Comments from Steve to all my readers

Hi Bob,
I'm not sure who will read this or if it is possible to get a response. I had prostate cancer in 2006. Found out had it in Nov. of 06 and had it removed on Dec. 21st of 2006. Been dealing with ED since Dec 21st of 2006. I have a date of July 9th 2010, for an implant and trying to do some homework. I appreciate this blog and the people that share information. My e-mail is stevem3080@yahoo.com. Basically I am trying to see if I am approaching this in the best way since nothing works and I always liked Lee Majors in the six million dollar man, if anyone has any thoughts I would welcome any information. The doctor I am using is Dr.David Sussman( Delaware Valley Urol.) Voorhees and would like anyone that has used him to have their thoughts on him positive or negative. I would be happy to share my experiences pre and post-surgery.
I will answer any thoughts I receive and thank you for your time.
Thanks,
Steve Morris
Blackwood,N.

Bob J Followup

Hello again Bob,

I had my first trial run visit with Dr Eid this past Thursday. He showed me how to activate the implant and it is easier than I thought.

He pumped up the "unit" and, as expected, it was a little painful, but not awful. He said that most people do not pump up the device to it's full capacity, and I can believe him, because when he was finished pumping I had an erection like a railroad spike, As for size, it seems like there is no problem whatsoever. That could be because of the amount of pumping he did.

He cautioned that it is most important the device is completely drained when finished, because if not, the device will not pump to full capacity in the future. This is because the reservoir will be surrounded by scar tissue if left partially empty.

Dr Eid told me to go home and use my new gift! It has been a very long time since I was in school, but I can tell you THIS homework assignment should be a fun science project!

I am to return in August for a check up.

As always please let everyone know that I would be more then happy to relate my experiences with anyone contemplating the procedure.


Best Regards,

Bob J

BoB J 3 week update

Hello again Bob

Well it is 3 weeks tomorrow since the implant and everything is going nicely. I had a follow up visit with Dr Eid at 10 days post, and had the stitches removed. He said I could return to normal activity. As for the post op pain, there is none! There is some soreness, and I feel like I have two testicles and a Lego block in my scrotum but there is only some soreness, and sometimes a "pinched" feeling. I visit the good doctor again this Thursday for a trial run. I expect it will be a bit painful the first time, but I am ready for that.

I am a bit concerned about the pump since it feels like a square. Is it really easy to find and use? Right now it seems like it will be a challenge, but we will see.

I read Dr Ben's post and found it very helpful especially since he is a physician. I know what he is talking about when he says finding underwear for the new equipment is an issue. For anyone interested, Kohl's sells a polyester boxer short (looks and feels like spandex) that seems to be the answer. They are sold under the Sonoma Performance brand, which is a Kohl's house brand. If anyone is interested the Universal Product Code on the tag is 67907647-7 and it is style MT7604. They are a bit pricey at $6.50 each on sale ($12 regular) each but considering they house a $30K package it is worth it.

Best regards,

Bob J

Bob J Followup

Hi Bob

Here it is da 4 post op, and the pain is limited to an ache in my scrotum. Not bad at all.
I have attached a few pixs I took today so people on the blog can see the results.




As you can see, Dr Eid did a crew cut instead of a baldy, not sure it is stylish but we will take in.
As you know, fluid is left in the cylinders for the first week or so, so I get to sport a 80% erection. Ironic, after almost 5 days with it I would like it to go down.

Who knew!

Please Post these if you like

Regards to all
Bob J

Followup by Dan in Baltimore

Hi Bob -

A while ago you had my implant story posted but apparently have removed it. I just wanted to provide a cautionary note about putting off surgery for those who may be wavering. I needed an implant for over 10 years but kept putting it off while trying other solutions without success (pills, injections, vacuum). Finally, in June 2008, I had the surgery - it was a total success by any measure.

