Radical Prostatectomy

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

Iuwogeo, You are doing well. And all the guys on this forum are encouraging. I was totally down hearted at 3 months because I saw very little improvement. I was thinking that the artificial sphinter op was the only option. Folks here said to be patient. After another month impacted my Covid and lots of coughing which of course is bad news for the incontinence problem I began to see some improvement. Now at six months I am dry at night, but still wear a very light pad just in case. In the morning and early afternoon it's pretty good most days with just a few millilitres of leakage. Later in the afternoon it gets worse as I get tired. I guess the pelvic floor gets fatigued. And a lot depends on whether you had a more sedentary day or very active. I know the feeling of disappointment when you've had a couple of better days and then a worse day. Sometimes there is no logical reason that you can ascertain as to why you had a bad day. It just seems to be part of the process. Try to keep involved in all the things that interest you and although it's hard try to keep a positive faith filled mindset. Remember too that there are many that have to manage challenging circumstance. The posts here bear testimony to that. My little next door neighbour who is just 12 years old has been battling leukemia for over six months. So while our circumstances are challenging it is important to be thankful too for all the good things in your life. I keep a journal where I record three things each day for which to be thankful. To read over that helps me when I have a down moment. Also although there are many men who regain continence between 3 and 6 months there are some who take up to a year or more. And for the small percentage that have a more serious problem additional treatments are available. To conclude, given you are still very early after your operation it looks like you are doing very well. Be encouraged. God bless

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

Hbrownlow,

I believe and agree with everything you said above. I know there are many people on this forum and in the world, such as your little next door neighbor and I pray for them all! My faith and spiritual life was HUGE long before all this and is even stronger now, as I know HE is with me (and us) through it all! I often wonder how people without a strong faith life make it in tough times...

Thank you for your kind words of encouragement!

Even with all of the above said, I am still in quite a funk, but I am not shutting down. I am still going to Church, working (luckily, my job allows me to work from home, when needed), coaching my son's football team, going to family events, etc...I don't always feel like it and am usually very fatigued afterwards, but I am still going and with God's grace, I will continue to do so!

I look forward to the days of no incontinence, but am learning to live with it (not much choice, right?!!), but my biggest fear is a positive PSA test showing that the cancer has returned and then have even more treatments - post-op biopsy discovered I was Stage 3 and my Dr/surgeon said that scenario was very likely, but not definite. First post-op PSA test results mid-November, so we will see and then live life PSA test to PSA test, I suppose...

Prayers for all - +God+bless+!!!

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

Hi Guy,
Just had the surgery in January of this year. I'm 56 and had my prostate removed and a piece of my kidney froze to kill cancer on it. Been quite the year. But things do get better but very slowly unfortunetly. The incontinence sux BIG TIME. I was using 10 to 12 pads a day for the first few months. Very frustrating. But I prayed daily for God to help heal me and I started slowly going down on pads. Today, I use 1 or 2 during the day and 1 at night. If I lift something or strain, I leak. But I also found that after I figured out how to (sorry) masturbate, my leakage seemed to improve quite a bit. Way personal I know but I didn't think I was able to Get It anymore but you can with a little different approach. Still working on ED issues. Viagra isn't helping at all. Don't give up. There is light at the end of the tunnel! Good Luck!

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

Glad to hear there's hope!

Praying always helps!!!

Thanks, claimsdude and continued success to you...slowly, but surely, right?!!

+God+bless+

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

If Viagra doesn't work, try cialis. I'm guessing your doc can switch you over.

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

I am on cialis now...I see her, but she isn't doing me any good...yet. Just taken for about a week so far, though.

Maybe there's still hope!

Archives1 · Aug 15, 2024

I am recounting my experience - I am NOT a medical professional.
Penile Rehab / Penile Therapy - Just my experience. In another post someone asked about Penile Therapy - I though it would be good to start a post for use to share our experience.

Updated June 29, 2022 - Prostatectomy Sept 2020 age 55; Male Urethral Sling Surgery Sept 2021

My penile rehabilitation.

1) tadalafil (generic cialis) 10 mg daily (started day catheter was removed)

2) Bathmate HydroXtreme penis pump - started at week 9

3) Trimix penial injections - started at 6 months (doctor wanted to start sooner, but I need more time to mental adjust to inserting a needing into my penis).

