I am wanting to try a vacuum pump to see if it will help with my recovery. I had surgery in October 2006. Viagra does make things thicken up a bit but it is way short of being able to have intercourse. I would greatly appreciate any advise as to what vacuum pump would be a good one. My insurance does not cover it. Looking on line is confusing some seem very compact and others seem like you need an extra suitcase to carry them around. The prices are all over the board $14.95 to over $500.00. Any advise?

I've been using the ErecAid Esteem System by Osbon for the past 5 years. It never fails even though many times I don't need it anymore. I use it usually only to apply finishing touches for that last bit of firmness. Initially it did the entire job while I was recovering. I'm now almost 75 and it enables a frequent and satisfying sexlife.Wife swears by it as its far more effective than Viagra,Cialis,etc. Viagra works for initial erection but not for keeping it as long as one might like. It even works if she's in the mood and you're not quite.
With this system you can maintain an erection until the compression band is removed even well after orgasm. Wife considers this a dividend.
Had RRP in 2001 and this is the model my surgeon prescribed. Its not the most compact item but it fits nicely in any luggage and we never leave home without it.
It isn't cheap, around $500, but its well worth it as you only buy it once and its quality construction compared to the junk sold over the counter. The company also provides excellant service with an 800# manned at all times by knowledgeable reps. Good Luck, Bob

Since I haven't recovered enough erectile function to operate fully, I have been using the Rejoyn Vacuum Therapy System. It gets the job done and is in the mid-range price level. Units run between $150 and $350. They have a web site which makes it very convenient to reorder constriction rings once you determine the best size for you. Initially they send you 4 varying sizes & you will probably end up with one that restricts the blood flow from exiting the penis, yet leaves you enough feeling and sensation to enjoy things again. Be sure to get a battery operated device (no matter which system you choose).

Good luck.

Thom in VA

I have used the Osbon ErecAid system and the manual pump works just fine. Actually I think manual gives you more control over what is happening. One of the side benefits of using the pump early in your recovery is that it also helps restore penis size post-surgery.

I agree with the previous post. The manual version is definitely superior to the battery operated pump for the reason given---more precise control. Also the comment about early use is also valid not only to regainpre-surgical penis size but to retrain blood vessels to deliver the necessary blood to create the erection. The constriction bands retain the erection. Eventually you may not need either but early practice and useage is the best means of full recovery.
Bob

Has anybody had any experience with the vacurect product? It looks user friendly is FDA approved has a 30 day no question asked money back guarantee this month. This time last year I never would have dreamed I'd be checking out vacuum pumps. Of course I never would have dreamed I'd have prostate cancer either. Life is full of surprises.

I'm 9 mos. post robot. Most everything good, PSA undetectable, incontinence much better. Erections? What erections? Viagra, Cialis, Levitra have done very little. Ready to try the pump. Have read the good reviews of the vac. pumps; has anyone had any so-so experiences or unpleasant side effects with them? Always like to hear both sides of the story. Thanks all.

I have ordered the vacurect and will post my experience later this week. It is supposed to get here in two days. My plan is intercourse Wednesday maybe being to optomistic but hey I live in hope.

My husband bought the ErecAid System by Osbon - (the battery type )and it's worked well. It was expensive though - $600. The rep comes to the urology office by appointment to meet (privately, of course) with patients interested in the product. No pressure to buy - or make a decision that day. Maybe your urologist would have suggestions for you.

Good luck.

The vacurect arrived. It took a while to get it, they were out of them. I got it yesterday and read the directions. They want you to practice for 5 to seven days. So yesterday afternoon I pumped it up. It was definately a different experience not sexual at all, (of course I was by myself for this test run) more like doing an exercise routine. It came up sort of flacid not rock hard but a lot of blood was being pumped in there which is proabably good. I got up this morning told my wife I was going to do my exercise and put it and pumped it up again. This time it came up pretty decent big improvement over yesterday. Probably could have intercourse with the one that was pumped up this morning with avery co-operative spouse which I am blessed to have. Anyway, I will keep up the therapy for a week and post back the results. My first impressions of this unit is it is very user friendy the pumping action is very natural, it is compact and would travel well. I am only posting this personal inforamtion in the hope that it helps someone else, as this disease is a bummer in a lot of ways.

I've used a pump since July 05...my problem is that I can't keep the erection, even with the rings. I used the smallest of the 5 that came with mine. I did have successful intercourse one time. It takes a while to learn how to use it effectively. I use it every night for 15 minutes for therapy, but have not had erections return..I'm 20 months post-RRP. I hope that you find it successful. The "one" time it worked was wonderful.
doj

The trick could be (at least in my case it was), if one ring does'nt hold the blood, try 2, 3, or more if you have to at a time. The Osborn pump has been great for me and I am in the 13th year of use.

