Dan's Story From Baltimore

Dear Readers

I'd like to introduce to you, a gentleman who hails from Baltimore and has generously submitted his story to share with everyone who reads this blog site. This guys name is Dan, and Dan is like many men who find this site. He was looking for answers to help with his decision of whether to have or not have penile implant surgery. Obviously, he opted for surgery and would like to tell you about his experiences. Folks here is Dan.

Hello Bob -

After reading your blog for about a year I finally decided to take the plunge. I'd like to share my experience if you think others might benefit. I have read alt.support.impotence for several years, but never found much information there that was helpful to me. If you want to use my story, please sign it "Dan from Baltimore" and omit my email address - I prefer to remain anonymous in these days of instant publicity via Internet.

I'm 64 and diabetic. I had a stroke 13 years ago, and my adventures with ED began shortly thereafter. I had satisfactory results with Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra for several years, but about five years ago they began to lose effect and I sought other solutions. I also developed a fairly severe case of Peyronie's about that time as well, and the combination of existing ED and Peyronies put an end to my sex life. We tried injections (Caverject, trimix) but they provided no effect at all; we also tried the pump, but I didn't like it much and my wife HATED it. She said that if that's the best we can do we might as well just give it up.

I was well aware of implant therapy all along, but the thought of surgery was daunting and the fact there is no turning back was frightening. That said, I missed intimacy so much that I finally decided to look into an implant. I got a referral from my PCP to Dr. Andrew Kramer at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He came highly recommended and has performed over a thousand implants. This is not the sort of thing you would want a beginner doing!

During the weeks leading up to my surgery I changed my mind about a dozen times, but in the end I took a deep breath, got in the car with my wife, and drove to UMMC. I was calmer about the procedure after I got there than I had been during any of the preceding days. We went to the Ambulatory Surgery Center where I was efficiently signed in. Before long I was wheeled into the operating room, and a short time later I woke up in recovery. Recovery from general anesthesia was not pleasant, but at least I didn't suffer any significant nausea. I was kept overnight and administered large doses of antibiotics. Between nurse visits and a neighbor in the next room who was flushing a very loud toilet literally every 15 minutes, I didn't get much sleep, but did not suffer too much discomfort - just some generalized aching in the pelvic region. The catheter was extremely annoying, however, and I was relieved to have it removed the next morning, when I was released.

So far, I have a fair amount of discomfort but am managing the best I can with Tylenol. Most of the stronger stuff makes me sick, and I'd much rather have a little pain than a lot of nausea. The catheter traumatized my urethra, so urinating is a little uncomfortable, but it's slowly getting better. I cannot sit in a chair, but have found that I can get fairly comfortable in my recliner - getting in and out is painful, but once settled I'm doing ok. I'm using an ice bag to cool the area, which is also helpful.

I developed a swelling on day two on the underside of my penis, near the head. I called the doctor, who believes it is a normal consequence of trauma, probably of no concern, and should clear up in a few days.

I have a follow-up appointment with my doc in two weeks, and we'll see how I'm doing then.

If you like, I'll send a couple of follow-up posts over the next month or so.

Your blog was key in my decision to go ahead with surgery - thanks for putting it up!

Cheers
"Dan from Baltimore"


Dan from Baltimore: Report from Week 2

My surgery was on June 11; today is June 26 and here's where I am now.

The past two weeks have been a blur of constant discomfort and not much sleep, but with gradual improvement daily. My airway remained irritated from the breathing tube for about 5 days, and then returned to normal. Urination remained painful for about the same period due to the catheter, but it returned to normal after a few days

I have not been able to get comfortable in bed, so have been sleeping and spending a lot of down time in my recliner, which allows me to distribute my weight away from the groin area, and also to keep an ice pack in place easily.

I also cannot drive comfortably, nor can I sit at a desk, so I have not been working. Because I don't tolerate narcotics and other strong pain killers very well I have been using 1000 mg Tylenol every 4-6 hours, plus an ice bag at every possible opportunity. I have taken off two weeks from work to recover - I plan to return on June 30 if I continue to heal at the current rate.

After 15 days the swelling is gone, and I experienced no bruising at all. I am more mobile: standing and walking are slightly painful, and sitting is still difficult, but all of this is getting better.

My doc left the implant inflated to about half-mast at the time of surgery, and I will be seeing him next week. The semi-erection is somewhat uncomfortable - bending my penis is a little painful, but as far as I can tell my sensitivity is no different than before the surgery. I am waiting to see what arousal is like with a mechanical rather than organic erection. Others tell me it is no different, but I'll have to see that to believe it.

As far as I can tell, I didn't lose much if any length as a result of the operation (a good thing, since I didn't have that much to work with in the first place), and the girth is a little greater. Time will tell...

My urologist elected to use the Coloplast (Mentor) 3-piece Titan implant. He has done hundreds of AMS and hundreds of Coloplast and believes Coloplast has a slight edge in material quality and pump reliability, but gave me the option of whichever I preferred. I deferred to his judgment, since my experience with these is precisely zero units, compared with his 1,000 +.

