FrankTalk.org

Hi,

I live in the UK and work in Italy, I guess you could say i have a hectic lifestyle for a 59 year old. Not looking at winding down by choice in anything really, certainly not sex.

Married nearly 39 years, we have broad sexual and life experience and I like to satisfy both our needs as much as I can, yes, sexually, but also with other activities. I can still get occasional erections that can be sustained for masturbation, and sometimes to start penetrative sex, but not for any significant time or reward for either of us.

I am a type 2 diabetic, diagnosed in '98, been on a 4 injection basal/bolus insulin regime for a few years now, well controlled, no complaints from teh specialists. I am also treated with Testogel for low testosterone. I developed ED quite early after the diabetes, and sucessfully treated with Viagra and alternatively Levitra for several years, Cialis was a failure for me. The pills became less effective after about years and I was then tested for testosterone which proved very low. After testosterone treatment the drugs regained effectiveness, but at I was by then using max prescribed UK dose, 100mg and 20mg. But I now find 100mg Viagra less effective. I have tried cocktails of both Viagra and Levitra, OK as an irregular practice, not always efective. I also use a pump but find that less effective than at first too, but I have always needed the smallest band to hold the pressure, even though I don't think I have the smallest penis. Useful tool in the armoury, and it comes out normally to complete something we may have started in the mornings.....

But anyway, after an operation to resolve a hydrocele I was referred and went to the local ED specialist and got Caverject. No other injectable choices in the UK.

I had some success with the first couple of doses, in one side of the penis only! 5 and 7.5. Now I am increasing dosage trying to get an effect, not much going on. I hae tried 10 an dnow once at 15, and I am sure I need to increase dose, but also get better technique. The ED guy said that most of his patients respond at 5 or 7.5, so this seemed hopeful at first, but now it is causing some frustration, so best seek help. I have an appointment with the ED Clinic when I am back in the UK for summer vacation in August! Bit long to wait really!

I will repost some of thsi on the injection thread to get some feedback from those of oyu that have been this route before.

Welcome to the forums, Snake! I'm pretty new here also but have found a lot of caring, compassionate guys here already. I'm sure you will as well. My condition is actually similar to yours, although I am not diabetic. I'm thinking about injections as well, so it will be interesting to compare notes going forward.

Again, welcome!

Cary

I am another UK Caverject user with a very similar background to you - type 2 diabetes for over 14 years controlled by pills, used viagra/ levitra but cialis also never worked for me. Even 100 mg of viagra eventually became unreliable and often when it did work it did not last long enough. I started Caverject 14 months ago but I need at least 20 mcg for a decent erection ( lasts about 30 mins - not really long enough ). i usually use 25 or 30 mcg which gives me 45 mins/60 mins. I have not had a failure so far injecting both sides alternately.

You may well find that like me you need a bigger dose of Caverject. I understand that in the trials the average dose of Caverject for men of our age with diabetes related ED was found to be 21.7 mcg so relatively large doses are not unusual. Stick with it, I am sure you will find a dose that gives you the hardness and duration you want.

Just did my 1st injection doc's teaching nurse suggested 30 units that would be 6 MCG. Got maybe a 60% or so. As I understand it everyone's different so increase dose in stages until desired result.

Getting more confident now that a bigger dosage will be effective. Now we need to find a way to work this into lovemaking not just functional sex!

I don't think it was helpful that the guy at the ED clinic said that most of his patients get a good result on 5 or 7.5 Mcgm doses, when it seems that over 20 Mcmg is a more likely need in my case. My experience certainly does seems to fit with Bluewhippet....

Now I have a set of 20Mcgm kits to use in July and an appointmnet back at the clinic in August where I will discuss higher dosages, and maybe just a little higher really, and the desire for a little longer duration. On problem with a 30 minute to 40 minute duration is that it seems you won't know when its going down until it does and you may not have managed your orgasm by then. I can live witout it if I need to, but my wife seems to have a deep emotional need for it.

However I will say that the UK system depends on your GP giving you the prescriptons, not the ED clinic, and my GP was happy enough going from the 10Mcmg to 20Mcmg.

It is clear to me that the medical profession does not have enough understanding of the emotional side of this problem and the need for support from users, not medicos who overworry you will overdose and end up in A&E with an icepack...I understand it can happen....but it looks like I am taking enough care there....

I have been sucessfully injecting > 15 years. My experiences in the early days were very similar the above stories. I too was reluctant to increse the doses in the beginning. I finally increased them to the point where i was, and still do, get great results. The URO's start u out slowly as precautionary measure. Just be patient. Good luck