Sex After Radical Prostatectomy

Surgery was done 14 months ago. No erections so far, and my doctor said it could be up to two years. My libido is high, and I have no problem achieving an orgasim. Initally, I was doing daily manual stimulation to keep the blood flowing. I tried 50 mg Viagara without success. Went up to 100 mg: had headache, vision was weird (everything had a blue tinge to it), and developed sniffles. Had a semi-erection. Frustrating so far.

Had open incision nerve sparing radical prostatectomy 8 1/2 years ago and have had continuing difficulty with ED.  25Mg Viagra does a good job but I don't like to take a pill for something that was so easy to do before surgery.  Without a pill I can have an erection that is about 30% of the erection I could have before surgery, it will puff up pretty good but not hard like before surgery.  Some guys say that at the point of ejaculation they don't have any of the muscle contractions like they did before surgery but I still have explosive muscle contractions and it still feels like I will have a full ejaculation but of course it is dry and the orgasm seems to last several seconds longer that it did before surgery.  I had my prostate removed when I was 50 so after 8 1/2 years without it I have somewhat adjusted to how things are now eventhough it would be much better with a full hard erection.  I never have a night time erection or a morning erection but seems like almost every time I finish urinating I have a moderate erection.  I guess the nerves are just confused as to what to do.

RLF

James, I appreciate your response but how do I get to the "Welcoming Thread" from here?

RLF

I am new to the healingwell forum and web site.  I am 62 and had Da Vinci surgery in March 08.  I have had some leakage but am now down to about 1 pad per day.  I was given Cialis by my urologist in late July and have used three tablets with no ED improvement.  I have a sample of Viagra that I will use now in hopes of improving blood flow and eventual erection.  I guess the key word is patience.

Isd,

Glad to have you here.

Begin by getting a proactive Physician who believes in treating the whole patient, not just the cancer. You should have been prescribed meds as soon as before surgery and no later than immediately postoperatively. A proactive Physician would have suggested meds and a pump long before now. In fact, shots are a potential choice...so get active :>)

Men will have to be the driving force behind good medicine. All too often Physician's simply fail to stay on top in the field in which they specialize.....what a shame.

Good Luck and be patient :>)

Swim

Another Hi from Downunder!

I had my prostate removed about 9 weeks ago, had catheter removed 9 days after and since then have been improving my leakage problem, following some Pelvic floor muscle exercises that my physiotherapist gave me, also started doing some stretches in the morning before breakfast. My doctor gave me a prescription for 100mg Viagra, to take half a tablet twice wekly, so far I have only used 4 tablets. My incontinence has improved greatly starting from 8 pads a day to less than one a day. My doctor used Davinci robotic assisted surgery and spared the nerves. So far I am getting 50 percent penis extension when somewhat stimulated and that is about it, considering I am only 48 years old, I am hoping I will fully recover withing the next few months, but what worries me and I feel somewhat impatient is lack of full erection; still logic tells me based on my recovery after 9 weeks that I will achieve that too, so it is only a matter time and got to have patience. Easier said that done, but do I have much choice? I guess not.

The waiting is tough, I am fortunate that meds work better now than in the past, and I always have the bimix available if needed. My turning point was around 12 months, it is still a hit or miss ordeal though, not foolproof.
Randy

Denny2

Here is a quick review of my experience with the ED issue.  I had a performance bounce if you will,  I had a weird erection with the Catheter in and with out.  I was having morning activitiy which before surgery was lacking.  Soon after the cath was out I was using 50 mg of viagra and sex was back in the program.  Then for no particular reason it dropped off considerably and although I was able to reach orgasm penetration was poor.  Then at about 5 months and continuing, sex is back up and running pretty good with 50 mg Viagra and at 100 mg much better.  Side effects , stuffy nose, headache are such a pain in the butt.  Its good, its o.k. and its bad.  There are so many variences of recovery hear on HW with ED that you need to be prepared for alot of stuff.  One thing that took the wind out of my sails is the uncontrolled passing of urine once in a while. Several times I could have knocked a fly off the wall at 50 feet.  What the heck was that.  Very disturbing for me.  I did'nt want to but I tried again.  Drinking less planning more.  Has not happened again.

The way I look at this is I am living a very normal life style.  I love, am loved, work and play.  By all indications I may have given this terrible disease a knock out blow.  And for that I am blessed. I will continue to be creative and open with my wife in regards to our sex life.   I will not forget that sex is and was an important part of our relationship before surgery.  But I will not let this issue control me.  I will not let it depress me.  I am getting better.  Early after surgery, I measured it day by day, then week by week and now month to month. 

Frank

I have been very blessed as far as my ED recovery. It is posted with my other info below. Good luck to you.

Alfred, I have a few posts that contain several links to our most informative and active threads dealing with most of the issues. It's sorta boiler plates that I can post when someone ask for specifics, and they can go and do their own research using them.

Example: Penis Questions- anatomy, function, etc.
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=1621578

I'm sure something along the lines of the 'where are you from' posts could be done, maybe combine and title them all into one post to keep moved to the top. ?? Or just go to the second page, in the Stickies above and let them dig out the info Although the second page area isn't current, since our very talented Bluebird has flown the coop.

Soccerdad
First post ever hope it works. It has been just a little over 2 yrs since my surgery. I have tried most of the oral meds with no success. I also tried injections. They worked but it hurt so bad I quit. In the last month I have had 2 erections during the night but that has been it. Have any of you been in a similar situation and did you show any improvement after 2 years?



Prostate cancer diagnosed: May, 2008 (age 64)
Gleason score: 3+3=6
PSA 4.0
daVinci radical prostatectomy: Nov 17, 2008
post-surgery Gleason score: 3+4=7; negative margins from surgery
T1A

hi guys,
here is my two cents worth. I am 45 now 44 at time of diagnosis and surgery, RRP three months ago. I also did very well with bladder control but nothing as far as sex was happenning. I really recommend the osbond pump other are ok but this pump is great because of the rings it utilizes. this in conjunction with the meds will get blood flow down there to nurish the nerves that were disturbed during the surgery.

I started the pumpo and meds 3 weeks post surgery I wouldnt recommend starting too soon cause of all the swelling and bruising in that area still ...give that a good 2 weeks to heal before tryinh much of anything to stimulate things down there. Like I said I am about same age as you and started about the same as you post surgery ...so I hope you recover as I have or better. I am now on 5 mg daily cialis getting "small" 20% or so erections several times a day liek a school kid! and if i play with it i can get 60-75% if i use the pump i can get 100% with the use of the ring and without the ring can maintain about 75% for several minutes.

Hope this helps. stay vegilant with your rehab but do not get obsessed!