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Erecting the Erection - Medication

User
Posted 04 Mar 2016 at 18:13

Exercise is good for any muscle Chris.

He might have been pathetic but now he's awake. Glad you are happier. Long may it continue

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 04 Mar 2016 at 18:33
Chris

Great news and after a relatively short period of time post op, so hope that it will fully recover in time.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 04 Mar 2016 at 19:07

Good news Chris, the beast has woken up.

Onwards and UPWARDS.

Cheers

Sandy

User
Posted 23 Mar 2016 at 21:24

Onwards and UPWARDS, love it.

Just to give you guys and girls an update on how im doing,

Post op 10 months - 10 days,

Finally have my hands on a Response 2 pump and have been pumping away for the past 6 weeks, with good results.
Must admit im on my 2nd one already as for some reason the pump handle snapped off while in use. It comes with a lifetime guarantee, im thankful for that. You can imagine the scene and the look i got when i told the wife it just broke!!!

Along with the pump im also taking Viagra 50mg 3 times a week

Things are defiantly improving, when taking a Viagra , with a little encouragement im getting about a 50% filling and a bit of a raise so i conclude the nerves are slowly healing, Hurraaa

But I must add iv lost half a stone in the past 2 months through exercise at the gym/pool and running a little, bloody hard work but im sure it has contributed. Also iv started to to the Kegal exercises again as im still incontinent but i figured it all helps along with a daily dose of Cashew nuts.

Iv a lot still going on in my body even 10 months down the rd but compared to what it could have been im happy enough.

Catch you later

Johny

User
Posted 24 Mar 2016 at 06:41
Hey Johny

Good to hear from you, remember to change hands whilst pumping away or you will have one arm like popeye.

Glad you are having some success with the pump but obviously you were trying too hard and got excited and broke it.

I've been put on 5mg of ciaos per day but still no response tries Viagra but with no nerves spared was told it ain't Gina work.

Anyway been referred to the ED clinic so just need to wait.

Getting RT June/July and need to get an HT (ZOLADEX) implant today. Cannae wait deep joy.

Things could be worse though. Off to work now take care.

Onwards and upwards (hopefully).

Sandy

User
Posted 24 Mar 2016 at 09:06

Good news Johnny, all heading in the right direction so to speak !!

I must admit to a small laugh at the thought of your face when it broke, and then having to tell the wife.

On a day where there is a lot of sadness, a smile and joy for somebody else means a lot

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 08:31

I had an interesting second meeting with an ED Consultant recently, the following points were made by him.

Cialis 5mg per day should be enough to give an erection. Supplementing 5mg daily with a booster of either 10mg or 20mg for an event makes little or no difference, (having tried it, I agree).

He stated "the best recovery is made 6 - 12 months post op", so at or around 12 months (in my case) he said "it is as good as it's going to get"! (based on anecdotal evidence from this forum and generally perceived wisdom on this site I'm a bit disappointed).

"If you take Cialis to achieve erections you'll need to be on it for life, and once you stop taking Cialis you'll revert almost immediately to how you were post - op" (scary).

At the moment I'm lucky, in that I am able (but not on demand) to achieve usable erections, usually when I wake up in the mornings rather than when I'm engaged in sexual activity, which I why I'm at the ED Clinic.

Additionally, I'm also lucky that my doctor's practice has given me prescriptions for / funded Cialis, although I do have concerns that this may not continue for the rest of my life!

I'm 51 weeks post op and not sure whether it was a good, bad or indifferent meeting.

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 08:59

Hi Pablito
I'm 2 months behind you as you know. Basically zero activity naturally which is very distressing. I guess your Dr's advice is why I wasn't offered Cialis. But I think the evidence HAS to be true that you are getting blood down there 24 hrs which has to helping repair. And I'm just using the pump every day still which is without a doubt at least keeping him fit and healthy. He looks damn well on an injection of Viridal even if I say so myself. Maybe this is your next step to try Alprostadil in the form of pellet cream or injection ( not at the same time as Cialis ). I still hope something is going to happen for me. I totally get the right stirrings and even have to check down there , but to no avail. A friend I made on this site tried Cialis and hated it so stopped. He is now getting full natural erections at 9 months , but not on demand. I guess some people are just lucky. But Lyns husband had RP and RT and HT and he has proper usage back even if it took 2+ years. So let's not give up hope friend.
Best wishes
Chris

