Frank's Story

Ethnicity
White British
Age
70-79
Work
Retired
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Geography
South East
Relationship status
Married/In a Civil Partnership

Radical Prostatectomy (Surgery)

Tips and advice for any bladder or bowel side effects of treatment

Be patient and take each day at a time. Things will improve but it will take time (months).

Tips and advice for any sexual side effects of treatment

I was prescribed a pump. While it was useful in initially in getting the blood used to going back where it needed to go, it was a most demeaning and unpleasant thing to use and I never contemplated using it to assist actual intercourse. I was prescribed medication, to be taken twice a week for the same purpose of 'getting things going again' but it often made me bloated and constipated and sometimes seemed to have the opposite effect. Over the course of about a year, some semblance of a natural response returned but it was never sufficient or maintained enough for intercourse. Recently I have been prescribed different medication, which is a little easier on the stomach but so far not very successful in supporting intercourse. Both Tadalafil and Sildenafil make me feel unpleasantly flushed in my face for a good hour or more, 30 minutes after taking them.

Tips and advice for any physical side effects of treatment

I can't think of anything.

How this treatment impacted my life the most

Having the prostatectomy has so far put an end to my ability to make love to my wife. Although my operation was declared to be "nerve sparing", I have never since, with or without chemical or mechanical help, been able to achieve or sustain an erection sufficient for satisfactory intercourse.

If I had to do it all over again, would I choose the same treatment?

Yes

Why did I give this answer?

Because it may well have saved my life (six years later I still have an undetectable PSA level) and it certainly saved me from other prolonged and unpleasant treatments.

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