Jere's Journey

[jerrywayne]

cute dog man

[newly1]

did you know I got implanted a week ago?

[jeremc]

Newly,
Yes I did, congratulations and welcome to the Bionic Brotherhood.
I've called you several times, and left you messages. Call when you can, I would like to hear how everything is going.
Take it easy the first few weeks and in no time you will be back in the saddle again!!!
Jere
(jeremc)

[newly1]

im confused, didnt you have an implant?

[jeremc]

Revision 1, December 11, 2013

As I’ve mentioned before, on pages 13, 14 and 15, there are pictures where I have some swelling above the pump on the right side. Well this turned out to be the reservoir tube being too long. On December 11, 2013, I had it shortened and my Urologist took too much tubing which made my right cylinder tube bulge, so he shortened it too! In his OR report he said, “A second tube was then noted to be tenting upward as well. This too was also cross clamped, divided and portion removed and reconnected for a much better cosmetic effect was achieved at this point.” REALLY! There is no way that can happen with pre-connected cylinders if he hadn’t taken too much of the reservoir tube. This pulled my pump up and to the right, causing it to dig into my right testicle. I was now having more discomfort than before. The pump was so high, it was hard to hold to inflate. The pump would slip out of my fingers, and you guys that have implants, you know how that can hurt. When he screwed up the reservoir tube, he should have stopped, taken the pump out and replaced it with proper length tubing. On top of all of this, he didn’t replace the lost fluid, at about 90% erect, the pump bulb would go flat.

[jeremc]

Revision 2, January, 2014

After checking with the insurance company, I found several Urologist in Memphis and call a few of them. I was referred to an Urologist in Nashville. After he examined me, he sent me home with a months of Celebrex to reduce the inflammation I still has from the surgery a month ago.

February, I Went back, and was sent home again with a new Rx of Celebrex.
March, you guessed it. The inflammation was not going away until the pump was replaced. Surgery was schedule during the visit for a few weeks later.

April 8th, all gowned up and rolled up to pre-op. Going over everything with the Anesthesiologist and the Urologist walks in and cancelled the surgery. Urinary Tract Infection. Are you freaking kidding me…aaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

You’re counting, right? Now the fifth trip to Nashville, 200+ miles from my house, each way. Gas, hotels, meals. This is really starting to add up, not to mention why I’m doing it, IT STILL HURTS!
April 21st, all went well, new pump, scar tissue from the first two surgeries was removed and glued this time. Pump is even a little lower and nice and centered…Sweet! I hang out at the hotel for a few day, stopped by the Urologist office and all is good to go.

Three weeks later, Mother’s Day, I came home form that night from dinner, fixed a cocktail and started to feel real cold and started shaking. I took my temperature and it was 102. I got undressed and got in bed. About 30 minutes I started shaking even more, so I took my temp one more time and it was at 104! I called 911.
I had called the Urologist office the Friday before and spoke to the surgeon on duty. I was experiencing a little swelling and some mild pain in my scrotum along the incision. He said to keep ice on it and quit over doing it. The next day was about the same, but not enough to keep me out of the saddle.

Once in the ER and after 13 vials of blood were drown, white blood count was 24 and all the other test were screwed up as well. None of my blood chemistry was right. IMPLANT INFECTION. The next morning, here comes my first Urologist that I hated and quit seeing years ago. “I’ve got you scheduled for surgery in the morning to completely remove you implant and we’ll wait six months to replace it.” No Freaking way, get out of my room! Waiting this long will cause corporal fibrosis and significant loss of length. After seeing the infectious decease Doctor, we decided on an aggressive and prolonged antibiotic treatment. On the fifth day in the hospital, and nurse came in a put a PICC line in my upper right arm. Once discharged, I went to Outpatient every morning to 100ml of IV antibiotics for the next 29 days, and then 500mg of penicillin 3 times a day. I spent that month with a great case of diarrhea form all the antibiotics.

While all of this is going on, My Urologist Group in Nashville has merged with another group and no longer takes my insurance. He recommended an Urologist in Birmingham, another 200 mile drive! I went down and saw him last week, thinking I still might have to have my implant removed, flushed out with antibiotic and a new one put in in the same surgery. He told me, after telling me that that was the second best looking penis he has seen since his shower this morning that he wouldn’t do a thing. I knew a salvage procedure was going to happen, but it looks like it want happen, and least not now! This is a first, at least from my research.

Abstract

Penile prosthesis implantation is associated with a relatively low wound infection rate (3%). Proper adherence to antiseptic principles has kept the incidence low. When an infection does occur, one has the option of removing the device, allowing the infection to clear and possibly returning at a later date for implantation, or a salvage procedure, i.e., removing all foreign material, cleansing the wound, and reinserting a new device. The experience with salvage has resulted in approximately 80-90% success in saving the erectile abilities in a number of series.

[jeremc]

Day of surgery, first revision

[jeremc]

Right side swelling

[jeremc]

Now that I'm off all the antibiotics, some discomfort has set in from the infection several months ago. I went back down to Birmingham to see Dr. Christine and he said we should go ahead with the Salvage procedure. He didn't really like how low my second pump was and neither do I. When I get in the hot tub and my scrotum loosens up, the pump rotates 90 degrees counterclockwise. The right cylinder tube is longer than the left. So I get a brand new toy, all 3 pieces. He also said that I might be able to get one or two extra centimeters in length. Not that I really need it. I really love what I have, just don't seem to be able to get the tubing situation right. Keep your fingers crossed, this will be the forth time my scrotum has been cut open. Zipper anyone?
Back to the OR November 5th, two weeks to go.
Jere

[Bionic_by_AMS]

Jere,
Sorry to hear you are having so many issues ... hopefully this will be the last time ...