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ED and pump

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Posted 4/16/2013 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
Had surgery 1/16/13 and came home with pump kit. Really didn't think a lot about it while I was recovering from surgery, was a little sore, and just didn't use it. Started using it a few weeks ago once a day with no real results. I think I haven't been using with enough frequency, long enough at a time, or whatever, but again, no real results. Tonight I really went to town with the thing and saw some improvement. Getting little bigger inside the pump but still not erect or near pre-surgery size.

Question is: did I wait too long after surgery (8-9 weeks) or can I catch up? Does results get progressively better? Does most everyone have some success with pump? I am on Cialis twice a week and take a Viagra now and then, but no erections so far. I'm only 52 and scared to death about long-term ED. My wife has not been greatly interested in sex for quite a few years, but even she asked me how it was going?

Forum guys - give me some hope.
Posted 4/16/2013 4:45 AM (GMT 0)
Franco,

What kind of pump do you use? Most of them work pretty well if you get a good seal between the tube and your body. Usually that means using kind of a lot of lube. If air leaks in sometimes you can't get enough vacuum.

If you had said 8 or 9 years that would be too much. 8 or 9 months would be pushing it. But at 8 or 9 weeks you should probably still be OK. Keep at it. Use more lube. (Unless you use a Vacurect in which case use a smaller ring and less lube). You'll get it to work.
Posted 4/16/2013 8:39 AM (GMT 0)
Might have to shave away....so you get a good seal.
Posted 4/16/2013 12:06 PM (GMT 0)
The nerves get damaged or cut during the surgery. They are very sensitive and not easy to see or work around, after all , the real goal is to remove the cancer!

Recovery depends on the nerves ability to heal.
The Cialis will only work if nerves are functioning which can take (according to experiences posted on this site) , years. So I don't think early Cialis (within first month) will do much good. But don't be discouraged !

The thoughts about penile rehab are based on research that shows without oxygenated blood going to penis several times a day, fibrosis, loss of function, and shrinkage result.

The pump engorges the penis with venous blood ( not oxygenated ). There is not much evidence I could find that pumping will change ED outcome, but you can get a serviceable erection with it.

There is data to say presurgery sex life predicts future result ( IOW, great sex before , good sex after. Little or poor sex before .not much after)

But the science and treatment are not well understood , have faith and hang in there. Persevere and keep fighting for help.

I am trying to use my ED to open new discussions with my wife. with time and injections that I will start in a week hopefully there will be big things to come ;). But ED has really affected my self confidence also. I kinda feel less than I was before.

As with all this stuff, we gotta keep working towards better things.

Good luck

Dave
Posted 4/16/2013 12:23 PM (GMT 0)
You may want to read Dr. Mulhall's book, "Saving Your Sex Life: A Guide for Men with Prostate Cancer". Or, you may want to google his name and the topic and you can find presentations he's given on the subject of ED treatment for men with Prostate related ED issues. I found his book very helpful in understanding penile rehab, the use of pumps, pills and injections.

Good luck!
Posted 4/16/2013 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Gasman,

The studies I have seen found a 50/50 mix of venous and arterial blood with a pump -- the blood is more oxygenated than venous blood but less than arterial blood. And keeping the tissues stretched helps prevent fibrosis and the replacement of smooth muscle with collagen. I use trimix three times a week for rehab but I pump on the days I don't do the trimix.

Good luck with the injections, by the way. They are easier than you think.

RCS

Here is a link to the Mulhall videos you mentioned.

youtu.be/OQlGVT7HiF8 part 1 18:33
youtu.be/o7GmTZITJ5s part 2 15:20
youtu.be/ie8NkOu2VNA part 3 31:20
Posted 4/16/2013 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had the rings that came with my pump out of the original bag. The pump is for rehab for me, as others have already discussed. Atrophy is the thing we are trying to avoid while the nerves have a chance to recover (if they were spared).

Starting at 8-9 weeks is neither too early nor too late.

The daily Cialis started early is intended to help rehab. According to my uro, in the early months, it helps, but you are not expecting an erection from it. Dr. Mulhall's book is very good on these sorts of questions.

Posted 4/16/2013 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
The osbon pump is a good pump, tho pricey. Medicare will pay for most of it, but see you are too young.
Shave the area, lube good, get a good seal,use one hand to move the eggs out of harms way and pump slowly and give it a chance to work. 30-40 secs tween pumps should do. You should see significant growth. I found it to be useless for sex, but the blood flow is what you need to keep the memory alive. My surgeon told me to use the pills only when you started to get some, however minor action. Then go start taking them. I did that and after 2 years was able to, with cialis maintenance and viagra for the push, so to speak,have usable erections. It is not as before, but then again, I'm not 52 either. Patience for the patient will suffice here.
Posted 4/16/2013 5:14 PM (GMT 0)
Franco,
You are way to early in this to be getting enough results to worry ,the time is perfect though to be starting therapy and finding ways to get your life back . I use a Encore pump way cheaper http://www.vitalitymedical.com than the Osbon and is a better deal .Do as others have posted ,shave the area so you can get a seal , the system I bought came with a auto battery type and also a manual ,the more you do it the better it will be .I'm approaching my two anniversary from larp and I have certain activity with Viagra and a pump and ring and I've been able able to do it without an injection but I still inject sometimes with Quadmix http://www.wedgewoodrx.com/items/quad-mix-injection-solution.html all of these tools are out there to use for us survivors , don't be afraid to ask Uro for help also ,this forum is the most help of any for info ,it has been the most help all around for me ,I heard others a saying they were getting it back after time went on so I kept trying also ,
be patient and keep at it ,it will only get better and harder so to speak ,do the kegels , do the therapy ,if you don't use it you lose it is very true , Willy will go to sleep if you don't keep him awake , it is also good for your self esteem ,to keep trying and have some success , the orgasm sometimes is really good and worth it ,maybe your wife will get jealous and become interested again .I am pulling for you ,keep pumping and start pricking!
gams
Posted 4/16/2013 5:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hello: No, you didn't wait too long. A few hints that helped me with the pump were: start on your knees, shave /clip some pubic hair to get a better seal, use plenty of water based lube, especially on the inside of the tube, and warm it up with a little warm water. I used it everyday for 6 months, followed by injections, and Cialis (5 mg.) everyday. I had no ED prior to surgury, HOWEVER, it took me over 15 months to have decent intercourse without any aides. At 21 months, my ED situation is "cured". Our doctors never seem to stress that the road to erections again is a long one and we often get depressed if things don't happen quickly enough. That depression, in turn, produces even more ED. Just try to relax and you will come back. I never was able to have intercourse with the pump since the blood drains out too soon and the silicone bands are uncomfortable. Also, your pecker is soft behind the silicone band so it just wiggles around and it has no rigid base to guide things. Simply use it as part of your therapy program. Some doctors strongly recommend a VED and some others do not. I didn't want to take any chances, so I simply "made things grow" for about 15 minutes per day. It was good to see my little friend erect again, and that gave me some hope everyday. Good luck.

Bill K. from NJ
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