I remain optimistic - or at least hopeful - that, once healed, this all will have been worth the pain. Even so, I have had a few "what have I done?" moments.

Bottom line: expect a couple of weeks' healing time, with ups and downs along the way.

I will report back in a few more weeks when I am finally healed and able to embark on my shakedown cruise.

Cheers
Dan from Baltimore

Dan from Baltimore - report from week 3

Yesterday (7/3/08) marked the end of my third week of healing and my first post-op visit with my surgeon. He was very pleased with my progress and predicted great results when I'm fully healed, which he estimates at about another 3 weeks. I have no bruising, and my swelling is nearly gone - still some edema around the pump, which is apparently not unusual. I still have some aching in the scrotum due to the pump, but am managing with Tylenol and ice. It's getting better by the day: I can now sit and drive fairly comfortably (but with some squirming around) and was able to return to work half time on 6/30. I will resume full time work on 7/7.

Three pieces of good news from the appointment: 1) my implant had been at half-mast since the surgery and was becoming quite sensitive from rubbing against clothing and sore due to stiffness - he fully deflated me and I have been MUCH more comfortable; 2) the surgery and implant have corrected my Peyronies completely - hardly a hint of a bend (I had a severe bend near the glans, which together with ED made penetration impossible); and 3) he believes I will be able to put my rebuilt equipment to use after my next appointment on 7/24, a date I have marked prominently on my calendar!

I will post again at the end of the month. Cheers to all.

Dan from Baltimore

7/26/08

I had an appointment with my surgeon on 7/24, which marked week 6 since my surgery. He examined everything thoroughly and declared me to be almost fully healed*. He said (hooray!) I should expect to see up to 1" increase in length over the next year, as well as increased girth, resulting from stretching of the implant. He demonstrated how to inflate and deflate the device and verified that I could do it myself. It's pretty easy, but the deflation valve is much stiffer and harder to operate than I would have thought. The doc says it will become easier over time.

*Almost fully healed: all of the internal workings (pump, cylinders, reservoir) are completely healed and entirely comfortable - I no longer even notice that they are there. However, the incision in my scrotum, while healed internally, is being very slow to close externally. The margins of the wound keep separating and the incision oozes fluid constantly - I'm wearing panty liners in my Jockey shorts. My surgeon says there is no sign of infection, and that the incision "should" heal normally "in a little more time." I keep the area clean and dry, and keep a close eye on things, but I see no progress from day to day. On the theory that the scrotum is quite unstable and that the incision is subject to a lot of stretching, motion, and stress during normal movement (especially sitting), my wife (a nurse) and I applied some Steri-strips this morning to see if stabilizing the area would help. Time will tell.

In any case, even though my implant is fully healed and ready for use, I can't proceed until the incision heals. I'll post again when that day finally comes. I'll include a couple of before and after photos showing near perfect correction of the Peyronie's.

Cheers to all

Dan

One Year Anniversary

Dear Readers:
It's been some time since I last wrote on this blog and I appologize for going so long. I celebrated my one year anniversary on May 29th, or I should add that my wife and I celebrated my anniversary in a very fun way. One year already and has it gone by pretty quick. No regrets. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I appreciate the many thousands of you from all over the world who have reached my blog site. I have corresponded with approximately 12 to 13 hundred people from more than 40 countries around the world via email and many people over the phone this past year. I have talked to many doctors who now refer patients to this blog to read my story as well as the stories submitted by some very courageous and wonderful guys who have posted their stories and experiences to this blog. Many of these same guys have agreed to annonymously correspond by email with some of the men who have read this blog, and discuss further their experiences. Those who do post on this blog, I do promise to protect their annonymity and keep their confidence. I also try and be an active member of the Yahoo.com support board Penileimplant. I started this blog site to help those of you out there who are very frustrated with the current therapies used to treat erectile dysfunction. I wanted to share with other men what it's like to have penile implant surgery. I would tell you that my only regret is why did I wait as long as 13 years to have this done. My erections are hard enough to pound nails. They feel natural like a normal erection does. How can that be you ask? The cylinders replace spongy tissue inside two corpora cavernosa inside the male penis. What we feel when we have an erection is pressure on pleasureable nerves. With an implant, we guys can orgasm when we are ready and can stay hard and please our partners. Thats a big advantage in the bedroom. I also need to let everyone know that I have several new guys recovering or soon to have implant surgery who have indicated that they would like to add their experiences on this blog and I would welcome their additions. This blog is a labor of love and I appreciate my role in providing this blog as a site for those of you seeking answers from those of us who have gone before you. I've had many men thank me for this keeping this blog. They admit they never would have had the courage to undergo this surgery without what they learned from me and the guys who have shared their stories on this site.
Thanks again to everyone reading my blog.
Bob

Nel's Implant Story

Nels sent this to me and gave me permission to add it to his story.

