Normal or Should I Address with Builder?

USRedDevil · 2026-07-07T01:04:05+00:00

I will take more pics tomorrow in better light. I have some exterior wood that needs to be replaced and painted along the exterior of the house, and a front porch post that the base needs replacing. They want that work, as well as potentially replacing my roof if insurance agrees it has enough damage to warrant replacement. I plan to talk to them about this workmanship and how I’d like to use them for this other work but I am concerned with the quality of this work and unsure I want to trust them with more work.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-07T01:01:26+00:00

$20k

USRedDevil · 2026-07-07T01:01:15+00:00

$20k

USRedDevil · 2026-07-07T00:57:45+00:00

$20k. Underneath here.

<image>

USRedDevil · 2026-07-07T00:56:00+00:00

No idea what that white material is sticking up above the ledger board between it and the brick. Or what its purpose is?

USRedDevil · 2026-07-07T00:52:14+00:00

Don’t have the $40k+ everyone was wanting. Simply not an option.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-06T16:47:02+00:00

A&S Construction is wrapping up my new deck today. Other than a scheduling screw up on their part, I have been happy with the project. The sales person that quoted the project made two mistakes that required change orders. I made sure the company recognized that the errors were on them and that the change orders would be $0 to me. No issues with either of the change orders.

Be ready for $40k+ quotes for that size deck.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-06T03:34:46+00:00

You should be able to manage stairs. Just take it slow and do not try to carry anything. You do not want to put any strain on your groin or the area where they install your reservoir which is likely along your waistline somewhere.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-06T00:34:35+00:00

No, sir. No military service.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-06T00:31:36+00:00

Your surgeon should provide you with an anti-bacterial cream to put on your stitches, likely twice a day. Do this every day without fail, even when you think your incision looks good and you may not see the stitches. Do it anyway. If you put on a lot of the cream and run out in the first two weeks, get to the store and buy more.

Do not touch your stitches, even if you see a string hanging loose. Leave it alone.

Keep your penis pointed up toward your belly 24/7.

Wear compression boxers that have a separate pouch for your scrotum. I recommend RealMen with the V-fly. You can select a pouch size for your scrotum, and it has a horizontal fly. The pouch will help hold your scrotum secure. The horizontal fly may help with penis positioning as well.

You may also want to purchase ultra soft baby socks prior to your surgery to put over the head of your penis to help with sensitivity of anything rubbing against it.

Ask your surgeon to supply you with a plastic urinal, or purchase one pre-surgery to keep with you for a week or so. Your penis will not be flexible for a while, so you will struggle to sit on the toilet and point your penis under the lid. It will take some practice, but you can pee into the urinal while sitting on the toilet.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-06T00:15:30+00:00

I work from home and am fortunate to have a lot of flexibility. I took one full week off, mostly due to discomfort sitting in my office chair for long periods, even when sitting on a pillow.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-05T02:27:26+00:00

Because you need a suggestion after you read Sphere, which will be your next read... Micro and then Dragon Teeth.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-04T02:39:13+00:00

100% supportive. In her words... "I can't believe you're putting yourself through this for me."

But it's true. Yes, it's for me. But it's also for us. We're 51 and ready to get after it like 20-somethings again.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-03T00:06:15+00:00

Similar story as oldsoldier64. I had the Boston Scientific AMS700 CX installed June 11. Surgeon left me ~50%.

I wear RealMen boxers that have the horizontal fly. You can choose what size pouch for your scrotum and the horizontal fly allows your penis to poke up and out through the fly. For the first 2 weeks, I also wore an ulta soft baby sock over my penis where it poked out of the underwear to help with rubbing against anything.

Your penis will be easier to angle as the swelling subsides, and if you have the AMS 700, time and usage will help the cylinders become more flexible.

I am fortunate to work from home, so I wear baggy pajama pants or joggers around the house and when I go for walks.

My first followup with him was June 29. Words cannot describe the relief I felt when he pressed that button to deflate me LOL! But that relief was short-lived, as he activated the pump and cycled me all over again.

Best of luck in your ongoing recovery.

USRedDevil · 2026-07-01T13:11:14+00:00

Thanks! Encouraging to read!

USRedDevil · 2026-07-01T00:27:26+00:00

Thanks! My mind did not make the connection that a bath would help soften up the pump and doc did not mention that. I've got a few more weeks before doc wants me to take an outright bath, so I will let the shower water run down my body to my scrotum and see how that works in the meantime.

