Pump versus Implant

[Woodworker57]

I had a radical prostatectomy just over a year ago and have been dealing with the effects of ED ever since. My urologist has had me try the trinity of pills (Viagara, Lavitra and Cialis) and none of them have made me as happy as the men that appear on the television commercials appear to be. Then my urologist suggested I try a pump… Now I’m to the point where I am seriously considering an implant. And here lies my questions:

With the pump I am adequately able to get a full erection but as I become engorged and the compression ring “snaps” into place, I have almost no feeling whatsoever. My wife will stroke me or perform oral on me and I feel almost nothing. It’s just this big appendage. This is not the case without the pump/compression ring. I do have feeling but I can’t achieve any serious erection for intercourse.

Secondly, when I am “pumped up” my wife experiences considerable pain and discomfort during penetrative sex. This was not the case prior to the RP and I was able to maintain a strong erection. The “natural” feeling of the erection to both my wife and me is completely lost when I use the pump.

My concern is that my urologist is now recommending that I have an implant and I am concerned if the implant erection is similar to the pump erection both my wife and I will be disappointed.

I would appreciate greatly any feedback you can provide on the similarity or difference in the feeling of your erection when using a pump versus the implant.

[radiodec]

It might be a little early to consider the implant, have you tried injections? They work well for some, and did for me for about 10 years. After they quit working adequately, I was implanted (11/7/2012).

It is still too early to tell what the longer term satisfaction will be. Currently my wife and I enjoy the implant's feel. We both are more than satisfied with the implant, not quite the same as natural but every bit as good overall. As I said this is preliminary as I have been using the implant only a little, I am actually ahead of the official OK for sex. Though you will have no control over your ultimate size with an implant, you will have some control over the hardness and girth when inflated.

Some men experience a significant (> 1 inch) loss in length, most are about 1/2 inch or less shorter to the same length, and a great few eventually gain length. The girth aspect is similar, though the numbers that lose girth are smaller.

Personal experience is a slight gain in girth and negligible lenth loss.

Recommendation, do some additional study before going for the implant. Be sure to study which urologists in your area do implants, how often, and satisfaction rates. Then after studying them pick the urologist that you believe has the necessary skill and experience and with whom you will be comfortable in entrusting your sex life.

I wish you the best as you travel this road. Implanted or not, you deserve a good life of intamacy. "To implant or not to implant" that is the question.

Radiodec

[Woodworker57]

Radiodec:

I did ask my urologist about injections and he was not in favor of this due to the possibility of excessive scar tissue forming over time. Also, quite frankly I’m not much of a fan of sticking a needle into my favorite organ!

My biggest concern at this stage is the feeling or sensitivity that I will feel at the tip and the shaft of the penis if I move forward with this surgery. (not to mention what my wife will feel). The next appointment with my urologist is in February so I am trying to learn as much as I can before this next appointment.

How do you find information on what urologists in my area are the primary surgeons performing implant surgery?

Thank you for your response and insight.

[radiodec]

Sensitivity for is better if anything. That may or may not be true for you. The skill of your surgeon is a definite factor in the quality of outcome. Excess scarring from injections is another individual factor. I had my problems with scar tissue but not from injections.

Finding a good surgeon in your area is almost as simple as asking on this board. There are members here from all over the U.S. and the world. Make a post asking for surgeons in your area, I am sure you will get more than a few recommendations.

Radiodec
near Nashville, TN

[SteveTex]

I also had a RRP in 2009 and tried Viagara with no success. Injections worked well and, if you alternate sides, you show avoid scarring. The pumped worked well too, but was awkward setting up and then getting pumped, etc... all while your partner waits.

I had my implant done Sept 26 and have not been terribly happy, although my feelings about it changes daily. I do like the firmness as it is much harder than a normal erection; however I had a significant loss in length and girth.

My sugestion is that you try a different pump and ring setup. Sounds to me like you may be using a ring that is too small if you are losing feeling or sensitivity.

,

[bob1138]

Hi Woodworker,

I was implanted with the Coloplast Titan on December 13, 2007 after developing ED Post-Prostatectomy in 2004.
The Implant completely corrected my ED and restored my sex life and the emotional intimacy with my wife.
This Thursday will mark the Fifth Anniversary of my Titan Implant and my wife and I both love it.
I would do it again in a heart-beat!
The Implant does not interfere with any of my physical activities, e.g., swimming, weight lifting, biking, etc.
As to your question re sensitivity --- I personally have more sensitivity in my penis now than before my Implant.
The following is my own simplistic explanation:
1- The nerves and blood vessels on the surface of the penis are not at all affected by the Implant, therefore, a healthy blood flow is maintained to the penile surface.
2- The cylinders which are inserted into the Corpora Cavernosa probably push the nerve endings closer to the penile surface, resulting in increased sensitivity. This has been my personal experience.

At the end of the day, the final decision is yours and yours alone!!
Just as with me and all the other Bionic Brothers on FT.

Best of Luck,

Bob

[Dave92014]

I can't answer your original question as I am still healing up from my surgery so don't have experience with sex yet. But I can offer a couple of pieces of info on other things listed above.

I used injections for 19 months and they worked well except for about 5 times when they failed to give an adequate erection. I didn't have any problem with the process of sticking my favorite organ. I alternated sides, except after some months it seemed the few times it failed was when I used the right side so from then on I mostly used the left side. The major nuisance was the liquid needed to be refrigerated so traveling involved using an insulated bag to keep it cool and using hotels with refrigerators or ice machines. Plus the cost is about $180 for 5 months supply. But then last August, the injections just stopped giving good erections. I tried some things but then went to see my urologist. He said he had seen this many times and knew it would happen to me eventually. He said the problem is the injections are acidic and so they affect the PH balance inside the organ. After awhile the solution becomes the problem and the process stops working because of the acidic issue. I asked him about pumps and he said he did not recommend them because they only engorge you and they don't give a firm enough erection to do what you want to do. I never used a pump so I can't verify this but I have seen at least one other person here say he had that problem.

The risk of using the implant is that there is about a 0.5% chance you could get an infection during the surgery and the implant would have to be removed. Because of that you might want to try injections. On the other hand, my urologist told me he thought there was a chance that Medicare would stop covering the implants in the future. They don't cover birth control or Viagra now. He said the reason they cover implants is that the Doc who invented them knew a Senator and convinced his friend to get implants covered. With all the talk about reducing the Medicare cost, this is a concern. I just got the bills for my surgery and they totalled $14,600. That might bias you to get the surgery now while Medicare pays for it.