Good morning Bob,

I thought I would send you an update. It's been over nine weeks since my surgery and I am one happy camper. I am now totally comfortable and happy with my new, improved penis. My wife, a school teacher, was off last week for spring break and we found plenty of time to put the implant to good use. She and I are totally amazed at how natural and good it feels. Inflating is not anything that spoils the spontaneity. And it's great what it has done for my self confidence! I am more self confident in the sack than I have ever been, even when I was young. It's unbelievable what a cock that will never go soft until you want it to will do for your self esteem!

To any guys that are trying to make that very tough decision, I say "Do it now, don't waste all these good years!".

Nels



Hi All

Today I would like to introduce you to a new contributor to the Penile Implant blog. This gentlemen's name is Nel's and he to has had Juvenile Diabetes, Type 1 like yours truely for many years. Diabetes is one of the leading contributors for men to develop ED. As Nel's would also tell you, Type 1 Diabetes is a child's up to a young adults disease and can be very difficult to control and can cause ED to men in their 30's and 40's if they are not careful. So here is Nel's story about his experiences from having implant surgery along with some excellent pictures. Nel's, thank you for this very excellent contribution to this blog.

Nels’s Story
I am a 67 year old type 1 diabetic. I have been diabetic for43 years and have suffered from ED for the last 15 years. I have tried all of the usual therapies, including Caverject, Muse, trimix, bimix, Viagara, Cialis, Levitra and vacuum erection devices. The only reliable erections are from the vacuum devices, but these things are clumsy, uncomfortable, and far from spontaneous. I have finally reached the decision to proceed with a penile implant and am scheduled for surgery tomorrow, on Valentines Day. How fitting! I was able to reach this decision thanks to the wonderful information contained in Bob's blogsite. Without this, I don’t think I could have found the courage to proceed.

Since this blogsite has been so very important to me, I intend to document my experiences in text and pictures in order to help other men decide if this is for them. So here goes:

Pre Op Pictures
This is me flaccid before surgery Me again, erect (with vacuum device)
I will continue to post updates as my recovery and healing progresses.
Day of Surgery--Valentines Day 2008
I was admitted to the University of Rochester (NY) Surgical Center at 8:00 AM. After exams and consults with my doctor, Dr. Robert Davis, and various members of the medical team, I was wheeled into the operating room at 10:00 AM. An IV dose of Versed put me immediately at ease and the next thing I knew it was 1:30 PM and the operation and recovery room were behind me. I felt as if I had been kicked in the testicles by a very large horse, but pain meds administered through my IV soon calmed that down. A very capable and friendly nurse spent time giving my wife and I instructions prior to discharge. I was to be sent home with a catheter, which is a safety measure to insure that urine will flow the next day, so my wife was given detailed instructions on how to remove it. I was discharged and on my way home by 4:00 PM.

By supper time, I had a healthy appetite and enjoyed a delicious dinner of homemade chicken soup. My main discomfort was from the catheter, and two Percocet every four hours kept most of the pain at bay (better living through chemistry!). I rested easily and slept well, awaking about 4:00 AM for another dose of Percocet, as instructed.

Day Two
I awoke the next morning feeling fairly comfortable. The major discomfort was from the catheter, making my penis sore and making me feel as if I needed to pee. Of course my bladder was empty due to the catheter. I took two Percocet and waited about an hour for them to kick in, then had my wife remove the catheter. She did an excellent job and I only felt a little burning sensation during the removal. I immediately felt much better and able to move about more easily while not having to constantly carry the bag.

My pain and discomfort was much less than I expected. My penis is swollen somewhat and feels like a semi-erection and my testicles feel like two purple grapefruits, as Bob has described. They get sore and achy as I approach the time for my next dose of meds. I am now taking one Percocet every four hours instead of two. Overall I am glad the procedure is behind me and am anxiously looking forward to our six week “test drive”.

Day Three My swelling has increased, but is still bearable, thanks to the Percocet. Sitting is problematic, due to the size of my scrotum. Who ever said big balls were a good thing! An unexpected side effect has cropped up. My penis is quite swollen, causing the opening to my urethra to point in an unexpected direction, resulting in an unreliable direction of my urine flow. This can be very messy! An easy solution was to stand in front of the toilet using a urinal, which eliminated the errant flow, making my wife happy (but not as happy as she will be in six weeks!).

