Minimising cost to the NHS

[TheGeorge]

I live in England, have had ED for some years & have just been diagnosed with PC. I have had no treatment yet - surveillance only. If I make a (scarce) GP appointment, do you think I can be prescribed a vacuum pump? If not, you see, I won't take the man's valuable time; but a good pump bought privately is a lot of money.

[AlanMeyer Moderator]

I can't think of any reason why a vacuum pump would have any impact at all, either pro or con, on your prostate cancer. I should think that if a doctor were willing to prescribe a vacuum pump with no diagnosis of prostate cancer, he'd be willing to do it with such a diagnosis.

My own experience with vacuum pumps is limited. I tried a cheap one. It worked to give me a big erection, but getting it to stay up after the vacuum was withdrawn, and using it, were both significant challenges. The bands used were uncomfortable to put on and take off, the temperature of the organ dropped with a band on to restrict circulation. My wife and I gave it up and had sex without erections. It was all oral and manual, but we both found it every bit as fun and satisfying.

Best of luck.

Alan

[MNFarmBoy]

TheGeorge, it might be worthwhile to check into "TriMix" injections for ED. That is working for us for the ED that I'm plagued with following RP (radical prostecetomy), despite "nerve sparing". I have gotten the impression that TriMix and similar (I believe there is a spectrum of such treatments also including e.g. "BiMix" and "QuadMix" formulations) are often successful for ED following treatment for prostate cancer, but I have not investigated their use beyond that. I presume that adequate blood flow and sufficient elasticity are necessary for TriMix and similar to work. An internet search would probably turn up useful information (which, of course, one would have to pick out from the garbage "hits" while trying to avoid scams, malware, etc.). Of course, I don't enjoy the mild pain and discomfor from sticking a hypodermic needle into my dick, but for me that is a small price to pay for the ability for intercourse. The monetary cost for me (central U.S.A.) amounts to ~7 USD/use, including the single-use syringe and needle. I understand that use of TriMix and similar entails risk of e.g. Peyronie's disease and possibly other side-effects, but I have no indication of any so far. Also, it seems like, due to e.g. scar tissue from the needle, there might be an ultimate limit to the number of injections that one could ultimately tolerate, which it seems likely to be associated with the risk of Peyrones.

Also regarding the cost of a VED, in the U.S.A. the vendors promote the battery-powered vacuum pumps, but in my experience the hand-powered pump is adequate, and should suffice unless one's grip is very weak. I purchased the "Encore Medical En44014 Revive Custom Manual Vacuum Therapy System" (amazon.com/dp/B00RR5PVO6?re... for ~$US 180. I believe insurance would have reimbursed that, but submitting the claim didn't make the cut for my priorities. The representative from Timm for their PTV and Osborn systems a agreed that they would submit to my insurance the Osborn ErecAid Classic ($159), which appeared good enough for me. However, they ended up replying ~2 weeks later to tell me that the only device they would submit to insurance was the ~$299 system with battery-powered pump. I was especially irritated that their delay in replying to me was delaying start of its use, so I searched the web and Amazon and settled on the one described above. It is still working okay after ~8.5 months of use. I've found that shaving the contact area and not skimping on the lubricant (AquaGel from Parker Laboratories) help in achieving an adequate seal between the tube and the body, reducing the amount of pumping required to maintain vacuum, thus also reducing wear on the pump.

My experience with trying to use a VED for intercourse is similar to the description from AlanMeyer above, except for I will describe it more negatively: Within ~ a minute or two of deploying the rubber band and starting intercourse, the pain became unbearable, and I couldn't get the band off soon enough, although I did manage to take care to not injure myself while taking it off. That happened both times we tried to use it: The first time ~2.5 months after RP (radical prostecetomy), the second ~5 months later. However, it might still be worth a try for you, along with possibly using VED to restore and maintain elasticity. I continue to use the VED is daily, in order to avoid loss of elasticity, which I believe is what made use of the VED somewhat painful the first week or so, following ~2.5 months with no full erections after RP. In the therapy prescribed for me, the VED is prescribed to help restore and then maintain elasticity in the absence of nocturnal full erections. I plan to continue to use the VED daily until & unless nocturnal erections resume (except I take the morning off the day after using TriMix.).

Also, I’ve found that I can multi-task, shaving or flossing & brushing my teeth during VED therapy. That also helped alleviate my wife’s concern that I might be enjoying the VED therapy.

Best wishes in finding a satisfactory solution!

[Uxp_d in reply to MNFarmBoy]

Unfortunatly we do not have Trimix in the UK

[David82150]

You can get a pump very reasonably but maybe not the answer.

I suggest you try to get the answer why its happening so many things can cause it. It is very common.

[RolandUK]

Hi TheGeorge,

Do go and see your GP , if he's not keen to help ask to be referred to the Urology Dept of your local hospital. As for the cost ... yours is a medical condition ... think of all the money the NHS has to spend on Sports injuries .... just because your condition isn't obvious like a broken leg shouldn't stop you getting help.

I was prescribed a SomaTherapy-ED Manually operated Vacuum Pump by the NHS and found it easy to use and NOT painful, if care was taken choosing the correct size Vacuum Tube ... Mine came with three tubes of differing diameter. Also supplied were two restriction rings of differing material in various sizes. All the rings came with either finger holes or pull tabs making removal not too difficult.

In use the only real disadvantages were ....

1] Lack of spontaneity.

2] The penis feeling almost as if it didn't belong to you . Natural erections stiffen the penis beyond its root and almost as far back as the anus. With the device the penis did feel like a heavy 'lump' pivoted at its base

I was prescribed mine after RP. So, one thing I'm not sure of is the effect of blocking the path of the sperm upon ejaculation. May be a bit uncomfortable.

The NHS prescribed SomaTherapy-ED is a very well made and thought out device. not at all like cheap alternatives, which may be OK for 'sex games play' but are useless for medical conditions.

Hope this helps a bit.

Regards Roland J UK

[TheGeorge in reply to RolandUK]

I can imagine the truth of your Point 2.

Do you know what The Lady's experience of all this is, for or against?

[RolandUK in reply to TheGeorge]

Sorry,

Can't help with your question re the Lady's perspective, as I'm a gay man.

However, from my partner's perspective his main requirements were patience and understanding. See my Point 1.

I can't imagine any caring/loving partner not being patient and understanding if you get an NHS pump.