Here Goes

[chiali09]

I was unlucky. My doctor, who performs 50 implants a year, has had only 2 infections which required removal of the device. That happened to me on Thursday, and, for her, it was unusual because it was eight weeks into what seemed a normal recovery.

As others have mentioned on this site when they had the inflatable removed as was done to me, I had a semi-rigid one-piece implant replacing the the three-piece inflatable, with the reservoir and pump removed. Just got out of the hospital yesterday after being pumped full of antibiotics for 72 hours. My doctor hopes the semi-rigid will be fine, but it's conceivable that it, too, will become infected and have to be removed.

I have the option in six months to try again with an inflatable. Or I can live with the semi-rigid (which most of the rest of the world -- non-U.S -- uses, I discovered). But I'm not even sure how this will turn out for an improved sex life (or not) so I'm certainly not committing to going through this for third time. I don't even want to examine what's left until I'm in less discomfort.

Right now, I'm feeling depressed, frustrated, and pretty damn unlucky (compared to my doc's experiences and what I've read here). So, yes, my friends, it can all go bad when you least expect it, but the good news is you're extremely unlikely to be as unlucky as me! That's my fervent hope for everyone.

chedog, sorry to hear that. Praying for you! How does one get infected so far out? I'm at 3.5 weeks post-op. I'm not out of the woods for another month? Out of curiosity, How did u know u had one?

[chedog]

Thanks for the kind words. As I mentioned, my doctor was surprised that it happened that far out (four weeks is the more usual time) but she didn't indicate any "reason" (you know how these things are: it isn't always clear why something like this happens ... it just does. Maybe someone here with more medical knowledge can explain it -- I remember there was someone here who was an MD who mentioned "infections 2-3 months out").

As far as how I knew, I was due for an eight-week checkup on Wednesday last week (I was healing more slowly, still swollen, but there had been no alarm about it) which is when I thought I'd also be given pumping permission (I had done a bit of "gentle pumping" in the last week with permission). On Sunday (a week ago), I noticed something didn't feel right in the scrotal sac with the reservoir: it seemed like a lump. I also had a low-grade fever (between 99 and 100 F). There was a redness in hte groin area that hadn't been there.

I called the doctor on Monday and she said to come in immediately. When she saw me, she said it was a textbook case of an infection with rejection of the pump. It all had to come out.

She scheduled surgery for Thursday and removed everything. I had at least five different antibiotics in the 3 days in hospital via IV. Now on Cipro for the next two weeks and will see her this Thursday for post-op.

All the cultures have come back negative which is good news because there's nothing more serious going on but bad news in that there's no bacteria to target.

Happy to answer any and all further questions but don't want to bring folks down!

[PCHelp76180]

Thanks for the kind words. As I mentioned, my doctor was surprised that it happened that far out (four weeks is the more usual time) but she didn't indicate any "reason" (you know how these things are: it isn't always clear why something like this happens ... it just does. Maybe someone here with more medical knowledge can explain it -- I remember there was someone here who was an MD who mentioned "infections 2-3 months out").

As far as how I knew, I was due for an eight-week checkup on Wednesday last week (I was healing more slowly, still swollen, but there had been no alarm about it) which is when I thought I'd also be given pumping permission (I had done a bit of "gentle pumping" in the last week with permission). On Sunday (a week ago), I noticed something didn't feel right in the scrotal sac with the reservoir: it seemed like a lump. I also had a low-grade fever (between 99 and 100 F). There was a redness in hte groin area that hadn't been there.

I called the doctor on Monday and she said to come in immediately. When she saw me, she said it was a textbook case of an infection with rejection of the pump. It all had to come out.

She scheduled surgery for Thursday and removed everything. I had at least five different antibiotics in the 3 days in hospital via IV. Now on Cipro for the next two weeks and will see her this Thursday for post-op.

All the cultures have come back negative which is good news because there's nothing more serious going on but bad news in that there's no bacteria to target.

