Armygolfer- My Story

[armygolfer]

Months long lurker, first time poster. As my implant procedure is ~ a week away I thought I would add my story to the many wonderful ones here. I am a 62 year strong, fit active guy with no prior ED issues. I retired from the Army in 2016 after a 25 year career. A little over a year ago during a routine physical (and rectal exam) my doc noticed a small lump and ordered a PSA that came back 3.75. Not sure what all that meant he strongly suggested a biopsy which I reluctantly agreed too. The biopsy confirmed my worst fears as I had cancer in all 12 cores and my Gleason score was 3+4=7. Doc said the Prostate had to come out. Was devastated to say the least. Sought a second opinion at Mass General by a very renowned surgeon and he concurred. So the decision was made and I had it removed on 1 Aug last year. Going in the doc said he was definitely going to have to take the nerves on one side based on an MRI he did. Post surgery it turned out the cancer had spread outside the capsule and he took the nerves on both sides. While not great news for future erections I was nonetheless happy to be alive and rid of the cancer. He was positive and said there was a chance erections could return and prescribed a daily dose of 5 mg Cialis and a VED that I did religiously for a few months. At the three month mark my PSA was 0 and pretty much back to full activities, lifting weights, riding my motorcycle and golfing with no issues except no erections. Not even a hint. I know from reading others stories that three months is not enough time but I also know my situation with the nerves removed it was not likely I would ever regain them. Asked my doc what the next option was and he prescribed Edex. Gave it a trial run in his office and had an immediate fully erect result. Was so happy I took a picture and sent it to my wife. The nurse said to wait 45-60 minutes for it to subside and as I sat alone in the exam room I kept staring at it dreaming of having my sex life back with my beautiful hot wife of 30 years. At the hour mark the nurse comes in and asks how I am feeling and the erection was not subsiding and beginning to throb. At the 90 minute mark it was starting to hurt and by 2 hours was in the worst pain I had ever experienced. I always laughed at those commercials "if you have an erection that lasts longer than four hours seek medical help". It was. not funny now. At the three hour mark they were preparing to drain some of the blood when it started to subside and within 20 minutes or so had gone down. That experience was a bummer but the doc said cut the dose in 1/2 when I tried at home (they gave me the full dose). That weekend, nervous but excited to try out my newfound erection, I injected 1/2 the dose and was able to achieve a full erection. Had a wonderful love making session with my bride and were both satisfied. As I laid there post coitus my erection was still there after an hour and again was starting to hurt. Grabbed a bag of frozen peas and laid there in pain for another hour before it subsided. Called my doc on Monday and he said again cut the dose in 1/2. Waited 5 days and tried again with a 1/4 of the original dose. Same thing. Erection occurred but lasted two painful hours. Not wanting to go through that again he prescribed a Bimix. Have tried that four times with less than exemplary results. Told the doc that wasn't going to work and so what were my options. He recommended an implant and that was not his specialty so referred me to the top surgeon at Brooke Army Medical here in San Antonio. Went to see her and sh said yes I was a candidate for an implant. That is when I also found you all here on FT. Your information and shared stories have been a treasure trove of information. I thought I had asked her the questions I was concerned with but after reading all the journeys here have a long list of additional questions. I am going I to see her tomorrow with my list. One thing I did ask her already and she agreed she could do is a Ventral Phalloplasty at the time of my procedure. Its excess scrotum skin that has always bothered me and she said it would be easy enough to do.

She, like most docs has does both the AMS and Titan. I was initially convinced the AMS was the implant of choice for me but now undecided. I guess it truly is the old "Chevy or Dodge" comparison. I will talk to her more about that also. Anyway, this is my story to date and I will post updates as things progress.

Thanks to all of you who have shared your stories.

[notaes]

Army golfer

Welcome man and I wish you all the luck. You will do fine. Don’t worry it’s a piece if cake. Just go home and use ice packs and take either Tylenol or ibuproph. Time is your friend and all will be well. I am just happy we have an alternative such as the implant. I was scared to death at losing my sex life. Don’t worry you’ll do very well. God Bless!

[armygolfer]

So I am sitting here 24 hours out from the trip with no return to my implant surgery. I've done my due diligence in research and read so many of you alls stories and journeys that I feel as prepared as I can be. Still surgery is surgery and it is an unknown. I'm trying to remain positive that the outcome is the outcome and my wife and my sex life and intimacy will return. She is nervous because she thinks now with a bionic dick all I will want to do is do her but mostly that my penis won't feel the same and somehow be more like a dildo, hard and cold. I have assured her after reading the comments here that won't be the case. Anyway I plan to keep my journal a work ion progress as much to share my experience but for my own peace of mind as writing helps me cope.

Thanks again for everyones shared experiences.

[dg_moore]

Hang in there - the day before surgery is worse than the day after.

[Cajun Jeff]

That is the truth. I was in a total panic thinking what the hell was I thinking. No one day of pain for me after surgery. Best of luck.

I’m only 2 weeks out, wish I had done it 2 years ago.

[tomas1]

You're wife is right on one account. All you'll want to do is to do her, but she'll like it.

I have a cousin who was drafted during the Korean war.
He spent his 2 years as an army golf pro in Hawaii.
Pretty tough duty, huh?

[oldbeek]

Army, First off thank you for your service. Our stories are much alike. I also had all my nerves removed. At 8 moths post RP my URO said just get the implant. He knew how much he removed. Question,, Is your glans cold now? If so, then there is damage to the nerves that supply blood to that part of your dick. I cant remember the terms but there are nerves that fill your tunica, (part that makes you hard) then other nerves that cause blood filling of the rest of the blood vessels in your dick. The tri-mix makes it all fill. Nothing beats a blood filled dick is my motto. Now for the bad news. If you have cold glans now, you will still have it with the implant. Your dick will be oval and not round with as much girth. On our first implant sex, my wife said .( Is it in?) Do the best with what you have buddy. You are alive. On the up side, with a lot of stimulation the glans will fill sometimes. Kind of like one of them hot sessions in your past that was REALLY good. I just ended my third Quail hunting season with my dogs, kids and grand kids since the RP. Healthy and still walking them kids into the ground. Enjoy your new implant and take time to heal. Be patient, it is all worth it. We both probably would have been better off with Proton therapy to kill the cancer than surgery but that is water under the bridge now. Live with what you are delt.

[armygolfer]

Oldbeek thank you for your comments. My glans is not cold to the touch or feel. I used Edex 4-5 times and had raging erections that filled my penis tip to tail. Problem was they lasted for 3 hours and were so painful. It was a mixed blessing. Doc switched me to a Bimix compound and that worked 3-4 times although nowhere near the erection from Edex I did not have priapism. I gradually increased the dose but it did not change anything. I was not willing to go through the rest of my life like that.

This evening I remain very hopeful yet a bit apprehensive. Surgery center called and I'm first in the shoot @ 0530 tomorrow so I was happy to get that call.

And yes I am so very grateful to be alive and do all things I am able too. Especially my family.

Take care.

[Cajun Jeff]

Awesome. 1 st one up. It will be a walk in the park. All of us have had that last thought. What the hell am I doing? You won’t regret,

[Agfa13]

Armygolfer, welcome, and repeat after me....patience, patience, patience, lol!
Glad you found this place BEFORE you had your surgery. You are well armed. Me. I was too trusting with my 1st Dr, and I am on my 3rd Dr. now.
You have read what MAY happen, but the bottom line is go with the flow. If you bump into something, you can look it up here using a key word in search.
Make sure you have ice packs and loose clothing for your journey. Good luck.