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Erection insanity - any experience out there?

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User
Posted 08 Nov 2023 at 13:29

Hi John and welcome. The guys on here know pretty much everything there is to know so hopefully you will get some answers. I have had a lot of answers from them!!

For myself, after non nerve sparing surgery the lack of erections really got me down quite quickly after surgery, after a few weeks really. I am sure this feeling is normal. My partner and I had a very healthy sex life before the operation and I felt as if I was really mourning that loss. I would be in bed with her on a lazy Sunday morning and find myself in tears of grief for not being able to do what we used to do at that kind of time. I have found that being totally open and honest about it with my partner has really helped; I am lucky that she is totally understanding and we have been experimenting with what we can make work for us both.

As for the Vitaros it was utter agony (I have posted before about this!!) - I mean real genuine horror pain - after using it. My specialist nurse explained it probably wouldn't get better with repeat use and to be honest I would have been so terrified of using it again that the old man would certainly not have come out to play.

 

User
Posted 08 Nov 2023 at 15:00

Hi John,

With the Somaerect, what size cylinder to you use? B or C? Originally I was having real trouble in getting an erection - I thought it was down to the fact the cylinders were too small and I even got a X-Large size. After a lot of experimentation I discovered that too much skin from the surrounding area was getting sucked in, making it very tight at the base and preventing me getting fully erect. No matter how much I tried to prevent it nothing would stop this. Like you I am definitely a grower rather than a shower.
eventually I tried the size B, inserting it inside the C cylinder and this works perfectly. I now find I can get fully erect and it also draws the foreskin back as well, which was good because it was becoming very tight. 
I use it for rehabilitation rather than sex because I have Peyronie’s disease brought on from the treatment[RT/HT). One of the symptoms is a pain at the base of the penis when erect and also a kink. It might be worth getting checked.

User
Posted 08 Nov 2023 at 19:48

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
non-nerve sparing (i think i've lost 25%) surgery

I think you need to clarify this tomorrow at your appointment - if you only lost 25% of the nerves, it wasn't non-nerve sparing RP - it was a partial nerve sparing RP. If you had non-nerve sparing, you would have had the whole lot removed. 

 

3 months is far too early to be getting disheartened - my husband had 50% nerve sparing and made most progress with his erections in years 2-3 post-op. However, if it turns out that you did have non-nerve sparing, the tablets & cream won't really help so getting the vacuum pump technique right and then seeing someone about injections will be the way forward.  

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 08 Nov 2023 at 21:52

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

With the Somaerect, what size cylinder to you use? 

With the original Osbon ErecAid pump the tube was a bit tight - i got the SOMAerect XL and that's fine, though it does tend to draw a bit of the scrotum in if i'm not careful. 

Edited by member 09 Nov 2023 at 10:54  | Reason: fix typo

User
Posted 08 Nov 2023 at 22:07

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
non-nerve sparing (i think i've lost 25%) surgery

I think you need to clarify this tomorrow at your appointment - if you only lost 25% of the nerves, it wasn't non-nerve sparing RP - it was a partial nerve sparing RP. If you had non-nerve sparing, you would have had the whole lot removed. 

Thanks Lyn - i may not have the terminology correct and yes, it's good to confirm it tomorrow. tbh when told 25% i wasn't quite sure if they meant i had 25% left or 75% left..

Thanks for the treatment advice too - i'll persevere with the pump and rings. I'm guessing that injections of Alprostadil which is the same ingredient as Vitaros cream will cause the same awful pain - so will investigate Invicorp with the ED nurse.

Thanks also for caring and being an active member of this group too

User
Posted 09 Nov 2023 at 11:55

so, to clarify...

In prep for my consultant call i've been rereading relevant NHS emails. The op was planned to be a nerve sparing one, but due to complications during the op i lost 25% of the nerves (so, partial nerve sparing).

I collected my status, and emailed the ED nurse, especially about the Vitaros cream, and asked for further suggestions, mentioning Invicorp by name. It was a useful exercise, in prep for the consultant call. 

I'm a bit disappointed at it being a phone call, as the last two times i've had long discussions with staff face-to-face, i recorded it on my phone, which i found invaluable, and i'd strongly advise others to do the same - it's so easy to misremember points from an hour long chat.