However, it is now almost June 2010 and we have, in two years, made use of the implant exactly twice, and with limited success even though the device functions perfectly. The problem is mostly mine - I often think about intimacy and still miss it greatly, but unfortunately I seldom feel well enough to act on those thoughts. I am on a variety of medications following a stroke several years ago and, while they keep me alive, they make me feel lousy most of the time; when you don't feel well sex is low on your list of priorities. I have lost count of the physicians I have consulted about this, but none of them have been able to propose any remedial course of action I could undertake.

My advice to anybody contemplating surgery is to go ahead and do it if you need it. If you put it off you may needlessly miss out on years of pleasure.

Best to you, and thanks for the blog. Nothing can substitute for the first hand experience of implant recipients.

Dan in Baltimore

Another Implant Story

Hi Bob
Well, we did it! I had my implant surgery on 4-26 and I am camped out on our couch 3 days post op as I write this
.
First, let me say that anyone seeking this kind of surgery would be well served doing significant research, and this blog is, is, without a doubt, the most comprehensive source out there PERIOD!

Most important, of course, is the doctor who will do the surgery. I had mine done by Dr J Francois Eid,in New York City. If anyone out there is interested you can Google his name and you will find he does the most implants in the world, and his rate of infection issues is the lowest out there. Since I am 67 Medicare is covering this, so cost is not an issue.

The operation was done at NY Presbyterian Hospital and I was kept overnight which is required by Medicare. Let me tell you, this is perhaps the best hospital on the planet,and I have been in many. Bottom line; get the best you can to do this operation. Of course, Dr Eid is a Park Ave surgeon, so I expect if you have to pay out of pocket for this, it is most likely very costly!

The operation was done with a spinal along with a drug called Verced which renders you spacey so you do not care you are awake. Dr Eid says healing is easier, and pain is less with a local.

Soup to nuts (no pun intended) the op took 2 hours. Recovery was not bad at all. I took 3 Oxycontin in the hospital, and have not needed anything since. the swelling has been minimal so far, but from what I have read here, I should have a bit more pain and swelling as the week unfolds. SO FAR, THIS HAS NOT BEEN BAD AT ALL!

After surgery, the chambers are left with some fluid in them, so you have a partial erection. I can see where the head of my penis will be smaller due to lack of blood, however size does not seem to be a significant issue. Dr Eid implanted the AMS 700CX and could have also done the LGX if I wanted it. He favors the CX because he says it provides a stiffer erection and allows him to oversize the implant slightly. (which he did for me) I asked him to use the device he would use for himself if he needed it.

My experience seems unremarkable when viewed along with the many posted here. My message to anyone considering this surgery is this: if you need it, do not wait! And if you are a partner of someone suffering from ED (along with you) get him to read this blog! Simply said, do not suffer when help is out there for you.

I will be seeing De Eid on May 6th and will update you at that time. Please feel free to use this, and if anyone wants info, just ask.
Best Regards

Bob J

A Doctor's story of his journey with Erectile Dysfunction

Ben PreOp

Pre Op

Ben Post Op

Ben's Post Op

Bob,

We exchanged emails several months ago, which was very helpful--as were the first person accounts on your blog. I had an implant (AMS CX) done 4 days ago, 3/3/10. I have written the following account to share with others on a few different sites, as well as the pictures. Please feel free to use on your site. I cut and pasted from the first site I posted to, so there is some blue background on part of it I couldn't figure how to get rid of.


Regards,
Ben


I'm 61, and very happily married, with my 40th anniversary coming up in June. I have been dealing with ED since I was in my mid-40s. By the mid-90s, I could still get a firm erection, but it would go away with lightning speed (I'm sure that was what I eventually learned was called venous leakage going on), so I had to get it in quickly and never stop moving at a good pace (which I hated, we both prefer a style of intercourse with a slow in and out, accompanied by lots of kissing and touching). The refractory period after orgasm was hours, so more than once in the same session was no longer possible.

Being a physician, I was aware of Viagra when it first came out and started using it in 1998. What a miracle that was! Firm erections and a refractory period as short as a few minutes. 2 orgasms became my norm, extending to 3 occasionally, and 4 on one special occasion. I would get mild headaches and slight blueing of my vision from the Viagra, but I hardly cared--I was more capable than I had been even in my 20s.

