Hey Fellas, Hope everyone is doing well. So I had my annual visit with Dr. Mulhall (Urologist) yesterday, and after a routine sonogram, the team there informed me that I have a leaky valve in my penis. Dr. Mulhall explained, the penis has 2 valves that carry and hold blood during erections. He also reported that this is very common with patients whom had surgery, radiation and ADT (the trifecta treatment).
Thus I am still unable to get a good erection with the use of drugs and injections. So now I have to choose if I want to keep these often painful injections of trimix (100mg) that give me a barely penetrable erection, or to go for a penile implant. I have been faithful to Dr.Mulhall’s recommendations over the past year and a half, and have injected myself, despite 0- libido and I also kept sexually active during the whole time. However, now that the 1 year ADT is over and I can slowly feel my libido coming back, I am fretting the thought of having to inject in hopes of an erection for the rest of my life. I really want to return to my sexual self before all this, within reason and as much as possible of course. I know sex isn’t everything, but it certainly is important to this 53 year old guy.
In conclusion, I have done some research and also read Dr. Mulhall’s materials on penile implant surgery. In addition, I spoke to one of his patients, who was eager to report that it was the best medical decision he’s ever made. He said he has returned to the spontaneity side of sexual intimacy with his partner. He is 72 and his partner 35. His surgery was 4 years ago. So here I am on the fence and leaning towards doing anything that will increase the possibility of sexual normalcy for myself.
I appreciate any and all thoughts on this.
God Speed,
D
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Dreamweaverman
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As my surgeon told me, "those guys who have implants have got to be really motivated"; I wasn't that motivated and cope with lesser means, and don't have a partner to please in any case. If that's the way you feel, as long as you can find out ahead of time just what's involved, go for it!
So far I really cant see one, outside of the small percentage of men who experience an infection during 6-week healing process, and then it has to be replaced.
oh and he said it will most likely need to be replaced in 10 years.
Two men in my support group have had implants this year. They are very happy with the results and report that their partners are also very happy. One is straight; one is gay. Both say that they do not regret doing it. One had high-end health insurance and so the bite was not too great; the second had Medicare and the bite was not too great.
It is certainly a one-way street. If the device is ever removed, your erectile capacity even with injections would be nil.
Support group, "FrankTalk.org". I post there as "Lost Sheep". Had my implant since late 2017.
I do not know what literature reports such high failure rates and dissatisfaction rates. Medical journal papers (peer-reviewed, from National Institute of Health, for example) I have read report satisfaction rates above 90%. I researched a LOT before choosing a surgeon, but the decision to get an implant when pills failed was easy. I skipped considering injections entirely. (This was before prostate cancer, by the way.)
The experience and judgement of the surgeon is VITAL.
The 10 year service life is a problem, but revisions are usually easier on the patient during recovery than the initial implant's recovery.
This was an OLD post I wrote - but will update the final outcome to the decision I made.
I have learned to accept and live with no ability to have any type of erection.
I'm fortunate to have a great spouse (36 yrs + counting) and do not regret my decision to give it up and move on.
I've also spent several years 'undetectable' using a monotherapy (bicalutamide) which has allowed me to feel fairly good - I can golf regularly and I have muscles that make me look healthy and normal'.
IF I had to do it again, I would make the same decision. I'm 'stabilized' and look forward to the future.
Hey Ronny, what studies were you reading? I did a bunch of research and spoke to a couple people who have done it. Dr. Mulhalls book was very helpful for me as well. There are a lot of guys on here that have had it done or know people. I’m sure if you want they will share information. For me, I really feel like I have exhausted every option and I don’t want to inject myself in hopes of an erection good enough for penetration for the rest of my life.
Two men in my support group had implants. BOTH are happy with the outcome. One is straight; one is gay. The latter had a redo because of a leak in his device. Boston Scientific stood by their product and replaced it.
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