At 9 1/2 months, I have some natural erections using daily 10 mg tadalafil (generic cialis purchased using GoodRx (prescription required)). I use the Bathmate HydroXtreme penis pump 3 to 5 times a week (extreme has a hand pump) (link below). I started Trimix penis injections at 6 months. Using Trimix once or twice a week, I was able to have an erection without Trimix starting around 8 months after prostatectomy. I still use the Trimix once a week (March 2021 to Sept 2021).

At 9 1/2 months, I am incontinent leaking about 20 ounces a day (4 pads a day).

1) Just after treatment (prostatectomy) Daily cialis is about getting blood flowing to the penis. It took 3 months to notice any firmness about 50%. I use GoodRx to find a good price - a grocery chain store pharmacy had the best price for me.

2) My urologist recommended the Bathmate penis pump. Unless you have a firm pelvic area, you will want the Bathmate with the hand pump - HydroXtreme. I went from 5 1/4 inches before prostatectomy down to 4 inches, then back up to 4 3/4 inches after using the Bathmate pump for 3 months.

The Bathmate HydroXtreme pump is more about penile rehabilitation than producing an erection to constrict (ring to hold erection) and try to use for sex.

I sit on the corner of my tub with cups of warm water to fill the cylinder (about 100 degree). The instruction are to pump for 3 minutes, massage for 2 minutes (I use shampoo plus conditioner to reduce friction), and repeat twice for a total of 3 times 15 minutes.

The Bathmate uses water in the cylinder and seems to work on girth more. I am not looking to get bigger than I was, just to restore my pre prostatectomy size.

Bathmate website - sign up with your email to get 20% to 30% off.
Get the Xtreme because of the hand pump. I purchased the comfort cushions to reduce the chance of pulling a testicle into the pump (very painful). The size of the cushion ring goes with the size of the pump.

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YouTube search for instruction - note - most are not using the pump for rehabilitation.

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I also purchased the Vacurect. I used it a few time with the rings, but the ring to hold an erection was to constricting. I also used it a few times for blood flow (pump 2 minutes, release 2 minutes). I prefer the Bathmate.

3) Trimix injections - I had a difficult time starting and using these. I was shaking inserting the syringe at first. Do NOT use an auto injector - it was not the thing for me to do. I had to stop for a while because I was putting too much mental pressure on myself to use the Trimix when I was not ready.

I also had concerns about using Trimix for every erection or orgasm. I would use Trimix, then not feel like trying for an orgasm for 5 days. That was okay. After 6 weeks on Trimix, I noticed on the days trying for an orgasm without Trimix that my erections were getting firmer and at 8 weeks of using ( month 8 ) I was getting to 90% hard.

Trimix is ordered from a compounding pharmacy. It comes in a 5 ml bottle. My initial does of 0.15 cc or 0.15 ml produced a 6 hour erection. Some member in the Facebook group (link below) also reported that they had to return to the doctors office. Make sure you get your initial dose in the morning so that if there is a problem, you can return to the doctor. After 4 hours, I contacted my doctor - I took 4 30 mg Sudafed (the 4 hour pill not the 12 hour pill).

I found that 0.05 cc gave me a 4 hour erection in the beginning. You can prefill a few syringes. I found that adding an extra 0.05 cc for storage. Before use, you shake the syringe and squirt out the extra trimix. (Trimix is compounded and needs to be shaken before each use for better results.)

Trimix tips
0) Trimix is stored in the refrigerator or freezer
1) comes in a 5 ml vial
2) make sure the order comes with 20 to 40 syringes
3) Ask the doctor to include the "Undo" injectable or pills so that you do not have to go to the emergency room.
4) Have 30 mg generic Sudafed tablets on hand (After my 5th time injecting, I started taking FOUR 30 mg Sudafed tablets after one hour.)
5) I found eating and drinking 32 ounces of water worked better than the Sudafed at deflating the erection. Part of it is that I am taking my attention away from the erection. I will watch an hour of Television.

I signed up for too many Facebook Groups and had to select a few that were more suited for me. Some groups as new members join will trigger PTSD for reliving the post prostatectomy trauma, sadness, and anger of the side effects of prostate cancer and prostate cancer treatment.

Facebook Groups - these are Prostate Cancer Groups that are for members only - you have to join the group and your messages will only appear in the group and not on your Facebook home page.