Cliff’s answers about his ED treatment experience

The surgery usually lasts about one hour, give or take a few minutes. This, of course, is an average; it depends on the prosthetic urologist and the surgical approach they take and the patient’s anatomy. My surgery, 11 years ago, lasted one hour and I went home the next day. I think most surgeons will keep you in the hospital on a 23-hour outpatient surgery basis so they can monitor your healing. You should ask your prosthetic urologist about their specific recommendations.

Healing generally takes five to six weeks but varies by individual. I had some scrotal swelling for about two weeks and then that subsided. I think most men go back to work after two weeks but it is possible to return to work sooner if you are a fast healer. After about four weeks, I returned to the urologist’s office and was shown how to use the pump. I was instructed to pump it and release it for about a week to get used to the feeling. After the week was up, I saw the doctor again to make sure I was using the pump correctly. At that point, I was cleared and told to return to a normal and happy sexual lifestyle.

People heal at different rates depending on their unique physiology. In my case, I was able to drive one week after the surgery. I returned to work after two weeks.

That is something that each doctor will let their patient know. In my case, I went back to the doctor for a follow-up visit after four weeks. He told me that at the beginning of the fifth week (after surgery), I should begin to pump up the implant and release it to get accustomed to the feeling and find a “sweet spot” since you are squeezing on your scrotum. After three or four tries, the “sweet spot” becomes evident and there is no discomfort in pumping up the implant. I went back to the doctor at the end of the fifth week and he asked me to show him how I was progressing. He said it was fine, and that I could go home and once again have intercourse.

Individuals heal at different rates and have different thresholds of pain tolerance. In my case, the doctor sent me home with pain pills; however, I never took one. I really did not have any pain. What I felt was discomfort due to the swelling, and I found that two over-the-counter pain medications really were sufficient to relieve the discomfort. I did, however, have to sleep with two pillows between my legs when I slept on my side, because without the pillows your scrotum is squeezed between your thighs and I guarantee you that sleep will not come easily. I was also told to wear jockey briefs instead of boxer shorts, since they would support and cradle the scrotum thereby reducing the pull on the scrotum.

When you go in for the surgery, the prosthetic urologist will measure you once you are under anesthesia and find the optimal size to give you the most length possible without causing any injury. Chances are very good that you will probably be very close to the size you were before you began suffering from ED. I have heard that some doctors recommend that patients use a vacuum erection device for some time prior to surgery if they’ve experienced ED for a long while.

After my implant surgery, I was able to return to work after the second week. I had a desk job with very little lifting of heavy objects, so the surgeon said if I took care, I should have no problem returning after two weeks. But, the amount of time that you need to stay home is really something to be discussed with your doctor, since individuals heal at different rates.

After struggling with erectile dysfunction for some years, and feeling very depressed, I finally decided on the implant after several other treatment options did not work. It was one of the best decisions I ever made! The implant itself is pretty straight forward. It is comprised of three separate pieces: a pump that is situated in your scrotum, behind your testicles; a reservoir that is placed in your lower abdomen, filled with saline (salt water); and a set of cylinders that replace the spongy tissue in the shaft of your penis. When you want to have intercourse, you squeeze the pump, the saline leaves the reservoir and fills the cylinders in the penis giving you a solid, rigid erection, suitable for penetration. When finished, you hit the release button located on the pump and the saline reverts back into the reservoir and you go flaccid. You can read about the device and see an animation and live demonstration.

Once the swelling resolves, I could feel the implant for about one month. After the month was over, I can tell you that unless I go to use the implant, I really do not know that it is there. It becomes part of you. I have never had any time when there was any indication of the implant that I was aware of.

Absolutely not. After the surgery, the doctor told me to take it easy for a couple of weeks. I started to drive after one week and went back to work after the second week. When the soreness and swelling was gone, approximately six weeks after surgery, I returned to all my previous activities. I went back to the gym and began my workout routine with my trainer. I returned to the recumbent bike, and I worked my way back to 10 miles per day within one week after returning. There is NOTHING that I did prior to the surgery that I could not do after the surgery.

Absolutely. However, you must remember that if your ED was caused by prostate cancer and you had your prostate removed, there is no ejaculate when you climax. The feeling I have is exactly the same “pumping” sensation as when I had ejaculate.

Absolutely not. It has performed perfectly for over 10 years now. The erection is hard and stiff and will allow for any position of intercourse you choose.

This is a question I am asked all the time. The answer is the following: I noticed a 1/2 inch decrease in penile length following my prostatectomy. I didn’t notice a loss of length after receiving my implant. During penile implant surgery, I was measured for the correct implant size based on my anatomy. I know that is a concern for some men receiving penile implants.

My implant did not make me any bigger than I was before as far as length. It did, however, restore girth (width) to my penis since my cylinders expand in width.

I had the implant done 11 years ago, and I can truthfully say that after the average six-week healing period, you will not even know that there is a pump in your scrotum. I work out, ride a bicycle and do everything I was able to do prior to the implant. I have never been able to feel the pump in my scrotum, unless I went looking for it, to use it for sexual activity.