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 09:13

Well s/he sounds like a bundle of laughs! And is saying completely different to other ED specialists. How confusing for you :-(

As you probably recall, John had 2.5mg (and then later increased to 5mg) daily Cialis but did not take this to get erections. For an 'event', he missed his daily dose and took a Viagra or Levitra instead. He took this for over three years but is certainly not on it for life. Most of the CCGs that do approve it for nerve repair recommend funding the daily dose for a max of 2 years as research suggests that any repair will have happened by then.

General view among medics is that however you are at 2 years post-op is as good as it is going to get. Having said that, John's greatest progress was between months 30-36 and he was gaining natural erections by year 4.

Perhaps the confusion / different views is about the physical ability to get an erection and the emotional impact of PCa. Somewhere in the time between his op and year 4 John progressed to being able to have an erection; whatever physical / mechanical causes of ED had been resolved and it only continued to be a problem in his mind - ED linked to performance anxiety, self-identity crisis, etc. As you can get an erection, you may fall into the same group - it isn't the physical issue that still needs to be resolved but the mind. And I don't think any medic can put a time limit on that!

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 15:24

P

I am almost at the two year anniversary of my RARP, the last couple of months have seen more improvement in tumescence than in the previous 21 months. I did get off to a slow start with my penile rehabilitation due to a stricture. The daily 100mg sildenafil does produce some tumescence and the muse varies from okay to very good, timing is everything.  I was "supposedly" non nerve sparring so anything is a bonus, as my surgeon said there is a network of nerves and something must have survived.   Sorry to repeat myself but you do not need an erection for vaginal intercourse and of course it is spontaneous.

Thanks Chris

 

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 15:42

I still can't get my head round flaccid sex ( so to speak ). It's definitely about time someone published a sketch , or animation , or used action man and barbie ( not that action man would EVER suffer with ED ). My searches don't bring up much. But interested , being mostly flaccid , most of the time.

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 16:14

CJ

Google "scissor sisters position" then pick "images" at the top, scroll down and you will see a sketch of a man and women. 

Good luck and keep the windows shut.

Thanks Chris

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 17:11

Thanks Chris, it's an excellent position whether flaccid or not!

;-))

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 20:18

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I had an interesting second meeting with an ED Consultant recently, the following points were made by him.  

Cialis 5mg per day should be enough to give an erection. Supplementing 5mg daily with a booster of either 10mg or 20mg for an event makes little or no difference, (having tried it, I agree).  It may work for you it may not.  Do you have access to Sildenafil, Viagra?

 

He stated "the best recovery is made 6 - 12 months post op", so at or around 12 months (in my case) he said "it is as good as it's going to get"! (based on anecdotal evidence from this forum and generally perceived wisdom on this site I'm a bit disappointed).  Pablito, you can believe him, who is hypothesising and generalising, or you can believe the true stories you read here, the facts.  My "best recovery" was made recently, that is around 30 months ish post DaVinci.  I thought I was doing well with the results I was getting around 6 to 8 months post op, May 2013.  It continued to improve beyond that and is still improving. Mind you I hardly leave it alone, so it has no chance!  If I am sleeping alone, mostly am these days, and wake up at 4am, I get up and exercise, helps me get back to sleep quickly.    

"If you take Cialis to achieve erections you'll need to be on it for life, and once you stop taking Cialis you'll revert almost immediately to how you were post - op" (scary).  Can not comment on that, I am on 5mg Cilais daily.  Good for circulation and nail growth.  I hope to be on it ad infinitum.     

At the moment I'm lucky, in that I am able (but not on demand) to achieve usable erections, usually when I wake up in the mornings rather than when I'm engaged in sexual activity, which I why I'm at the ED Clinic.  Work on it.  If you can achieve UEs, what is happening to make this occur, what is the stimulus for these?  Replicate that stimulus often, frequently.  Masturbate wherever and whenever you can, as often as you can.  If your bits have the capacity  and ability to perform, then you may wish to do all you can to use them and encourage them with plenty of exercise, and related use.    If you get it up at 4am, FFS use it.  If it happens at lunchtime, use it. Capiche?

