What is often missed in discussions about ED and male incontinence is the impact it has on partners. In this touching follow up to Galen’s story, Linda shares what it was like from a wife’s perspective. It really has an affect on the entire family.
**Below is the transcript of the video**
Hi, I’m Linda Bird. Galen and I are patient advocates and we speak about prostate cancer and the treatments for E.D. and incontinence. He had prostate cancer and a radical prostatectomy, and as a result of that he suffered with both severe incontinence and erectile dysfunction (E.D. I will call it in the rest of this talk).
Shortly after his surgery, he found out he was suffering from both E.D. and incontinence. The disappointment and the frustration really started setting in. Of course, he was thrilled he was alive – we both were – and that his doctor felt that he had gotten all of his cancer. But at the same time, he was suffering from both of these conditions and, as a result, had a lot of depression and frustration and I think some anger in there.
We tried just about everything that was on the market as far as help for the E.D. and also for the incontinence. There are no pills for stress, incontinence. He tried Kegel exercises, those didn’t work. He just got so depressed. We tried Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis and none of that worked.
Finally, we just decided that we had to do something but we didn’t know what else we could do until we actually went into a seminar and heard that there was help for severe incontinence and E.D. He ended having both a penile implant and an artificial urinary sphincter placed, and he is just totally a new man. The artificial urinary sphincter is such a godsend. He no longer suffers with the rashes that he had and the wet pads and the wet pants. I’m no longer dealing with the odor of the laundry, the odor of the trash, and the stains on the computer chair and the jeep seat and just about anything else upholstered he decide to sit down on.
Probably one of the greatest things about it is that he can play with the grandchildren again, which he couldn’t do when he had his severe incontinence. He knew that if he sat down on the floor and [2:20 inaudible] the house door, threw a ball out in the yard or play golf with them or tennis, he’d just be soaking wet and he just was not willing to embarrass himself in front of the children.
The penile implant – gosh – it is wonderful! We were both scared to death to have sex after not being able to have sex for two and a half years. And I would tell you, the first time we tried that penile implant, it was a little bit of a learning experience. But it has just gotten better and better ever since. He has his confidence back and I have my old husband back.
Probably the greatest thing about it is we have our spontaneity back. He no longer has to go to the closet shelf and get a vacuum erection device or go to the refrigerator and get an injection or plan a low-fat meal, take a pill and wait. It’s just great. If we’re in the mood, we just go to bed, pump it up, and off we go. It’s wonderful.
Also try to get through security with a vacuum erection device – when the officer holds it up and says, “What in the world is this thing?” when he inspects your luggage. If you have one of these, you can walk right through security, there’s no metal in them. It’s wonderful.
So I really, really would recommend to any of you who are suffering with either of these conditions. Be sure to get yourselves some help because you don’t have to live that way.