Joe's Story

Dear Reader's:

One of this blog's reader's has submitted a copy of his story to add to the body of knowledge that this blog brings. With each story submitted, guys who have found their way to this blogsite, can obtain truthful information on whether to pursue a penile implant as a means of curing long term and difficult erectile dysfunction. The usual first line methods may or may not be working or just aren't satisfactory for you the reader. Penile Implants offer an amazing difference by producing natural feeling erections. Please take time to read each man's unique experience with penile implants. Here is Joe's Story.

I have read the entries submitted to date by othermembers. Because I believe that my experience adds to the information in a few significant ways, I am presuming to offer my story and a few comments:

In what ways are my experiences different?

1. I enjoyed the benefits of an inflatable implant for over 12 years between 1995 and 2007. The manufacturer offered a ten year warranty at the time of its insertion. At 81, I seem to be on the high end of contributors to this blog.

2. My HMO at first rejected my urologist'sprescription until I wrote and explained that the HMO guaranteed all benefits available to Medicare beneficiaries. The HMO reversed their original rejection. My urologist told me then that we made history because after that time, no more problems were experienced by his recommendations for implants to his patients.

3. After twelve years, I experienced a bladder infection and also perceived problems with the implant tubes pushing against the end of the glans. It had pierced the membrane between the stem and the glans and was extremely painful. My urologist signed me in for outpatient surgery to remove the implant. The device was found to still be working as designed, but we did not discuss any alternative to living with ED from now on. Yes, facing the consequence of no more erections has been difficult, but one does what one must.

4. Ancillary issues:

a. Original incontinence has continued; since it is manageable with pads inside jockey shorts, I lived with that.

b. Resultant impotence due to a prostatectomy also resulted in complete failure to raise an erection; after trying natural recovery (failed), drug injections (failed), and a pump (failed), I found a support group (Impotents Anonymous) and attended a number of meetings. Men brought their partners--wives or male partners--for well-directed discussions where everyone was comfortable discussing all sorts of issues. One man who had recently had an inflatable implant installed, brought his documentation and the cost ($15,000) of which he would have some of the expense due to the fact that he was a Medicare subscriber on a basic 80/20 sharing plus some items on the bill rejected by Medicare.

c. Use of the implant--my urologist gave me explicit directions and a first demonstration of the inflation to assure us that all worked as intended. My first surprise was that the tubes ended behind the glans and the glans remained soft and small. My penis when inflated was pretty close to its length before myprostatectomy. He told me that the implants came in various sizes for a proper fit to what nature had provided. Due to my research, I had no illusions about achieving an enlarged penis. I've never tried any of the devices or potions peddled to enlarge my penis, even though I've never met a man who did not agree that size matters. Most of us learned early in life to get the best with what we were endowed with.

d. Although I read an implicit acknowledgment in some of the previous blogs that most men live with the failure to ejaculate, I presume that in some instances ejaculation does happen (?) In my own instance, Ienjoy the secretion of precum but no ejaculate, since capacity to produce seminal matter is removed with the cancerous prostate. I have not thought about other causes of ED that might leave a man with the capability to ejaculate. Just the sensory benefits of climax were great enough for me. Some men are hung upon ejaculation, and though I can recall the sensation it provided (oh so long ago) I am working on what I have left now.

e. What I have left is a tiny piece of flaccid skin and a miniature penile survivor. Oh yes, I can with enough effort still generate a sensory climax.That is the extent of my capacity for sexual satisfaction related to the benefits of a firm tumescence and all the joys of its manipulation, insertion, etc. There are a lot of other erotic sensory resources open to me or any other ED challenged man, but they are beyond the scope of this blog, I would judge. My last advice to others is to be appreciative of all the information, help and support available now that was not available to me a little more than a decade ago. Explore the alternatives at least as exhaustively as you would the features of a new car and then decide objectively what your reasonable expectations should be and whether an implant 'is right for you'. No, it won't give your penis greater girth or length, and you'll never be the man you were in your 20's or 30's, but if you can settle for what is available, you may not be destined for the scrap heap just yet.Feel free to e-mail me if you have further questions.
Joe
joe69orforg@yahoo.com