My pictures show an uneven swelling of my foreskin. This was a result of an earlier misplaced injection of Bimix, resulting in a swollen foreskin, but no erection. Instant foreskin restoration! This will return to a more normal look as my penis swelling goes down.
Day FiveAs my pictures show, things are slowly returning to normal. Sitting is still a problem. I find sitting forward on the edge of the chair is a partial solution, coupled with standing frequently to relieve the pressure on my testicles. My penis is less swollen, permitting me to pee without redecorating the bathroom walls. I have discontinued the use of narcotic pain killers. I am well on the way to recovery.
Day Eight
Today I had my first post-op doctor visit. He examined my genitals and found that all is healing nicely. Still some swelling, but he said that there will probably be some even at six weeks. He then pumped me up and deflated it. This hurt like hell because my testicles and scrotum are still very tender. Luckily I had the foresight to tack a Percocet prior to the visit. The pain subsided fairly quickly.
Two Weeks Post-Op
After two weeks, I am much more comfortable. The swelling has gone down a lot. Sitting is much easier, without the feeling that I am sitting right ion my testicles. My penis is les swollen and has a nice full felling due to the tubes inside. It will never shrink again on cold days, making it much more accessible when urinating. No more reaching inside my fly for a cold, shriveled penis! Due to the fullness, my wife tells me that I have a very nice “package”! My next doctor visit is at 5 weeks, when he will teach me how to inflate and deflate the implant. Then at week six, we can go for a “test drive”. I am so looking forward to this! As shown in the pictures, the stitches are almost dissolved.

4 Weeks Post-op
Four weeks and counting! At this point I am feeling almost back to normal. The swelling in my penis and scrotum has gone down considerably. My penis is still very firm to the touch due to the tubes (and probably always will be), but I no longer feel like I’m walking around with a perpetual hard-on. This firmness is rather pleasant and gives me a nice “package”! My testicles feel much more comfortable. I can sit without feeling that they are being squashed. The pump hangs low and I can feel it pressing from the inside of my scrotum, but its not uncomfortable. It is only visible if one looks closely. (My wife now calls me “ET, The Extra Testicle”!)

One problem that I have experienced was that with the penile swelling and tenderness, T found it difficult to expel the last few drops of urine after urinating. This made the wearing of underwear 24/7 a must. This no longer seems to be a problem.
Overall, I feel that the healing process has progressed quite well. I go back to the Doctor at week 5 for instruction and training on the operation of this thing. I can’t wait to see what it will look like hard. And after that, my much anticipated “test drive”.

6 Weeks Post-op
Flaccid at 6 Weeks Post-op

Erect at Week 6

I went back to my doctor at 5 weeks for a check up and instructions on inflating and deflating the implant. The healing process has come along very nicely. Inflating and deflating is no problem but the bulb on the pump is stiffer than I thought it would be. I have been pumping it up daily to aid in becoming more comfortable with it and find that the pump is getting easier to use. Deflating is no problem. The release valve is easy to locate and press.

Now for the great news. The doctor gave me the OK for intercourse. Naturally, we hurried home for that long awaited test drive. My erection, when fully pumped up, was nice and firm and at a ninety degree angle. My “angle of the dangle” hasn’t been that good since I was in my twenties! It felt very natural and once we started to make love, it made the surgery well worth while. Wow! We tried many positions and that first time lasted for almost an hour! Since then, we have loved the spontaneity that this provides. Sex is now enjoyable any time, anywhere we want. I only wish I had done this fifteen years ago. Penile implants are considered to be the last resort in treatment of ED. This means that all other methods should be tried first, but please don’t consider this to mean you should wait forever before making the decision to undergo surgery. I was told by a urologist ten years ago that an implant was the way to go, but waited until now to have it done. I should have listened back then!
As for loss of length, I measured 5 ¾ inches when pumped up hard using a vacuum erection device. My wife says that when pumped up that hard, it was actually too big and firm and was not a natural feeling erection. I am now 5 ½ inches when inflated and she is much more comfortable with this. As for me, I am very satisfied

Tom's Implant

Day 10 Post Op Pictures from Tom K

Pictures show that bruising and swelling has gone

way down. Tom elected to have an AMS 700 LGX implant and instead of going through the scrotum, his doctor performed a Pubic Insertion.

Tom looks to be healing very nicely following implant surgery.

Tom K. Story Continued
Day 1 post surgery

I just got home from the hospital a few hours ago from getting my AMS LGX implanted. I'm pretty sore, but its not as bad as I thought it would be. I'm still a little loopy, so I can't write too much yet. Let me just say that everything seemed to go fine, except that when I woke up, I was in a lot of pain. Once I felt a little better, I reached down and noticed that I was wearing a supporter, and I had a catheter coming out of me, and it was glued and taped to my belly. With in two hours, I was sitting up some, and looking for some food! Later that night, my urologist told me that he had a hard time putting the tubes in, because I had scar tissue in my corpora's. By then, my pain was also under control due to the pain medications.

Day 2 post surgery.
Now down to what's going on. Last night was not a good night, I had to pee at least every 30 minutes all night. ! I couldn't point it down, so I had to lie on my side and pee into a jug they given me. Then the pain got a lot worse. My penis has swollen to the point where it almost looks like I've got a hard on. As of now, its gone down some, but its still sore.

