Which pump to choose

User

Posted 17 Sep 2020 at 10:40

Underwent RARP on 8th August 2020. My recovery to date has been so much better that i had any right to expect so all good there. Wanting to be pro-active I have booked an appointment with my GP to sort out a pump and the provision of tadalfil . As a man with a smaller than average penis I am looking for any advice, thoughts, experiences that others here may be able to offer so that i can get the best pump for me.

User

Posted 17 Sep 2020 at 12:18

The main ones available on the NHS are the Farnhurst Elite, Somaerect and osbon Erecaid Esteem. I think that a smaller than average penis won't make much difference to which pump you choose, as the vast majority of men who need a pump will have some shrinkage to contend with - one make is better than the others for men who are larger than average but I can't remember which one.

John used the Osbon Esteem but with Farnhurst restriction rings as he found those more effective - it is a faff using a different make of ring to the make of pump though.

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

User

Posted 17 Sep 2020 at 12:39

The standard Somarect is described as being for standard and large because it comes with an inner tube. In fact it is actually for small and standard and a separate one is available described as being for large but is actually extra large. I think the dimensions are on their website.

There are two recent threads on pumps well worth a read, links below.

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t24535-Pump-problems

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t25660-Should-i-buy-a-pump

Cheers
Bill

User

Posted 17 Sep 2020 at 14:12

Bill

Thanks, I had read both of those threads before posting. The Somaerect seems to score quite highly. I guess that all users will have different experiences/dimensions for all three of the pumps available on the NHS. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't prescribed a totally unsuitable pump for my personal situation.

I'm going to be asking for daily 5mg tadalafil as a starter on the PDE front. I have used this drug before so I know that it doesn't seem to affect me unduly. Of course things may be different with longterm low dose use. I'll have to see.

User

Posted 17 Sep 2020 at 15:09

Ive had my Somaerect for 5 yrs and just had to replace the pump unit once. Absolutely fantastic and as others have said is very flexible for penis size and adaptation. The rings that come with it as standard are naff and need beginning. They make really jelly like ones that are sold extra. About the size of a polo mint hole but not as bad as it sounds. You may or may not get daily Tadalafil depending on where you live. They tried to stop mine but I threw my toys out of the pram. They actually still believe there isn’t enough evidence that it works , but you need to want sex back in order for it to work. I guess in many men that it was prescribed to it simply wasn’t effective as they weren’t that bothered or didn’t have a willing partner

Edited by member 17 Sep 2020 at 15:09 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 17 Sep 2020 at 16:57

Chris

Good to know that the Somaerect has worked well for you. I'll keep your thoughts re tadalafil in mind. I'm only 61, I still want a good sex life and so does my wife. As a backstop I have just checked the cost of buying tadalafil privately. The cost has come down massively. I saw a price for a 5mg tablet of 71p per day. I think, if push came to shove, I could stomach that. But that option is well down the road for me at this moment.

User

Posted 18 Sep 2020 at 17:39

I didn't want to use any tools or drugs and hoped it would get better using hand tools. It did a bit but not much so after just under 3 years I decided to buy a pump. On the recommendation of Chris J I went on Love Honey and bought one for £30. I knew I wouldn't use it a lot so didn't want to bill the NHS for a couple of hundred. It's quite basic and only has the vacuum pump seal for a ring. I kept thinking it would burst a blood vessel. It had an immediate effect of straightening a curve that had developed and it has seemed longer and stronger ever since. As predicted, I only used it a few times and limp along.

User

Posted 18 Sep 2020 at 20:23

Hi,

I have the SOMAerect XTRA. That comes with three different size sleeves so you shouldn’t have any bother with a suitable fit. The initial full kit comes with a selection of tension rings of different sizes.

It is quite possible that your GP might want you to meet with the manufacturers rep before prescribing anything. That will actually give you the opportunity to discuss and get advice about your requirements. It’s highly likely that you GP won’t have a clue what you need. I was very apprehensive about seeing a rep but having done it would thoroughly recommend it.

Dave

User

Posted 19 Sep 2020 at 13:43

@dave

I think you are probably right about my GP ( and most GP's in general) That is why I posted this topic and also read up about my options. I'll be more than happy to meet/video conference WHY with any rep just so I get the right outcome for me. Have you found the Somaerect to be a good pump for you? It certainly seems to be the pump that I am thinking about requesting. I haven't seen any adverse comments yet.

User

Posted 19 Sep 2020 at 14:11

I'm not ware there's a choice of pump - as far as I know, each health authority picks one (or in some cases, none).

Having the pump demonstrated on you doubles the chances of using it at home successfully, so that's highly recommended. At the moment, that will probably have to be over a video call with the distributor (at least, for the SOMAerect/iMEDicare pumps).

User

Posted 19 Sep 2020 at 14:30

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

@dave

My situation is different to yours inasmuch as I haven’t had surgery but suffered a degree of atrophy during the first couple of years of HT until I discovered my inability to achieve an erection was psychological rather than physical (I thought I wouldn’t be able to therefore couldn’t).

I get on well with the pump and it’s doing what it is meant to do. The rep suggested that eventually normal nighttime erection should start to happen as well; I’m pleased to say that is now well on the way to being the case.

Andy is probably right - you won’t get the choice but there is no harm in asking.

All the best

Dave

User

Posted 19 Sep 2020 at 20:39

Andy

Your comment is duly noted. I'll find out what my Trusts "pick" is on friday ( maybe). Certainly I will have a demo ( if offered) with the companies rep to get the most out of the NHS's investment in my recuperation/recovery.

User

Posted 19 Sep 2020 at 21:49

You will almost certainly be offered a demo right up to you putting it into action yourself. You don’t have to, it will be up to you.

Dave

User

Posted 20 Sep 2020 at 00:06

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

I'm not ware there's a choice of pump - as far as I know, each health authority picks one (or in some cases, none).

It seems to vary area by area. In areas where there is an ED or andrology clinic, or where men attend a pump intro at the hospital led by the manufacturer / sales adviser, you seem to get whichever pump is issued in that area. But there are many men with no access to ED / andrology specialists who depend on their urologist or GP for the prescription. In these cases, the GP or surgeon is unlikely to have a strong preference and we have many examples on here of men whose GP said "do you know which one you need?" because they had no idea themselves. We have also had men come on here asking if any of us knew the NHS code for a specific pump because the GP didnt know they were available on px.

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

User

Posted 20 Sep 2020 at 09:37

Come to think of it I still have the Soma pump and rings codes somewhere if that’s any help.

User

Posted 20 Sep 2020 at 17:07

@Dave

I think the iMedicare website has the appropriate NHS codes but thanks all the same.

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