Has anyone successfully weaned off the three p's?

I had my nerve bundles removed during surgery so my situation is not the norm. I do use the pill, the pump and the needle and will probably always have to do so. I do however see some kind of improvement since my surgery 14 months ago.

Hi Soul,
My husband was on oral meds for about a year then gave them up. We had lots of periods of some actvity, then nothing at times. Nothing without meds to about 8 months and then from 8-10 months meds started to work. In retrospect I think this was healing in stages as it then slowed down for the second year post op. Also at 2 years and about 90%, with and without meds sometimes, I thought that was going to be the extent of healing, and that it would remain uncertain to a degree. However in the third year, without meds or anything else, spontaneous e's started again as pre-surgery. My husband had a thing about needles and could not manage the pump. He still kept up "rehab" in other ways however to promote circulation. In my opinion, gradual healing can extend to up to 3 years as it did in our case. Many guys here have loads of experience with injections, so hopefully they will give you tips there as to what to expect in the long-term there. I hope this helps. cheers & best wishes, Lana

Soul Mate 101

I am 2 years post op. Somewhat similar stats. My Surgeon, bragged about his techniques in this department, Professor University of Chicago, I don't know about that, I wish he was better with his margins.

Honestly, I was having some difficulties in this department before surgery. Doc gave me some Viagra to try before surgery to get used to it so when I was post op I would know what to expect. Wow. it worked good before the operation and now I am just about back pre op condition, but it is of course different.

I have been experimenting with when to take Viagra. I have been taking 50 mg. several hours before activity and then 50 mg 1 hour before. Good results. I have also been using a restricting device. You can find them at any adult shop. This was helping tremdously before the op and with Viagra good results after.

Side effects are bothersome, flush, itchy eys, stuffy nose and headache. I have learned to take my other medications after sex.

I have been waking up with erections more often even without the viagra and some other suttle signs of improvement. I find that if I wait several days for any
sexual activity it seems to work better. Since surgery I am on cholestrol meds and blood pressure medicine. Both of these are not friends of my sex life. So without them I could be doing better for sure.

I know you probably know this but, tell your Doc to make the prescription for the 100 miligrams. You can always cut them to a dose that works. Insurance goes by number of pills not the dose I have learned.



Frank

After five years,I still use the pills because it put me in the 100%position;if I do not use it I get about 75 to 80 % do the math.

soulmate 101 said...
However, my impression is that as far as two years post surgery, most PCa survivors are still using these implements to obtain erection and have a satisfying sex life.

Not to be contrary, but I think that the premise of your question "Has anyone successfully weaned off the three p's?", and your comment above about most PC patients using "these implements" is flawed.

Firstly, the most common approach to post-RP penile rehabilitation is NOT to start with all three p's.  Rather, start with pills.  If pills do the trick, then fine, no need to advance further.

If pills don't do the trick, then try adding the pump.  If adding the pump does the trick, then fine, no need to advance further.

If pills and the pump don't do the trick, then try adding the prick.

Some docs push their patients to do more accelerated combinations of these, but the approach I've given above is most common in the literature.

So, maybe what you meant to inquire about was whether most men who start using one or more of the p's end up continuing to use it (or them) over the long term.

My personal response is similar to Paul1959's.  I started by using pills.  Now that some time has gone by, I sometimes forget to take a pill and have success even without it...but I rather enjoy the effect of the pill, and have no problem continuing to take it.

Hope this helps...

 

Thanks, folks. Redman made a good point, that once you find something that "brings the world back to basically normal" then the anxiety about waiting is taken out of the equation. I think we are still in that limbo state where we are trying to find what works.

I do agree that if you find something that works, hallelujah.

But I will raise the point that for some folks, the $20 per pill cost of Viagra can be a no starter, if insurance does not cover what is needed. Generic at first looked promising, but does not float the boat, so to speak.

My personal reflection is that health insurance administrators don't get laid enough. Besides the scanty coverage of ED meds, look at the rest of the mess we are in!

Everyone's experience is different I had some erections from the beginning. Occasionally Cialis would work for some poor quality sex, sometimes not. Tried the pump for a while, but it didn't make a size difference, and didn't seem to be doing anything. The constriction rings didn't seem to do an adequate job, and also, it's difficult and seems traumatic to get them off. Don't want to damage anything. So, I stopped the pump entirely after a few months.

After 6 months, switched to a generic Viagra from India--works much better, actually good enough, 100% of the time. Also, some slow steady signs of improvement, noticing a difference from month to month. I'm 9 months out now. Also noticed body position matters. Sitting up makes a real difference, with a usable erection even without pills. I think having your heart above the penis leads to gravity helping blood pool in the venous system of the lower body...you get the idea.

I had my open RP Nov of 2008 had 1 nerve spared and have nothing as of yet except payronies I am told because the cath got stuck , just went to the docs today good news another 0 somewhat scary news is he wants to do a 3+hr sergury and put in a pump implant