Vacuum Pump Dilema

I am still new to this forum and 2 months post-op and 1 month catheter free. I have experienced some issues with the vacuum pump therapy and hoping someone here can relieve my anxieties. At 6 weeks post-op I had my first PSA draw (none detected; thank God) and a nurse at my surgeon's office gave me a SOMA pump. I "practiced" with it and was very encouraged. A few days later I had my 8 week post-op with my doctor and was told to begin using the system for intercourse at least once a week. Unfortunately the next time I used it my penis didn't look or behave the same way it had been previously. After2-3 more attempts it still looked the same. The base looked somewhat engorged, while the middle section of the shaft looked limp, and the head somewhat engorged but it had a WEIRD CURVE look. Not very elongated in the tube but almost like a "C" shape. I quickly called the rep and he said I may have "stretched the muscle" with previous practice. I had some discomfort while practicing but always immediately released the pressure as the manual said. I met the rep at my doctor's office on Tuesday and when I demonstrated it on myself the same thing happened. He said he had never seen that before and to see my doctor. Should I be freaking out?

I would say get an appointment with your uro before any more "exercises". Now.

You don't need to have pain to be concerned. If something changes significantly, there is room for concern. The manufacturer's rep is probably not a physician, and not qualified to talk about problems like you describe. If he did, he could be setting himself up for liability issues down the road.

I have been using a pump for two years as rehab (no rings, not for sex, that's where trimix comes in), and have never seen any such deformation.

You should keep the doctor's appointment. No one here can know what your physical situation is, and no one here can offer medical advice. If the manufacturer's rep won't comment, reading between the lines tells you to see the doc sooner than later.

Gman,

I can't quite picture what a C-shape would be in the tube. But when I am pumping if I don't have the inner part of the tube lubed with astroglide and spit (and the shaft too), then I'd get some Stiction between dry skin and the inner tube and it would drag the head into a curve at first. I suppose it looked like a candycane 'C' or J shape...

It also sounds like you are being a little reticent on your pumping. If you pump hard enough then things will puff up evenly I would think and straighten out. A little pain .. for gain...

That's all I got. Not for here, but you could visit Franktalk.org and post a picture of this strange condition...

J

Hello Gman1,

Let me start by saying that nothing anyone says here rises to the level of medical advice and if you are concerned about it you should talk to your urologist. It's why he is there.

You might Google a bit for Peyronie's disease. I rather doubt that that is your problem since the onset is (usually) gradual and your experience of having the pump work OK one time but not the next doesn't sound like Peyronie's to me. Established Peyronie's has some palpable symptoms that I will let you read about in your Googling. But like I said, if you are worried talk to your doctor.

It could also, as others have suggested, just be dry skin sticking to the inside of the tube. This tends to give a "J" shaped erection that won't straighten out no matter how hard you pump. One solution to this is to use more lube and make sure the inside of the tube is lubed and wet. What I do is to stop pumping several times early in the process and give the tube a shake to make sure Mr Unreliable is flopping around normally and not stuck and then resume pumping.

Another thing that might help is to stand up while you pump to get your member lower than your heart to enhance blood flow.