My ED story (UK)

[siltmonkey]

Week 3

I got 5 hours sleep one night this week. That’s much better. I only notice the pain is less at the end of the week by trying to remember how it felt at the beginning. It’s definitely less. Bathroom staggers have almost become bathroom walks. I still hate my television. Read lots of books. Really wish I could go to work.
This week I have my appointment at the hospital to check me and hopeful begin cycling my implant up and down. When I’m there, it’s all efficient again. After spending time inspecting me, they say that they are really pleased with how it is healing, no infection, everything in its place, especially the pump, and no deformities. The pump apparently is in the perfect place, central with the button easy to find. I can't take credit for that. They teach me to feel for it – actually, they had told me I should, every now and then, pull the pump down gently so it doesn’t get stuck too high, but I have never needed to. I can feel the pump and the button easily. They deflate it. My god that is pain like no other. It feels like my dick is being turned inside out. Then they inflate it. The pain again. Now I try and deflate. Same pain but at least I did it. They’re very happy, I’m in pain and I’m free to go staggering away as normal to begin my daily inflate/deflate.

[SWorks17]

Week 3

I got 5 hours sleep one night this week. That’s much better. I only notice the pain is less at the end of the week by trying to remember how it felt at the beginning. It’s definitely less. Bathroom staggers have almost become bathroom walks. I still hate my television. Read lots of books. Really wish I could go to work.
This week I have my appointment at the hospital to check me and hopeful begin cycling my implant up and down. When I’m there, it’s all efficient again. After spending time inspecting me, they say that they are really pleased with how it is healing, no infection, everything in its place, especially the pump, and no deformities. The pump apparently is in the perfect place, central with the button easy to find. I can't take credit for that. They teach me to feel for it – actually, they had told me I should, every now and then, pull the pump down gently so it doesn’t get stuck too high, but I have never needed to. I can feel the pump and the button easily. They deflate it. My god that is pain like no other. It feels like my dick is being turned inside out. Then they inflate it. The pain again. Now I try and deflate. Same pain but at least I did it. They’re very happy, I’m in pain and I’m free to go staggering away as normal to begin my daily inflate/deflate.

It’s great to hear that you’re doing a lot better Siltmonkey.
I was glad that I was already retired from work, so I didn’t have to work and deal with the pain of healing.
I started walking with my wife at 4 weeks but after a 3 to 4 mile walk I would have uncomfortable aching deep inside my perineum area. Sitting on hard chairs was definitely out of the question.
A mix of Tylenol and Motrin would help, but I would have to stay on top of the pain reliever.
Do you know what brand of implant you got and the size they installed?
I got the Boston Scientefic AMS 700 LGX 18cm with 3cm rear tips.
Keep healing up,
Your Bionic Brother in Texas
SWorks

[siltmonkey]

Thanks for replying.

I got the Coloplast Titan. They said it was long-lasting and they had tested the others and found this better.

I doubt it's better. I reckon pricing was the deciding factor!

But I don't mind. There are good and bad reports on both, just as with cars. I'm getting used to mine and I hope yours is good too.

[siltmonkey]

Week 4

I slept all through – at least 7 hours. Miracle. Or less pain. I guess my body is starting to get used to this thing. I have started to walk better too. Inflating and deflating is getting easier or at least less painful. I notice that it seems to fill back up a bit after deflating. Really worried so I email my nurse specialist who gets me a next-day appointment. This time the consultant surgeon sees me. I start by literally bawling my eyes out due to worry. After that has subsided, they begin to chat. The talk turns to skiing and without knowing it, ten minutes have elapsed, I feel I’ve known this person for ages and then it hits me – very clever distraction. These guys are good. Then it’s time to inspect. I’m still a ball of anxiety to be honest, but they explain that this inflation happens a lot and it subsides over time. Apparently there’s a lot of swelling still inside and the body settling in to this artificial thing and it’s a looooong process of recovery. Apparently it's worse for 'younger' guys who are lean because there's less padding to allow things to settle. Hmmm. In any event, six weeks back to ‘normal’ is probably very lucky. It could be several months until it settles. At least they’re honest. They are not concerned at all, which helps me a bit. They tell me I will have a ‘shower’ not a ‘grower’ and that it takes time for the cylinders to soften a bit more. I think I’m lucky to have anything – I’ll take either. I had no sensation on the underside of my dick last week. This week there’s a tiny bit more feeling under the glans. That’s good. They’ll check me again in two weeks.

