Had my surgery 13 months ago. Can go the day or two on one pad. My PSA is non detectable. But I want my sex life back. Tried injections currently taking medications with about 50% results. Getting depressed at times with this situation. No one understands the stress that this can put on you. I can compartmentalize it but it breaks through sometimes. The doctor said there has been improvement and he can't tell me how long it will take which I know. I'm going to have to find a cancer therapist to tackle the mental aspect of this battle. I can't turn this part of me off and I can't stand it when that part is on and I feel dysfunctional. Had to get it out. Need some encouragement.

THANKS

bghjul,
Gee, I wish I knew what to tell you that would be a word of encouragement. I can certainly understand your frustration, having had the surgery 19 months ago and still in the same boat. I too tried the injections but had to discontinue them. I've tried the pump, but was only successful once with that. I will say that I've read much on the internet from guys who've begun to experience more success after 2 years, and one urologist I saw said he'd even had one patient who regained his sexual function after 3 years. That seems to be the exception, but it does give hope. At least you're having some success (50%, as you mentioned) with the ED drugs. For some of us, that doesn't work at all. Just be positive, and hopeful. You're much younger than I (I'm 59) so it's entirely possible in time that you'll regain everything. My urologist has suggested that I wait until at least the 2 year mark, which will be March, '07, and then consider doing the implant. That's a HUGE decision to make, but I'm hopeful that I'll have success before then. Good luck in your continued recovery.
doj

bghjul,

I think you're on the right track to express your frustration and seek out a therapist. I'm in the same situation. It's been helpful for me to talk to a good counselor, and to be up front about what I am experiencing with my partner.

Also, I have a good and very positive urologist who taught me and my partner about a year ago how to find the right dose for Trimix and do the injections. Luckily, I have not had any problems during the last year with scarring or other side effects. I don't like sticking myself, so my partner does that part, and I just focus on relaxing. The injections have worked very well, and I continue to use the pump for maintaining size and blood flow. The pump makes foreplay and masturbation more fun, also (probably more information than you wanted).

I don't know if I'll ever get spontaneous erections back. I hope so. And I hope you do, too. At your age, and given that you are seeing some improvement with oral medicines, I think you have good chance.

I am 3 years - 3 months past surgery at age 52. I am hopelessly an incurable impotent person. That was hard to admit - OK - now what do I do?
Pills - what a joke - the whole world thinks take a pill and all will be fine, including some of my friends who just don't understand - how do you tell your friends you couldn't have an erection for a million dollars?

Injections - I had one and it hurt so bad - I don't know what happened but that was almost worse than the biopsy.

Pump - I have and continue to try - they hurt. Doc says I was compact before surgery - he really had to pull my urtherea up to connnect.

Good things - I can walk around any locker room in a jock, thong or naked and not worry about an erection! Same with visiting a doctor! It really bugs me I can't get it up - can't find a MAN therapist -

Thanks for the feedback. It really helps to have some place to let this out. You have given me encouragement to continue this battle.

RonZ you may want to go with an implant. Though I did read on Web MD that there are new medications on the horizon which would bring us all more hope. I work in the pharma industry and I know that this market is huge and I'm sure they are working on new products somewhere.

Don't give up I know that this situation will make you want to scream. I almost, I did break down in my Uro's office on Monday. But I know I can't give up your responses encourage me to press on. Last piece of info I will pass on is that I'm reading a book called The Hardness Factor. I'm taking a supplement called L-Arginine Complex (3 grams per day) which helps the body produce nitric oxide. Which is produced by the body to help get an erection which is one of the main triggers used by the ED drugs on the market. The more nitirc oxide the body produces the better. It is a good book written by a doctor you can get on Amazon very cheap used. I found out about it on Web MD. The supplements have made a difference when I take the medication.

Once again thanks for all the feedback. It nice to have a place to let it go.