This continued to work beautifully for 3 years or so, and then the effectiveness began to fall off. Over a 5-6 year period beginning in 2002 I consulted urologists for the first time, and eventually figured out that the average urologist knew less than I did about ED by this time, so I told them whatever I wanted to try and they prescribed it.

I tried Cialis and Levitra and found the Cialis slightly better than the others for me and started using that. I tried the intra-urethral Muse product, which felt awful and didn't produce an erection. My testosterone level was steadily dropping during this period of time, and got below 200, so we added first Andro-gel, then Testim to the mix. That clearly improved my libido (which had really dropped dramatically), but had no effect on the quality of my erections, which was sufficient for "stuffable" intercourse, but not very firm at all.

I tried tri-mix injections into my penis which improved things somewhat for a while, but is the most likely reason I developed Peyronie's disease (in which scar tissue on the inside of the penis bends it in different directions). Prior to my recent implant surgery (which straightens the penis and essentially cures Peyronie's), my penis was curving upward approximately 15-20 degrees, and 10-15 degrees to the right--on those fleeting occasions when I had an erection firm enough to see it, or while under vacuum.

I tried a vacuum erection device combined with a cock ring. I never could get this to work very well and both of us really hated it. Besides, you can't leave the cock ring on very long, and it leaves your penis numb.

In late 2007 I became aware that a Dr. Larry Lipshultz, here in Houston, Texas, was one of the pre-eminent specialists in the treatment of ED. I learned of him from a couple of patients who sang his praises.

With him, I underwent a quite thorough evaluation. He determined from injecting the penis and doing a Doppler ultrasound that blood flow into my penis was relatively normal, but that the mechanism to capture the blood flow to produce an erection was not--the dreaded venous leakage. Venous leakage doesn't respond well to typical ED treatments. He didn't push the idea of an implant and I wasn't yet ready to consider that. He had a regimen of medications which he said had been successful in reversing venous leakage in some individuals--so over an 18 month period I took 25 mg of Viagra every day, Cialis when intending to have sex, and 2 or 3 other supplements he recommended as good for penis health.

By the fall of 2009, it was clear that I had no significant improvement from that, and I asked him about an implant. He thought I was a perfect candidate--I had tried all the other options, I had conditions which an implant is optimal for--venous leakage and Peyronie's disease, and I was otherwise in excellent health. My fall and early winter schedule simply didn't allow time for having the procedure done, so I saw him again in January and scheduled an implant for 3/3/10.

Around 85% of implants are the 3 piece type, and that is what I chose. They are mechanically more complicated than other types, but produce the firmest and most natural looking erection of any of the choices. More than 90% of men and their partners are satisfied with implants when all is said and done, which is far higher than the satisfaction levels with any other ED treatment.

As I type this, I am 4 days post-op. I have essentially been pain-free at rest since the catheter was removed on Thursday morning, 3 days ago. I have had minimal swelling and bruising, no pain at the incision site (3-4 cm horizontal incision high in the scrotum underneath the penis). I have mild to moderate discomfort from the pump in my scrotum, but others who have had this procedure say you eventually will be unaware it is there. I would just like to fast forward through the next 4-6 weeks, and ride my new bicycle.

Hardly anything is written about the psychological side of ED these days, and most ED is now thought to be organic rather than psychogenic in origin. However, whatever the cause, failure to perform certainly results in some degree of performance anxiety in probably everyone, which doesn't help. I think, however, that it would be unlikely that a primarily psychogenic cause of ED would end up in an implant. I would think that the pharmaceutical approaches would typically handle that well. But in the end, it doesn't matter, if nothing else works, then an implant will--barring surgical complications, infection, etc.

I think that my story is a fairly common one, based on what I have read on a variety of sites on the web. If I had it to do over again, I would have found a top specialist in ED much sooner, and probably had my implant 5 years ago. That is also a quite common comment by those who have had implants--that their only regret is that they did not do it sooner.

