VACUUM PUMPS FOR ED

My insurance paid for an Osbon ErecAid. Good device. With the included bands, the erection could be retained for intercourse. My wife and I didn't like that as much as the injections... the band can be pretty constricting, and it gave both of us kind of a "balloon" sensation rather than an actual erection (kind of difficult to describe). I am sure some here will swear by the pumps, though.

I recall the cost was pretty high, though covered by my insurance - something like $500. The salesman, while he was jumping through all of the hoops he had to to get it approved for coverage, remarked that they would not cost nearly that much if it were easier to collect their payment from the insurance.

I suggest start with a cheapie from a sex shop. Just make sure it has a quick release valve -- if you suck a testicle into the tube, you want to release the pressure fast!

This is a low cost way of trying out a pump to see if it works for you. There probably won't be a satisfactory way of applying constriction. I use office rubber bands doubled over and flipped off the end of the tube at the same time as I pull the tube off. That works well enough that I haven't bought a more expensive model -- needs a bit of practice though.

As far as erection quality is concerned, it isn't as good as the natural, or what I was getting with injections. But still satisfactory for intercourse, and stays up long enough. I am seeing some natural recovery in my case, so that helps. I find orgasm comes more quickly than with the injections, no needles of course, and no risk of scarring -- all plus factors for the pump.

I have the balloon effect too, but not too badly -- I think it is because the constriction swells up skin and other tissue that doesn't normally swell. My wife wanted nothing to do with it at first, but I told her it was just like having a new guy.

Fred, I got the Osbon from my Dr. office my insurance did not cover it. Yes $500 is correct. If I had to do it again I would do just like Piano. Go to the SEX shop and get a SEX Toy Pump. They do exactly the same thing.

I use my pump for rehab every day it was not acceptable for the activity. As I have seen progress I notice that the pumped member holds the erection longer as I get better in the ED department.

Just my 2 cents.

Jeff T

Fred,
I started with a cheapy sex store version before surgery, as prescribed by my Urologist. It worked really good before the surgery (well duh !!). After surgery,....not so good. Definitely not functional for me, I would have a hinge affect, something that others like myself have described on this forum, meaning that you can pump it up to a workable length and girth, but the tissues that are part of the penis within the abdominal cavity do not enlarge, so you are left with a swinging member, which is difficult to use for intercourse. In addition, the penis becomes cold and purple in color, which was a real turn off for my wife. Frequently the erection would dissolve spontaneously with intercourse, obviously from venous leakage. My second pump I purchased is the Encore, which was considerably cheaper than the Osborn, and I believe it to be just as functional as the more expensive models. I purchased my online for about $180. It has a manual or electric pump, restrictor bands in 5 different sizes. I now use it to pump up before injecting Bimix, a technique also described by some experienced PCa members on this forum. I continue to struggle with getting my Bimix dosage correct, but will continue to pursue that avenue, as we feel that it is much better than the erection created from the pump.

Good luck with your search for something that works. Everyone's experiences vary when it comes to dealing with PCa issues.

Dallas

Why the heck don't our doctors/surgeons give us these tools as part of the surgical costs rather than have us slink around in sex shops (adult stores) for a tinker toy version of a pump?

When my wife and I were first introduced to all this talk about shots, pumps, drugs by my initial urologist I darn near fainted. Maybe it was too much information at the time. After four months though, those things are starting to interest me because so far, zip, zero nada downstairs as far as erections. Not even so much as a twitch.

The head of sexual medicine at Mt. Sinai told me that there are NO classes, chapters, instruction - anything on ED that doctors get in med school. So, virtually all doctors have no clue what to do about ED. The know the drugs, pumps, injections, etc, but they are not equipped to discuss them. Even urologists get just the clinical treatment.
I even asked one doc if he had ever tried a pump. He laughed. I told him there are tons of tricks to getting it right. He was interested and sort of grateful.

then, there is the sad truth, that doctors, being normal guys too, probably have some pretty complex issues and feelings about ED themselves. They are men, and without special training in ED are also confronting their own mixed feelings about it. I don't blame them. But it shows a huge gap in the whole medical community about treating ED. We wonder why men don't talk about it with their doctors more? The docs have a hard enough time on their own! LOL.

This is basically the reason why my life has now been taken over with the world of ED. I didn't mean for this to happen - it took me over. I sure did not go seeking it!
Paul