My husband received his pump this week. (Came with 3 different size tubes and about 30 different rings.) Thanks to this board educating me and me prompting my husband to talk to his MD about it. We are now 3 1/2 months post-op. My husband had been on Cialis for 5 weeks. All we noted is that it was expensive with no results or sensation. I was really concerned that my husband would get more and more discouraged. Once he discussed it with his MD (of course he told him that I was surfing this website and that I was reading what others have had success with), he set him up with a ED Vacuum device representative. He met with my husband and consulted for about 45 minutes on the device. We received the device 4 days later and WOW. I feel like we wasted our money on all of the Cialis. My husband was able to obtain an erection with the device and NO RINGS first time we used it. Enough for us to be intimate. However, he did not achieve an orgasm. He has had an orgasm since the surgery without erection. I feel that this is the first step to building his confidence back up. I am and will continue to be supportive of his needs. To all of ya'll that are thinking about getting the vacuum. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? The cost was $600.00 insurance paid all but $120. Our insurance did not pay for Cialis... this was costing us close to $300.00 per month. Thanks to this board we were able to tell the doctor what we needed.

Wow npatrick! It's good you followed up on this right away and I'm sure his confidence will skyrocket now if you just don't get discouraged at setbacks. You just need to be persistent until you get the hang of it. May I ask why you tried to "not use rings" the first time you used the pump?

Wow npatrick! It's good you followed up on this right away and I'm sure his confidence will skyrocket now if you just don't get discouraged at setbacks. You just need to be persistent until you get the hang of it. May I ask why you tried to "not use rings" the first time you used the pump?


We actually did not use them, because we were just kind of experimenting. (plus the instructions said to practice for 1 week before using the rings). We have in the meantime used the rings which also worked well. Yes, it has been a big boost to his self-esteem. I also see that he is back to his old self mentally.

I am 112 days-Post Surgery (a little over 3 months). I have been using Osborn ED ED Vacuum Device since 17th April. The instruction's state to at least use the "pump" for two-weeks for 10-15 minutes. I paid $350 for this and it does fill the penis up like it says it will, but nothing hard like I used to be. On the 16th day spouse and I had intercourse and tried two different rings, to me it felt great to finally penetrate her again; however I felt it was not at full erection. These ED tablets are a waste of $$$, Viagra did nothing for me at all, and Cialas does not hold erections like I thought it would. These ED tablets are so expensive and insurance does not cover much. After these tablets are gone I will not use them again. I will keep up with my therapy and when my body get's back to normal then I will see. I am just lucky to be alive. My PSA is 0.27 so I am happy! I had no loss of bladder control and I was actually walking around in the hospital the next day because I did not like being bed-ridden. I belive the "pumps" are actually better myself. I just have to make sure I have them on correctly at the base of the penis. But with time. Like I said I am JUST happy to be alive. I hope this helps everyone.

You're doing great Nate. 3 months is a very short time after surgery to expect too much. It took several months longer for me to have successful intercourse with the Osbon ErecAid pump. Being able to penetrate is excellant progress and if you keep experimenting with the different size constriction rings you'll find the right one. Erections will never be what they used to be. Your surgeon should have informed you of this. However they will return to a " useable" firmness and with the right size ring you'll be able to sustain it to a satisfactory climax for you both. Again your orgasms will be different than before. Vey intense and pleasureable, possibly even a little painful at first. The nerves take almost a year or longer to heal and it continually improves. Viagra, etc. also works but differently. Erections won't occur spontaneous but require physical stimulation. Initially they may not be firm enough for penetration and may need the pump for finishing touches. Keep at it, you'll do fine.
By the way, the ring should be placed as far back on the penis as possible--almost against the body. Shaving or clipping a small area around the base helps avoid catching hair in the ring.

Great Nate!!!!!!!!!!!

I could disagree with the doctor though. Sex has gotten better and better for me the last 13 years. I have learned that tighter and tighter tensions over a period of time has led to rock hard erections and terific sex. If you have ever yearned for a larger penis, this can partially be your answer. I would never say to overinflate your penis, however over a period of time allow youself the pleasure of letting it become firmer and firmer. You will actulally feel like your inflated size is much superior to your old time size. This will allow yourself to feel better and better about your size and firmness. It's all about mental confidence and pleasure from your personal experiences. Don't despair and move forward, forward, forward!!!!!!!!!! I would bet that you will eventually feel superior to your old time sex life! I sure do!

Good luck and keep posting.

js33