Edited by member 09 Nov 2023 at 11:57  | Reason: clarification

User
Posted 09 Nov 2023 at 12:44

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member
Like you I am definitely a grower rather than a shower.

It seems that are definitely 2 groups of us and maybe the ED treatment differs between the two. Likewise I am a grower - in fact by pulling on my scrotum skin I can make it completely disappear and typically at rest it's probably no more than 2-3cm. When fully erect it just over 5" - so a bit of a tiddler but it's worked for 45 years LOL
I have my consult at the beginning of January and will discuss to see what they can recommend (I'm NNS) but would like to try one of the injections. The VED works but the hinge effect can be what turns an amorous adventure into a comedy hour. At least we are taking it in our stride and working out what works and what does not :)

User
Posted 10 Nov 2023 at 10:12

The consultant chat was useful in closing off the initial post-op chapter. She apologised for not being able to save all my nerves, due to complications. I learnt that my pre-op gleason 4+4 was downgraded to 3+4 after post op investigations. The tumour was 20mm, so glad to have that out of me! As i had clear margins it looks like i'll just be in low grade monitoring now, for the foreseeable - however i have a few minor investigations needed to bladder and kidneys, as she'd noticed stuff while she had me open. 

After the Vitaros cream caused too much pain, my ED nurse suggests i first try Alprostadil injections at a low dose, to see how i tolerate them, and see their efficacy. She also suggested i switch from Tadalafil to Sinfandel for a while, to see that makes a difference. Fingers crossed !

User
Posted 16 Nov 2023 at 18:00

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Trentender, the durex pleasure rings are not as tight, the don't hold the erection as well but I found they didn't make the penis cold and less sensitive.

I followed your recommendation a couple of years ago and it has served me well. Now I found something better for me - the Firmtech sling-ring which is much easier to put on because it kind of unhooks, and has one loop that goes under the balls, the other loop round the base of the penis. It is also soft and squishy like the Durex one, and for me it works a dream.

User
Posted 16 Nov 2023 at 19:36

Originally Posted by: Online Community Member

Hi John,

With the Somaerect, what size cylinder to you use? B or C

My wife thought they'd have done better to stick to traditional mens penis sizes.

S - small

M - medium

L - liar

User
Posted 16 Nov 2023 at 19:39

Good one 🤣

User
Posted 16 Nov 2023 at 22:06
😂😂😂

Many years ago, in between numerous pregnancies, I visited the contraception clinic to see about options. When I got home, I told John that they would give me free condoms but he would have to go to the clinic to be measured. He had never used a condom and completely believed me 😂 We had two more children after that.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 17 Nov 2023 at 10:03

Re the Firmtech sling-ring, asking for a friend! Is it as constrictive as the durex ring?

It looks quite "big" in the pictures, I like the look of the way it clips on but I definitely need the support I get from the durex ring so the Firmtech sling-ring would need to be similar support levels?

 

Update ordered it anyway! Will confirm my preference!

Edited by member 17 Nov 2023 at 10:11  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 17 Nov 2023 at 13:24

I also thought the Firmtech rings looked a bit too big for me. So I ordered the smallest tightest version. I was rather amused at the very macho name MaxPR. It gives me very good support and is the first ring I have found that I can easily get over my balls without hurting them. It also has the portion that goes just around the base of the penis which I find helps a lot with sustaining firmness.

User
Posted 17 Nov 2023 at 13:34

I have been trying to find this firmtech ring but can only find an American site.....where can I find the UK one?

User
Posted 17 Nov 2023 at 14:00

Lyn

Reminds me of a story (I am sure it is made up!) of US selling condoms to Russia during the war and marked the large size as small!

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

 

 

User
Posted 17 Nov 2023 at 20:19
User
Posted 19 Nov 2023 at 17:21

Wow thank you!

User
Posted 19 Nov 2023 at 18:45

After looking at a photo of the ring I failed to see how that can get used with a pump. Am I missing something?

User
Posted 19 Nov 2023 at 19:49

Well my first attempt at using a tension ring was a bit disappointing. I ended up with a fairly unsatisfactory semi, about 2/3 my normal erect size. It may be there is some technique to it. I will have to investigate...and practice a lot more ! 

Is this to be expected at the beginning?

 
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