Day 3 post surgery.
This is my third day now, and things are much better then yesterday. My pain level is much lower, and I'm able to sit up for a much longer time. I'm still black and blue on my sack, and my penis is still pretty swollen, but its improving. Its still hard to aim when I pee, but it sure beats having to use a bottle every time laying on my side! The swelling seems to be getting a little better due to using ice 24-7 since I got out of surgery.
Day's 4, 5, 6, and 7 post surgery.
On the forth day, my pain level increased quite a bit. I had to take more pain medicine then the day before, and the swelling has gone up a little. Most of the pain I'm feeling at this point is coming from my penis itself. It feels like it’s erect, and it’s harder to bend down to pee. One good thing is, my incision is healing up very well as can be seen in the day 3 and 10 pictures. Day seven started getting better again, and the swelling is dropping quickly, and so did the pain level.
Day's 8,9, and 10 post surgery.
On Day 8, I went and saw my urologist Doctor Kachel. He seemed very pleased to see how well I was healing, and that the swelling was way down! My pain level was very low, I didn't need anything for pain, and it felt much more normal to the touch. My hair is even starting to grow back, so it doesn't itch any more. I'm able to get out for short walks, and when I get back, there is still no pain. At this point, I have no regrets getting this surgery done.

Day 3

Tom plans on submitting additional photos later on in his surgical recovery. The first thing you take away from Tom when you talk with him is here is a guy who doesn't let obstacles stop him from living life to its fullest. Tom works as an advocate for the blind, and yet he lives life to the fullest and doesn't allow a handicap to stand in his way. He serves as a role model to every man who has struggled with ED. Are you being handicapped by ED in your life? Are you letting it control and frustrate your life? I have spoken with dozens of men all over the world that allow fear to stop them from taking steps to regain control over their own sexuality. Fear doesn't control Tom's life. Tom is a man who doesn't let the difficulties of ED stop him. How about you?

Another view, Day 3 Post Op

Frontal View Day 3 Postop

Tom has bruising occurring in his scrotal area

Day 3 Post Op with Pubic Incision

Frontal Shot taken a week prior to Tom's implant surgery

Dear Readers:

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you Tom K who just underwent implant surgery a week ago and has agreed to share his story, his experiences, and pictures to those of you considering Penile Implant Surgery. Tom is also very unique to this blog site for Tom has been blind for many years now, yet he refuses to let blindness get in his way of enjoying life to it's fullest. Tom is also the first man to this site in that he is the first gentleman to experience a pubic insertion of his implant over the traditional scrotal insertion. There are advantages and disadvantages to both surgical methods. It is more a matter of surgical preference by the surgeon. Tom is at home recovering from his surgery this week and I have talked to him by phone on several occasions. I had hoped to have his story up last week, but was waylaid by walking pneumonia with a systemic staph infection thrown in. Taking three different antibiotics left yours truely looking for the license plate of the truck I got hit with. Pneumonia with diabetes is not a good combination. So with out any further ado, here is Tom's story. And as always, I am deeply indebted to all of the gentlemen who have contributed to this blog to make it the site that it has become.

Hi all, I'm a 48 year old man that's been having problems getting and keeping erections since I was in my twenties. I've tried many things to help, but one by one, they failed. I started with a V.E.D, but it hurt a lot when I put the tight ring around the base, so for quite a few years, I just had my wife go down on it, that would bring it up. Then I had to get it in her as fast as I could so I didn't lose it. Still, I'd lose it about half of the time. Then when viagra came out, I used it, but it was hit or miss. I even tried the other two pills, and it was the same problem. The next thing I tried was, Trimix injections. They worked great for a long time, but in the last six months, my whole penis would really hurt for as long as it was hard. I couldn't get into sex with that much pain, so I started looking into an implant. After a lot of research, I decided to go with the AMS 700 LGX. These photo's are of me right before I went into the hospital to have it done.

Tom K.

Joe's Story

Dear Reader's:

One of this blog's reader's has submitted a copy of his story to add to the body of knowledge that this blog brings. With each story submitted, guys who have found their way to this blogsite, can obtain truthful information on whether to pursue a penile implant as a means of curing long term and difficult erectile dysfunction. The usual first line methods may or may not be working or just aren't satisfactory for you the reader. Penile Implants offer an amazing difference by producing natural feeling erections. Please take time to read each man's unique experience with penile implants. Here is Joe's Story.

I have read the entries submitted to date by othermembers. Because I believe that my experience adds to the information in a few significant ways, I am presuming to offer my story and a few comments:

In what ways are my experiences different?

1. I enjoyed the benefits of an inflatable implant for over 12 years between 1995 and 2007. The manufacturer offered a ten year warranty at the time of its insertion. At 81, I seem to be on the high end of contributors to this blog.

2. My HMO at first rejected my urologist'sprescription until I wrote and explained that the HMO guaranteed all benefits available to Medicare beneficiaries. The HMO reversed their original rejection. My urologist told me then that we made history because after that time, no more problems were experienced by his recommendations for implants to his patients.

3. After twelve years, I experienced a bladder infection and also perceived problems with the implant tubes pushing against the end of the glans. It had pierced the membrane between the stem and the glans and was extremely painful. My urologist signed me in for outpatient surgery to remove the implant. The device was found to still be working as designed, but we did not discuss any alternative to living with ED from now on. Yes, facing the consequence of no more erections has been difficult, but one does what one must.