Your average doctor, or even average urologist, isn't much help past the point of prescribing Viagra, Cialis, or Levitra. Once you educate yourself about ED, you will know more than most of those doctors on the subject. If one of the pills works well, I see no reason to do anything more for as long as it continues to work. If one of those doesn't take care of the issue, then I would find the nearest real specialist I could find. If you have to drive a long way, so be it. From this website, and others similar to it, you should be able to find what top ED doc is nearest you. Don't choose a doctor for implant surgery who isn't doing them every week. It is critical that your surgeon be very knowledgeable and very experienced. This is not a place to cut corners!!

My wife has been 100% supportive of whatever I wanted to do each step of the way in dealing with ED. We have certainly become better lovers as our focus has been less on penis-in-vagina sex. However, one of the clinching moments for going ahead with the implant was a conversation in which I asked her how long she envisioned us having sex and how important it was to her. She couldn't come up with a specific number but said she was nowhere near ready to do without sex in the forseeable future, so I should plan on 15 years or more! And, like the majority of women, she has never been able to achieve orgasm from intercourse alone, but loves the feel of it nonetheless. I know younger people don't like to think about their parents or grandparents having sex, but given good health, the majority of people are sexually active into their eighties or even older that that. And let me promise you that you never feel as old as you look, and that for most of us, desire never goes away.

Although I think it is foolish, guys tend to be obsessed with the size of their penis. I think women would tell you that the 5 most important things about a penis are:

1. Hardness (outstanding with a 3 piece implant)
2. Hardness
3. Hardness
4. Hardness
5. Girth (which the implant will most likely increase noticeably)

I don't think length is something your partner is likely to be concerned about if you are 3" longer or more. As a physician who has done pelvic exams on women, I can feel their cervixes with my middle finger, which is 3.5" long (I have long fingers). The only spot inside the vagina which possibly causes pleasurable sensation for the woman is the famous "G spot", but it is only about 2" inside (and on the front wall of the vagina for the geographically impaired). A penis which is too large will typically be a much greater concern for a woman than one which is too small. Comments are welcomed on this point from any women who lurk on this site.

You can NOT increase your length with an implant, and you risk some nasty complications if am implant which is too large is used. The head of your penis may be softer (thus smaller) than previously, and the biggest implant which isn't too big might be slightly shorter than your natural cavity, but I would think the most you would lose in good hands is 1-2 cm.

My implant is an AMS CX, which has the capability to expand in girth, but not length. Probably the most common implant currently is the AMS LGX, which has the capability to expand in both girth and length--to the maximum size of your natural cavity. This might give a slight increase in length in some cases compared to the CX (likely not more than 1 cm). My surgeon's opinion is that the CX has fewer complications than the LGX for patients with Peyronie's, such as myself.

The best predictor of your post-op length is your stretched flaccid length. Stretch it out, plant the butt of the ruler firmly against your pubic bone and measure. This is the most you should expect.

I think that men who say they have lost substantial length are thinking of their penis as it once was, before being shortened by disease, disuse, or as a consequence of prostate surgery. Unless of course, they had an incompetent surgeon. I think that those who claim to have increased size have not obtained their natural maximum in so long that doing so seems like an increase in length.

Also remember that the more belly fat you have, the more of your penis is concealed. Reaching a trim weight will maximize the apparent size of your penis. Lots of other good medical reasons to maintain an optimal weight, but perhaps this one will register more than some of those other very good reasons.

My pre-op flaccid length was about 3 inches, post-op partially flaccid length is 4.5 inches and clearly more girth. My implant was kept inflated to around 80% until the day following the surgery. I didn't have my ruler at the hospital (imagine that), but partially inflated it felt stiffer than I have attained in a long time, very straight, and appeared to be 5.5 to 6". My stretched flaccid length pre-op was about 6.25 inches with the base of the ruler pressed firmly against the pubic bone. I'm totally confident that size will be fine. Now comes the really hard part, impatiently waiting while things heal before I can use it.