Happy to answer any and all further questions but don't want to bring folks down!

Very sorry to hear that chedog, what model was implanted that became infected?

[PCHelp76180]

Recovery going well, just the burning under the muscle from the reservoir.

[chedog]

Very sorry to hear that chedog, what model was implanted that became infected?

Coloplast Titan.

[chiali09]

PCHelp, which model did you get and how long are the cylinders? Glad your recovery is going relatively well. Congrats again!

[PCHelp76180]

PCHelp, which model did you get and how long are the cylinders? Glad your recovery is going relatively well. Congrats again!

Good question chiali09, I have been told verbally on the day of the surgery it was the Titian, I am still waiting for a copy of the surgery report to get the measurements.

[PCHelp76180]

I finally got a reply form the Dr's office, I received 18 cm cylinder's with 4 cm rear tip extenders. Now I got to figure out how to get the deflate button to work. I can feel it just still too tender to squeeze hard enough to get it to release.

[TEBozo]

The pump mechanism is stiff as a brick at first but loosens up with use as intended. I am just over a year out.; got 22 cm Titan Coloplast and my girlfriend of 6 months has never figured out that I have an implant. I am 63 and she is 50 and I am sure that she is amazed that I have never failed to produce an erection that doesn't make her happy. When pumped 100% it is so darned hard that it just makes her squeal. One problem I am having is that at 100% I am having difficulty ejaculating. I have yet to learn exactly how to go to 100% and back it off just enough. I am going to play with it this weekend. Dr. Morey and this implant changed my life as I started having ED problems at about 48 and they got worse; pills didn't work and the injections, although sometimes effective, are barbaric. I am not a bible beater but I think that this was a God Send in that my company had Humana insurance for only one year and they covered everything. Blue Cross would never have done that and we had BCBS before and then now.

I'll be glad to talk to anyone. Thank you Bob Harvey and Billy Lee for your friendship and guidance through this. Also, for you guys who have that awful turtling of your penis; you know, the think damned near retracts up into your body? My penis hangs proudly in a soft mode and that makes me happy, too. When my girlfriend looks at is soft, she can't keep her hands off if it. Thanks to everyone who helped give me the courage to do this. Dr. Morey promised that " I would love it" and he was 100% right.

[billylee]

The pump mechanism is stiff as a brick at first but loosens up with use as intended. I am just over a year out.; got 22 cm Titan Coloplast and my girlfriend of 6 months has never figured out that I have an implant. I am 63 and she is 50 and I am sure that she is amazed that I have never failed to produce an erection that doesn't make her happy. When pumped 100% it is so darned hard that it just makes her squeal. One problem I am having is that at 100% I am having difficulty ejaculating. I have yet to learn exactly how to go to 100% and back it off just enough. I am going to play with it this weekend. Dr. Morey and this implant changed my life as I started having ED problems at about 48 and they got worse; pills didn't work and the injections, although sometimes effective, are barbaric. I am not a bible beater but I think that this was a God Send in that my company had Humana insurance for only one year and they covered everything. Blue Cross would never have done that and we had BCBS before and then now.

I'll be glad to talk to anyone. Thank you Bob Harvey and Billy Lee for your friendship and guidance through this. Also, for you guys who have that awful turtling of your penis; you know, the think damned near retracts up into your body? My penis hangs proudly in a soft mode and that makes me happy, too. When my girlfriend looks at is soft, she can't keep her hands off if it. Thanks to everyone who helped give me the courage to do this. Dr. Morey promised that " I would love it" and he was 100% right.

So right, my friend. Just "bringing out the turtle" for normal flaccid was near worth the whole experience.....although that firm erection certainly can put myself in awe sometimes. I, too, often have a delayed ejaculation but since mine is retro due to TURP surgery, it is more baffling to her that me. I have learned that women really seem to want to know you had a climax, however guess that stands to reason, as I like to know when my lady has climax also. Personally, i just have pure enjoyment of the complete sexual activity, ejaculation or not. b