Need Advice About Penile Implant

I'm a new member but longtime lurker here. Three years ago I had nerve - sparing robotic RP. The operation went well, but I was left with some incontinence and lack of ability to achieve an erection. I was 67 when I had the surgery and will turn 71 in November. We had a vigorous sex life up to that time and most likely still would if I could. I have tried everything out there and nothing has worked for me, so I am now considering the one thing I said I never would - an implant.

I am in good overall health and PSA is around 0.01. I have read everything I can find on the net, been to a seminar and talked a little bit with my doctor about it. I have an appointment with him next week for further discussion and to see whether or not insurance will cover the procedure.

So... what i am really looking for is to hear about your experiences if any of you have implants - good bad or otherwise. What questions do I need to ask, what I can I expect if I have the procedure, what is recovery like, any complications, how well does it work for you and anything else relevant. And the main question: if you have an implant, do feel it was worth it and if you could do it over again, would you?

Thanks in advance for responding. I really need some help with this.

Jim

Hello Jim,

I have an AMS 700 CX inflatable penile implant which I have had for almost six months. I also have an AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter which was installed at the same time.

Since you say you have tried everything I assume that you have tried injections which work for many men when nothing else does. If your hydraulics are in OK shape and your ED is caused by nerve damage from the surgery then injections will work. If, on the other hand, your ED is also caused by a venous leak then injections won't work as well. I used injections for several years before deciding to go with an implant. If you haven't tried injections I would recommend doing that first.

That said, I am reasonably happy with my implant. In my case the recovery wasn't bad at all and I had no complications. We have heard from other forum members who were not so lucky. Infections do occur in a small percentage of cases although the manufacturers claim that the new antibiotic coatings on their devices have reduced the incidence. But, even the guys who have problems seem to eventually get squared away and they seem happy with the results.

Here are a few quick pros and cons:

Good:
Seems to work.
Sensation is fairly normal.
Arousal and climax proceed as expected.
No complaints from partner.

Bad:
Operating the device requires good hand strength and coordination.
Can be a bit achy when first inflated.
Most men find their implants smaller than expected. I know I do.
Deflated device oddly lumpy. Hard rubber tip palpable in flaccid penis -- in the way when "milking" last few drops after urinating. Pump bulb feels odd when washing "package" in shower.
Occasionally difficult to get valve to work properly when inflating/deflating device.
I'd get more use from the implant if the sphincter worked better. The leaking is a bit off-putting.

Overall I am somewhat grumpily satisfied. I'd do it again but I can't say its perfect.

Here is my diary from when I had my implant surgery:
www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=35&m=2371384
Hope it helps.
Jeff