How times change

I came across this poster on a train the other day.

In the UK we are becoming more and more open about ED - anything similar where you are?

Temperature Changes

It is starting to get cooler here in the UK and I am again beginning to feel the changes in how my implant inflates and how it behaves while deflated,

I have said previously that since my prostate surgery and subsequent implant surgery the skin and tissue of my scrotum and shaft are far more sensitive to any changes in temperature (warm and cold) and that is still the case even after 3 years.

The other thing and I appreciate this could just be me!! On cold days I have always shrunk back - I assume in an attempt for my penis to keep itself warmer. Since the implant I still get that tight feeling but my deflated shaft now becomes much firmer just without the reduction in size.

I have also noticed that along with my own body the implant especially the tubes and bulb behave differently and can when I am cooler be slightly harder to inflate. In my case this means that to some extent the final size of my initial erection is less.  Eventually, I assume because the saline going into the shaft is at body temperature the tissue becomes more subtle and I can inflate further to my normal size making inflation a two stage process.

None of it is a problem but if your implant is newer than mine and it is something you may have happening to you there is in my experience nothing to be concerned about, it is just a case of getting warm and/or adapting.

All the best
Dave

Updated Pictures

I thought I would post a couple of photos to let you see what my implant looks like 3 years post surgery.

Apologies if the quality is lacking - I took them with my phone camera.

Visually, inflated or deflated I would defy anyone to know that I had an implant.

As always any comments or questions are welcome.

All the best

Dave

It's been a while since I posted.

As you might have noticed I am not updating my blog as often as I did.

The reason....

My implant is everything I want it to be and I am living my life again. What it does mean however is that there is not too much to tell but you can bet I will keep posting and updating my blog.

Like I have said all along I am more than happy to answer any questions you or your partner might have - you only have to ask. I am fine with messenger, skype, email, phone, in person or on here, whatever you prefer.

Even better in my opinion if we are local-ish to each other I am more than happy to meet for a chat/coffee/beer or all three - again just give me a shout.

Changing the subject slightly.

I'm pretty busy anyway but I think I might be on about my 4th mid-life crisis:-

I gave up on the sports car - 4x4 more comfortable. Cycling to keep fit was ok and with a different saddle it was comfortable enough. I just could not get back into it the way I was prior to my implant surgery. As for the tattoos - no more planned yet.

This time I have got myself a Kayak:-

Anyone with a Kayak want to join me?

I live quite close the the sea and a few rivers however I think I'm a bit of a fair weather Kayaker so now all I need is a warm day and preferably warm water.

All the best

Dave

Happy Birthday - I'm 3 !!

It does not seem possible that it is 3 years to the day since I had my implant surgery.

Last night I sat and read through my blog and it made me realise just how far I have come in that short time.

The fears are well behind me now but at the time they were oh so real. Check-out my ramblings if you get a chance, if nothing else it might help with your own concerns, fears and questions.

All the best

Dave

Questions & Comments

I get emails and questions all the time from men who are either considering a penile implant or already have one asking about my experiences and thoughts. It is surprising how many men have the same questions and concerns that I have had.

I had a comment the other day saying that as far as they could see I had not mentioned sensitivity, sex and orgasms. I am happy to answer questions relating to my sex life - after all that was one of the main factors behind my wanting the surgery - however I do not want the blog to be all about sex.

Sensitivity:-

Initially after surgery I did have patches on both the shaft and scrotum that were numb, hardly surprising, after all it had been through a fair bit of trauma. Quite quickly though, within a couple of weeks the feeling and sensation on the skin started to come back until at about 6 weeks or so I was just left with a small numb patch on the underside of the shaft. Over the following few weeks even that patch disappeared and it became as it always had been.

One other thing - once I started inflating regularly I went through a period of sensitivity inside of the shaft - as you can imagine a sensation is very difficult to describe but I will try. It was as if the act of inflating was while creating a stretching/warming feeling was also touching nerves on the inside of the shaft giving not an unpleasant feeling. It did not happen for long (although I do still occasionally get the it) but it was nice while it lasted.

Orgasms:-.

Are good - different from how they were prior to my prostate surgery i.e dry. However having the implant has in my case made little difference to the sensation of my orgasm, if anything I am slightly more sensitive.

Sex:-

The implant has meant that we are now able to have a normal sex life and although we have needed to get used to few different positions and techniques its good - besides learning is fun!!

As always any questions please ask.

All the best.

Dave

Bio-Oil - Result

I said that I would keep you updated on how it went with the Bio-Oil,

As I wrote previously since the implant surgery my foreskin had become tighter and although not that uncomfortable the skin was less supple and had a tendency to become sore.

I have been using the oil for a few weeks now and it has made a marked difference to the look and feel of my foreskin. I put a tiny amount on in the morning after showering and smear it onto the foreskin only, there is not enough to mark any clothes and besides it is absorbed quickly.

Result = more comfortable and any redness and soreness around the foreskin has gone.

Just my tried and tested observation.

All the best for now.

Dave

Makes you wonder...

I came across this post on one of the erectile disfunction forums.

This is more or less the exact process that I followed prior to my implant surgery.  Whether it made a difference overall I'm not sure and I can only as always give my opinion but as I have said on numerous occasions I am now back to and beyond my pre-implant size.

Link to the site follows the report.