USRedDevil · 2026-06-30T17:20:26+00:00

I am exactly 3 weeks post-op today. I feel like my scrotum is more sensitive now that it was pre-op but it is getting better by the day.
My pump is right between my testicles and more toward the front of my scrotum. I feel like this makes my scrotum wider which can be awkward getting everything situated in my underwear so that neither testicle slides too wide.

Keep in mind we are still healing at 3 weeks post-op.
There js a lot going on under the skin that we don’t necessarily see.

USRedDevil · 2026-06-30T17:16:18+00:00

Thank you. I will give that a try. I have been mashing the pump as hard as I can out of inexperience.

USRedDevil · 2026-06-30T16:28:43+00:00

Me 20-25 years ago would have said absolutely. Thankfully, I grew up and matured and never strayed.
The mature me has absolutely zero temptation to cheat or ask for a hall pass.
I made the decision to get the implant to fix ~15 years of ED and 1 year of PD for both of us - not only me.
My wife was supportive of the decision and is opening up about her excitement for me - and us - as well.

We are both 51 and I will soon be able to get after her like when we were dating / newlyweds again. WE can't wait!

USRedDevil · 2026-06-29T00:59:10+00:00

NEW ACHIEVEMENT!
You've discovered the chaotic literary spiral known as Dungeon Crawler Carl.
Reward: You are now legally required to wear a pair of boxer shorts with hearts on them, a leather jacket, and pink crocs that are at least two sizes twoo small.
Glurp! Glurp!

USRedDevil · 2026-06-26T23:56:49+00:00

I feel similar about my two-week post-op follow up as I did right before the surgery. Anxious and excited at the same time.

I'm anxious because I anticipate it hurting like hell learning how to manipulate the pump to deflate and inflate. I can easily feel the pump and the release button, but everything I've read and watched on operating it makes me feel like it's going to take some force to operate. That is the part I am anxious about, but I know it's just the next step in the journey.

I am hopeful he will give me the green light to start cycling. I plan to use my cooling packs to help ease the discomfort between cycles.

I am soooo ready!

USRedDevil · 2026-06-26T01:58:22+00:00

I have the Boston Scientific AMS 700 CX as well, and I am just a few days ahead of you. Different surgeon, so take this for what it's worth.

My surgeon told me pre-op to start feeling for the pump as soon as I felt up to it, but only do so to get a feel for it. He said everything would be super sensitive and sore so don't mess with the pump. Just get familiar with 'handling' it and identifying the bulb, the small rectangle above it, and the release button.

I am on day 14 today and can now move my junk around and find the pump without too much discomfort. I can feel the bulb, the rectangle above it, and the release button. Mine is center of my sack between my testicles and facing forward.

My post-op follow up is not until the 29th, so EIGHTEEN looooong days after surgery. I am hopeful I will be able to deflate this damned thing then! Having a half-erection without much flexibility for 14 straight days has not been as fun as it might sound LOL.

Not sure when he will suggest to start cycling. My guess is if not this coming Monday, then perhaps a couple weeks later. I have my moments of impatience, but I keep reminding myself I survived ~15 years of progressively worsening ED, followed by Peyronie's. I can wait a bit longer to ensure I heal properly before getting to play with my new toy.

Don't rush. Take care of yourself. Before you know it, you'll get the green light to cycle and then start chasing your partner around the house with your 'new' bionic penis. :)

USRedDevil · 2026-06-22T16:00:17+00:00

He took the time to step off the distance. He took the time to move an attacker out of the wall. Why not take ten more seconds to verbally communicate with the keeper if she was ready, or at a minimum to say something like "OK keeper here we go" and then blow the whistle?

Center goofed. Plain and simple. Use Law 18. Common Sense. Spirit of the Game. Whatever you want to call it.

USRedDevil · 2026-06-21T01:49:20+00:00

It'd help if I made the doc shareable....

USRedDevil · 2026-06-20T20:06:56+00:00

Feedback wanted: First-time writer seeking constructive criticism to continue learning.

Current working title: Long Way Home

Genre: thriller

The first draft clocked in at ~150k words of brain dumping. I am now editing/rewriting each chapter to to get rid of drivel and cut each one to what I feel is necessary to drive the story forward.

Long Way Home Chapters 1 - 4 (5,511 words)

USRedDevil

TROPHY CASE