I hope this information and the pictures which follow are useful. I certainly pored over every account I could find anywhere on the web before making my decision, and greatly appreciate everyone who has shared their story.


My surgery was on 3/3/10. The first week went well, more or less daily improvement. On day 7 post-op (3/10) I had a really good day, did quite a bit of walking and thought maybe I was capable of doing my office-based job as a physician. That night I had more significant aching in the testicles than I had experienced in a while. I put a cold pack over my testicles and penis when I went to bed, which relieved the discomfort nicely, BUT when I woke up in the morning, I had a aching, moderately nauseating pain, as if I had been kicked in the balls 30 seconds before, only it persisted for a couple of hours. I ended up taking hydrocodone for the first time in 3 or 4 days, slept for a couple of hours, and have basically not had a return of that kind of discomfort--but I have also not applied cold to the region again..

Application of cold tightens (and shrinks LOL) everything up in the genital region, as we all know. What I am wondering is if by applying cold for a sustained period, that the ultimate result was to basically pull the pump harder against my testicle, resulting in the discomfort I had on day 8 post-op. Anybody wish to comment on this and the use of heat and cold in general?

Day 9 and day 10 I have ambulated more, and I drove for the first time (my surgeon wanted me to wait at least a week for that) today. I drove about 30 minutes each way, which didn't seem to bother me, shopped for about 30 minutes, and had lunch at a restaurant. By the time I got back home I was having minor discomfort, which is responding well to the use of a heating pad, as that sort of discomfort has the last few days. It seems that being vertical and having gravity dragging on the new junk in the trunk bothers me more than anything else.

Actually the shopping was to find some briefs which work best while my recuperation continues and my body gets used to my larger package. I am not a boxer guy, and I think boxers wouldn't be good during recovery. However my briefs seem to be of 2 types--too large/loose (gravity pulls on me) and too small/tight (initially feels good, but compresses the pump against the testicle too much). I have lost 29 pounds (deliberately) over the last 3-4 months, which explains the briefs which are too loose, and the too tight ones are ones I have left from when I weighed another 15 pounds less than I do now. Any practical words of wisdom from the vets on underwear choices, or the general management of the recovering package? I have seen some comments that it takes weeks to months before you stop noticing the new equipment--anyone wish to comment on that?

And lastly, what about return to work? I will be returning to work on Monday, 12 days post-op. I feel confident that I will be able to manage my office-based work, which doesn't require any prolonged standing (and fortunately I am at a lovely point in my life where I work 4 days, 30 hours), but I suspect by the end of the day I will be eager to get home, put my feet up, and apply my heating pad. My doctor has said that I should not do any significant lifting, vigorous exercise, and the like for 4-6 weeks post-op. So, generally speaking, I would guess that for the average person, return to office work can likely be done in 7-14 days (sooner for working from home--I have been responding to emails and phone calls since the 2nd day post-op). Probably 14-28 days for returning to work requiring a lot of walking or standing or driving, and probably 28-42 days for returning to heavy work (climbing ladders, lifting heavy objects, turning big valves, etc.). This is all a guess on my part, and there is probably significant individual variation. Again I would welcome comments from those who have been through this.

Best wishes to all,
Ben

Patient of Dr Eid, New York City

Dear Readers:
I'm a little behind on posts due to a broken right thumb that is in a cast. The perils of fishing has put a crimp in my typing, when I tripped while trout fishing. I managed to brake my fall by breaking my thumb. My new post is from a gentleman that I have corresponded with over the past year who went to a pretty famous and well thought of implant surgeon. Dr Eid performs hundreds of implant surgeries each year. He has a large practice in New York City. Here is Bob's story in his own words.

Hi Bob

I hope you remember me from late last year, if not, here is a recap.
I am a 67 year-old man who has suffered from vascular disease for many years. Over the past 20 years I have had issues with ED and the issue has all but prevented sexual relations for the past 10 years. (Thank God for an understanding wife) Pills did not really help, and the shots worked for a bit but were painful, and a mood killer. Then, by a strange twist of fate, I happened to be watching one of the medical TV sitcoms (I almost never watch TV) and saw a show featuring an older man asking about penile implants!

