My IPP with Dr Eid, Spring 2019...is OFF! Insurance bust!

[505AbqNM]

...with pics, when appropriate.

Personal:
age, mid 60's
married
still working full time
excellent health except for controlled diabetes (A1Cs of ~6.2) and severe ED

So many others have shared the details of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) procedure with Dr Eid of NYC that I debated even starting another one.  In an effort to be more beneficial, I will focus on insights that I have not noticed in other writings as well as confirm key aspects that are still in effect.  Maybe the reassurance that some recent procedures experienced by others are still valid or only changed slightly has some value.
If there is interest, I will continue submitting entries until there is nothing new to share.

History: 
Like so many others, I have been gradually sliding deeper into the ED pit until nothing is effective.  Interestingly, I had emailed Dr Eid in late 2017 but at that time the trimix shots were still effective enough that I was not ready to commit to an irreversible procedure.  However, the last three months have been horrible.  Now, when I take a shot, with twice the dosage and strength that was effective just five years ago and I place a snug silicon cock ring behind my scrotum and I squeeze the base of my shaft with my hand and be on my knees so the blood flows out to my penis more easily, I can penetrate my wife, but only for a short while.  I have to release something before it all goes numb and then it all goes to hell.  I am now more than ready for the implant!
Of course I wish I had pursued the procedure in late 2017 but I was just not ready and it would have been a mistake for that reason alone.  Regret can be crippling.  Now I am living the worst case scenario so it can only get better.  Fortunately, the many positive remarks on FT give me lots of confidence.  Thanks for all the previous sharing!

Consultation (March 2019):

I was emailed the forms by his staff and I decided to have them submitted before my consultation.  I had reviewed his web site and the FT journals enough that I figured the consultation would be more of a formality.  I had submitted blood work, detailed patient history, and cardiac release for surgery ahead of time.  During the interview, I had the impression that he wanted to make sure I had tried everything else and they were all ineffective.  He didn't want to pull this trigger if there were still other options to try or at least make me aware of. 
Based of my self-measured pressed bone stretched length (PBSL), he estimates a 22-24 Titan Touch for me.  Now, I am just waiting for the insurance authorization to set a firm surgery date though I am penciled in for early May.
One thing that might be of interest is that Dr Eid has you totally deflated after the surgery so that the reservoir is as full as possible as he considers avoiding scar tissue around a less-than-full reservoir to be critical.  Of course, avoiding scar tissue around the cylinders is also very important but he chooses to avoid this by early activation and cycling, as early as post op day 3 but no later than post op day 14.  He claims that he is able to minimize tissue damage so that early cycling is possible.  I am looking forward to early activation and a minimal pain experience.
I am so lucky that my PPO insurance should be covering 100% of the cost.  I feel so bad for others that cannot have the procedure for financial reasons.  For insurance covered out-of-town patients there are Tues and Wed appointments followed by the Friday surgery.  The Thur-Fri, assessment-surgery, option seems to be for cash patients. My wife and I will enjoy visiting NYC together for a few days before I am bed ridden over the weekend.  

(I will create a signature later)

[DougAnd]

NM,
Welcome and you will be in very good hands. Just as a note Dr Eid may well have turned you down in 2017. Your horse was on his last leg but not yet DOA. I am totally confident that Eid has the best plan. Very early cycling is much better than being inflated 24/7. But it does the very same good. So you will get the best of both worlds. Warning. Be prepared to scream during your first few pump encounters.
It will not be pretty. Trust me on day 5 I did an emergency deflate and well I'm still alive. Barely. Even after my pump replacement revision when I was cleared to pump starting day 5 I waited for 2 weeks. Just in case. Did play with it but nothing serious.
Ask Eid to place your pump very near your perineum and you can avoid this painful experience. That part of your scrotum seldom swells especially if you elevate your groin above your heart 24/7 for 2 weeks. My next (and last I hope) revision is scheduled for June 19th. I'm going with Kramer and AMS. Good luck to us both!!!!

[505AbqNM]

Insurance lesson learned!
So, my insurance card says PPO and Dr Eid is contracted for PPO. No problem, right? Dr Eid's office even received authorization for the procedure but the call from the insurance rep to me confused me so I called their customer service and Dr Eid is not In Network. So, though the hospital and anesthesia would be covered, Dr Eid's request for payment would be rejected because he is not In Network. I confirmed this multiple times with different insurance reps. The doctor must be listed as In Network for coverage. The PPO status really did not mean that much. Only the doctor's network status within the PPO contract.
I cancelled my surgery with Dr Eid as I was confident his fee would not be covered. I felt derailed.
So, I researched Dr Kramer and guess what?!? He is In Network for my PPO! I am now scheduled for surgery two days earlier than I was with Dr Eid. He indicates he installs about 50/50 AMS vs Titan and he agrees the Titan Touch is a good match for me. I am back on track! I only have to be in Baltimore the day before surgery for a consult instead of three days ahead.
I felt good about going with Dr Kramer instead since he is so well reviewed on FT but then I started watching his (hundreds of?) YouTube videos. OMG! Incredible! Now I am thrilled! He seems to pick videos that cover unusual situations and they are awesome! I did not realize he makes a video of your procedure and I definitely want one of mine!
I am sure Dr Eid would have done a great job on me but I am now just as confident in Dr Kramer. And I am much more confident that he will be paid by my insurance!
I may start another topic for the experience with Dr Kramer if I feel it has value.

[alibaba]

Glad you got that sorted ahead of time! Dr. Kramer is a very nice guy. I had no complaints with the people of Baltimore. Nice place. Cheers

[505AbqNM]

Thanks, Alibaba.
I see you now have a 22cm Titan +1.5cm extender installed by Dr Kramer.
Do you happen to know your pressed bone stretched flaccid length?
If you stayed at a hotel, do you have one to recommend?
Any tips for an IPP patient of Dr Kramer?
Dr Kramer does not seem to have nearly the details about procedures and results on his web site as Dr Eid does but I sure like his YouTube videos of the procedures.
Does he have post-op checkup pictures or videos posted somewhere?
Except for pics that his patients have posted here on FT, I cannot find any. It seems that all of his posted media at https://kramerurology.com/ is of the procedure but no before/after.

[tomas1]

Alibaba wrote up a very detailed journal about his stay in Baltimore along with tips on places to eat etc.

[Lost Sheep]

Alibaba wrote up a very detailed journal about his stay in Baltimore along with tips on places to eat etc.

Got a link?

Is this it?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=10919&hilit=journey

or is there another?

Alibaba has been VERY generous with details and information about implants, travel, advice and experience. So many posts and threads - there might be more than one with great advice.

[505AbqNM]

All,

I found Alibaba's journal.
Based on it, I made reservations at the Day's Inn ($99/night, hospital rate, with micro, frig, free WiFi). I can easily walk to my appointments.

I think this ends this topic. Will start up a new topic for the experience with Dr Kramer.
I am so ready for membership in the Bionic Brotherhood!!!

[tomas1]

Good luck, I actually had a good result elsewhere, but not as good as I'd have liked.

My wife said I wasn't hard enough this morning and I had to explain it was because of the goddam 3.5cm RTE.
Obviously hard enough, but not enough beam strength.
I'm surprised more guys with long RTEs don't complain about them.

Make sure you eat some steamed crabs while there.

[DougAnd]

Dr. Eid was my first choice too. I couldn't afford the hotels and airfare. Dr Kramer was my second choice. At the time I couldn't afford that either but it looks like you and I are headed there now. My surgery is scheduled for June 19th. Good luck to us both