StrangerComeKnocking's Log

My PE Background:

Started PE June 1 2020 with a bib hanger. Followed bib’s guidance on his forum. Aimed for 10hrs of hanging each week, probably averaged 8-9hrs. Got newbie gains pretty quickly, .5” in about 4months. Then another two months of stagnation. Got up to 15lbs, and it was becoming quite uncomfortable. Life got in the way of hanging, and once my free time came back didn’t really have the motivation to continue.

Picked up vac hanging in April 2021. Followed LG’s recommended progression and made it up to 12lbs. Again, life got in the way and quit. Time freed up in October, and I started up again. Got to about 7lbs in late December before coming across 5.5’s post. Read all the linked science and got really excited about the method. I immediately started a decon break, which would have happened anyway because I had a family member live me with me for a bit. They’re out, so I finally can get things started again. So about a 4.5 month decon.

The new plan:

I’m going to start at 5.5’s recommended weights and durations. I’m using .55lb/8.8oz weights. I may add another per week, depending on the amount of strain I’m getting. Heating pad is turned on at the beginning of the session so it is heated up in time for the heat phase. I am using the 3x6 thermedic FIR pad. In testing the thermedic vs the totalman, I liked the totalman better. However, with the vacuum dome on I just don’t have the real estate for the larger pad.

Measuring will be to the top of the coronal ridge to try and negate any swelling from vacuum.

Starting BPEL is 6 3/8”, first BPFSL measurement (to coronal ridge) is 14.5cm. Flaccid girth is 105mm, putting the .1MPa at 3.7lbs, and the .17MPa at 6.3lbs.

Probably won’t post every day, maybe just when I make changes.

Cycle 1, day 1

Pre: 14.5cm

5min @8.8oz - Heating pad turned on
10min @17.6oz
15min @26.4oz - Heat supposed to be up to temp
15min @35.2oz
15min @52.8oz

Post: 14.8cm
Strain: 2.07%

I used a power bank for the heating pad, but the pad kept turning off. Likely didn’t reach temperature, or at least didn’t stay in it very long. Going to try the wall adapter tomorrow. Also, I’m going to try and mark with a pen or sharpie a point to measure for better accuracy.

Cycle 1, days 2- 4

Pre: 14.8cm

5min @8.8oz - Heating pad turned on
10min @17.6oz
15min @26.4oz - Heat supposed to be up to temp
15min @35.2oz
15min @52.8oz

Post: 15cm
Strain: 1.35%

Pre measurement from the first day may have been off. I’ve been using a pen to mark the ridge and it makes it easier to be consistent when stretched.

Struggling with heating pads. The totalman definitely gets the hottest, just hard to get it on with limited space due to the dome. Feel like I’m still not getting to a good temp. Going to try some more with the 3x6 thermedic. If heat continues to be a problem, I may need to abandon vac hanging as my source of tension. Options as I see it are heated pumping, a noose extender, or a combination of both.

Interested to see how your progress goes as I have some history compression hanging fairly heavy and am currently on decon waiting to start a similar routine. As far as the FIR pad goes I know 5.5 used an ace bandage to secure the pad and some people have used heat insulation around it.

I have a velcro strap to secure it. I did some testing before the routine with a silicone sleeve and the pads and it worked perfectly. Nice even heat and using a probe in the urethra, I was getting 40C+. It’s just having this dome on doesn’t give me enough room. If I force it, it bunches up and I get hot spots and no heat on other spots. The 3x6 doesn’t get as hot as the totalman, but it fits much better so I’m going to give that a go for a few days. I do have some heat insulation, I think I got it from a link 5.5 provided. I haven’t incorporated that yet though. Want to get my setup figured out first.

Can’t wait to see how it unfold with your PE background. First sessions seems to confirm it. Subbed.

Cycle 1, day 5

Pre: 14.7cm

10min @8.8oz - Heating pad turned on
10min @17.6oz
15min @26.4oz - Heat supposed to be up to temp
15min @35.2oz
15min @52.8oz

Post: 14.7cm
Strain: 0

Used the 3x6 thermedic. Definitely fits better, but nowhere near as hot. No strain at all today. Thinking I should increase weight, but want to get the heat situation straightened out first. Added heat shielding to both thermedic pads.

Did you use the calculator for the weights?
Whats your FG?

I had days without strain, too.

FG is 105mm and calculator results are at the bottom of my first post. My understanding of the calculator is it’s a limit on the weights you should use, not necessarily where you should start. I have plenty of room to add weight before reaching those numbers. I’m sure I’ll need to add weight, but need to get the heat figured out first.

One thing I noticed with the thermedic pad. It was heating up very nicely until the automatic shutoff. I turned it back on immediately, but it never got as warm as before it shutoff.

I did another three days with the same routine above and measured pre and post at 14.7cm each day. Continuing to struggle with the heat aspect. The thermedic just isn’t hot enough, and the total man doesn’t fit with the vacuum dome on.

I got a noose extender and used the total man, and got a post measurement of 15cm so that’s better. However, I don’t know how the hell you’re suppose to work these things. It took a good deal of fiddling to simultaneously press down on the springs, pull my Johnson through the loops, and tighten them.

So now I’m going give heated pumping a try. I like this idea because the tube itself has a ruler on it, and it’ll be much easier to setup & heat. I’m going to try and take the principals and apply them to heated pumping. Slowly increasing pressure to incrementally load, heated middle phase, and slightly higher pressure cooldown phase. I have a 1.35” diameter tube so I’m packing it immediately, no wasted effort on filling the tube. Also, I ordered an electric pump head from leluv so I can do cyclic loading. The first one I received was a dud, but their customer support was quick to respond and send out a new unit. They’re not even asking for the old one back. New one is supposed to arrive today. Will update the log after a few weeks of this routine.

> 3x6

Do you have room for *two* 3x6s?

Yes the thermedic pad i received is pretty random too.
Sometimes it’s giving the heat, sometimes i need to add a second HP.

Does the Leluv electric head pump fits with any classic tube,the ones with 1/4 plastic fittings?

Probably, but I don’t want to manage two pads in my routine.

There is an adapter so you can put it on a standard female fitting.

Strange. I’m using the same Thermedic 3x6 Qi-Point heat pad as you and with the wall adapter it came with it gets very hot. Once I think I didn’t have quite as much silicone coverage and it gave me the beginning of a burn (fine the next day though). I also don’t have any trouble with it returning to full temperature after auto-shutoff and turning it back on again. Zero discernible difference before and after.

Probably a dumb question but did you peel off the layer of hydrogel gunk that comes on it? 5.5Squared peeled his off, so I did on mine as well.