4. Ancillary issues:

a. Original incontinence has continued; since it is manageable with pads inside jockey shorts, I lived with that.

b. Resultant impotence due to a prostatectomy also resulted in complete failure to raise an erection; after trying natural recovery (failed), drug injections (failed), and a pump (failed), I found a support group (Impotents Anonymous) and attended a number of meetings. Men brought their partners--wives or male partners--for well-directed discussions where everyone was comfortable discussing all sorts of issues. One man who had recently had an inflatable implant installed, brought his documentation and the cost ($15,000) of which he would have some of the expense due to the fact that he was a Medicare subscriber on a basic 80/20 sharing plus some items on the bill rejected by Medicare.

c. Use of the implant--my urologist gave me explicit directions and a first demonstration of the inflation to assure us that all worked as intended. My first surprise was that the tubes ended behind the glans and the glans remained soft and small. My penis when inflated was pretty close to its length before myprostatectomy. He told me that the implants came in various sizes for a proper fit to what nature had provided. Due to my research, I had no illusions about achieving an enlarged penis. I've never tried any of the devices or potions peddled to enlarge my penis, even though I've never met a man who did not agree that size matters. Most of us learned early in life to get the best with what we were endowed with.

d. Although I read an implicit acknowledgment in some of the previous blogs that most men live with the failure to ejaculate, I presume that in some instances ejaculation does happen (?) In my own instance, Ienjoy the secretion of precum but no ejaculate, since capacity to produce seminal matter is removed with the cancerous prostate. I have not thought about other causes of ED that might leave a man with the capability to ejaculate. Just the sensory benefits of climax were great enough for me. Some men are hung upon ejaculation, and though I can recall the sensation it provided (oh so long ago) I am working on what I have left now.

e. What I have left is a tiny piece of flaccid skin and a miniature penile survivor. Oh yes, I can with enough effort still generate a sensory climax.That is the extent of my capacity for sexual satisfaction related to the benefits of a firm tumescence and all the joys of its manipulation, insertion, etc. There are a lot of other erotic sensory resources open to me or any other ED challenged man, but they are beyond the scope of this blog, I would judge. My last advice to others is to be appreciative of all the information, help and support available now that was not available to me a little more than a decade ago. Explore the alternatives at least as exhaustively as you would the features of a new car and then decide objectively what your reasonable expectations should be and whether an implant 'is right for you'. No, it won't give your penis greater girth or length, and you'll never be the man you were in your 20's or 30's, but if you can settle for what is available, you may not be destined for the scrap heap just yet.Feel free to e-mail me if you have further questions.
Joe
joe69orforg@yahoo.com

GW's Implant Story and Pictures

GWhad his surgery on January 7, 2008
Pictures were taken on January 10, 2008

Dear Readers

Let me introduce you to a new poster to my Penileimplant blog site. His name is GW and he is home recovering from recent implant surgery. W opted for implant surgery following removal of his prostate due to cancer in late 2006. Wjoins my distinguished group of men who have opted to change their sexual lives by having penile implant surgery to reverse persistant and severe erectile dysfunction. Those of us who have had implant surgery hope that by sharing our experiences, we can educate men and their partners worldwide, that persistant ED can be over come. We want men everywhere to know that we can continue to enjoy sexual intercourse the rest of their lives. This despite having medical conditions that have severely damaged the ability of their penis to become engorged with blood and to maintain a stiff erection long enouth to enjoy sexual intercourse. Folks, here is GW story in his own words:

Bob,

Thanks for writing back, and thanks again for your blog---it helped me a great deal.........

ED- mine was not too bad and was a problem starting aroung age 50, I am now 58. Viagra worked well enough and I didn't really worry about it too much.

In 2006 I developed prostate cancer. My prostate was removed (with robotic surgery) 11-1-06.......After surgery my ED was a real problem.....Viagra stopped working at all, I tried the pump but it did not work, I tried the shots but did not like them. I got to the point that I would rather not have sex if it required a shot..........

The decision was simple.....an implant or complete ED. After reading your blog I decided to go with the implant.....Your blog was the only information that I felt was trustworthy...........

The implant was done 1-7-08, the pictures were taken 1-10-08 (yesterday)......I am a little sore but it is not bad. All I am taking for pain is over the counter meds 2 or 3 times a day, and I could do without them. I am taking them mostly for the pain involved in deflating the tubes since they seem to auto inflate after a few hours.

I am still having a problem with incontinence but it is still improving gradually so I decided to wait and see what it does before having more extra parts installed........If I don't dry-up in the next 4-5 months I will have the male sling installed...........

I will be glad to answer any questions and will send more photos as things change and I am able to start using the implant........My doc said not to inflate it for four weeks............

Let me know what else I can do or answer to help with your blog.

