My ED journey - Vitaros next

For the purposes of this posting I will call him Alan, although that is not his real name (which I wouldn't be allowed to say).

As usual Alan was great. I was able to have a very frank and open discussion, no holds barred, "man to man".

He picked up on my anxiety issues and tried his best to try and alleviate these for me. He reminded me that the ED was not my fault or choice. It was the cancer that had done this and was something that I had no control over. I was therefore not to blame.

Alan agreed to prescribe Vitaros cream to see if that would help. He pulled out of his drawer a model of a small erect penis and demonstrated how to apply the medication and emphasised I should of course read the instructions. The medication needs to be stored in a fridge but he advised me to take it out about 2 days before I intend to use it.

Alan went on to explain that although the manufacturer recommend 6 to 8 applications to establish this as a reliable and successful medication the NHS guideline is only 2. In other words if it doesn't work twice then that is it. He therefore advised me to tell my GP that it is working (even if it isn't) otherwise I won't get anymore to meet the manufacturers recommendation. Seems silly as the cost is cheaper than muse (Alan looked this up in his book).

We then had a discussion on Caverject injections. He was very confident that these would work for me - he felt it would be the kick start I needed. I am getting another appointment in 3 months time and if the Vitaros does not work then it will have to be injections or nothing. I have to admit I am still a little apprehensive but I am warming to the idea. He briefly explained what would happen and said the worst I would feel was the equivalent of a tiny ant bite.

The hospital didn't have any Vitaros in stock so I had to pick up the prescription yesterday (2 doses).

Being a kid with a new toy I couldn't wait to give it a try this morning.

I followed Alan's instructions and tried my best to remain calm and relaxed.

The procedures were much easier than muse in that no stick is poked down the end of the penis. I expected the cream to be runny like cream you pour over dessert but it was quite thick. When I pressed the plunger it came out in 2 small blobs and to be frank it look like thick semen. I can see why Alan said get it out of the fridge 2 days before as I suspect that might make it more runny thus enabling it to sink better down the inside of the penis. However it doesn't mention getting it out of the fridge early in the instructions but it does say if it is kept out of the fridge for over 3 days it loses its effectiveness.

It did produce a partial erection (about 50%) but sadly not enough to use as nature intended. However, I found that as the partial erection developed it felt quite natural as in pre surgery days. Some foreplay with my wife also seemed to have an effect. The side effects were hardly noticeable and caused me no concern. At worst there was a burning feeling in the penis for a few minutes and it was a bit red but that was it.

The partial erection lasted about one hour and didn't feel uncomfortable.

I would be lying to say I was not disappointed because if I am honest I was hoping for an event. However, overall I am feeling confident this might be the answer I am desperate to find. I have one more to use and after that I just hope I can get my GP to let me have a further prescription. I have read the advice of others on the forum and I have decided to write a letter outlining a business case. I am hoping my GP will be too busy to argue his case in writing and will find it easier to give in.

I would add that the partial erection was not wasted and there was no loss of sensitivity so for me that is something worth knowing.

I hope this helps for anyone else traveling a similar path to me and who are considering the use of Vitaros. I may not have achieved 100% yet but I have only tried it once and it is early days for a this particular treatment. Despite my slow progress overcoming ED I am feeling a renewed determination at the moment.

For all those affected by PCa and the side effects I send you my best wishes and thank you again for all the support you give.

Your thread will help others.

I just wanted to say thanks for posting so openly and honestly.

Best wishes as always

Xx

Mo

Hi RT,

I was also prescribed Vitaros cream by my consultant at my last PSA test / review in August this year....

I get 8 shots ( two packs of 4 ) per month.

I was rather hopeful that this would be the solution for me....but although it certainly has some effect on its own,  it has not been good enough for penetrative sex to date....

My consultant advised me to try 10 mg of Cialis ( or even 20 mg ) in addition to the Vitaros if it didn't have the desired effect on its own....since using Cialis in conjunction with the cream things are certainly improving in the right direction, although I'm still not quite there yet.....
At 16 months post op I'm not entirely sure if this apparent progress is all down to the medication or partly down to nerve repair
( I had 50% nerve sparing ) 

Either way it is encouraging! http://community.prostatecanceruk.org/editors/tiny_mce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif

Good luck with your recovery

Luther

Regrettably there has been some delay since my first dose - just stress and pressures of life I am afraid.

This time I followed my ED nurse's recommendation and got the medication out of the fridge 2 days before intended use.

To be honest the cream looked and felt just as thick. However, being more prepared this time my aim was more accurate when I pressed the plunger to ensure as much as possible went where it should.

Sadly it only produced a partial erection so obviously I am feeling disappointed. However, trying to be positive:

1) It was slightly bigger than the first time

2) Whilst it was slow to rise, the rise felt quite natural as in pre-surgery days

3) The side effects were hardly noticeable

For quite a while now I have been waking up in the night and in the morning to find there is definitely a sizeable thickening. This is quite regular. One particular morning I almost stood to attention for a very brief moment (nothing as good as recently reported by Pablito though). I just need to keep the damn thing up and get him to obey me, lol.

During last night I woke up to visit the bathroom and once again a sizeable thickening. On returning to bed, drifting back to sleep and knowing what I had planned for the morning I had it all worked out. The Vitaros would work and wonderful things would happen. However, when I eventually woke up by alarm clock there was no movement down there this time! Later when I came to apply the medication the old todger shrank a bit more before application. I am mentioning this because it highlights my anxiety, which I believe is hindering my recovery. Somehow someway I must overcome this otherwise I have had it.

Anyway, I have written a letter to my GP requesting a repeat prescription and I am hoping he will agree. On the assumption he will, I plan on persisting with this medication until my next ED appointment. By that time I am of course hoping I will have reached my goal, otherwise it will be injections next.

So, the fight continues...

I will update again in due course.

Now for a tale to tell...

Last week my wife and I went away for a few days.

One morning whilst still in bed, about sunrise, my wife reckoned I gave her a distinct prod with a stiffy! Thinking I was awake she grabbed hold of said stiffy, which woke me up.

On investigation I did indeed have a stiffy of sorts, a much improved say a modest 60% +. Sadly the old todger soon deflated (and I left my 2nd dose of Vitaros at home in the fridge - another story) so I wasn't able to seize the moment. However, my wife and I shared some laughs. I remember very fondly from pre-surgery days that particular foreplay technique (ie the "prod" - you must know what I mean!). It did actually work sometimes, lol.

It is a good job I have a sense of humour because almost 3 years down the line since my op and still suffering a serious ED issue if I am honest there are many times I could cry my eyes out.

Hang in there stick with it Rivertweed!
It sounded like military manoeuvre this morning shame things didn't work out after so much planning.Still early days with this magic cream.
Well as you know we both mirrored our Pc journey. I'm now 3 years down the line & PSA 0.02, this afternoon i picked up a box of 4 Vitaros from the Doc. Didn't have any probs in getting as the ED nurse said talk to him, where he did point out its £10 a pop.
I also am mapping out how to ambush the Mrs in the morning wish me luck! (hope she don't read this)
I think we do have to keep some humor to this ED subject as if i didn't it could dominate your life.
Like you i have tried most things to combat this ED so will try this magic cream then injections as a last resort. Will update.

fenman

So I keep telling him Chris!!!