When I had my surgery two years ago the people here told me that visual
stimulation would no longer be effective.  I do not remember, however, the
reason for this.  I am sure some of the others will have more detailed
information.  There are a lot of knowledgeable people here.

As to full potency, there are guys here that reported having erections while
the catheter was still in.  I think this gets back to how we are all
different and our experience post op ranges from complete impotence, like me

better after the surgery, i.e., more intense and last longer.

So, I would count you among the lucky ones if you can have an erection
unaided.  I would not worry about the visual stimulation.  Maybe Viagra or
one of the others would solve the short duration problem.

Good luck to you.

There is no single answer to your question.   Some men notice no
difference whatsoever once erections return, and of course some men
never regain erections.   It is not uncommon for visual stimulation to
fail to evoke an erection after an RP.

My erections started to return after about 18 months and continued to
improve for at least a year after that.  Today, almost five years after
surgery, I can manage an erection on my own, but I have a little trouble
maintaining it at the crucial moment of penetration, probably because of
anxiety.  After penetration, it improves and lasts long enough for all
practical purposes.  I think this aspect has improved over time.   But
the whole thing is easier if I use some Viagra.  I use 50 mg since I
split 100 pills in two, but I suspect I could get by with less.  I was
67 when I had the RP, and visual stimulation was not that effective in
any case, but it did more or less vanish after surgery.  I think I've
noticed some partial return of that aspect of things,  but it is not all
that important, so I am not particularly concerned about it.

I believe I now regularly have nocturnal erections, which seem quite
firm, because I occasionally wake up with one.   I think the first time
I was aware of anything like that was about two years after surgery.

Hi Arch,
   I am 5 years out of RP....I was 49 when surgery was performed.
I lost 1 set of nerves...
It took, 2 years to get a middle road erections....
Like a soft banana......
With Viagra......1/3 of a pill (100mgs) I achieve a spectacular
erection.........
I do need manual stimulation without viagra, and need to keep that up for
sex...... It does work, and anxiety seems to be the culprit in softness....
Viagra does help considerable....
Good wishes, keep trying,
John Loomis age 55 now

 Hate to say that the answer is probably never. I am 55 and 2 3/4 years
post RP. I can get a very good erection and have sex, but only with manual
stimulation. I don't think I have ever had a noctural or visually caused
erection since the surgery. I also have alot of trouble keeping it erect if
laying down or on my side. Viagra like products really work great, and seem
to solve all these minor problems. My PSA is zero, and I am cancer free, so
I am perfectly happy with my situation.

I can't answer your question because I had radiation.

However I think I can say that if you can get erections at
all, then Viagra or one of the similar drugs has a high
likelihood of working for you.  If you haven't tried it, I
suggest you do.

   Alan