Achieving an erection

Hi - I think everyone is different. I had surgery at Christmas and can still only achieve semi erections with 20mg Tadalfil. I have used a pump as I am told that the urethra is stretchy and length can be regained. This has happened to me so I would advise he sticks with it. I was told to use the pump pretty soon after the catheter was removed and regularly.

As far as getting back to how it was before, this could be a few weeks, months, years or never. I don't think there is any real accuracy on this as it depends on how much nerves were saved or damaged.

I think this has probably been a shock for him and there may be a case of him getting familiar with living with some change. It may be tough at first but I'm sure you will get used to a new way of living. All the best.

Hi TMP 

my OH was initially offered surgery then it was retracted. He is currently on HT and had RT. So the effects have been in his words devastating. 

It’s very early days for your husband and he needs to re adjust to a new norm . It might be worth a visit to your local Maggie Centre as they have been our godsend about ED. they listened and gave us both advice with no judgement .

take care and huge hugs to you both 

Liz & OH xxx

Hello TMP 

I am so sorry to read of your issues - I can't comment on the surgery aspect of it as I went down the HT/RT route and things are back to normal now I am off HT . I am aware with surgery everyone has a different recovery as we are all different and the extent of the surgery can affect the final outcome.

Here's our guide and information sheet which I hope you find useful:

Erection Issues and advice.

Do keep in contact with your surgery team for help and there is also help available on our Support line on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm 7 days a week).

Best wishes - Brian.

Thanks that’s helpful. Can I ask if you had any nerve sparing? And do you take the tadafil every day? My husband has been prescribed 5mg daily. I am not worried at al about it. But I am starting to feel the huge weight of his anxiety and depression over it all. Feels like cancer took over our lives in 2016 and has been the third wheel ever since

I was taking 5mg a day and then I was switched to 20mg to be used every couple of days. I'm a few months out and I'm getting the odd natural erection at night. I feel I'm a fair way off getting back to what it was before but my partner is understanding and I have accepted that is noting I can do about it right now. I'm trying to be as Zen as I can but it does weigh on my mind a bit. I have taken solace in the fact that the surgery seems, at this stage, to have been successful.

Hi. I had op nearly 3 years ago and that was non nerve sparing. I understood the 5mg Cialis was purely for penile rehabilitation and I was told by my CNS (and my doctor was instructed) to take it for 2 years.I am however adding it to my repeat prescription and have still been getting it as it gives me a sense of hope and security.

My thoughts are that 6 weeks post op is not enough time for any form of recovery from ED (or also as was, and is still to a certain extent, in my case incontenence). Your husband is still badly bruised physically and mentally from the op. BUT raise concerns (as it sounds you have been with your CNS). Perhaps you also have access to an ED specilalist, as I did, which perhaps could be really beneficial.

I was provided with a pump at about 3 months post. It certainly worked at that time in creating erections and I have carried on using it on and off for penile rehab only. I was told to use it for evermore for that purpose. I find it a bother to use and therefore have never used it for the humpy humpy stuff. I believe my penis is now longer than post op although I have never got a rule out to check.

My ED improved slightly from 3 / 6 months but is still what I would term severe and is incapable of performing correctly. I have tried (off my own back and against the wishes of my CNS) the various meds at maximum recommended doses in conjunction with the 5mg to absolutely no effect. But it may help your husband, although caution is required. I have now given up.

There are injections. I understand they can be extremely effective but I am a bit (or a big) whimp and I really could not face injecting myself. (You should have seen me with the injections into the stomach after the op).