Towards the end of the week, I’ve started moving around the house and even cooking, albeit a bit bent over. Underwear is still a bit painful due to the approximately 4:30 angle of my dick but I can inflate and deflate without pain medication now. Progress. Must stay positive. Positivity counts for a lot, as my wife says. She’s right, as usual.

At the end of the week I can now sleep on either side as well as my back. Long gone are my days of front sleeping. Then I remember that I never slept on my front. The next few days have a lot of that ‘I won't be able to do that anymore’ before realising I was never going to do whatever it was anyway. Like, ‘I don’t think rock climbing is going to wor – wait, I don’t even do rock climbing. Well I won’t be able to save people at night using my kung fu skil – wait, I don’t do kung fu.’ etc.

I think the pain meds made me sweat – I sometimes woke up soaking. Thankfully I no longer need them. Still seems like a long road ahead.

[SWorks17]

At the end of the week I can now sleep on either side as well as my back. Long gone are my days of front sleeping. Then I remember that I never slept on my front. The next few days have a lot of that ‘I won't be able to do that anymore’ before realising I was never going to do whatever it was anyway. Like, ‘I don’t think rock climbing is going to wor – wait, I don’t even do rock climbing. Well I won’t be able to save people at night using my kung fu skil – wait, I don’t do kung fu.’ etc.

Sooo funny Siltmonkey, I'm glad that you've got your since of humor!

Your Bionic Brother in Texas,
SWorks

[cbinspok]

Brovo Silmonkey
Throughly enjoying your reports and congratulations on thanking this hard step. I believe you will enjoy your transaction into bionic man more than most. Just understand over the next 12 months your body and plastic parts are getting acquainted with all the strings leading to your brain. It’s going to be great for you! Start thinking where you will be taking the Mrs. On holiday in a year from now. Reports are optional but appreciated. Lastly thank you for the positive review of the nhs
We don’t have one here but should. My implant was done on medicare which is the closest thing we have and they did right by me.
In our country its “ hate” to anything public its a right media blitz that is very well financed sadly. I digress.
Continue your wonderful reporting and thank you.

[Kiwias]

From reading your story I think we had the same implant (Titan) around the same time (late November). I suspect the main difference was the surgical technique. I had Infrapubic but it sounds as if you had penoscrotal which explains why you had a rougher initial recovery than me.
I'm probably ahead of you pain wise but behind in other ways such as sensation.
Anyway sometime in the very near future you are about to start having sex again. It won't be great sex, there will be all kinds of things wrong with it but it will be wonderful and it will get better every day. But most importantly you will realise that this is the best decision you have ever made.
You'll also be shagging like bunnies in no time
Keep up the good fight and be grateful for the NHS. For all its problems there isn't a better public health system anywhere in the world!

[siltmonkey]

Hi Kiwias,

I've read about all kinds of surgical techniques and some horror stories.

They all say that no matter which procedure you have, you lose sensation and it comes back very slowly because it's been a huge trauma on a very sensitive area. My surgeon explained where the nerves were and how their technique is to avoid them but they said even so it will be numb for a long time as the body deals with different sensations, damage repair and possibly giving your brain the middle finger as if to say, 'What the actual fuck buggery did you do to me?'

They may not have actually said that last bit.

[Kiwias]

Hi Siltmonkey,
You're surgeon is right. The main thing is the nerves are still intact. Unfortunately they get stretched, or at worst compressed, during the procedure.
A good sign that they are on their way back are weird electric zaps and stabbing pains. I get these every few days and usually can notice some improvement shortly after. They are a sign that the nerves are beginning to fire again and testing the ground to make sure it's safe to spark back into action, so to speak.
I'm not too concerned as it has already gone from being completely numb immediately post surgery to a patchwork of sensation with some areas back to normal, some still numb and some even oversensitive.
In a sort of perverse way I'm enjoying observing my own recovery and appreciating the little gains and victories along the way. I think having to work for it yourself will make the end result feel even better

[siltmonkey]

weird electric zaps and stabbing pains. I get these every few days and usually can notice some improvement shortly after. They are a sign that the nerves are beginning to fire again and testing the ground to make sure it's safe to spark back into action, so to speak.

I'm glad you said this because that's what I'm getting. But I'm prepared for it to be months.