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Posted 5/16/2009 7:33 AM (GMT -6)
I am a 70 year old man who underwent the robotic surgery for removal of the prostate gland in March 2009.  Since the surgery was non-nerve sparing, all hopes of an erection are gone.  However I have read of the advantage of using viagra or cialis to open the blood vessels and improve general blood flow.  And most of the major university medical centers include it in their general post ops treatment.  However, i can not find any details about the treatment.  is it a pill a day or what?  My doctor does not think it is helpful and says he will give me a prescription, but only if I speciafically ask for it.  Obviously, I will have to pay for the pills, so I need to find some info on how many a month do I need to buy them.  Any thoughts?
Posted 5/16/2009 8:04 AM (GMT -6)

I took ½ a viagra at bedtime every other night for therapy.

Using a pump to get blood to flow is also good at a fraction of the price if you have insurance.

Posted 5/16/2009 6:11 PM (GMT -6)
Viagra is expensive and most insurance will only cover 5 pills in 30 days. You can double the usage by having your doctor prescribe the highest dose and then cutting the pills in half with a pill cutter.

Although I agree with your doctor and think that it is a waste of money since your nerves are gone. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra all work on the nerves around the prostate. You really are a candidate for either the VED or Injection Therapy. If you read some of the threads on Injection Therapy, you will discover all the different options under that treatment program.

BTW, Boston Medical Group's guarantee of an erection on the first visit is accomplished via Injection Therapy.
Posted 5/16/2009 6:15 PM (GMT -6)
I took 100mg every night for several months. I could not have done it without Alldaychemist.com. I stopped it for a while, but am now back on it. for non nerve sparing surgery, I think a pump...even an inexpensive one from a sex shop (which is what I use) would to the trick. At this point you want to save the size and getting blood into your penis and keeping all tissues stretched to their fullest will help.
Your best hopes for erections are now injections which many guys on here use. Tri-mix, bi-mix are the most common. Talk to your Dr. and ask for a prescription for these when you are able to have sex. meanwhile, keep pumping and use manual stimulation to bring yourself to orgasm. It's good for your heart!
Paul
Posted 5/16/2009 6:42 PM (GMT -6)

 " However I have read of the advantage of using viagra or cialis to open the blood vessels and improve general blood flow.  And most of the major university medical centers include it in their general post ops treatment.  However, i can not find any details about the treatment.  is it a pill a day or what?"

Logicically, all areas of our body need blood flow to heal and survive in a healthy state.

Personally  I'd use both viagara and the pump as suggested earlier to help the healing process.

If you decide to use viagra, exercise care as some people do not tolerate the large 100 size pills well. Just use 25 size.

The large ones used to be similar price, so it could be more economical to obtain the large ones and cut them up.

Posted 5/17/2009 7:37 AM (GMT -6)
hb2006, I understand your comment about the nerves, and I am not looking for viagra to give me an erection. However, according to the documents that come with the pills; the pill results in increased levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), producing smooth muscle relaxation in the corpus cavernosum and allowing inflow of blood. That inflood of blood is what is supposed to be benefical to the healing process, particularly around the base of the penis. Thanks to all the guys who responded to my question.
Posted 5/17/2009 9:48 AM (GMT -6)
Re; oral meds. If you get them get a few or  samples if you can. In my case the oral meds gave me nasty side effects. My vision was affected by seeing purple-pink colors for several hours. If you have been to a Regal theatre that has purple pink neon lights that is what I saw. The meds also gave me a stuffy nose. I have used  the injection method for a decade which gives a very normal erection that lasts for 40 minutes. If I don't want a 40 minute erection I use a vacuum erection device which also gives a good erection. Remove the constriction  BAND and the erection goes down.

No side effects with either method!

Best wishes as you find a solution that works for you! Al
Posted 5/17/2009 7:16 PM (GMT -6)

It sounds like you have the pills so I would go ahead and try them. In my case, I started on Viagra as soon as the catheter was out and they had no effect at all. I was using both Viagra and Cialis with regular scripts and the drugs were from CVS, not AllDayChemist.

What helped me the most at 3 months was a vacum pump from Priscilla's. But I had to use two constriction rings to stay hard. Also had to trim alot of hair and use KY Jelly to get a good seal. After getting the hang of the pump, I was able to get a length of 19 centimeters (about 7 inches). I would use the pump on a daily basis for about 30 minutes, pumping up, holding for 5 minutes, slowly releasing the vacum. Then repeating that about 5 times.  

At 4 months, I switched to Caverject/Edex Injections. I don't use the pump at all anymore.

Posted 5/21/2009 1:20 PM (GMT -6)
Quite a few people on this board report receiving low-dose viagra (or other ED drug) therapy almost immediately after surgery. I asked my doctor and he said that he and other docs in the area had tried this and had not found any particular benefit. I would guess that the present answer is that there isn't any sure answer. So, if you choose drugs, pester your doctor for the drugs -- he is likely to understand.
Posted 5/21/2009 2:27 PM (GMT -6)
Thanks, geezer99. Yes, and most of the major health clinics around the country, like Mayo, Cleveland, John Hopkins, etc, include the low-dosage as a normal part of the post-surgery treatment. My doctor is waiting for positive proof before he will offer it, although he said if I asked him for it, he would comply. My present issue is that as I am healing, I am getting "fullness", and the fullness is hurting. Supposedly the ED meds will help open the blood vessels. I had non-sparing nerve surgery, so I am not expecting an erection, just want to make it easier for the blood to flow. I have found it difficult to find forums or participants that have had non-nerve sparing surgery. Most guys have some hopes. I am just looking for good healing.
Posted 5/21/2009 3:42 PM (GMT -6)
I also am non-nerve-spared, but do have good results with injections and the VED.

My understanding of Viagra and the like is that they dilate the blood vessels. But the main tap is controlled by the nerves. If the nerves are functioning at least partly, then the pill will enhance an erection. But if the nerves are non-functioning then the tap remains firmly closed cry

Charlie, like you I could have the pills if I asked for them, but in view of their likely effectiveness, possible side-effects and expense, I haven't.

If your "fullness" is coming naturally then that is a good sign -- it means you have at least some nerve function, and pills might help. If it is coming from a VED, then keep doing that, but ease back when it starts to hurt.
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