Getting started? Measuring progress?

[azulcielo3]

Hello, I just started using the TLC-X yesterday after manually tugging on and off (mostly off) for a couple years. I was blessed to keep a relatively fair amount of my skin after circumcision as an infant.

It seems that I missed out on quite a lot from the "old forum." I am try to catch up to speed but there is too much to sift through on this forum. The glossary doesn't appear to have anything in it and there isn't any local director of "must reads." So I have some questions...

-What are the different levels of coverage? C1-C7? or some abbreviation like that. FEC is forced-erect coverage, I think, right?
-How and what do you measure to see your progress most effectively? I saw a link to someone's google excel file and it looks great, but I have no idea what most of the numbers mean so I cannot copy it.
-And last, how much tension is good tension? Im sure there is no one answer, but I don't want to waste my time on months of too little or too much tension and get no progress. What do you do for yourself to know you've found the sweet spot on tension.

Cheers,
Kyle

[Swingshiftworker]

Here's a link to the Coverage Index page: http://www.restoringforeskin.org/cov...x/CI-chart.htm

Some men use the FEC measurement to determine their progress. In the many years that I've been tugging, I've never bothered. If you are tugging consistently, you will make progress and you will SEE IT. It happens very, very slowly and I see no point in trying to measure the rate of growth or anything like it. If that's something you aspire to, knock yourself out. You can Google "FEC measurement" to find instructions on how it's done.

The amount of tension needed varies which each person but, in practical terms, there is a very simple way to determine if you are using the "right" tension for you. If you're using too much tension, you will feel discomfort and/or pain and your tugger will probably be pulled off. If you're using too little tension, your tugger will not stay on. Simple as that. You should generally be able to wear your tugger comfortably for at least 3-4 hours at a time and longer if you choose. If you can do that, that's probably the right tension for you.

Good luck and keep on tugging!

[mlg]

Though slightly different, I prefer the "Real Coverage Index" http://www.restoringforeskin.org/pub...rage-index-rci. As it provides more detail about what you should be experiencing at each level of coverage.

[Going Hooded]

Welcome Kyle.

I would suggest monthly photos so you can work out what is working. I am not saying to post them online. Nor do I want to make you uncomfortable. But the photos will help you work out what is working.

I got use to what my penis looked like when it was under the right amount of tension. I could see within the skin lines forming from tension (being pulled forward).

Keep asking questions. Work out what is right for you. This will be worth it in the end.

[azulcielo3]

Thanks guys! Appreciate the words of experience. I'm super pumped about it and really grateful I made the decision to move forward with restoration.

The tension explanations make sense. I have found a little discomfort after 3 or 4 hours so I usually just take it off and reapply again right away and am able to wear it the rest of the work day.

New issue I have question on is what you do at night...? I tried just wearing my cone at night and it will stay on for a while but fell off a couple times last night. I ended up just setting it aside too tired to care. I sleep naked so that probably doesn't help. I'm not totally sure what to do about night time, maybe protecting my glans isn't that high of a priority--my restored skin will be able to do that some day sooner than later.

Suggestions?

[Going Hooded]

Thanks guys! Appreciate the words of experience. I'm super pumped about it and really grateful I made the decision to move forward with restoration.

The tension explanations make sense. I have found a little discomfort after 3 or 4 hours so I usually just take it off and reapply again right away and am able to wear it the rest of the work day.

New issue I have question on is what you do at night...? I tried just wearing my cone at night and it will stay on for a while but fell off a couple times last night. I ended up just setting it aside too tired to care. I sleep naked so that probably doesn't help. I'm not totally sure what to do about night time, maybe protecting my glans isn't that high of a priority--my restored skin will be able to do that some day sooner than later.

Suggestions?

I use to tug while I sleep. Very light tension. I started the night with my penis pointed upwards for night time erections. If you do this you need to cause an erection to test so you don't injure your penis at night.

[Allie2k14]

Hi, welcome to the forum.

what you do at night...? I tried just wearing my cone at night and it will stay on for a while but fell off a couple times last night. I ended up just setting it aside too tired to care. I sleep naked so that probably doesn't help.

Your skin also needs some rest in order to recover from tugging and actually grow. So, tugging for a few hours during the day (3~4 hours in a row, then a small break, then a few hours more} should be a good regime. That's what I've done for months. Then, at night, just retain (if and when you can}.

I also used to sleep naked and it was challenging to have the retainer to stay on all night long. For that it is better to wear some briefs or boxer-briefs, not necessarily tight ones, but they will definitely help the cone to stay in place.

In my experience, there is a point in time when nighttime erections are no longer an issue. I don't remember it exactly, but it was nearly having 150% FEC. Before that, an erection used to cause too much tension on my skin and I woke up in pain. After that, with more skin grown, the caused tension was comparable to daytime strapped tugging tension and I didn't wake up. In the morning, the cone was still in place.

maybe protecting my glans isn't that high of a priority--my restored skin will be able to do that some day sooner than later.

Exactly.

So, keep on tugging and you'l be able to wear the cone at night with no issues at some point in the future.

[In_Correct]

My Real Coverage Index seemed to be at 0. Or perhaps -1. They were very painful and no desire (and possibly not even possible) to have sex. I really doubt that I could have fathered children if I wanted to. But ever since I have been Tugging, I have not noticed any difference in appearance yet. However, the pain has gone. I am no longer woke up at night to painful erections. If I try to pull it over glans, it is now successfully pulling over glans. This used to be impossible. I will probably be at Real Coverage Index .025 by next month.

[In_Correct]

There is also the possibility that I may never notice any visual difference for a very long time. Because the foreskin was almost non existent, then it is very possible that the shaft will grow along with the foreskin.

[Allie2k14]

In_Correct, seems that you were cut so tight.

since I have been Tugging, I have not noticed any difference in appearance yet. However, the pain has gone. I am no longer woke up at night to painful erections.

You got one of the benefits of restoration. Initially growing some skin will make your erections more comfortable, with your skin not so tight.

There is also the possibility that I may never notice any visual difference for a very long time.

Maybe not visual but functional. You'll gain skin mobility with time, and then you'll start having some extra skin that will bunch up against your coronal ridge, and then BOOM! some sporadic coverage! Then the long "hump" between CI-3 and CI-4....

Because the foreskin was almost non existent, then it is very possible that the shaft will grow along with the foreskin.

I wouldn't say the shaft will grow but the shaft will no longer be limited in length by your tight skin. It will be its natural size.

So, Keep on Tugging! Be consistent with restoration, make it form part of your daily routine, like brushing your teeth, and you'll see your progress.

[Swingshiftworker]

New issue I have question on is what you do at night...? I tried just wearing my cone at night and it will stay on for a while but fell off a couple times last night. I ended up just setting it aside too tired to care. I sleep naked so that probably doesn't help. I'm not totally sure what to do about night time, maybe protecting my glans isn't that high of a priority--my restored skin will be able to do that some day sooner than later.

Suggestions?

You will not be able to wear your tugger comfortably at night until you have enough erect coverage to do so and I wouldn't bother trying doing so unless you do.

There are those who will tell you that it's "dangerous" to wear your tugger while sleeping but I've never been injured doing so. However, even though I have more than enough erect coverage to do it, I can still be awoken by some discomfort while wearing my tugger while sleeping. The solution is to simply release or re-position it and go back to sleep.