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I’m 5 weeks post AMS 700 LGX implant. I finally get a chance to use it and can’t get it to inflate. Bulb collapses then won’t refill without hitting the release button. Damn it I go thru all this and still can’t do it. It shouldn’t be this hard to inflate. Bulb at first very very still. I pinch it as hard as I can. Forget the pain. Finally it squeezes in but won’t refill. Date thought what the hell is wrong with this guy. I was so completely humiliated.

Meddman1 wrote:I’m 5 weeks post AMS 700 LGX implant. I finally get a chance to use it and can’t get it to inflate. Bulb collapses then won’t refill without hitting the release button. Damn it I go thru all this and still can’t do it. It shouldn’t be this hard to inflate. Bulb at first very very still. I pinch it as hard as I can. Forget the pain. Finally it squeezes in but won’t refill. Date thought what the hell is wrong with this guy. I was so completely humiliated.

Reset the pump. Grasp the valve block above the pump, from both ends (the deflate button is between both ends of the block). SQUEEZE the pump block from end-to-end and then toggle the valve to "deflate", then "inflate" (squeeze the bulb) and back to "deflate". If that doesn't work, contact your AMS Patient Liaison (number located in the AMS documentation and on Boston Scientific Website). They may be able to offer some undocumented fixes, not found in their videos.

I experienced the same problem with my AMS 700CX. My urologist left me 60% inflated after surgery and didn’t have me begin cycling until about 5 weeks post-op when the swelling had subsided and I could feel the landmarks of the bar, valve button, tubing and bulb. The bulb was very stiff and it was difficult to inflate the cylinders, then press the valve button to deflate. My urologist advised me to inflate and deflate at least 3 times per day and stay inflated as long as tolerable. Sometimes it took me up to five times to get the valve to open and be able to inflate the implant. I would fully depress the bulb and it would stay flat and not refill. I was advised to then press the valve button, which would cause the bulb to refill and repeat the process until I felt the distinctive “pop” when depressing the bulb and I could then easily inflate the cylinders. At first the bulb was very stiff and the process was both frustrating and laborious. Pressing the ends of the bar has absolutely nothing to do with valve actuation. A very helpful AMS Customer Service representative advised that the device will “break in” with use. The bulb will become more pliable, the valve will switch modes more easily and your familiarity with landmarks increases your comfort and confidence. Even now at 5 months post-op, the valve doesn’t always switch over to “inflate” on the first attempt...sometimes I must depress the bulb, reinflate it by pressing the valve button, then repeat the process until the bulb “pops” and then I can fill the implant. It just takes patience. Repeated cycling is the key to getting the device to work smoothly and efficiently...your familiarity with the process removes the frustration and stress out of pumping up when it’s time for sex. You’ll get to the point where you instinctively know when you have to depress the bulb and refill it by pressing the valve button several times, going back and forth until you feel the distinctive “pop” of the bulb (and the cylinders can then be filled). Patience is the key in this process and it does get much easier with lots of cycling. Practice, practice, practice!

Press the button and the bulb will refill right away. This happens at times when you completely deflate the system. But I have noticed to start pumping the cylinders up, the first pump I find that by just giving it a small squeeze and release will move the check valve enough to where you will not have any problems giving it the full squeeze and it responding the way it should all the time.
It is frustrating when something like that happens, because you never know. These mechanical pumps do fail. I know, I had one that failed at ten months. But the replacement now going on a little over a year and a half working great.

Meddman1 wrote:I’m 5 weeks post AMS 700 LGX implant. I finally get a chance to use it and can’t get it to inflate. Bulb collapses then won’t refill without hitting the release button. Damn it I go thru all this and still can’t do it. It shouldn’t be this hard to inflate. Bulb at first very very still. I pinch it as hard as I can. Forget the pain. Finally it squeezes in but won’t refill. Date thought what the hell is wrong with this guy. I was so completely humiliated.

The AMS Patient Liaison should be able to talk you through the various processes to get your valve working properly...probably over the phone. Take advantage of the fact that the Patient Liaison is already paid for and avoid a visit to your surgeon's office.