FrankTalk.org

Make a list of ALL questions and doubts you have. It is better to leave the office without any major concern clarified. Also, if you go with your mind opened up to hear and learn, as said here before, he will make you feel at ease.

Try your best not to be nervous. Anxiety is your worst enemy; you will forget things and will block your mind. This is your time to be in front of a world-class surgeon, but he is so down to earth that you will feel that you can be as open as you would be with a good friend.

I have met with Dr. Kramer and he has the best outlook and bedside manner of any Dr. I have ever had contact with. Hoping that tomorrow at this time I'll be on my way home to Southern Pa. with the boys on ice :
not shaken. lol

WOODYHAPPEN wrote:I have met with Dr. Kramer and he has the best outlook and bedside manner of any Dr. I have ever had contact with. Hoping that tomorrow at this time I'll be on my way home to Southern Pa. with the boys on ice :
not shaken. lol

Sad to say but doctors like him are rare in urologists. I talked to a hospital physician manager a year ago that told me urologists were his biggest pain and smoothing things over with patients occupied more of his time than all the rest of the doctor professions combined. Dr. Kramer is a gem in customer service. Cheers man, wishing you the best.

ThePlumber1964 wrote:Hey Woodyhappen,

I am planning to respond to your questions tomorrow, but I just want to let you know that if you are not local (Baltimore or surrounding areas), you should plan to stay and not have any long trip.

Will reply you tomorrow!

I have a choice between a local surgeon with 5% to 10% the experience of Dr Kramer and being at home or Dr Kramer at the Baltimore VA Hospital and a 13 hour plane ride back to Alaska.

Any advice for me?

Lots of work to get everything lined up in Baltimore. Much less red tape to go local.

I have no particular complicating factors (like fibrosis, etc). I do have Diabetes, venous leakage, apparantly. 68 years old.

Play the odds. Likelihood of problems with Dr Kramer is minimal; with your local doc completely unknown. For a decision this important I'd go with the (practically) sure thing, but I live only about 25 minutes from his place of business.

Lost Sheep wrote:,,,Dr Kramer at the Baltimore VA Hospital...

I don't think that Dr. Kramer is at the Baltimore VA Hospital. I think he's at the University of Maryland Medical Center, located in Baltimore.

David_R wrote:

Lost Sheep wrote:,,,Dr Kramer at the Baltimore VA Hospital...

I don't think that Dr. Kramer is at the Baltimore VA Hospital. I think he's at the University of Maryland Medical Center, located in Baltimore.

Dr Kramer (and, incidentally, Dr Eid, also) is in the Veteran's Administration System. Dr Kramer does implant surgeries at both University of Maryland Hospital and the Maryland VA Hospital in Baltimore.

That he does surgeries at the VA made the decision to go with Dr K easier for me.

WOODYHAPPEN wrote:I have met with Dr. Kramer and he has the best outlook and bedside manner of any Dr. I have ever had contact with. Hoping that tomorrow at this time I'll be on my way home to Southern Pa. with the boys on ice :
not shaken. lol

i had my surgery wit Dr. Kramer last Wednesday. He is the nicest and most knowledgable Dr. I have ever met. I am still sore, but I have noticed a difference in girt and even general outlook of my "friend" I am very pleased

WOODYHAPPEN wrote:I have met with Dr. Kramer and he has the best outlook and bedside manner of any Dr. I have ever had contact with. Hoping that tomorrow at this time I'll be on my way home to Southern Pa. with the boys on ice :
not shaken. lol

Oh, I thought that you were having the pre op appointment only. I would strongly recommend to stay in the Baltimore area until Saturday. He will visit you at the hotel most likely Friday. These are my recommendations:

1. The instructions to be resting flat for minimum 3 days are to be followed; this is not optional and has a good rationale that will help you to avoid swelling.

2. If you can take ibuprofen, ask him a prescription for the 800mg. Be religious on taking them as indicated. They will help you not just with the pain, but to avoid inflammation. And if you can avoid or minimize the Oxy, you will be better off. The constipation it can create is not worth it.

3. Use the ice as he indicates (no more than 15 minutes per hour). Do not overuse it since after 2-3 days it is not as effective for the swelling; at that point is only for comfort. Ibuprofen can provide better inflation control if you can take it.

4. Create a towel "hammock" to provide scrotal support. You will need it

5. Only use the athletic supporter for no more than 2-3 days. If you use it for a prolonged time, the pump can be pushed up, and get inverted. Someone had this situation reported. I talked to Kramer before the surgery, and he wanted me to use it only one day.

6. Get you a good underwear that can provide the support you will need after the resting time. I bought this separate pouches underwear (David Archy Men's Micro Modal Separate Pouch) (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CB77S6Y/ref ...
The good thing about this design is that it provides comfortable scrotal support without feeling strangled, and you can open the front part and leave the shaft loose as needed, when needed.

7. Reach to Kramer if you are experiencing something out of the ordinary. Also, reach your bionic brothers; we are here to help.

ThePlumber

Lost Sheep wrote:

ThePlumber1964 wrote:Hey Woodyhappen,

I am planning to respond to your questions tomorrow, but I just want to let you know that if you are not local (Baltimore or surrounding areas), you should plan to stay and not have any long trip.

Will reply you tomorrow!

I have a choice between a local surgeon with 5% to 10% the experience of Dr Kramer and being at home or Dr Kramer at the Baltimore VA Hospital and a 13 hour plane ride back to Alaska.

Any advice for me?

Lots of work to get everything lined up in Baltimore. Much less red tape to go local.

I have no particular complicating factors (like fibrosis, etc). I do have Diabetes, venous leakage, apparantly. 68 years old.

With all the research you appear to have done already, I think the answer as to whether you should see Dr. Kramer or stay with a local surgeon w/ far less experience is pretty clear. I'd plan on staying in Baltimore a couple of extra days so that your long plane ride back to AK won't be as much of an ordeal...