Unable To Inflate AMS

[mnglassic]

Not really a new topic, just that I haven't found a solution among previous posts. Almost 4wks post AMS surgical implant. No complications. Almost no remaining discomfort. Am unable to squeeze the bulb to pump up the tubes. The bulb is rock hard sitting on top of the deflaton box within the scrotum. I've tried to squeeze it several times to tbe point of pain, zero result. Nothing happens other than it hurts. No sound or sensation. Am scheduled to return to URO in 2+ weeks for the demo session, but everything Ive read indicates I should be inflating it daily. Any thoughts?

[greggshere]

It is your choice to do what you want, but I personally would do what the Doc says. If you can't get it to inflate wait until you see him, and let him either discover the issue or dispel the issue. I go in on the 8th to get mine started pumping. I have been anxious to try, but I'm doing what he says to the letter, because I'm not chancing anything. Had mine implanted on 3/7.

[mnglassic]

Thanks, I understand. Mine is healed. I am concernrd that not inflating it will make it much more difficult to inflate later due to accumulated scar tissue. I understand you caution.

[Dave92014]

I think you have not identified the parts correctly. The 3 tubes connecting to the reservoir and cylinders go out one end of the pump and I think that is probably always the top end. At least that is the way mine is oriented. And the bulb you squeeze is at the bottom end. The deflate button is above the bulb. If you have the demo "key chain" pump, that will show you each of the parts. Thus the bulb should be below the deflate button, not above it.

If you are having any problem pumping, I suggest you wait two weeks for the doc to show you what to do. I did not pump myself until 7 weeks post-op and that did not cause me any problems.

[inthezone]

I have an AMS700 & doc says not to play with the pump-bulb until my follow up at 6 weeks. I'm at 4 weeks now & it's only been the past few days it's healed enough to not be sore to massage the pump. The pump feels firm, but I haven't tried to squeeze it too much. Waiting for the demo in-office with the doc. My girlfriend is marking off the days on the calendar.
I've been "partially inflated" x 4 weeks.

[mnglassic]

This is a follow up on my earlier post. Surgery 6 wks ago. Had my followup instructional session a week ago. Successfully inflated and deflated the device once in the office (with great difficulty after 30 minutes of failed attempts) and have been unable to do so again since then for the past week. I can't figure out how to do it. I find the hard box, hold the tubing coming out the bottom of the box with my right hand, locate what I think (guess) is the bulb with forefinger and thumb of left hand. The bulb feels very hard to me when I try to press it with thumb and forefinger. When I say very hard, I mean as hard as a rock. I can't seem to find the deflate button either. The diagrams are not helpful. Any suggestions?

[Bionic_by_AMS]

The bulb feels very hard to me when I try to press it with thumb and forefinger. When I say very hard, I mean as hard as a rock

It will be very hard to do for a while ... see if this helps: Double-Handed Inflation
http://www.franktalk.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=932

I can't seem to find the deflate button either. The diagrams are not helpful. Any suggestions?

Didn't you get a AMS key ring with a replica pump ball? The one from your Implant is exactly like that ...


The deflate button is not very big ... but you can feel it. It may be uncomfortable to press and hold for a while, but that goes away in time.

[Dave92014]

If you don't have the AMS "keyring", which is a replica of the pump that is in your scrotum, contact your doc and ask if you can get that from him. Most everyone else has received one from their doc. Once you see the pump in front of your eyes rather than just trying to feel it in your scrotum, you will understand much better what you are feeling in your scrotum. Also by squeezing the bulb on the "keyring", you will understand how the bulb in your scrotum should feel. It is fairly stiff initially.

The other suggestion for you is that when I was in the healing process and the first week or two of pumping, I sat in my spa and attempted to identify the parts of my pump. It was much easier to do there as my testicles floated up and out of way while the pump remained down where I could feel the various parts easily. If you don't have a spa available to do that, sitting in a bath tub with warm water filled up about 10 or 12 inches should provide the same capability.

If all the above fails, I would get back in to see the doc and have him give you some help. The docs are in business to help people so I doubt he would mind.

Dave

[inthezone]

I'm 8 weeks out with my AMS700. At 4 weeks I posted, "bulb is firm, but no give to it, etc." My uro said don't pump up or down until the 6wk followup. I Went to my uro at 6 wks for the first pump up/down and sure enough, everything worked fine. And now at 8 weeks, it works without a glitch.
He did say it's important for the next few months to deflate a few hours a day to keep the scar capsule big for the reservoir.

[radiodec]

I have a learning suggestion for those that have the key ring for the AMS. Put the replica pump under a wash cloth and learn the feel of the parts where you can check your guesses. The wash cloth helps simulate the scrotum over the pump and it sure helped me.

I gave this note to my urologist to pass on to his patients. At 6 months post, I have know trouble with pumping things up. Been trying to wear it out, but instead wore out my wife, You can overdo things after a long dry spell.

As a note the feel and reaction of the pump changes as yu continue to use it. It and the implant become more flexible and easier to inflate.

Dave