Hello from a newbie

[Reggieman]

I had a radical prostatectomy 3 weeks ago at UC-San Francisco, Mission Bay Hospital. Dr. Carroll was my surgeon and he is head of the department. Method used was the da Vinci Robot. I found this forum while searching the Internet for just such a forum. I always thought my biggest challenge would be heart problems like my dad so I was surprised when my PSA started going up 6 years ago. It reached 38. It took 3 biopsies over 6 years before my local urologist found the 2 tumors on the anterior side of my prostate. I had double nerve sparing surgery which also removed the lymph nodes. The pathologist's report was pretty good as it turns out. No spreading of the cancer from the prostate. I get my PSA checked again in August. Right now I am trying to adjust to wearing pads and adult diapers. Last week I started taking 1/2 (10 mgs) a Cialis twice a week. Of course I am not getting any erections. Next week I start taking 1 whole Cialis twice a week. I kinda doubt I'll see any erections anytime soon. I'm married and am 70 years old. I had some E.D. before the surgery. I've been reviewing discussions here on pills, injections, implants and the biggie...how to keep intimacy in our relationship. So far I haven't gotten depressed, just pissed off:) I tried the vacuum pump a few years ago when I was going through a stressful period at work (it aggravated my E.D.) I didn't find it helpful and the constriction ring that came with the Encore Deluxe pump hurt to wear and I am not a big guy, just average. This forum has been very helpful and some stories brought tears to my eyes I can tell you.

[PFracture]

Welcome to this place. It sure provides some solace and consolation, even if at first it doesn't look like it. We don't expect certain things, and then they hit us hard. Sucks. In the end, it's very good you've beaten up cancer. But even though i am no doctor, at your age i would look on the whole "getting erections back and following with that regimen" and if you still want to pursue having sex (not saying this in an offensive way, but there are some patients who do not want to go through the hassle of having an implant) then i would look at the implant route.

[dg_moore]

...how to keep intimacy in our relationship...

This is a big deal. Our sex life died completely before I got my implant. I discussed the situation with my internist, who's an old friend. He said two things - first, many couples who have been asexual for a long time never succeed in reviving intimacy, and second, if I wanted a solution for my ED: "it's only plumbing - just get it fixed." I got it fixed, but it was too late - my wife had lost interest years ago, and I had a stroke that killed my libido. We never used the implant and have been platonic for years. I'm here to say that - if an implant is your solution - get it sooner than later. Nothing good happens while you're waiting.

[Reggieman]

Well, I've made an appointment to see Dr. Lue, the E. D. specialist at UCSF in September. I want to find out what the next step is in penile therapy. I tried the pump a few years ago and found it to be a disappointment. I'm open to what comes next. Perhaps it will be injections but who knows what he will recommend. Incontinence, after 6 weeks working with Kegels, is still a problem but there you go. Who knows what the future will bring. Onward and upward

[David_R]

I was told (by several doctors) that it can take up to a year (or more) to know if normal erectile function will return. I waited for that year before I started exploring options (drugs like Viagra, etc. were not an option for me because of a heart condition). Hope things go well for you, brother.

[Reggieman]

I don't expect to get my erection back. I'm 70 years old and had E.D. before surgery and have seen the statistics for old guys with E. D....not good. I want to move onto penile therapy now.