Finally--hopefully

[bcant43]

Hello All! Longtime lurker--I have been reading the board for over a year now and find it informative, supportive, and hopeful!
Spent 2024 getting Xiaflex treatments for Peyronies, which did not work and curvature was actually worse. Have lost length and girth as well.
Went to see Dr Taj this time last year. He was confident he could correct the Peyronies and install an implant successfully. Unfortunately I couldn't get insurance approval.
Finally got new insurance (CareFirst) this January thru wife's job and got approved last month! I am scheduled to go back to see Dr Taj in April for another consult and then hopefully schedule surgery.

A couple of questions for the Board:
Dr Taj recommended a VED last year but I didn't get one after the insurance denial. Should I get one now and use it before my appointment with him? What is the recommended timeframe for use before surgery and recommended daily usage? Any recommendations on VED devices?

I know everyone recovers differently but is it generally 2-3 weeks before returning to work? I work as waiter in a high end restaurant, so lots of walking. Recovery time would factor into when I schedule time off.

Do most people tell family / work that you are having hernia surgery?

After an implant, do you still get a bit of an erection (shaft or glans) when you get turned on? I can still get a bit of an erection, albeit smaller and more crooked than two years ago. This is one of the things I'm having trouble mentally preparing for!

Now I need to get the wife more on board. Not that I need her approval. But we haven't had sex in 18 months and its not healthy!

The last two years have been a deep depression, particularly with the denial. I can't tell you how much better I feel once they told me of the approval. And thanks to all the reports I read on here, I look forward to feeling even better once I become Bionic!

I will keep you all updated as things progress and become more active on the board as I will, hopefully, be able to contribute.

[Kiwias]

First of all good luck.
I think the amount of time of work varies from person to person, your form of surgery and type of device installed
In general terms you will recover quicker from Infrapubic than penoscrotal surgery.
Being able to deflate is probably the most important factor as it's very difficult to walk around comfortably with a semi rigid penis.
Also some devices have softer flaccid than others. AMS lgx softest - Coloplast Titan stiffest.
In my case I had a Titan installed infrapubically.
I was given permission to cycle at 3 weeks and returned to work 2 days later. Very uncomfortable but doable, however I do a lot of sitting.
From what I can see on Franktalk some men are back to work quicker than that and some take longer. It's in the lap of the Gods.