I had the implant done 11 years ago and have never regretted one day. My penis is as sensitive after the implant as it was before, and in some cases, I have heard men say that their sensitivity has increased. My sensation of orgasm is exactly the same as before and the implant doesn’t interfere with ejaculation. In my case, since I had my prostate removed, I do not ejaculate, but the sensation of ejaculating is still there.

I was so depressed when I suffered from erectile dysfunction that it affected every part of my life. I felt like I was not a full man and could not please my partner as a “real” man could. However, after the surgery, I regained all my self-esteem and felt once again like a young man. Having the implant changed my life and brought back my vitality and joy of living.

No, I really can’t see or feel any part of the implant, including the reservoir with saline. It is not very large and is located in the lower part of my belly. I am completely comfortable when I work out with guys and shower afterwards; they have absolutely no idea that I have a device implanted.

The hardness of the implant is equal to the hardness you achieved prior to having any erectile dysfunction issues. The implant gives you a solid, rigid erection suitable for any type of intercourse you want to indulge in. I have had the implant for 11 years now, and it has never failed to provide me with an erection that I would say is as good, if not better, than when I was a young man.

My wife has said that she would be hard pressed to tell that there was any difference at all. One of the benefits of the implant I have (the AMS 700™ implant), is that the cylinders expand in girth. The decision to have the implant was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It brought back my manhood, stopped my depression in not being able to function as a “true” man, and has returned me to having a satisfying and fulfilling sexual lifestyle.

Hi, my name is Marilyn and I am Cliff’s wife. Cliff felt it would be best to have a woman’s response to your situation. Sex is an important expression of love between two people. For most men, the inability to have, and maintain, an erection cuts to the core of their manhood. It is emotionally painful when he cannot express his love as a man. But there are options for treating ED. I recommend you both attend an educational seminar to learn more. You can search for events in your area here. When you are ready to meet with a doctor, find a urologist who specializes in ED and be completely candid with the urologist. Your presence will let your husband know that he is not alone. You both need a solution to ED, and in my experience, this is the best way to start.

Many men find it totally embarrassing to talk about erectile dysfunction to anyone, including their physicians. I suggest you attend an educational event that deals with erectile dysfunction and the treatment options available. You can search for events in your area here. These seminars are free of charge, full of information and both of you are welcome to attend. It will help your partner realize that he is not alone and that ED can be completely treated.

I’m sorry to hear that you are having these problems. What your partner should know is that ED can be treated and you can lead a very satisfying and fulfilling sexual lifestyle. I would highly suggest that you find a specialist in your area who specialize in men’s sexual health and erectile dysfunction. They will be able to determine the cause of your partner’s ED and offer various treatment options ranging from the least invasive, which is pill therapy, to the most invasive, which is a prosthetic penile implant. I myself suffered from ED, and 11 years ago decided to have the penile implant done. I have never had a moment’s trouble with the implant, and my partner has said that it feels exactly the same as before. The satisfaction rate for this therapy is about 98% for both the recipient and the partner.

The cost of the prosthetic penile implant depends on the type of insurance you have and whether the carrier covers the surgery. If you are on Medicare, they will pay 80% of the cost and usually your supplemental will pick up the remainder. If you do not have Medicare, then it is based on your policy coverage. When you decide on the surgery, the prosthetic urologist’s office will contact your insurance company to determine exactly what will be covered and what your out-of-pocket expense will be. In my case, my insurance company covered the entire cost less a $50 co-pay.

The prosthetic urologist’s office will call your insurance company to determine exactly what is covered and what is not. That way, you know what your out-of-pocket expenses will be prior to the procedure. If you have Medicare, they cover 80% of the total cost of the procedure and usually your supplemental insurance picks up the remainder; however, you might have a small co-pay based on your coverage. If you are not on Medicare, it may be helpful to read the expert article about insurance coverage here or visit the FAQ section of this website. You can also talk to your ED specialist’s office; they often offer payment plans or programs to help men who need an implant be able to have the procedure done.

If you do not have insurance, you can contact the manufacturer to determine if you are eligible for the Financial Assistance Program. I understand that there are some ED specialists who offer set price cash pay procedures. You can learn more about self-payment options here.

Many times, if you contact the insurance company directly, they will turn you down. But if the doctor’s office contacts them, they may get a different answer. I would ask your prosthetic urologist’s office to handle it for you and you might be surprised.

I’m sorry to hear that your husband is suffering from erectile dysfunction, and that the pill therapy is so costly. I’m not quite sure what COBRA covers in the way of ED treatments, but let me give you something that might be effective. Find a urologist who specializes in men’s sexual health and erectile dysfunction. Many of these doctors work with compounding pharmacies that can produce the pills at a much reduced rate. You should also discuss COBRA’s unwillingness to pay. In many cases, the doctor’s office will get much more assistance with coverage than if you try talking to the insurance company yourself. The specialist can also recommend other treatment options, such as an external vacuum pump. This works for many men and is a rather inexpensive treatment option since it is a one-time expense. Once your husband is eligible for Medicare, they pay for most of the treatment options, including a prosthetic penile, implant which is the treatment that worked for me.