I did a lot of research and found your wonderful blog.

The research also led me to Dr. Eid, of New York City, who has a wonderful website for his practice here in New York. I did more research and found out he is one of the worlds foremost surgeons for penile implants.

I had an initial visit in January and have been going through some testing which included an ultrasound of my penis. In early April I have another in office test including catheterization to determine my bladder condition. If all goes well, as I expect, my surgery is scheduled for April 26th at NY Presbyterian Hospital, where I will be kept overnight, since Medicare requires it. The surgery, I am told will take about 90 min. or less. Dr Eid does do the procedure in his clinic for those who wish to go that way, but, you get to go home with a catheter and need to remove it yourself the next day in the bath! While this may be easy, it would scare me.

I have followed many implant stories on your blog and mine seems unremarkable so far. What may be of some interest to readers is information about Dr Eid.

I have found Dr Eid and his staff to be extremely considerate and professional. The good Doctor also has a quick wit and a great persona for someone of world class stature. He seems not at all impressed with himself, which is a really great quality. I highly recommend that anyone with the ability to go to New York City for the procedure Google Dr Eid and spend time on his website.

I am looking forward to my surgery, and to being up and around {could not resist} in a couple of months. I hope to be a another success story. For those of you who are suffering with ED, PLEASE do not wait as long as I did to seek help.

And Bob, bless you for your dedication to providing much needed support for the rest of us.

Please feel post this on the blog.

Best Regards

Bob J

Coloplast Titan vs AMS LGX

Bob

There has been some discussion on the internet about the Titan vs LGX. Stories about tissue migration, erosion, etc.

I decided to send an email to an expert. This is a copy of the email I sent him from a gentleman I was corresponding with for his opinion.

If you feel it will help the blog flee free to post it.

Jackp

From: jackp
Sent: Mon 2/15/2010 8:22 PM
To: Doran, Todd James
Subject: Question

Todd

I have been getting comments like the following in emails and it is being posted on the internet.
Quote from an another gentleman To Jack P
Yes jack, does he use the TITAN, that is the device I have chosen, I know many guys complain about size with it, but the material does last longer and tissue does not grow into the polytetrafluoroethyl-ene sleeve.
Im just 37 and I have to avoid issues like art or others like him. Aneurysm is more common in AMS than TITAN.
If i were 55+ LGX would be chosen by sure 100%.

I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks
Anonymous

Jack

Old devices did suffer from aneurysm and tissue adhesion but cylinders were redesigned and don't suffer that same fate. Haven't seen an aneurysmal dilation with the new cylinder at all. Titan is a good device and we place them periodically in the larger penis >7 inches b/c their cylinder helps get the larger penis more rigid. We just find few candidates where a Titan makes more sense, despite most guys opinion about their penile size. Titan is not our go to device because we like the LGX cylinders better and feels more natural than Titan.

Todd J. Doran, MS, PA-C
Associate in Urologic Surgery
Dept of Urologic Surgery
Vanderbilt University
A-1302 MCNs
Nashville, TN 37232
(615) 322-2880 Office
(615) 322-8058 FAX

David's Story, Melbourne Australia

Dear Readers:
Many of the fine folks who have followed my blog over the years hail from Australia and New Zealand. Which was a great surprise for my wife. We received a call from a wife several months ago who lived in New Zealand and who had read my blog and wanted to help her husband who was suffering from severe Erectile Dysfunction. She and dear wife were still talking when yours truely had to get ready for work. Today, I would like to introduce you to Dave who hails from Melbourne, Australia and who has given me permission to post his story. Out of the thousands of emails that I have received the past couple of years, approximately one third are from folks who live outside of the United States and Canada. I appreciate hearing from all of you and I hope that you have appreciated my answers to your questions. So here is David's story.

