Taking that leap

[Bandbaustin]

Hello all. I have been a lurked for years. I have suffered from ED since high school in some form. I am now 47 and tired of it. Pills worked for years but now seem to not work. My libido is zero most if the time. Wife is tired of it and frustrated. I was going to try and schedule with Dr. Kramer but then Covid and he shut down. I have a apt with Dr. Levine in Chicago on 4/2 and both nervous and excited. Now I see Kramer is back but I live in Chicago area so torn. Thanks for reading.

[Old Guy]

At least you found a good place to get information about ED. I took pills then injections until they failed. Knew about implants but nothing like what I've learned here. So I went into surgery blind basically and let the doc do his thing. At 5 months post I found Frank Talk. Wish I had found it about a year earlier.
My libido has always been high, but ED depressed me and slowed me down. Since my implant sex has been great and my libido is back in high gear.

[Lost Sheep]

Welcome to the forum, Bandbaustin.

I considered going to Dr. Kramer until I met Dr Shaw. He told me "You will be overflying a lot of good surgeons if you go to Maryland". I had corresponded with Dr. Kramer, Dr. Eid, seen two local surgeons and one in Seattle (I live in Alaska) and REALLY wanted to do this right, and Kramer and Eid were good candidates. Dr. Eid told me "Find a surgeon in love with his craft." He went on, Such a surgeon will put his patients' welfare above all other considerations.

After meeting with him, I was certain Dr Shaw was such a surgeon. He accepted me as part of the decision-making medical team and admired of the research I had done.

I was no longer torn between going local and flying to Maryland.

Factors in my decision:
Local surgeon (who did the surgery himself) can do any followup better than a local following up on a distant surgeon's work.
Travelling to Maryland would have been (as I recall) 5 hours in airplanes and several hours in layovers, changing planes.
Dr. Shaw convinced me he is as dedicated to this part of the Urologists craft as anyone. By his attitude and the way he treated me in our first interview.
Other factors that would not apply to you, as my care was through the Veteran's Administration.

[Bandbaustin]

Currently in my consultation with Dr Levine in Chicago. Saw many good reviews on him and he is much closer to me. 1 hour drive as opposed to flying to see Kramer. Hope its goes well at my consult.

[68CatFan]

Currently in my consultation with Dr Levine in Chicago. Saw many good reviews on him and he is much closer to me. 1 hour drive as opposed to flying to see Kramer. Hope its goes well at my consult.

I am interested in hearing how things go with Dr. Levine. I currently live in Illinois so when the time comes for an implant I am leaning towards having him do the surgery.

[Txagq8]

Ode to having a local surgeon.

When I first approached this fairly important decision, I wanted the best. I called Eid’s office. My insurance was a no-go. To be honest, I may be one of the few who detests NYC. (My wife loves it). I don’t consider it a city at all. It’s more of a crime-filled, dirty and overpriced theme park.

I talked to Kramer’s staff and other than not getting phone calls returned, I was leaning towards him. They took my insurance, and Southwest was running multiple nonstops from Austin to BWI every day. I had plenty of points for free airfare.

I kept leaning towards Baylor Scott & White, though. 55 miles from my little town of 6800. Teaching hospital. Solid reputation. They’ve done everything to members of my family at one time or another. We’ve never had anything but superlative results. Their implant guy is allegedly skilled and has a decent rep. I wasn’t real keen on our discussion about aggressive sizing but I think the two of us had different visions. I was wanting 10 lbs of sugar in a 10 lb bag. I think he thought I wanted him to try and cram 20 lbs of sugar in a 5 lb bag. In the end, it was scheduling that killed it or I’d have let Erin Bird install a Titan. That’s what he wanted to do. I had hit my carastrophic cap, so all my health care was free until end of 2019. Earliest he could do me was Feb 20.

So I ended up at Urology Austin with Dr Bryan Kansas. I liked him immediately. He didn’t feed me any bullshit. He does prefer AMS especially the LGX model which is what I ended up with. He’s reasonably high volume.....in excess of 1000 over last 8 years. And his N Austin Clinic is 63 miles. About a 50 minute drive. This is Texas. We don’t bat an eye over driving 60 miles to shop, dine, or get our junk surgically bionicized.

The MAIN thing I can say about a close by doctor is the opportunity for superior aftercare exists, especially if the doc really cares about his craft. I don’t think I could have gotten better post surgical treatment.

I checked in at 6 am, was on the table at 8, and was back on the road by 11:30. Had chik-fil-A for lunch on the way home. I bruised but never experienced pain. This was New Years Eve. Dr Kansas called from a party about 10 that night to check on me. My first trip back was three days later to remove drain. The doc and his PA were both great. They never told me when to return....they’d ask how soon I wanted to see them again. I got a lot of instructional time on how to use it. My pump was a bit contrary at first until it dropped on it’s own to a convenient location.

As good as Kramer or Eid are, they aren’t going to be able to follow up a patient the same way when he is 1500 or 2000 miles away.

Having a guy guide your hand to grab the right bulb to squeeze or feel around for the right button to deflate is better done in person instead of over the telephone or via email. And the first few times, that’s what it took.

Could one of the masters have given me more size? Maybe. But I’m using the hell out of the 6 3/8 (down from 6 3/4) and in truth the bigger flaccid in my jeans, gym shorts, or swim trunks is a consolation prize. I still wake up with a somewhat chubby cock so I usually pump up before I crawl out of bed with morning wood which doesn’t vanish when I pee.

So before I bought plane tickets I would most certainly interview and consider reputable surgeons in your area. A great procedure by a great surgeon is wonderful. Arguments can be made in favor, though, of having the doc close by and willing to look at your result frequently and give you appropriate guidance as you heal up and recover.

Just my $.02.

[LookingUp]

Vet out with past patients if the doctor is available for phone contact post surgery. One would think that would be a given. It's not.

LUp