Re: To soon for injections?

January 11, 2008

I think this yahoo group is one of the best places to get ideas on

all issues related to prostate cancer and even the problem with

restoring sexual function.

Here is my experience. My Urologist did not have the knowledge to

handle this problem related to getting back my sex life. I was only

49 years old. It was only 2 months after surgery. I had a girlfriend

20 years younger than me who wanted me to perform, so I had high

motivation to try to do something about the Erectile Dysfunction

problem. When my Urologist suggested a surgical solution with some

type of implant, I knew he was not the right person to ask for

advice. I had to ask other specialists. My urologist thought I was

cured after my PSA dropped to zero, and he was done with me.

When I finally educated myself about options, my Urologist supported

my request for meds, Viagra, Muse, different dosage strengths, one

injection just to try it, two different types of pumps, and Osbon and

a Selma Blue. Each of those pumps cost over $600. He got insurance to

pay for one of the pumps, and insurance paid for all the meds after

challenging one of the insurance denials on a refill request for

Muse, a very expensive med.

It took a long time to find something that worked for me. It took a

long time to see progress. It took months of rehab with the pump to

prevent those muscles from deteriorating while I was on this long

road. When my prostate was removed, I only had one nerve spared, not

two, so I knew it was going to be difficult. I eventually had success.

I found success with a combination therapy. I used the smallest dose

of Muse, so small that it was not effective by itself, but effective

when combined with the Osbon pump. I ended up using the Osbon aid

2 part pump. I used baby oil to help apply the Muse, which prevented

punctures and lessened the burning sensation while the muse was

working. After the Muse started working, I used the Pump. I learned

that the Osbon rings that came with the pump would break after a

couple of stretches over the cylinder of the pump, and were very

expensive to reorder. I found single use rings of a different brand

that were cost effective. They were made of Silicone Rubber. Even

with the help of this combination therapy, erections were not very

long, perhaps 5 to 10 minutes, and I would have to use the pump more

than once to keep going. It would never be like before, but that is

the price we pay to try to cure our cancer and survive.

Unfortunately, my cancer recurred about a year later. I had to start

hormone therapy a year after that. Those hormone meds took away my

sex drive and created a new problem related to performance. I lost my

girlfriend not for lack of performance, but because she wanted to

have kids and I was sterile after the prostate surgery. I don't have

a new girlfriend yet, perhaps because I have taken the effort to

look. Hormone therapy takes your thoughts off women and makes you

think about what is really important in your short life. In my case

it was spending more time with my teenage son to try to keep him on

the right path in life.

Every person is different. One thing is that every person needs to be

persistent and eventually find that works for his particular

situation.

I hope my experience contributes to this group on this topic and

helps enlighten someone.

> >

> > Its been eight months since my robotic RP. I am taking Cialis

> > 10mg three times per week. Tried Viagra first but the flushing

> > and headaches were not worth the minimal positive effect.

> > Nocturnal erections are like before RP and having several every

> > night. However, when I want an erection for sex its very

> > undependable. Once I get one it doesn't last long enough for

> > the both of us and it usually becomes a race to orgasm for me.

> > Needless to say its becoming very frustrating for both of us. I

> > am making progress but its dam slow and I(we) are losing

> > patience. My question is , is it to early to consider

> > injections and will taking injections damage something and

> > hinder my long term recovery.

> > Any thoughts?

> > Rick

>

> Rick,

>

> If you're getting nocturnal erections, the plumbing works. It

> may be that you're just trying a little too hard and dealing with

> some unaccustomed anxiety brought on by all the stuff you've been

> through in the last eight months. Instead of a race, try taking

> it very slowly. If things wind down, relax, stay involved, enjoy

> yourself, enjoy your wife. Don't worry if the erection dies

> down. You already know that everything works and the erection

> will definitely return in a little while.

>

> I think a lot of women (the women on the group can say better

> than I) actually like everything slowed down anyway. If the

> erection subsides for you, pay attention to her for a while.

>

> Both of you may find that everything works better than you had

> imagined.

>

> As for the injections - I've never tried them. I've been

> tempted, but not too much. Injecting myself in the penis with a

> hypodermic needle just never seemed like something I really

> wanted to do. I'm not desperate enough yet.

>

> Alan Meyer

> ameyer2@...

>

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January 11, 2008

On January 11, allanbrandt wrote, in pertinent part:

(snip)

> I lost my

> girlfriend not for lack of performance, but because she wanted to

> have kids and I was sterile after the prostate surgery.

Not necessarily.

The testes continue to produce sperm.

But to fertilize eggs, they must be removed from the testes surgically

and implanted in the (willing) woman.

Not very romantic and certainly not fun, but that's what works.

Regards,

Steve J

January 12, 2008

Mick,

My Dr. gave me a web site where I ordered a constricting loop that I use. It seems that I can get an erection (most of the time)but keeping it for the whole event is a problem. The constricting loop helps in that I don't lose it like a blow out but like a slow leak instead.