Hi Bob

Thanks for the web site. Has to be the best on the net concerning penile implants. I am 40 year old single guy from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. I have had problems with ED for years but had not anything about it until recently. Made inquiries about having it done in the public system but they said it could take years to get op done if at all. Decided to take out private medical insurance with MediBank but had to wait a year due to it being a preexisting condition.

When the time came up went to a Mr/Dr Michael Chamberlin who works out of /John Fawkner Private Hospital/, 275 Moreland Road, Coburg. He charges no out of pocket expense but be careful as some charge up to $1000 out of pocket. Shop around for prices it is worth it. In my case all l had to pay is the insuranse $250 excess and for the tablets.

The operation was at 9am Thur 4th Feb 2010. I left hospital on Saturday afternoon and went to recuperate at a family holiday place 150km away. I drove straight after being discharged. Was a bit painful getting into car but once inside not that bad. Stopped 2/3 of the way to holiday place as was tired.Came back home a few days later on Wednesday.

After a week my genital area is still swollen and is in discomfort but not worth taking pain killers. I generally do well after surgery so my example may not be like everyone else's. The Dr has deflated it but still feels a bit ridged; maybe with time will soften more. Its only a week since the operation.

David
(Melbourne,Australia)

Robie's Story of ED

> I appreciate the kind words, Bob. A lot going on this weekend, will fill > you in on the news with Dr. Eid soon as I get a chance!...

I made my first visit with Dr. Eid (NYC) last Thursday, Jan. 14th, about a week ago.I lucked out with parking on the upper east side. My appointment was 4pm, and I got a free parking spot on E. 71st St. between Lexington & Park Ave. around 3pm. A lot of people seem to leave the area around that time, so it's a good opportunity to find alternate side parking in that
otherwise crowded neighborhood. When I showed up at Eid's office on East 69th St., I noticed it was right next door to the Italian Consulate, and two doors down from the Counsel on Foreign relations building (just off Park Ave.). Inside the waiting room were a number of scraggly old folk who looked almost homesless. These were the Medicare patients who have the procedure covered through government benefits. I waited my turn and saw Dr. Eid. He said his good reputation has a lot to do with the teams he works with at the hospitals. He showed me various pumps from a plastic box
on the table, and allowed me to try out handling the valve releases and squeezing actions. Doc also showed me some photos on his laptop. Nurse took my blood pressure, said it was good. Then we went into an examination room and he looked at my penis. He told me I had Peyronie's disease from lack of blood flow. With permission from the insurance company, we managed to squeeze the first test in with the initial consultation. This involved injecting my penis with medicine to induce erection. Then he scanned my penis with a Doppler ultrasound to examine the blood vessels before and after dilation. My penis got bigger but did not get erect. It had been
five years since my last erection, due to Type II diabetes. This test indicated that implantation is my only treatment available (pills & injections don't work); showed what size my penis would be after operation; and proved medical necessity for the insurance company. Doc told me he used to do kidney transplants but they became boring to him; he enjoys the unique creative challenge each penile implant gives him -- for every procedure is slightly different. He also enjoys helping men restore
their sexual function for a more fulfilling lifestyle. I paid the $285 consult fee out of pocket, which I get back from insurance company in a few weeks. The other test was billed direct to the insurance. I have to go back on Feb. 16th for a bladder test, which involves catheterization. Then cystoscopy & pre-op visit on the 25th of Feb., at which time my $2K down payment is due, to cover the 20% out-of-network portion for the surgery. After insurance pays him, the $2K is waived and returned to me, I have that in writing. Surgery is scheduled for March 3rd, at Lenox Hosp. There is a $145 deductible, which comes out of my $2K refund. They tell me I'll
leave with a catheter as outpatient, and I must remove the catheter myself
the next morning. Hopefully will be good to recover by early April. I also need to see my primary on or after Feb. 3rd, for clearance forms, EKG, andblood tests. I found Dr. Eid's office to be very easy to work with. It's a tough subject, and I'm doing this alone because my wife left me last November for a man she works with, took my daughter. So after the operation, I'll have to find a new partner with which to try out my new equipment. Wish me luck everyone...

You can use this for the blog, Bob...

--R