Vacum pump after prostatecomy?

So I for see a prosatecomy in my near future. Quite frankly part of me is inclined to say "the hell with it" and not have to surgery due to loss of sex life.

But any how, part of the rehab for erections is to start getting erections soon after surgery. Cialias or other meds--good luck with insurance covering this.



My question is has anyone use a Vacum pump for erections? How well does this work? Side effects?

thanks

Use it or loose it!

The pump helps get blood flowing to those nerves that went into shock during surgery. It is encouraging seening an erection again. I was told not to start using it until 4 weeks after the catheter was removed.

I put hash marks on the side of the pump to measure the length of my erection. Kind of a little contest to beat my last score.

The pump WAS covered by my insurance company, Viagra, not so much.

Bill from Florida

brian3222 said...
So I for see a prosatecomy in my near future. Quite frankly part of me is inclined to say "the hell with it" and not have to surgery due to loss of sex life.

But any how, part of the rehab for erections is to start getting erections soon after surgery. Cialias or other meds--good luck with insurance covering this.



My question is has anyone use a Vacum pump for erections? How well does this work? Side effects?

thanks

Yep, what the others have already said. The pump sucks for me as far as sex, though probably pretty useful to help avoid major shrinkage used for rehab as soon as allowed after surgery. Don't get me wrong, the pump- even when pills provide nothing an more so than injections- can provide erections as hard as anything ever achieve naturally, and more. You can penetrate anything with that result, though it may require some practice with how many and which kind of rings to use. But IMHO nothing could feel less natural and pleasure is sorely lacking.

However, if you are already thinking "Quite frankly part of me is inclined to say "the hell with it" and not have to surgery due to loss of sex life.", then why not go ahead and consider other options? Some guys have great results- or at least pretty good all things considered. For SOME others, it's all over in the sexual pleasure area, or they get major shrinkage, or Peyronie's disease, or loss of all pleasure with orgasm, or some combination of all of it. Which group will you be in? Unless you have some solid reason why for you surgery will have strong advantages for you in cure rate or some other reason(for some of us there seems to be a psychological need to "just get it out", or they must "know" by having the post op path report), then why sign up for all of that? When there are other treatments or, if you are low risk enough, no treatment at all? You definitely do not have to have surgery, though you might prefer to as some def do. IMO, NO ONE has to have surgery, as opposed to other treatments or nO treatments for the low risk guys. They might personally prefer to have surgery, but I know of no strong medical reasons why anyone MUST have surgery. Of course, you won't want to just take my- unknown internet guy- advice on this except my advice to get opinions from several different types of practitioners, preferably from some who know that whatever you decide, you won't be using them.

Just remember, if you choose surgery, whatever the results, there is no going back. So I suggest doing some solid research on the various options for whatever your risk level is, and making your decision after that.

Give us some info on your stats in a signature. If you are a G6, take all the time you need- many months if needed- to figure it all out, there just is no rush. If you are a higher gleason, you probably still have adequate time to look at your options unless you are truly an advanced case. And whatever your Gleason, consider getting 2nd opinions on the slides. Good luck on your journey.

Brian, I can share what my surgeon said to me about this subject before surgery....

I was 56 at the time, and had zero erectile issues, no blood pressure issues, was not significantly overweight (20 lbs or so). He expressed the opinion, based on HIS personal results, that based on my history and diagnostic situation, that I had a seriously good chance of hitting trifecta within a few months--and he was right.

I do take 5 mg cialis daily.

Here's how I got the insurance to cover it: I looked through the formulary on the Express scripts (my prescription plan) website, and when I put in '5 mg cialis' it told me I could get 8 pills per refill, either every 30 or 90 days, either way, the limit was 8. HOWEVER, when I put in 2.5 mg, I found I could get it for daily dosing, even when I put in 2.5 mg twice a day. So, I got a scrip for 180 2.5 mg cialis every 90 days...and they filled it (at least the first time).

Hello: You should do everything that you can to give yourself a chance to regain the ability to get an erection ASAP. You certainly don't have to get a $600 pump; Amazon has really nice units for under $100. That is what I used for a year in addition to taking 5 mg. of Cialis". I found the manual pumping units worked better than the battery powered ones. And if you don't see immediate results; don't give up. I used those aids, plus started Bi-Mix injections at 6 months to help jump start things. Long story short....I was finally able to get erections at 18 months and now after 4.5 years; don't need any help. Again, if sex means anything to you; do everything that you can to regain the ability and to avoid any size loss. I used the "much cheaper generic Cialis". Most of us will need help after surgery and it is up to us to take the necessary steps after surgery. Don't expect your doctor to be proactive, it is your sex life, not his! good luck!

