Prostate cancer surgery robbed me of my erection!

[maxkohn]

I'm new here and I've been with my partner since 2008 and she and I had a great sex life. Then in 2011 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer and had the surgery to remove the prostate AND the cancer. After my catheter came out. I got random erections from time to time. A few weeks later, I stopped getting erections at all. The surgery had horrible complications with my being on the table eight hours and in recovery, three. There were scar tissue from an earlier appendectomy to remove and several organs were not where they were supposed to be.

I have not had an erection ever since. I can masturbate to orgasm and I get an erection for about a second at the moment of orgasm. The doctor told me the nerves were spared so I'm guessing the nerves were damaged. I've already tried Cialis, Viagra and other medications to no avail. Currently I'm getting injections by the doctor to see if we get a reaction. So far, nothing to write home about. If it eventually works, he'll teach me to give myself these injections.

Now I've talked to my uncle who has been battling prostate cancer for about five years and he got an implant. He told me the injections are no better than the pills. Yet he underwent radiation and chemo and no longer has the option of surgery. Truth is, the cancer is slowly killing him. He's 74.

I'm 53 years old and my partner is in menopause so sex is not something she craves at the moment. Nonetheless, not getting erections is messing with my head.

Do all prostate cancer treatments have the side effect of erectile dysfunction? What's the difference, if any, between ED and impotence?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

Max

[bclogan1]

You have my understanding and empathy. I was lucky in that my ED started at age 30 and decreased over time to the point drugs and injections just didn’t work to any level of satisfaction. In your situation it would seem the first step is to figure out what’s wrong? Have you had an ultra sound to determine blood flow? This is the very first thing that you need to do before investigating alternative options.

I am seven days post penal implant and have posted a short note about my experience, which has not pleasant but the other posts tell me their is light at the end of the tunnel.

There is a solution and don’t give up hope.

BCLogan

[maxkohn]

You have my understanding and empathy. I was lucky in that my ED started at age 30 and decreased over time to the point drugs and injections just didn’t work to any level of satisfaction. In your situation it would seem the first step is to figure out what’s wrong? Have you had an ultra sound to determine blood flow? This is the very first thing that you need to do before investigating alternative options.

I am seven days post penal implant and have posted a short note about my experience, which has not pleasant but the other posts tell me their is light at the end of the tunnel.

There is a solution and don’t give up hope.

BCLogan

No, I have not had an ultrasound. The doctors told me after surgery to remove my prostate, that the nerves were bruised during the operation. I have not seen good things about implants so I don't think I'm anywhere NEAR ready to even consider that as an option. Do you know what caused your ED? Do you know the difference, if any, between ED and impotency? Thanks in advance.

[bclogan1]

Great question; I don't really know what caused my ED but my history of rock climbing, biking and several sports injuries to the junk are probably attributing causes. Vascular wise the pipes are clean and the cardio side is still running at 100%. The doctor told me that most men that experience ED at a younger age its probably more genetic and passed down through the genes. So I checked and asked that question to my mother who reported my father did have prostate and ED issues. Not sure if that helps?

[wolfpacker]

ED and impotency mean the same thing! ED is the new "politically correct" term... before the early 2000s it was known as impotency.

[Moonman33]

HI, Maxk..I, too, had surgery for a cancerous prostate and erections disappeared. Oral Meds would no longer work, so I turned to injections,which work to a point, but not quite "hard' enough. I have been up to 100 units of tri-mix, and will be asking for a stronger dose next time. The funny thing though, when I urinate for a long time, a semi erection comes on..stronger than when I massage it. But, it does not last long. I am 74 years old, and it took me two years after the operation to have intercourse with the injections. Good Luck...I am sure that the injections will be successful in time...be patient..very patient...Moonman

[maxkohn]

HI, Maxk..I, too, had surgery for a cancerous prostate and erections disappeared. Oral Meds would no longer work, so I turned to injections,which work to a point, but not quite "hard' enough. I have been up to 100 units of tri-mix, and will be asking for a stronger dose next time. The funny thing though, when I urinate for a long time, a semi erection comes on..stronger than when I massage it. But, it does not last long. I am 74 years old, and it took me two years after the operation to have intercourse with the injections. Good Luck...I am sure that the injections will be successful in time...be patient..very patient...Moonman

I'm being patient but my concern is Peyonnne's Disorder where the penis is crooked. What are the odds of that happening?

[Peter1951]

Your urologist should have explained this side effect to you.

The make very light of it but, in theory, in most cases it takes at least 12 to 18 months to get erections back. From what I have read here many on this board have waited much longer than that with no result, hence implants, pumps, etc.

I am 15 months out with no sign of erections returning so I think the 12-18 months statement is just to lure you into a false sense of security.

My urologist works in conjunction with an erection specialist. He insists that injections are used at least twice a week so that the penis does not harden from lack of oxygenated blood. I can't use injections due to the pain, and they didn't work even at 100 units, so I use a pump. Also trying Viagra but that also is not working.

My advice - start injections or pumping ASAP.

Hope this helps.

[ocitgo]

I have had ED since I had a bone marrow transplant 22 years ago at age 54 for leukemia. After prostate surgery (TURP) for BPH a few years ago things got much worse. Before that, Viagra worked most of the time. I now can only get an erection with Trimix and or with a penis pump.

Almost everything has side effects: I almost never ejaculate now because TURP surgery normally opens the prostate directly to the bladder because it removes the Internal sphincter. My TURP surgery messed me up even more with the unwanted side effect of a stricture at the bladder side of my prostate making things even worse except for intermittent ejaculation. Now without even more invasive surgery I have to use an intermittent catheter to pee. I should have stayed on drugs to treat my BPH.

I am not giving up yet that is why I am here on FrankTalk.

[bob1138]

Hi Max,

I developed ED Post-Prostatectomy in February 2004 even though the Surgery was "nerve sparing".
The classical ED Treatment modalities, PDE-5 Inhibitors, Imjections, etc., did not work at all to my satisfaction.
Therefore, I was implanted with the Coloplast Titan in December 2007.
My Implant completely restored my sex life and the emotional bond with my wife ( we have been together since High School).
I would be implanted again in a heart-beat!!
That being said, the final decision is yours and yours alone, just as it was for all the Bionic Brothers in FrankTalk.org.
Please feel free to PM me if you have non-medical questions or would just like to talk.
Wishing you all the best.
Bob