Hello.
I was glad to find this forum, although I'm not sure how much it will help other than just to share my frustration with my "problem".
For various reasons, I disregarded my ED for over a year before finally being seen by a doctor. I was first given Levitra which I didn't respond to whatsoever. I was then given Cialis, which I responded to, but not nearly enough. With those failures behind me, my doctor and I agreed that it was pretty much useless to try Viagra. He suggested the use of a vacuum pump so I purchased one--an Osbon ErecAid Esteeem manual model. I was shocked at how expensive these items are. Yeah, I know Medic-Aid will pay for the cost of one, but I was only 39 when stricken by this humiliating condition, so Medic-Aid isn't an option for me.
Anyway, I find the device to be very clunky and unweildy. The pumping itself, though not specifically painful, is not comfortable. I have also found there's not enough different sizes in the tension rings. With the size C ring, things are just a tad too loose. I have a smaller, less rigid erection which slowly subsides as the blood drains out. The next size down is the B ring, which is painful to apply, tight as hell and painful to maintain, and painful and very difficult to remove. That said, the B ring gives me a functional erection. I wish there was an intermediate size ring between the C and B.
I find the whole affair to be rather disheartening. I'm assuming that the condition is irreversible, brought about by my own failure to control and manage my diabetes. I guess the pump is the only thing that will allow me to have--well, obviously not a normal sex life--but simply to have sex at all. The procedure takes preparation and time and completely kills any spontanaeity and romance. It sort of becomes a science project much like Victor von Frankenstein trying to bring his monster to life. I feel like I should be shouting, "It's ALIIIIVE" with a mad gleam in my eye once it's done with.
I've only had the pump for about a month now and I'm still experimenting with it, but there's just no excitement. That's been my experience thus far with the vacuum device. I'm so disgusted with myself for having this problem at all.
B
re: Struggling with a new vacuum pump.
Jason
Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 11:09 AM
Hello, I wanted to share my thoughts and experience I've had with ED and vacuum pumps. For my ED, the doctor prescribed Levitra but it gives me severe headaches and flushing in my face. The doctor recommended that I try a vacuum pump. I purchased the Encore Impo-aid $94 battery operated (OTC) model offered at Vitalitymedical.com. It comes with 4 incrementally sized tension rings. The smallest ring is size 3, it is the best size for maintaining an erection, but it is too tight and uncomfortable. I've had to use the next size 4 ring and it is working great with less pain. The pump was difficult to use at first and takes a lot of practice before you can get a sufficient erection for sex. Six months later and I get good results, my wife is happy too because my erections are bigger using the pump. Of coarse the spontaneity is missing without being able to have sex without using the pump. Overall, I'm glad it can still have sex, even if it's not exactly like it was before the ED.
re: re: Struggling with a new vacuum pump.
Anonymous
Thursday, January 08, 2009 at 12:26 PM
Thanks for mentioning the need to practice. I had become a bit discouraged with the clumsiness of the device and the painful application and removal of the tension ring. I've been able to achieve sex successfully once and partially so a second time, but I haven't been practicing as I should. I've read that the quality of the erection improves over time with consistent use and practice so hopefully I'll be able to get back to something like a normal sex life at some point.
re: re: Struggling with a new vacuum pump.
Hello.
I was glad to find this forum, although I'm not sure how much it will help other than just to share my frustration with my "problem".
For various reasons, I disregarded my ED for over a year before finally being seen by a doctor. I was first given Levitra which I didn't respond to whatsoever. I was then given Cialis, which I responded to, but not nearly enough. With those failures behind me, my doctor and I agreed that it was pretty much useless to try Viagra. He suggested the use of a vacuum pump so I purchased one--an Osbon ErecAid Esteeem manual model. I was shocked at how expensive these items are. Yeah, I know Medic-Aid will pay for the cost of one, but I was only 39 when stricken by this humiliating condition, so Medic-Aid isn't an option for me.
Anyway, I find the device to be very clunky and unweildy. The pumping itself, though not specifically painful, is not comfortable. I have also found there's not enough different sizes in the tension rings. With the size C ring, things are just a tad too loose. I have a smaller, less rigid erection which slowly subsides as the blood drains out. The next size down is the B ring, which is painful to apply, tight as hell and painful to maintain, and painful and very difficult to remove. That said, the B ring gives me a functional erection. I wish there was an intermediate size ring between the C and B.
I find the whole affair to be rather disheartening. I'm assuming that the condition is irreversible, brought about by my own failure to control and manage my diabetes. I guess the pump is the only thing that will allow me to have--well, obviously not a normal sex life--but simply to have sex at all. The procedure takes preparation and time and completely kills any spontanaeity and romance. It sort of becomes a science project much like Victor von Frankenstein trying to bring his monster to life. I feel like I should be shouting, "It's ALIIIIVE" with a mad gleam in my eye once it's done with.
I've only had the pump for about a month now and I'm still experimenting with it, but there's just no excitement. That's been my experience thus far with the vacuum device. I'm so disgusted with myself for having this problem at all.
B