Bill K. from NJ

DaVinci RP July 2011, PSA 3.3, Gleason 3+4=7, Age 58, Pathology downgrade to 3+3=6
Now age 63: Last PSA: Dec 2015: <0.015.


h

I want to re-echo lapilot's comment: surgery is NOT going to end your sex life. It MAY, but it is far from a guarantee. Be aware that the stats on post-surgery ED cover ALL surgeries (both open and RALP), ALL risk factors (EPE or not, nerve-sparing or not), and ALL surgeons.

Most highly experienced RALP surgeons report much, much higher restoration of erectile function numbers than what shows up in publications. It's important to ask the specific surgeon about your specific case before signing the informed consent form.

It's realistic to expect that no matter what penile rehab you undertake, your sexual function will not be as good as before surgery. You are also likely to lose size and girth, and many men piss at orgasm (climacturia). With penile rehab, you may be able to recover some of your size loss, and recover some erectile function - but probably not as hard as before. There are also rarer sexual adverse effects like pain at orgasm (dysorgasmia), or loss of orgasm (anorgasmia). If maintaining sexual function is of prime importance to you (as it was to me), surgery is definitely your worst option.

- Allen

Hey guys,

Thanks for all your replies, it is greatly appreciated.
Stats on me:
55 year old, Gleason of 6 in Aug of 2014, PSA went from like 2 to 5 in a year, so doc wanted to do Biopsy.
Had a prostate MRI done in November of 2014, no detectable cancer.
MRI November 2015--cancer seen, had grown much on the left side---where the Biopsy detected it.
2 docs have told me that it has grown very fast in a years time, and this is reason for concern and I need to do something.
I am going to have another Biopsy before I do anything and go from there. If with Biopsy I am still a "6" I am not doing anything.
I was also told seed implants are not likely for me, due to prostate being enlarged.

Thanks again for your input, If i do have surgery, penis rehab will be top of my list.

I got the Obson pump. I barely used it, but it was definitely helpful until I switched to injections.

Send me an email (click envelope icon to the left of this message) if you are interested in mine. Practically brand new, and it is the higher-end "prescription" model (whatever that means).

Gedman

Sex was important so I had open nerve sparing RP , but still had ED. Since then two rounds of RT. So Absolutely no ability or desire for sex ; pump a joke as well as viagra and Cialis.
Just hoping for durable remission.
How one's expectations change with a strong dose of reality!
Blessed Christmas to all!😃
Bob

If maintaining sexual function is of prime importance to you (as it was to me), surgery is definitely your worst option.

This was the theory that guided me through my treatment. I spoke with many guys who had undergone surgery and NONE had the results that I wanted. I too had an enlarged prostate (who over 40 doesn't?), but took drugs for 6 weeks to reduce the size before treatment. I wouldn't believe that your prostate is too large until a brachy specialist told you so.
Ever time that my girlfriend and I are intimate, I thank God that I made the choice that I did.
Best to you, Brother.

Brian, good luck whatever you decide.
I concur with Halbert, my situation was same as his, Arch, and others. I was able to obtain full erection as soon as the catheter came out (maybe sooner, i dont recall), with 5 mg daily Cialis.
I went to 5 mg every OTHER day, in June, and last month i stopped Cialis altogether, so far so good. I am one year out of surgery, January 6th.

So remember, that needing a pump, trimix, whatever, is not a foregone conclusion. And as Halbert said, most of us aren't where we used to be in the stud department, by the time we are in our 50's and 60's.

With all that said, yup, ED is definitely a risk and there are at least as many guys with poor outcomes as there are guys with outcomes like Halberts, Arch, and mine. So with that said, i too have Express scripts administering my drug plan and Cialis is covered with prior authorization, but only for 6 pills every 30 days. My surgeons office, however, called them and pleaded my case, and somehow was able to get me approved for 30 pills every 30 days, 5 mg. The authorization expired this month, not sure what would happen if i applied for extension. But luckily i dont seem to need it.

I had surgery myself on 2/23/16 to have my prostate removed. Like some on here, I was hesitant to have mine removed due to the sexual part of it. I am with Kaiser so I have a prescription for sidenafil to be used before sexual intercourse and I also have a vacuum pump that works hand in hand. It was difficult at first due to just having surgery. But now I am pretty use to it and things have been a lot better. Even when I am shaving, I will sometimes pull out the pump and have my penis erect just to make sure I keep the penis functioning as the doct suggested. Now at times when I play with myself, I can now get semi erections without the use of the prescription or pump. But it is still a work in progress. Bottomline is I don't have prostate cancer anymore and I am here with my family. It was a difficult decision at first. Trust me. I go for my next PSA in a couple of weeks. Also make sure you keep doing kegel exercises. I have an app on my phone that reminds me every hour to do them and they give timed exercises of when to squeeze and not squeeze. Hope this helps some of you out.