 miles away from El Caminos-Los
Gatos hospital - Surgery location)
B) install "Uber" app. Link your payment methods. This is a taxi run by local riders. This one is cheap and i would say
cheaper by 30 to 40% to that of standard local cab companies.
C) stock some food or find some delivery options.

On the day of Surgery:
1) Arrived 2 hours prior to my surgery. Filled the paper work.
2) Undressed. Wore surgery clothes. Left my valuables with the security and signed the inventory list.
3) kept me on IV and antibiotics.
4) went to surgery room.
5) Dr.Karpman stopped by and asked me how Im doing.
6) Anesthesia doc came and introduced himself. I didn't even noticed when he gave me anesthesia.
7) I woke up and realized that i'm in a different place.
8) Asked the nurse " When will my surgery take place ? "; She laughed and said I'm done with the surgery. I couldn't
remember a thing. She said the surgery went well and the doc was happy. She also said that the surgery was for 23
minutes.
9) The pain started 15 minutes after I woke up.
10) i was given some shots. had some relief and then transferred to the hospital room.
11) For the first 7 hours I'm given
A) 3 doses of 2 Mg morphin
B) 1 dose of 2 Mg morphin
Pain : 5 / 10 pre-shots..... Got down to 3/10 post-shots
I'm then given oral pain medicines along with 2mg morphin. This looked good on me and pain is 2/10.
12) i said i will be taking a sleeping pill at midnight along with pain meds.

I hope the pain goes away...
Wish me best of luck and pray for my successful surgery.
I will be updating this thread in the next few days and weeks.

[raul411]

Reserved... Will add content later...

I wish I could post all the notes in one single post. Looks like there's a word limit. So i will reserve the next few posts so that my diary and all the required information would be in the first two pages.

[raul411]

Reserved... Will add content later...

I wish I could post all the notes in one single post. Looks like there's a word limit. So i will reserve the next few posts so that my diary and all the required information would be in the first two pages.

[raul411]

Reserved... Will add content later...

[raul411]

Reserved... Will add content later...

I wish I could post all the notes in one single post. Looks like there's a word limit. So i will reserve the next few posts so that my diary and all the required information would be in the first two pages.