Guys, Hello, I had robotic prostatectomy in March age 54 yo, diag in Jan w/ gleason of 7(3+4) 10 of 14 core bx positive, psa 4.4. Cx was contained in capsule, no lymph nodes. Dr said he saved 80% of nerve bundles bilateral, and expects me to be Cx free- 1st post psa 0.01 -undetectable. Also said I could start my TRT back and I have. Never did I have incontinence, but I do have to be careful, it seems to try and slip out sometimes. Erections - not happening - Now, 2.5 months out, no erections, though I do have some firmness happening, taking tadalafil 5mg daily. I respond well to bi-mix injections 0.05 ml, (trimix hurt like hell as well as muse did) at least I've got that! I do have faith that erections will return, but asking those that are blessed with return of erections, - Did it just happen one day, got good wood or was it a slow, slow process, with less than firm erections until finally it was firm enough for intercourse?? Also with my slight firmness, when I or my wife start some messing around- damn thing disappears- like stage fright. I did have slight ED before surgery, but tadalafil worked well, like I was a 25 yo again. Sex has always been great, a very important part of our daily life. I know that I will never return to that type of action, but one can hope...This cancer was a blow to us, and I miss the sex sooo much. I am blessed that I am Cx free for now, and that I don't have incontinence problems as many do. I wish all to get full function back as well as mine.
If anyone can share their experience with return of erections - timeline, positive signs, erection quality, anything that they did different, etc.
Gottogetbackinthegame
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gottogetbackingame
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I was diagnosed and ópera téð similiar age as you in 2011. I waited and tried everything until I had a implant 3 years ago. I waited to long, wished I would have had it no more than one year after operation. It is working perfectly for me.
The return of what functioning I have (variable but appreciable when it's at its best, with Viagra) was very slow, continuing over a period of maybe a year and a half, then with another setback for male sling surgery (I did have a lot of incontinence, the second surgery helped) followed by another return over a few months and then some more. So really, two or more years total "return time". So you can see that you are very early on. Patience will pay off for both you and your wife, and the fact that you are having some firmness already is a good sign. For quite a while I had the most firmness when I didn't want it--I would get a partial hard on after I got off my bicycle if I had ridden any distance! I took that to mean that something somewhere was being stimulated and was responding to the stimulus, and that I would keep making progress. And I did. Still not perfect, not as good as before, but good enough for a good deal of pleasure, and I'm also still cancer free as far as I know, alive, and enjoying life. So I'll settle.
Very interesting comment about getting firm when riding your bike. I've had this same experience. My wife and I had been on our road bikes for about 45 minutes and taken a break for water. I told her what was going on, I wanted to "show off"! Wish we could figure out the root cause and re-create this phenomena in the bedroom.
Performance anxiety in the bedroom when you both have expectations doesn't help. On your bike you had no such expectations. Dicks have a mind of their own.
Thanks Jimreilly for the info, I am thrilled to hear you are recovering well and enjoying life as it is now in the new reality. I am struggling with the reality as it is, and I do have the hope of full erection return someday... my MD told me to avoid riding a bike for the first 6 months, so cannot try the bike theory yet. I have hit the gym pretty hard now, so much so that had to back out of core work b/c one of my trocar sites was feeling like a possible incisional herniation. Keep me updated.
if you're eager to ride just for exercise (no erection) you might ask your doc about riding a reclining stationary bike in the gym, so there isn't pressure on that part of the anatomy
I had similar scores as you: Gleason 3+4 (4+3 postop), nerve-sparing RARP, no evidence of cancer outside of the gland, no lymph node, etc. Age at surgery: just under 68. One thing I have learned in my experience is that, regarding erections (and to a lesser extent incontinence) you MUST BE PATIENT! It took me a year to get a fairly firm one with 80mg of sildenafil (Viagra) (I had partial ED before, treated with 25-50mg of Viagra). At 2-3 months out, nada. You have to understand that even though the nerves were "spared," they were in any case traumatized somewhat during surgery, and it can take months or longer for erections to return. And even then they may be different from before surgery. I still remember the day when, properly stimulated I obtained on my own a full erection with Viagra after a year. It was a wonderful day. Hopefully it will be so with you. For one thing you are younger. Just be patient.