Additionally, I'm also lucky that my doctor's practice has given me prescriptions for / funded Cialis, although I do have concerns that this may not continue for the rest of my life!  I was not concerned that my prescription would stop until you mentioned that possibility.  Reggub!

I'm 51 weeks post op EARLY DAYS and not sure whether it was a good, bad or indifferent meeting.  It was nowhere as near as bad as it could have been, and nowhere near as good as it should have been.  But that is not down to you.  From what you are saying here, you appear to have the chance and the likelihood that you will still improve, and you might want to do all you can to ensure that you do, and that means exercise.  No gym subscription needed, no special kit.  Whenever you get the chance, be like NIKE, JUST DO IT!  

He may be an expert in his field, staff at the hospital may address him as "Mr Whatever, he may also be so superhuman so as to be able to delegate the task of his early morning wee and dump to a member of his staff, BUT he is not necessarily correct in his assessment for you, or all other men.  They don't appreciate the impact of ill thought words, generalisations, on us real men, human patients.

All men react differently to treatments.  Unless you do all you can you will not know how much you can recover.

atb

dave

 

 

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 21:13

Interesting that CB interpreted that he was a consultant as in medically qualified and everything. I assumed he was a care assistant or one of those guys from the vacuum manufacturer or- at best- a nurse.

I wonder why I assumed that?

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 21:55

I'd like to ask about pumps and tension rings, whilst there's a target audience on topic- (and maybe others will search this post for the same thing, so it's not a hijack..)

I've just been to see my GP about a pump- he was willing to prescribe one, but he was unsure which was suitable. Looking quizically at his computer screen, He offered "ErecAid 'Classic', or  ErecAid 'Esteem'". Reading further, he began to reel off the various tension rings available, size wise and tension level, as if this was unintelligible to him.

As I didn't know what I required, I thought I'd ask on the PCUK forum later this evening .

Having done a google search and looked at previous posts here, I guess it's the 'Esteem' to go for,  which I see has two tension rings as standard. I guess the ring fit is critical -Did anyone have to get additional rings? If so, what sort should I be possibly asking  for?   Do they need replacing often?

Thanks, in anticipation of advice.

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 22:10

Hi
Many people recommend the Erec-aid and I've never seen it. I was demonstrated and supplied with a Soma--erect from iMedicare. Look it up. It's a very very reliable piece of kit with good construction. But ideally you should have a demo and fitting done professionally as there are different diameter tubes and different sized rings. I was supplied a very new type of ring which is super stretchy and tight and very long lasting re-usable. I'm very happy with this product indeed. I have the NHS prescription codes for the pump and rings. Maybe have a look ??

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 22:12

If you go back to the previous page in this conversation there is quite a lot of info. in existing posts.
We bought a Bathmate, but I will see what the CNS at the 'orange clinic', who I am seeing tomorrow, suggests for me.
Happy pumping!
Henry

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 22:24

Aah. I may have got that wrong? Won't be the first or last time I have made an error. Consultant I took as one of The Misters that stroll about as if they own the places, in white coats. I have had less than satisfactory experiences with them.

Allowing for the fact that he might not be a demi-god that delegates morning functiosn, the majority of my opinion stands, until and unless further corrected.

atb

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User
Posted 19 Apr 2016 at 22:47

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

If you go back to the previous page in this conversation there is quite a lot of info. in existing posts.
We bought a Bathmate, but I will see what the CNS at the 'orange clinic', who I am seeing tomorrow, suggests for me.
Happy pumping!
Henry

I've never heard of an 'orange clinic' before.

It's the tension ring spec that's confusing with the ErecAid and I haven't seen anything up-post to help shape my feedback to the GP so he can prescribe the right rings. I saw Lyn mentioned the erecaid, but used a different ring make. Instead of an ED clinic, I  was told by my consultant that the instructions will be in the pumps' box. The GP will do the prescribing. 

There are Low, medium and high tension options in medium and large ring sizes. Size,  I can estimate, but tension required is beyond me, and I'm wondering if I'll need replacement rings if they have a short life. 

Anyone had experience of the erecaid rings?

 
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