ABSTRACT
Introduction: The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) has been used to treat erectile dysfunction for 40 years. Loss of penile length following IPP remains the single biggest patient complaint. We describe a preoperative and postoperative patient preparation protocol to assist in setting realistic patient expectations and decreasing the complaint of reduced penile length. Materials & Methods: 750 Patients are instructed to use a vacuum erection device for 10 minutes each day for up to 2 months prior to IPP implant. After two months, maximization of cylinder length is accomplished regardless of IPP manufacturer. Cylinders are left partially inflated in the post-operative period and daily inflation for 3 months immediately upon patient tolerance. The average implanted cylinder length has increased dramatically with the preoperative vacuum usage when compared to the authors’ previous implantations and when compared to the national average of implanted cylinders obtained from one manufacturer. Results: Preoperative use of the vacuum device has allowed maximization of cylinder length. After the vacuum program, patients tend to experience less pain following implantation allowing earlier device instruction cycling and use. The average implanted cylinder length continued to increase annually for the first 5 years as the protocol evolved and seems to have remained stable for the last five years. Conclusions: Preoperative vacuum usage and postoperative capsule management has nearly eliminated patient complaints of reduced penile length. We believe this to be the result of larger size cylinders being implanted when compared to our previous implantations absent of the patient participation protocol.27133

http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=27133

Left-Handed Update

I never did manage to inflate successfully with my left hand.  Apart from not having enough strength to squeeze the bulb I did not have any control over it either.  Why I don't know because as I said at the time I am naturally left-handed, quite why I inflate with my right hand I don't know but there it is,

I hope that by the time I need help inflating if I ever do there will be other options - perhaps one day there will be a one press inflation or even better an App. Bit of a scary thought for someone who is always forgetting to lock his phone before it goes in his pocket - could be interesting...

On that thought I will let you get on.

Cheers for now.
Dave

Bio-Oil & My Foreskin

You will already have read about the changes in the texture, elasticity and comfort of my foreskin since my implant surgery earlier in the blog.

By using a variety of creams I have managed to keep it comfortable and not too much of a problem. However I am always trying different things and have again come across Bio-Oil.

I have used it in the past on the scar from my prostate surgery with some success but have recently used it on my foreskin. The difference has been quite dramatic and there has definitely been a change in the suppleness and comfort since I have been using it (just a smear seems to work).

I have only been putting it on for a couple of days - I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Cheers for now.

Dave

News Interview

Link to an interview I did with a UK newspaper - The Daily Mail


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3558355/ME-OPERATION-Hidden-pump-man-sex-life-back.html

All the best

Dave

Brilliant Day

I have just got back from London, been to The British Society for Sexual Medicine, did a 45 minute question and answer session with 100 or so GP's/Surgeons and health professionals.

It gave me the chance to tell it from a patients point of view - I was made to feel so welcome. It was a brilliant day and lots of really positive feedback.

Have a good weekend.

Dave

Inflation Difficulties

The other day I did something to my neck, pulled a muscle and/or trapped nerve.  Not too painful but it has gone down my right arm to the muscle in my forearm.

Even though I am left handed I squeeze the pump for my implant with my right hand - the only thing I do right handed - and it is making inflating uncomfortable and to some extent difficult as I do not seem to have as much strength in my hand at the moment.

Up to now inflating has been easy but it has got me to thinking that as I get older it may not always be that way.

I have tried using my left hand to squeeze the bulb and it's like starting again. The bulb is slippery, difficult to control and I can't squeeze hard enough to even get it to "pop".

I am going to keep alternating left and right handed in the hope that it will get easier - after all they say practise makes perfect.

I do think it would have been worth in the early stages to have alternated - just a thought!

I will let you know how my becoming ambidextrous goes...

All the best

Dave

All Done

Update after my visit to the doctor this morning.

Everything is exactly as it should be, the buzzing is normal and nothing to worry about.

Best of all - l have been discharged so no more visits unless l have a problem.

I will still be posting and keeping you up to date with what's going on though so watch this space.

Bye for now.
Dave

Strange feeling

I seem to have developed a bit of a strange feeling!

It feels like a low intensity buzz, not like the buzzing I get when I deflate but it is coming from the general area of my scrotum and implant pump. I have had it a couple of times now, it only lasts a few minutes but it's a very strange feeling.  I really don't think there is anything untoward but I will mention it to the doctor all the same.

Due to get a check this coming Thursday the 18th so will see.

I'll let you know what he says.

Cheers for now.

Dave

Other stuff

There is only so much I can write about my implant so along with updating you on that I thought I would let you know about some other stuff that I get up to.

Volunteering for Prostate Cancer UK

I am one of the peer support volunteers with Prostate Cancer UK meaning I speak to other people on the telephone who are affected by Prostate Cancer - I only talk about my own personal experiences as do the other volunteers but telling someone how I dealt with what happened to me I am told is helpful. I would imagine that whatever you want to talk about, there will be a volunteer who has been there.

Without exception I am told it helps and as you know from my blog I am happy to talk about what has happened to me.

Video Shoot

I have also been doing some work on a video about my implant journey - it is still in the early stages but as soon as it is completed I plan on posting it here.

The other Willy in my life!!

This is William - the other Willy in my life!!

If ever it all gets to me (which these day is very rare) a long walk with him sorts me out.

Till next time.

Dave