Implants need to hear from people who've had them

Ok so I'm getting scared one year out from the RALP and having some problems with my life. Losing my girlfriend and my family has moved away from the area now I'm alone and without an erection. I was doing fine with the trimix then right about the 25 th injection bang Peyronies set in. So now I am scared to use the trimix because I have read that continuing the trimix after the Peyronies can be deadly to your penis. Finding it very difficult to start a new relationship being in this ED state. I am beggining to panic a little because I'm completely alone and no way to find a new women. This has brought me to thinking about getting the implant surgery done which scares the heck out of me. I feel as if the only way to feel secure that you can perform without fear is by doing the mechanical thing and then I might be able to pursue a girlfriend or a new wife.

Is there anyone that can give me some guidance in this area? The Peyronies was the killer once that set in I am feeling defeated.  

1) Like Dr's

2) Results

3) Insurance

4) Cost

5) Side effects

6) Mental effects

7) Can it ruin you for good if it fails

I had RALP in December 2010 at age 51. Went through the whole array of ED treatments. Tri-mix was the only treatment that had any sort of success. And when it did work at all Peyronie's reared it's ugly head, so to speak. Implant surgery November 2013.

I am certainly no expert. All I can do is share my perspective and experience.

I got the implant because I wanted to. I don't think that ED is really an obstacle to a relationship for guys at our age. We have lots of other tools in our toolbox and a pretty good knowledge of our partners anatomy and how to make her happy, if we have been paying attention. If you haven't been paying attention, it is fun learning about it. Don't be ashamed to ask what works. So much for sexual philosophy. I just wanted to be able to do it the old fashioned way.

Recovery from surgery took a lot longer than I thought it would. Probably 4-5 weeks before I felt anything like normal again. 5 months out there is still some discomfort when it is fully pumped up.
But it works. Whenever and wherever I want it to.

At this point, I think I am glad that I did it. I have had some second thoughts along the way. The neighbors are finally getting sort of used to the tres huevo. That is definitely something to consider. The pump is a significant new addition to your scrotum. At least it was to mine. And the implant even when deflated is still there. I guess I was a grower, not a shower, and now the new normal is the opposite.

I definitely lost some length in the process. I am hopeful I'll gain back some as time goes on, but I am currently about 80% of where I was pre-cancer.

I do think having the ability get an erection on-demand would boost my confidence if I were looking to start a new relationship.

Insurance (United Health Care) just plain covered it. No questions.

Achieving climax seems to be more difficult for me, but I don't know if that a result of the implant sugery, the RALP, or just plain mental.

It is good to be able to get an erection whenever I want to. But sometimes it just makes me feel like a sex toy, and I don't even bother pumping it up and just go back to good old fingers and tongue. After years of doing that it seems like I am more able to fine tune my approach that way.

One thing to keep in mind is that this is a one-way street. There is no going back. In some ways that has helped me.



I hope that helps.

Post Edited (CapHuff) : 4/24/2014 10:02:16 AM (GMT-6)

 

Thanks that was good input. I would just like to hear one story of someone that came back from the post RALP in happy shape. I am beggining to think that all of this is a big pile of crap from these Uro's and surgeons. They talk a big game about how everything will be fine. They mislead you by telling you not to have sex to soon after the the operation. I was point blank told that I would be fine and my fiance would be very pleased. It was all one big pile of crap. I was also told that "oh don't worry even if the ED meds fail you will be fine with a small injection so don't worry" but they don't say one word about Peyronies. I don't care what any Dr says anywhere you cannot convince me that those trimix injections did not cause this horrible Peyronies monster. What a pile of BS to be quite frank. I'm very disappointed and have become very angry over this entire process. Everyone just BS'ed me

If they had told me the straight up truth I would have at least had more time to think and figure out what to do.

No one ever told me the TRIMIX is not FDA approved. No one not even the pharmacy told me of any side effects of the trimix. Hell they never even told me about the priapism that happened or what to do when it happened. What a croc this has all been.

So it looks like I'm heading down the road towards an implant. I don't trust any Dr to tell the truth now so I am very happy to hear some honesty on this forum-- Thank you all very much for being here

I feel your pain, for sure man. I've used trimix for 6 years now. I basically learned all I know about trimix from this web site. Uro ordered way too much dosage for first shot. What the heck did he know.  The dosage, site of injection,  what to do with prolonged erections, all that knowledge came from this forum. God bless this site.  I have very mild Peyronnies, slight curvature to the left, I always inject on the r side since scarring causes curvature towards the scar. The curvature doesn't affect having sex with my wife though. But her having post menopausal low estrogen with depression and me with prostate ca surgery and now low T makes the whole sex thing sort of mute. Like once every couple months. Trimix does work for me but there is no spontaneity, no romance. Maybe an implant will work for you, maybe spice up your life. Good luck to you......

Big Al, you have already heard from me on the implant topic, so I won't reiterate here. For others, I am a couple of years out from my implant and am very happy with it.

Answering your questions:
Doctors - don't know where you live, but my doc does about 1 implant per month. I was a little concerned about that rate being too low to be accomplished at it, but had a good feeling with him. Glad I did - he did a great job.

Insurance - I am on an HMO, nothing special. It wanted to confirm that I had tried other ED treatments first, but ED after prostatectomy is a no-brainer qualifier for an implant if you have.

Cost - I just had a co-pay, can't share anything useful.

Side effects - all temporary related to recovery. Of course, you do have more stuff in your scrotum, but for me it was worth it, that is now just part of the boys.

Mental effects - no anxiety or concern related to having sex, my wife is very happy which makes me happy.

On your last topic, there is no going back. You are admitting and agreeing to permanent "natural" ED, and solving it with an implant. If the implant fails, you are in for another surgery to replace it, but from my research, the second or later surgeries are more straightforward for the surgeon, so less likely to have complications.

For others that are interested in my diary during my implant recovery, it is here:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2371384