GW

Jack's Story

Dear Readers:

Once again, I am priveledged to share with you another man's story of his battle with ED and subsequent implant surgery. Jack brings a unique view as someone who first had a maleable penile implant implanted first. When it failed, he opted for a three piece Mentor Alpha 1 penile implant which he uses today. Jack has graciously offered his story to you the reader in the hope that all of you can gain knowledge from his candor. Jack tells it like it is, both what he likes and what he disliked of both devices. Jack now joins a distinguished group of men who have consented to telling their story on this blog. We who have implants know how difficult it is for men to decide if a penile implant is right for you. Jack has also supplied pictures of his genitals with the Mentor Alpha 1 implant. He also gives you measure ments listed in centimeter. To convert centimeters into inches, 2.5 centimeters equals one inch. Here is Jack's story:

Bob,
You have an awesome blog on a relevant topic for many men. The information you present is honest and heartfelt. It is informative and I can only wish it was available when I was doing my research before getting my implants. Thank you for your candor in sharing your story and photographs. After further consideration, I have decided to share some of my own personal experiences and opinions. Please feel free to post this information on your blog along with some of my photographs.

In the late 1990’s I suddenly realized that the quality of my erections had slowly declined to the point where I could no longer have intercourse with my wife. My penis looked hard, but it was not rigid enough for penetration. Needless to say I was surprised, shocked, and dismayed that I could no longer have sex. My self-confidence and self-esteem also took a blow. Something had to be done and I made an appointment with an urologist.

One of the first tests I did was a snap ring. Before I went to bed each night I would put the snap ring around my penis. During the night my nocturnal erections were supposed to “snap” the ring and break it. Unfortunately, they never did. The next tests I did included a urine flow test to check for prostrate problems (I think); an MRI of the brain to check for any pituitary gland problems; and a testosterone level check. No issues were found and I passed each test with flying colors.

My urologist gave me a prescription for a medical grade vacuum pump which I promptly purchased. I used the pump for awhile with mixed success. Pumping was stimulating, felt great, produced some the largest erections I ever had, and was completely natural. On the flip side the pumping process was slow and the constriction rings were very uncomfortable. Erections felt cold to the touch, were limited to 30 minutes, and the base of my penis acted like a swivel. Viagra help with my arousal, but not my erections.

I wanted something simpler and more spontaneous than the vacuum pump so I tried drug treatments. These included direct injections into my penis and Muse, which used catheter like device to place a small pill in my urethra. I did not like the drugs; the injections were painful, distracting, and did not solve my problem. And from what I have read lately, injections can apparently cause internal scarring.

Venous leakage caused by repeated straddle injuries probably caused my impotence. As a youth I used to jump bicycles. As an adult, I moved up to dirt bikes and four-wheelers. Consequently my groin area took a lot of abuse over the years and I can remember some painful injuries from landing on hard bars and seats. Blood still flowed into my penis and produced an erection, but it slowly leaked out. The result was tumescence without rigidity. I also think that there may have been some congenital issues too.

I was totally discouraged, dejected, frustrated, disgusted, and depressed! Everything I tried had failed and there were few options left. I considered vascular surgery and nixed it due to its low chance of success. I was getting desperate for a permanent solution and started to seriously consider a penile prosthesis. This was the late 1990’s and information was scarce. My research included meeting with my urologists, watching implant videos, and searching the internet for information.

My requirements were simple. I wanted something that gave me a rigid erection suitable for intercourse, was easy to use, simple to implant, reliable, and inexpensive. I chose the AMS 650 semi-rigid penile prosthesis and was implanted at age 35. The surgery was done on an outpatient basis with no complications and my wife drove me home from the hospital the very same day. I have two distinct impressions from that day. First, my penis was bandaged and looked like a hotdog in crescent roll. Second, it was almost impossible to urinate due to presence of the implants and swelling from surgery!

My next big (no pun intended) impression was the change in length x girth. My penis was now shorter and significantly thinner. I was prepared to lose some length, but the loss in girth truly shocked me and was completely unexpected. I lost at least 4.0 cm of length and 2.5 cm of girth. The loss in girth was especially noticeable the first time my wife and I had sex and I felt loose inside her. I could tell she noticed it too, but she never let on that she was unhappy.

AMS 650
What I liked
Spontaneous always ready to go
Rigid rock hard erection
Unlimited duration erection
Reliable

What I did not like
Permanent erection
No expansion in girth
Cylinders did not fill out penis
Difficult to conceal
Embarrassing at times

Seven years after I got my AMS 650, I noticed a clicking feeling on the right side. I went to my new urologist who examined me and determined that the right rod had indeed broken and needed to be replaced. I was more than a little surprised, but readily agreed to get it replaced ASAP. I immediately ruled out getting another semi-rigid device. My urologist and I reviewed the AMS 700 and Mentor Alpha I three-piece inflatable prosthesis (IPP) and he assured me that either one would give me an excellent result.

My requirements this time were increased girth, daily comfort, ease of concealment, and a reliable easy to use pump. I wanted a normal life with a natural erectile process. Please note that increased length was not a consideration. I chose the Mentor Alpha I and was implanted at age 43. The surgery was again done on an outpatient basis with no complications and my wife drove me home from the hospital the very same day. I remember my implant being partially inflated and my penis being by a special jock strap.