Myself and gottogetbackingame have PhD's in ED, and we are still looking for a good hard-on. However, with Bill68's humor and
Jeff85705's advice, we are well on our way to reaching our goal. We are PCa free and have wonderful partners -- life is good. Long live this erection thread!
I respond well to bi-mix injections 0.05 ml, (trimix hurt like hell as well as muse did) at least I've got that!
<<<
Remember that, when you feel that things are hopeless.
Your sex life might not be the same as it was, but (even without erections, and certainly with drug-induced erections) it can still be quite rewarding.
I'm coming up on one year of ADT. I chose radiation (Gleason 4+3=7, PSA 18) because I wouldn't have to face post-op ED and incontinence.
However the ADT is quite challenging to deal with. I knew my libido would try to go to sleep, which is danger zone for preserving erectile functioning if you stop masturbation. I shored up my libido with a mental assertion that libido doesn't need testosterone if there is a way to increase blood flow.
You're in the same situation in that you need to have reliable erections often enough to preserve the penile
tissues.
I'll make this quick: I invented the Loop, which you make yourself and is an erection-enhancing device. Just a simple loop in a cord. The Loop has saved my erections from ADT. It does increase blood flow. With it, I can count on a solid erection, whether or not my libido feels like it.
Please read my Intro paper on the Loop. Find the link in my post "Here is the file-- Loop Instructions".
Good luck! Keep up your good efforts -- just try adding this ED tool into the mix.
Shortly after surgery last year, I started taking Cialis pills. After 3 months, my erections were partial and not quite enough for intercourse. After 6 months, my erections were firm enough for intercourse, but not every time. I stopped Cialis and then started taking Viagra whenever I needed it (just to save money). About 9 months after surgery, I no longer needed any medication, and my erections were full, like they were before surgery. I had surgery at age 52 and was in fit shape. My doctor told me that even if you can't tell anything going on while taking the medicine, it is working behind the scenes. I also tried stimulating "it" every day or two, which I think helped my recovery. In the months before I was able to get hard, I was still able to achieve climax through stimulation, which was kind of strange.
Thanks Skillmk, your info is encouraging-to know that someone simular is or has experienced what I am going through. I am 2 yrs older, but I am in good shape, I stay in the 8 to 13% BF range, and have started back working out 4 -5 days/wk. Looking forward to the days of spontaneous erections and morning sex - and night... My wife likes mornings, I like nights - so it is a win win, right now, we have to schedule our sex - although fun, don't like the injections nor the slight ache I have after, but well worth it.
Yes, unfortunately I am. Seem to have slight improvement in movement and some stiffness, but not any real length or hardness enough for intercourse. I've started vac pumping every day, injecting 2x week, usually a 2 hrs erection, but nothing spontaneous yet. How about you? Regular/spontaneous sex now? I am really ready for the good ole days of getting wood just by thinking about sex...
I am at 5 months post surgery. I still cannot get an erection at all on my own. I have been using the pump daily since 4 weeks after and taking 5mg Tadalafil daily with 15 mg on Tuesdays and Saturdays. I started injecting a couple of weeks ago with Prostaglandin E1. It has been hit or miss with the useability for intercourse. I am trying to get a dose that gives me a good erection without so much pain. I too am ready to be back to spontaneous erections like I had before surgery.
Try bimix, 30/3 works well for me. I too take tadalafil 5 mg daily. With the bimix, erections I think are potentiated a bit, usually 2 hrs. Starts to ache a bit after about an hour, having marathon sex, but , yes, sometimes a one and done would be nice... trimix cause lots of pain. Keep the hope going...
Hello, I'm 54 yo too, I had robotics surgery 01/25/2019. I have the problem with no erection and my neighborhood pharmacy is rich off of me, ordering my tadalafil 5mg since February 2019. Still no erection yet. If you see this Post, please me(Tony M.) and Gottogetbackingame what have help may you with no erection? Thank you
Admosley, Are you having any signs of erections/nerve repair? I hope so, I still don't have natural erection, but I do use bimix with great success, as far as tadalafil, you need to order from a Canadian or india pharmacy. Same stuff, but a whole lot cheaper. Just google search it. Your urologist can write you a script.
Still hoping for that real erection one day, I am 6 months post op now.
Keeping the faith, cuz I gottagetbackingame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go to this link, read up on bimix, trimix. I am very surprised your urologist hasn't said anything to you about this. Also read the previous replies in this thread.
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