4 month PSA .07 and start of injections

Hello everyone! Yesterday was a big day for me. Not only did I find out that my PSA is staying low, but I got to learn how to inject myself. The doctor had me start with 10 mcg of Caverject. They come with as much a 20 mcg in each syringe. You have to dial the dosage and throw the rest away. Seems like a waste to me. Oh well, insurance will actually pick up some of the cost of this one. My wife is an RN and I feel pretty comfortable with this type of thing so I asked the Doc if I could do the 1st injection, with his supervision. He said I could. Later he told me that I was the 1st patient he ever had that wanted to do it the first time. Well, I got it right. It wasn't as bad I had thought it would be. He said he would be back in 10 - 15 minutes....and I was to just leave it alone and he would check things out upon his return. Of course I couldn't help but try to help the process. My wife finally convinced me that I should do as he said and leave it alone. When he returned we evaluated the erection. It was not what I had hoped for, and there was quite a bit of pain. He told me that it looked good enough for penetration to him. Well, it was about what I have been getting on the Cialis with stimulation, which really hasn't been good enough for penetration. I told my wife later that it might have been good enough for a jelly dough nut, but I couldn't believe it was really good enough for penetration. Before I left I insisted that he not only give me a prescription for the Caverject but for a bi-mix or a tri-mix. He agreed that he would write one for the bi-mix as well and to start at .5cc. I am hoping that will stop the pain that I was feeling with the Caverject, and it is much cheaper. The effects of the Caverject lasted for about 1 1/2 hrs. I know that this will all take some experimentation, but I also know that I need to be careful. I have read where some of you add 50mg Viagra to help things along. How will this effect things?

A question that I had but failed to ask the Doc is....if I increase the dosage will that increase the hardness of the erection, the length of time that the effects last, or both?

Once again, I know this is a long trip I am on, and things will come slowly, but I really want to get this all back. I know that it will never be as it was, but it is difficult for me. I also know that there are many who have it much worse than me. I really wish none of us had to deal with these issues.

Rip

I have been using Caverject for several months now.  I got my best erection with 100mg of viagra followed 1/2 hour later with a 20mcg injection of Caverject.  The resulting erection is very similar to  pre surgery.  However, it also is the most uncomfortable and longest lasting.  Usually I use 50 mg viagra and 10 mcg caverject.

I have been experimenting and found that I now can get a usable erection with just 10 mcg of caverject and no viagra.  The discomfort is minimized and does not last as long.  My doctor said that is probably more like a natural erection. If I find I must use injections forever, I will try bimix to save money.

My orgasm is not very intense and my doctor has no suggestions to improve it. Good luck with your journey.

Tim G

I too found the price of Caverject to be outrageous.  However, I have never seen it priced at $70 a shot...whew.  My medicare  online pharmacy has it at about $23 a shot, which to me is still too high.

You are right, pain is the downside, but that does seem to get better over time.  My doctor's PA admitted that they prescribe Caverject because it is  "idiot proof".  By that, he meant that it comes in a self contained syringe that make it easier for  storage, measurement and injection.  The "mixes" on the other hand must be prepared by  a compounding pharmacist and then stored in a refrigerator and then the patient must measure, fill the syringe and inject. Comments here tell us that isn't a problem for most users.

Hi All,

My hubby has just started down the injection road.  His urologist recommended Caverject.  The first one done by his urologist was 10 mcgr and this didn't quite produce something 'usable' but almost. 

The second injection, again 10 mcgr, done by me under the urologists supervision was on the opposite side and produced a very one sided erection and his foreskin was very swollen, similar to a very large blister.  I felt really bad, that I'd injected in the wrong place or something but the urologist did supervise so logic says this wasn't the case.  It certainly was too painful to be usable.  Anyone else had this experience?

On his urologists advice the 3rd injection was 20 mcgr, again done by me, this time at home, on the same side as the first injection, and this worked fine, usable though it did last longer than we would have liked and we'll try 15 mcgr next time.

I know he won't want an injection on the same side as the second time ever again and I'm worried about scarring and peyrones.  However, if we leave the injections 2-3 weeks apart will this reduce the risk if we use only one side for the injection site?

The aching afterwards is minimal and worth putting up with he says just for the storage advantages of Caverject over trimix or bimix.

Little Jem

Little Jem,

What length syringe needle are you using?  I believe 1/2" is recommended and it has to go all the way in the penis side. Both sides ahould be alternated.  Two to three days apart is also recommended.  Vary the dose minimaly.  Too much and he will pay the price with a prolonged erection and pain.

 

I don't believe you can get to far off of target with injecions.  My experience says that emotions play a large part in firm erections.  Same dosage can produce beautiful erections most of the time but with the right distraction I have seen it go soft in seconds and not return even with a fair degree of stimulation.

 

Convince your hubby to try the weak side again and continue the alternating repetition.

Let us know about your success.

 

Geon

Hi All,

We're using the 1/2inch needle and the injection I did which caused the painful, 'one sided' erection was done under supervision by the urologist. Would he have allowed me to inject in the wrong place???

This seems to have created yet another barrier that hubby is now very reluctant to cross. The next injection should be on the same side that caused the problem and he doesn't seem interested in pursuing that one at all. He also says he does get some pain along that same side of his penis and on that same side of his groin, both before the injection and since. Could this have something to do with it? He's now 18 months since his open RRP.

Big fat ZERO PSA's since the op though so that's one good thing. Next PSA due March 2008.

Take care all,

Little Jem

Little Gem,

Gomgrats on the BIG FAT 0.0 PSA!  This is the one that really counts, the rest we can deal with.

Very happy for both of you.

No, I don't believe the URO would let you shoot in the wrong area.  I find that my right side is susceptable to much more pain (shooting) then my right and the pain travels the length of the penis making it very difficult to continue inserting the needle.  I go slow but I manage.  The results do not seem to be as effective on the right as the left but I am still in the process of resolving the issue.  I am 10 months post DaVinci RP.

Keep in touch and hope all will be favorable.

Marc