Things I learned

[68CatFan]

Hello everyone. I had both a right orchiectomy and penile implant surgery on December 6th. I wanted to share my experiences but I'm not going to do a long, drawn-out journal that last for several weeks. I just wanted to give some tips and advice to future implant patients who read this.
From what Dr. Clavell said it was a textbook surgery. It seems I had little to no scarring after almost three years of Trimix injections. I must admit I was actually surprised by that. I was also worried that an orchiectomy at the same time would increase the risk of infection or complications, but Dr. Clavell said it doesn't. Both procedures are done through the same incision, you're saturated in antibiotics, and he uses the no-touch technique. I felt very confident going into the operating room.
Here are a few things I wished someone had told me prior to surgery.

1. The day before surgery you will have to take an antibiotic prescribed to you and it will probably need to be TAKEN TWICE that day. Since we flew in the weekend before I asked to have the antibiotics called in to a local pharmacy. I picked them up on the way to complete the presurgical tests and by the time we got back to the hotel it was well after 5pm. I pulled the pill bottle out of the bag and only then realized it was to be taken twice that day. I ended up taking one pill at 6pm and one at 10pm. I wish that I had known sooner and would have taken one in the morning and one in the evening.
2. The hospital bill and the surgeons bill can be separate. I was thrilled that the implant surgery was 99% covered by insurance, so I showed up to the presurgical tests with financial concerns behind me. Unfortunately, while signing in at the hospital I was handed a $3300 bill. I incorrectly thought that when the billing department at the surgeon's office said I only owed $350 that applied to everything.
3. Pack lightly and bring someone if you can. I left three days after the surgery and brought a suitcase weighing about 20 pounds. Lifting that suitcase in and out of the shuttlebuses and up steps made the area at my reservoir really sore before we even got to the baggage check-in. Dr. Clavell in the pre-op room told me to avoid lifting anything over 10 pounds. If you lift something too heavy the reservoir can migrate. My wife took care of my suitcase the rest of the trip.
4. Buy a laxative or suppository. Most surgeons will recommend you take a stool softener. I took Colace but by Wednesday night my stomach was cramping so bad it resulted in a midnight run to Walgreens for Dulcolax. Just wait until a few hours after you've taken the antibiotics.
5. You're probably going to pee yourself. I bought a portable urinal to use. Poking a hard dick into a bottle with a messed-up urine stream caused me to pee back on myself. I ended up getting the gauze on my shaft soaked a couple of times. After the gauze came off, I wrapped toilet paper around my penis to absorb the urine. It wasn't until I got home that I tried using the female cup that came with the portable bottle. That works a lot better. Now my only issue is five minutes after I finish a drop or two comes out.
6. Go big, buy different types of undies and bring some scissors. I first tried a jock strap after the wrap came off. It caused my swollen scrotum to ache pretty bad. Then I very quickly realized that it hurt to tuck my penis in my David Archey underwear, so I ended up cutting a hole to let it stick through. I usually wear medium jog pants, so I bought large to wear after the surgery. I should have bought extra-large. The large jog pants were still tight enough to push on my glans causing discomfort. I ended sitting on the plane with my left hand balled up in a fist under the elastic to create space. Give yourself options to find what feels the most comfortable.
7. Ouch and blood. Pulling off the tape that held the mummy wrap hurt pretty bad. The clear tape over the incision was even worse. When I finally saw my incision there was some fresh blood. I freaked out and text Dr. Clavell. He said not to worry. I know some surgeons use a glue which might seal the incision better by Dr. Clavell uses dissolvable stitches.
8. Gauze, Gauze, Gauze. No matter what underwear you like, tuck a 4x4 piece of sterile gauze between your scrotum and your undies. This acts as additional means to keep your incision clean and dry. Keep in mind the dried blood will slowly flake off and you will need to change the gauze a couple times a day.
9. Landry sanitizer before surgery and Hibiclens after. Even if you get all new undies don't assume they are clean right out of the box. Use laundry sanitizer when you wash them. As far as showering after the surgery, Dr. Clavell recommended that I use Hibiclens for the first few days then switch back my normal Dove antibacterial bodywash.
I have probably forgotten one or two things. I just wanted to give future implant patients an idea of what to expect that's not really mentioned much here or in videos and sometimes not at all. Other implanted men, I'm sure, had different experiences (yet similar in many ways).
Anyone considering Dr. Clavell is more than welcome to contact me. We can talk via phone call. Just PM me.
Thanks -Cat

[Jage64]

Terrific information, thank you for posting.

[nuance]

Thanks for the post. Can I ask why you chose AMS over the Titan?

[68CatFan]

I had several reasons for choosing AMS. Nuance, I sent you a PM to discuss further.