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Posted 12/27/2006 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
I have read numerous posts from you guys (and gals) who have stated that you have already started using viagra, et.al. , and/or a vacuum pump soon after your surgery. I'm wondering why my Doc didn't do this and should I be concerned? I'm now 4 weeks post-op, haven't used a pad since the 2nd day, but am naturally concerned about regaining my "manhood" as quickly as possible. I don't see my Doc again until Jan 8th, at which time I'll get the results of my first post-op PSA test. Any info is appreciated!

PS, Happy Holidays!!

Posted 12/27/2006 9:19 AM (GMT 0)

You are doing well.

It's only recently that doctors have started suggesting use of Viagra and to a lesser  extent pumps soon after surgery to assist with the recovery process.

Most men I know had not considered use of Viagra or similar until well after their treatment, and then only for sexual activity. Most of them have done well since, so it's not something to be overly worried about. Some of them took 6 weeks to regain any function others took a lot longer.

It's something to ask your doctor or urologist about. One aspect with Viagra is to take it carefully to start with: just use a 25 or cut a 100 into 4 to start with as a larger doses can have an adverse effect for some people.

John

Posted 12/27/2006 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info!

Posted 12/27/2006 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Psychored,

The penile rehabilitation program that I am on has only been used by my urologist for about 10 months. It appears that a standard protocol is starting to develop for the use of Viagra, Cialis or Levitra and/or a vacuum pump. I just got my vacuum pump this past Friday and had intercourse for the first time in two months yesteday. While I had intercourse the primary purpose of the pills and pump is to exercise the penis. If you think about it your body would naturally exercise it with the night time erections. The pills increase the blood flow to the penis and the pump stretches it and fills it. At this point I am personally not that pleased with the erection from the vacuum pump as it is not anywhere close to a natural type of erection. I am considering going to penile injections which is what my urologist believed that I would like better but said that I could try the pump first. My urologist believes that given time my erections will come back as he spared the nerves. If your urologist is not suggesting some sort of intervention while you are waiting for the return of natural erections then I would be pushing him on it. He apparently is not sensitive to this need.

Tamu
Posted 12/27/2006 6:58 PM (GMT 0)
Not sensitive to this need? Much nicer way to say what I was thinking Tamu!
My thoughts leaned more toward jerkish...LOL.

Psyc, seriously, what's this guy waiting for? He's got a phone, a fax, e-mail. Then there's the old fashioned way....snail mail if he's too busy or too good to actually have a conversation with you. Your pathology has been ready for weeks. What the sam hell is he waiting for? This is not a patient friendly Doc. The conversation concerning ED should have long taken place and a plan discussed. Either find a Doc who gives a hooey or let him have it good for being so insensitive to his patients...you know.....the people who keep him in Lexus! No patients, no Lexus...simple equasion IMO

Paul's surgeon was one of those super-star, too good to interact kind of guys..."was" being the key word here! By about the second time he played, treat the patient like he's stupid, we re-reducated him. First me, then Paul. Now, he's a very interactive Physician and we share a mutual respect for one another. I'm sure he just thought I was a wench but, when his patient went after him for being neglectful in his duty as a Physician, he listened.
I have heard he's become much more of a people person than he was. Some Doc's just need a little continuing education in the art of the patient-Physician relationship.

Swim
Posted 12/27/2006 11:06 PM (GMT 0)
Please don't think that Dr. Dasari is one of the "holier than thou" types cause he is not. This subject just didn't come up on my return to him following surgery to get 'hang' out, etc. Dr. Dasari has been great and I would recommend him unreservedly to anyone. I was just asking since everyone on here seemed to be doing different things. I plan on bringing this subject up on Jan 8.

Posted 12/28/2006 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Sorry my thoughts offend you. Didn't mean to. Relaity is what it is however. He knew, you didn't and you haven't mentioned he talked about what would follow treatment.
Posted 12/28/2006 5:06 AM (GMT 0)
FWIW, my doctor gave me a pamphlet about ErecAid on the day my catheter was removed (after daVinci surgery).  He didn't push it at all.  Once I found out my insurance would not cover it up front (I had to pay the $575 up front, and wait to see what the reimbursement would be, which was around $330), I hesitated to purchase it.  After several weeks of no erections, however, I got it.

The doctor also did not prescribe Cialis/Viagra for me until my 3 month post-surgery PSA, when I seemed more concerned about the lack of erections.  My insurance covers Viagra, but not Cialis.

Posted 12/28/2006 1:55 PM (GMT 0)
Our surgeon in Austin made it clear in his information packet and our first consult that he was just as aggressive about rehab as he was about the procedure itself. He will not hand us off to our local uro until all is up and running/working. Seeing on a few prior threads that some docs don't think the post-quality-of-life is an issue is alarming. I'm not saying that's the case here, Psych, but you sometimes have to be the aggressor - as we are learning - with the medical community.

Our surgeon had a scrip for Cialis waiting upon discharge from the hospital and said to start it immediately. On post-followup he also reminded to use the pump as daily therapy. "Manhood" is extremely important at any age and we are grateful for our doc's approach.
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