Questions about the pump placement and operation...

[TurnBackTime]

HI All: I am new to this group . I am about 2 weeks post op with a penoscrotally placed titan implant and a Submuscular Abdominal Wall reservoir. The pump is located behind the boys. I am hoping that others who have gone before me can help assuage concerns that I am having regarding the pump placement and ability to manipulate same . I am hoping that I am just having a bit of stage fright (so to speak).

My recovery is going amazingly well in all respects except for the concerns I am having about the accessibility of the pump . As we all know, the scrotum has a mind of its own (at least mine does) and it varies from something like a slightly loose burlap sack to something that feels like a ripe avocado (with a thick skin). When my scrotum is in the ripe avocado stage, I can feel what I think is the bulb of the pump, but I am in no way able to get a grip on it or access the deflation button . If I spend some time in the shower and wrap the scrotum in a warm wash cloth so that it reaches the burlap sack stage, then the pump is more accessible and (if I move the testicles out of the way) I can get a grip on the bulb of the pump, but still can not clearly feel the deflation button. At that point the bottom of the pump (which is located behind my testicles) is just above the lowest point of my testicles. When I am in bed laying on my back, I can barely feel the pump with my fingers, and there is no way that I could do anything with it (as far as pumping or deflating) ...

I have read about the concept of stabilizing the pump with one hand by grasping the tubes that are going to the top of the pump while interacting with the pump's bulb or deflation button with the other hand . There is no way I could do that because I can't actually feel the top of the pump .

I am not sure about whether I should be able to manipulate the pump so that it is towards the front of the scrotum (which would involve moving it forwards on one side or the other of the testicles, or in between the testicles .. if that is even possible) so that I can "get a grip".

I am also thinking that I may be simply way too impatient with the recovery process... and that as time progresses the pump will gravitate to a position where it can be manipulated at will .

So, with all that information , I am hoping that others can chime in to tell me whether or not my experience seems similar to yours, and if so, at what point did your pump come out of the shadows (so to speak) so that it could be handled and used ?

Thanks very much in advance for your suggestions, thoughts, recollections, and advice.

[ThailandBound]

I'm 3 weeks postop (recovery going very well). PS approach, and doctor says i can start activating between weeks 4 (next week! I hope) and week 6. So far, i've just felt around and been able to easily find the bulb, position aft of the original neighbors but forward of the perinium. I think i can even feel the release button. After kind of rolling around gently for just a moment, my scrotum began to hurt a bit so i left it alone and will continue to do so until i'm told otherwise.

I'm following your post, but what comes to mind is that in the many pages of franktalk i've read, i have yet, to date, seen even one bionic brother who was not able to, eventually, get it all down to a smooth science and work out an approach that is right for him. Don't stress.

[Old Guy]

At 2 weeks post you probably still have some swelling going on, making it tough to grasp anything there. It's pretty soon yet to worry about the placement. Follow up with your surgeon as instructed, and I'm sure they'll show you how to inflate and deflate your new implant.

[TurnBackTime]

Thank-you both for your responses . I was hoping to hear exactly what you wrote. I have cancelled an appointment I made with my Dr. to discuss the concerns I raised, as well as the transportation and hotel reservations. You just saved me a heap of money !!

[KeithC]

Mine is in back and I had it installed almost 14 weeks ago.

My doctor told me not to fool with mine at all until the 6 week follow up visit.

I can easily find the button now. At 2 weeks I wasn't even trying to feel around there.

[Time2Change]

Thank-you both for your responses . I was hoping to hear exactly what you wrote. I have cancelled an appointment I made with my Dr. to discuss the concerns I raised, as well as the transportation and hotel reservations. You just saved me a heap of money !!

Do you have a follow-up appointment with your doctor?

I had a follow-up appointment at two weeks and another after eight weeks. I learned how to inflate and deflate at the second follow-up appointment.

[ThailandBound]

I can easily find the button now. At 2 weeks I wasn't even trying to feel around there.

Me too. Man, i couldn’t even LOOK down there! I’d seen some pics on the forum of scrotums with stitches and boy, i’d just have a wave of cringe come over me. So seriously, i didn’t really look closely until this morning. I was delighted to see that 90% of the stitches were gone and other than that new scar-seam (i can tell it will fade), all appears normal.

But yeah, just gently touching it a few days ago caused me to breathe deep. The touch itself didn’t hurt it was the gentle rolling between thumb and fore finger that woke up my scrotum a bit, so i stopped. I know it’s there now. Not touching until told otherwise.

OP. Glad you saved your money! Going to ge fine!

[TurnBackTime]

Do you have a follow-up appointment with your doctor?

I had a follow-up appointment at two weeks and another after eight weeks. I learned how to inflate and deflate at the second follow-up appointment.

Yes .. a 6 week post op appointment is in place .