Implant soon Veteran

The final frontier. Deciding when, if and how.
scoop317
Posts: 39
Joined: Fri Oct 22, 2021 3:19 pm

Implant soon Veteran

Postby scoop317 » Mon Oct 25, 2021 6:46 am

Hi, my first post. Had RALP surgery last Dec nerve sparing"suppose to be"injections are hit and miss. I told Dr it's more pain than pleasure, so I've decided to go with implant and they use the colopast titan @ VA hospital. are there any Vets with similar implant done at VA hospital. Just need a little feedback. But I will post update once surgery is done.
65 yr old vet, had nerve sparing RALP in Dec 2020 had ed problems before pc cancer surgery,used viagra,VED, used injections for couple years .Titan Implant Feb2022

Old Guy
Posts: 2473
Joined: Tue Mar 31, 2020 4:31 pm
Location: Ohio

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby Old Guy » Mon Oct 25, 2021 2:01 pm

I have the Coloplast Titan and have been happy with it. I suppose the VA will assign you a surgeon, hope they know what they're doing. Ask questions that you want answers to! Read up here on FT before you see the doc so you know what to ask. Good Luck.
Nov. 8, 2019
4+ years, Coloplast Titan OTR
Married 36 years to my beautiful young bride
Always here to answer questions if you PM me

Lost Sheep
Posts: 6133
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:16 pm

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby Lost Sheep » Mon Oct 25, 2021 7:52 pm

I am pretty sure each VA region chooses the particular manufacturer. Four years ago, the Washington VA used AMS.
Lost Sheep
AMS LGX 18+3 Nov 6, 2017
Prostate Cancer 2023
READ OLD THREADS-ask better questions -better understand answers
Be part of your medical team
Document pre-op size-photos and written records
Pre-op VED therapy helps. Post-op is another matter

kingpin320
Posts: 4
Joined: Mon Dec 23, 2019 3:33 pm

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby kingpin320 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:27 pm

The VA will give you a referral to any doctor you want outside of VA..You do not have to have VA Dr..
74 years old...prostate cancer 2014...radiation 2020..
diabetes 15 years......set up date for implants jan 2022.

Lost Sheep
Posts: 6133
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:16 pm

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby Lost Sheep » Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:22 pm

scoop317 wrote:Hi, my first post. Had RALP surgery last Dec nerve sparing"suppose to be"injections are hit and miss. I told Dr it's more pain than pleasure, so I've decided to go with implant and they use the colopast titan @ VA hospital. are there any Vets with similar implant done at VA hospital. Just need a little feedback. But I will post update once surgery is done.

I believe each VA region makes their own choice as to which manufacturer they use.

I obtained my implant through the V.A. and got an AMS LGX

Here is a summary of my story.

Several years ago, I finally revealed to my primary care physician (PCP) that I had trouble maintaining an erection, he prescribed oral medication, which were effective for a number of years. When they began to lose effectiveness (each in turn) I started researching extensively. By the time the last medication was waning, I had amassed such a body of knowledge that my PCP remarked, "You know more about ED than I do." I relate that because I want to emphasize the point that getting your PCP on board is VERY important.

I was able to skip over using VED, suppositories and injections. My PCP suggested that I would qualify for a penile implant (which was a bit of a surprise to me). So, my answer was a foregone conclusion. After I picked myself up off the floor, I said, "OK" in an extravagance of understatement.

Then began my journey to find a surgeon I would trust to do the job.

So, I repeat, "Get the trust and confidence of your primary care physician. Get him or her to trust your judgment and veracity. Get your medical care team to consider you an integral and equal member." He/She will be your most influential advocate.

Referral to a urologist was easy - once I had my primary physician on my side. Lay that groundwork! As it was when you were in-service, take nothing for granted, do your homework and have your advance team (which consists of one member - YOU) prepare, make contacts and engage allies.

I went so far as to see two local surgeons, enroll in the Maryland VA (to gain access to Dr Kramer-I live in Alaska) and fly to the Washington State VA and interview a surgeon there. In my efforts to pave the way to Maryland's VA system, I told a Nurse in the Travel Office my details (I told everyone I talked to, what I was doing).

Ultimately she called me and informed me that a surgeon who had actually taught the procedure had recently been assigned to the local Base's Hospital and asked if I would be willing to consider him. She didn't have to call and tell me that, but she helped me out in that way, I am sure she did that because I was non-confrontational.

I jumped at the chance and got an implant shortly thereafter.

