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Erectile Dysfunction---what is the time frame for working on this

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Posted 6/6/2010 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
In general, how long after the robotic surgery does the urologist start working on ED?

Do some urologists take a wait and see and let nature take its course and do treatments as necessary as the patient requests it?

Or is there some sort of standard protocol to try and get things working again a certain amount of time after surgery?

During my consultation, my urologist mentioned the different remedies (pump, shots, pills) but I don't remember the time frame.

Can ED be worked on before incontinence is under control or is incontinence gotten under control before ED is worked on.

Thanks, Dan
Posted 6/6/2010 1:02 PM (GMT 0)
I can't speak for everyone however for me it was two years before things started working down below. I have seen some men rebound as early as a few weeks. I think it is important to let nature take its course for at least a few months. Keep in mind this is invasive surgery and it takes time to heal. Good luck and keep us posted.

peace to you
dale
Posted 6/6/2010 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
There are lots of different opinions on this. But if you go to the web site of the Urologist in Chicago who pretty much discovered the the use of the PSA test in the 1990's, you will find that he suggests using ED drugs immediately after surgery.

My urologist waited until the catheter was out at two weeks post open surgery and then had me start on Viagra with a daily dose. I was on ED drugs prior to the surgery due to hypertension and had saved up pills. Once I found this web site and ADC, I switched to getting the drugs from ADC.

The ED drugs didn't help that much, so at 3 months I started using a VED. Then at 6 months, I went to Injections.

I would not wait very long, just my own personal opinion....

Posted 6/6/2010 2:45 PM (GMT 0)
Some folks recommend using "Twinlab L-Arginine, 500mg Capsules". I have not tried it yet, but maybe someone did
Posted 6/6/2010 3:26 PM (GMT 0)
View the post on the John Mahall lecture and watch the entire series. If I had seen this two years ago I would have done some things differently.

Don
Posted 6/6/2010 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Don. The lecture by John Mulhall is excellent and I really think my uro is taking the wrong approach by making me wait. The old saying is true, "if you don't use it you wil lose it".
Best of luck with your recovery.

Len
Posted 6/6/2010 3:46 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info!

Dan
Posted 6/6/2010 4:58 PM (GMT 0)
As you can see from my signature, I have no opportunity for sex, so this issue is hypothetical for me. In any event, my urologist/surgeon recommended using anything and everything to get erections as soon as the catheter was out. However, I opted to follow Dr. Scardino's advice, which as I recall is - like whether to do Kegels to help control urinary incontinence - wait and see if you actually need to do anything. "Wait" as in a few months, not years! Many men recover their sexual function naturally over time, although as more men start speaking out it is becoming clear that for most men sex is never quite as good in the years after treatment as it was before treatment.

In my case I can get erections and have orgasms fairly easily through mastur*ation [the filter deletes the word if I spell it out completely - go figure], although whether they would be firm enough and last long enough for actual penetration I guess I'll never know. After all this time I don't think about it much anymore.

Zen9
Posted 6/6/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Henry Ford Vatikutti institute holds a class the week following ones robotic procedure on this subject with a lecture and reps from the various methods available. Lectures can also be attended by ones significant other. One of the suggestions is to begin a regimen of ed pills such as Viagra @ 25 MG / at bedtime.

74 years old - Vatikutti DiVinci @ Henry Ford 2/10/2010. Here it is May 18th, zero pads and doing whatever I choose.
Gleason 3+4=7 - 2 of 12 cores effected @ 30% and 70% - nerves spared - margins and associated tiissues clear. Five week PSA was undetectable. Next one coming up in a few weeks.
Posted 6/6/2010 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I think it was about 30-days post-op when my Urologist started me on medications for ED.  There was little or no delay from the point of surgery to working on ED.  The incontenence and ED issues have been dealt with separately - and neither have been successfully resolved with me ... yet.
Posted 6/6/2010 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
My doc started me on low dose Cialis (daily) and the pump soon after cat removed.  According to him, not so much expecting immediate cure, but more to incourage blood flow to the penis and avoid damaging cells. In a few months we will try higher dosage and attempt to ger er started.  Made sense to me, but who knows for sure.

Good luck!

Posted 6/6/2010 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
You asked ?

"In general, how long after the robotic surgery does the urologist start working on ED? "

Mine started 2 weeks BEFORE. He had me taking Viagra and L-Arginine which really made sure Mr. Happy was in amazing shape Pre-Op

The order of your treatment is based on many variables that your Dr will decide which one is best for you at that stage

As for the L-Arginine Supplements, you can just eat a few walnuts and get the heart and blood flow benefits of Omega and Arginine. L-Arginine produces NO which increases blood flow and lowers BP

Daily ED pills right after cath removal promotes nocturnal erections which is the beginning of the recovery phase for ED. You may as well start looking now into how you will get those, most ins companies cover only a few a month ( if that).
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