My second implant surgery again resulted in a change in length x girth. My penis is still smaller than my natural erection, but it is significantly thicker than my last implant. Although length is about the same, I was thrilled when I gained back 1.9 cm of girth. The gain in girth was especially noticeable the first time my wife and I had sex and I no longer felt loose inside her. My ego and self-confidence go a tremendous boost and my wife is happier too.

Mentor Alpha I
What I like
Daily comfort
Normal bio function and erectile process
Easy to conceal
Rigid erection suitable for intercourse
Cylinder expansion increases girth with some length
Unlimited duration erection
Reliable

What I do not like
No expansion in girth
Cylinders do not fill out penis
Increased chance of failure from moving parts
Limited product lifetime

I almost forgot to list my measurements. I measure length by pushing the ruler or tape all the way in until it stops at the pubic bone while I measure girth at mid-shaft.

Before surgery – natural age 21
Bone pressed length 19.0 cm
Visible length 19.0 cm
Mid-shaft girth 13.9 cm

First surgery – AMS 650 age 35
Bone pressed length 15.0 cm
Visible length 12.7 cm (need to lose weight)
Mid-shaft girth 11.4 cm

Second surgery – Mentor Alpha I age 43
Bone pressed length 15.4 cm
Visible length 12.7 cm
Mid-shaft girth 13.4 cm

Although I still get natural latent erections from time-to-time, I do not include them when I measure since they are atypical and uncontrollable. When they occur they tend to add more girth than length. I occasionally use a vacuum pump to help preserve my remaining natural erection.
Overall I am very happy with my IPP, but the road to happiness does have a price. Getting a penile implant of any type is a lifetime commitment. Remember, once an implant, always an implant, there is no going back. Expect to have pain and discomfort. Expect to lose length and girth. Expect to have more surgeries. Exhaust all other possibilities first. Choose the implant type that best suits and meets your personal needs.

Thank you again Bob for your great blog! If you have any questions, please let me know.
Jack

New Year with my Penile Impant

My penis erect at 45 degree angle

I can leave my penis erect for hours without any harm occurring.

4 hours, a piece of cake.

My erection 5.75 inches

The underside of my penis. Scars are fully healed.

My penis in the flacid state.

Picture of me in underwear

A lot fuller with the implant

Dear Readers:

First: If you have just found my blogsite and are truely interested in permanently giving your "Erectile Dysfunction" the heave ho, and enjoying great sex once again, wherever an when ever. Please, please, please give penile implants a good chance and consider them. Please go to the beginning of my blog in May 2007 where I began exploring the option of having surgery for an implant. If there is one thing that I have done, that is a thorough search through a top notch medical library into penile implants. I have a wealth of information for you in this blog. I wrote this blog for you, the guy whose sick of not having a hard erect penis to enjoy in the bedroom. I too spent years takin shots for an erection. I've used viagra and cialis. I've used vacuum constriction devices. Let me say this only once. If I could do it over, back in 1993 when I began having trouble with my erections, I would have had this surgery without any question whats so ever. And my loving wife of 26 years emphatically agrees with that statement. This blog website also features graphic pictures of my genitals as well as other men's genitals who have implant surgery. We all want to tell you and your partner what this surgery entails. And we want to tell you truthfully why we had the surgery. In this post, I am 7 months post surgery and I am going to post pictures that I have taken of my genitals so that you can see that they look perfectly normal looking. My erections and you are going to have to take my word for this, but truthfully, with the implant, my penis feels the same as it has always felt during erection. The cavities that would normally be filled with blood are now filled with a saline encased chamber the length of my penis. After I ejaculate, I continue to remain erect for however long that I want to and it continues to feel very good indeed. My wife can continue to enjoy intercourse with my erect penis in her vagina. My penis is the same as it's always been. That is not everyone's experience, but it is mine. So please, if you are just starting out to research Penile Implant surgery, please go to the beginning of this blog site as this is the end of my blog. The pictures that I am posting were taken on January 1, 2008 and I am now 7 months post surgical penile implant. I have an AMS 700 Ultrex implant in my penis now. And as you can see from the pictures, it would be impossible for anyone to be able to tell that there is an implant inside of my penis. In fact, the only way anybody can teel that you have an implant is they can feel the pump inside of your scrotum. If AMS ever discovers a way to hide a pump inside the abdomen, nobody, and I mean nobody, not even your doctor would have an easy time telling does he, or doesn't he have a penile implant. Penile Implants enjoy a 92% satisfaction rate among men who have them. It's not perfect yet, but in my case, I am a 100% satisfied customer. So look through my blog. Learn all you can about implants. Email me with questions if you like at bbacon15@yahoo.com

I try and answer everybody. Good luck to everyone and heres hoping that 2008 becomes a bright, new year for you and your loving partner.

Bob