My point in that story is to say, Thank everyone by name at the ending of every contact and remember their names if/when you talk to them again. People love to be remembered. Thank even if they have not been helpful; they gave you their time and heard your story. And they may remember you and help you in the future.

If they have been helpful, write a thank-you note to the VA Commander, or at least the person's supervisor.

Be kind. Be grateful. Be remembered as worthy of their help. Remember the names of everyone you talk to and use their names when you talk to them again. People repond well to being remembered. Thank everyone, even those not helpful. They gave you their time, at least.

Some VA's are more friendly towards implants than others. It is possible to enroll in other state's VA systems, but the bureaucratic hurdles can be problematic.
Lost Sheep
AMS LGX 18+3 Nov 6, 2017
Prostate Cancer 2023
READ OLD THREADS-ask better questions -better understand answers
Be part of your medical team
Document pre-op size-photos and written records
Pre-op VED therapy helps. Post-op is another matter

Txagq8
Posts: 687
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:41 pm
Location: Texas Hill Country

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby Txagq8 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:47 pm

In the event our new board member is a retiree, I would add that Tricare is a pretty good way to get an implant.

Yes, you have a co-pay. But, and this is important…if you are at or near your cap for out-of-pocket for the year, the price can be very right. My wife had dealt with a hospitalization for some bad-ass pneumonia, and we ended up about $10 shy of our catastrophic cap. I got my surgery done on New Years Eve before a new year of deductible and co-pays kicked in. My total out of pocket was ten bucks and change.

All Tricare wants is to have the doctor tell them it’s physical, not psychological, and use the right CPT code. Technically I didn’t even have to get a preauthorization.

Worst case is you would have a copay equal to a percentage of the highly discounted Tricare allowable, not the full book price.
Robust, adolescent 65 year old. Venous leakage forever. Used shots, shots+pills 30+ years. Married to same wife ~35 yrs. Implanted 31Dec2019 in Austin Tx. AMS 700 LGX 18 cm with 5 cm RTE.

tomas1
Posts: 1946
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Tempe, AZ

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby tomas1 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 7:02 pm

I'm pretty sure that just being a veteran doesn't qualify me for Tri-Care.
If I'm wrong, I've wasted a lot of money.
85 years
Inject testosterone weekly.
Implant on 1/22/19 by Dr Avila.
Scrotal, hor. incision just over 1"
18cm AMS 700 CX, 3.5cm RTE 100cc res
Gleason 6 prostate cancer. Monitoring it for now.
Update: On my last biopsies the cancer wasn't found.

Lost Sheep
Posts: 6133
Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2016 11:16 pm

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby Lost Sheep » Tue Oct 26, 2021 7:39 pm

tomas1 wrote:I'm pretty sure that just being a veteran doesn't qualify me for Tri-Care.
If I'm wrong, I've wasted a lot of money.

Check with your local VA offices. There are many factors that might weigh in. Having a service-connected disability rating is a big help.
Lost Sheep
AMS LGX 18+3 Nov 6, 2017
Prostate Cancer 2023
READ OLD THREADS-ask better questions -better understand answers
Be part of your medical team
Document pre-op size-photos and written records
Pre-op VED therapy helps. Post-op is another matter

tomas1
Posts: 1946
Joined: Tue Jul 23, 2013 5:12 pm
Location: Tempe, AZ

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby tomas1 » Tue Oct 26, 2021 8:18 pm

I never claimed my hearing loss and didn't serve during wartime (56 to 59).
It really doesn't matter.
85 years
Inject testosterone weekly.
Implant on 1/22/19 by Dr Avila.
Scrotal, hor. incision just over 1"
18cm AMS 700 CX, 3.5cm RTE 100cc res
Gleason 6 prostate cancer. Monitoring it for now.
Update: On my last biopsies the cancer wasn't found.

oldbeek
Posts: 2454
Joined: Sun Sep 10, 2017 1:46 pm
Location: Los Angeles area

Re: Implant soon Veteran

Postby oldbeek » Sun Oct 31, 2021 12:48 am

[quote="tomas1"]I'm pretty sure that just being a veteran doesn't qualify me for Tri-Care.
If I'm wrong, I've wasted a lot of money.[/quote. Isn't tri-care for retired military and not just 4 year veterans.
82, good health, RP 7-2017, all nerves taken , PSA 0.05, 4-18,, .07 1/19,.05 4/19, .03 11-21, .04 11-23, implanted 4-1-18, Infra-pubic, AMS lgx 15 cm with 5cm rte. Implant at USC Keck. Dr Boyd and Dr Loh Doyle 6.5 x 5, 800 AUS 7-21-20


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