Advice needed - please

[Greenshorts]

Looking for some advice on my situation - becoming desperate.

I'm 30 and single, with a confirmed venous leak. I've always had ED since I became sexually active as a teenager, I've relied on pills or had trouble staying hard.

The pills are no longer working. My urologist didn't recommend injections for a young single person. Based on my age, he was hesitant to go straight to implant and so has been pushing for me to try vein embolization first. The wait time to have the embolization procedure is nearly 12 months. I don't think I can mentally wait for that long with no progress. I've tried to find other radiologists that do the procedure but had no luck.

I don't have private health insurance so would unfortunately have to pay out of pocket for an implant, I would probably have to apply for a loan to be able to afford the surgery. I am living in Australia permanently, but a UK citizen. The most high volume, implant surgeon in Australia, operates a very short drive from my house. I have also been reading alot about Dr Ralph the top implant surgeon in Europe, based in London. Both surgeons have a similar fee to be seen privately, $26,000/ £13,000~ although with Ralph, there is that, if anything goes wrong afterwards, could be treated through the NHS, from what I have read. There is also the possibility of Dr Ralph perform the surgery through the NHS, free of charge, although I've seen the wait list can be 7/8 months +, which, with how I feel at the moment mentally, seems way too long, I'm also not sure how this would work with me not living in England anymore.

I'm generally a very positive person but this is making me depressed, it's all I think about, and being impotent is driving me insane. I want to get this ordeal behind me as soon as possible, but want to make the best decision, I don't feel comfortable talking to anyone I know about this, so, I'm looking to people on this forum for your thoughts and advice.

[Leebert]

Ya its rough without insurance, did you inquire about a down payment and monthly payments?

[Greenshorts]

Yes, they want an upfront payment

[Gt1956]

Yes, they want an upfront payment

Have you considered trying to increase your income? A second job can really boost your financial picture.

[Greenshorts]

I earn good money, the fact I would have to get a loan is very shit but not my biggest concern, I have no choice
What would you do in my situation

[Endoftheline]

Looking for some advice on my situation - becoming desperate.

I'm 30 and single, with a confirmed venous leak. I've always had ED since I became sexually active as a teenager, I've relied on pills or had trouble staying hard.

The pills are no longer working. My urologist didn't recommend injections for a young single person. Based on my age, he was hesitant to go straight to implant and so has been pushing for me to try vein embolization first. The wait time to have the embolization procedure is nearly 12 months. I don't think I can mentally wait for that long with no progress. I've tried to find other radiologists that do the procedure but had no luck.

I don't have private health insurance so would unfortunately have to pay out of pocket for an implant, I would probably have to apply for a loan to be able to afford the surgery. I am living in Australia permanently, but a UK citizen. The most high volume, implant surgeon in Australia, operates a very short drive from my house. I have also been reading alot about Dr Ralph the top implant surgeon in Europe, based in London. Both surgeons have a similar fee to be seen privately, $26,000/ £13,000~ although with Ralph, there is that, if anything goes wrong afterwards, could be treated through the NHS, from what I have read. There is also the possibility of Dr Ralph perform the surgery through the NHS, free of charge, although I've seen the wait list can be 7/8 months +, which, with how I feel at the moment mentally, seems way too long, I'm also not sure how this would work with me not living in England anymore.

I'm generally a very positive person but this is making me depressed, it's all I think about, and being impotent is driving me insane. I want to get this ordeal behind me as soon as possible, but want to make the best decision, I don't feel comfortable talking to anyone I know about this, so, I'm looking to people on this forum for your thoughts and advice.

Hey man, i was in your shoes and decided to take out the loan, fly to NYC and got it done. You can read my history to know about what i suffered from.

Financially constrained due to the payments, but i dont regret it. I took action on somethikg tjat haunted me all my life. If you can properly plan this out and generate alternative sources of income. Its very possible. My alternative was waiting for a better cure, and i wasnt getting any younger.

[Greenshorts]

Hey man, i was in your shoes and decided to take out the loan, fly to NYC and got it done.

Hey man, just read your post. Are you in the US? Did you go with Eid? What are you happy/unhappy about having the implant.


I have booked to have a video call with Eid but I'm not sure if flying all the way to new York plus hotels for Eid would be foolish when Chris Love the most high volume surgeon in Australia is afew minutes drive away

[Old Guy]

Your issue is a real hard decision to give advice on. Money is a big issue; loans are a long term expense. If you're already looking at having to make a loan, adding a trip and hotel stays will make that one big bill. Since you have a good surgeon close that would be my choice.
Injections worked for me for a few years. That may be an option short term while you wait for an implant. Age shouldn't matter as long as you don't abuse the stuff.
As far as any of the ultrasound/shock wave type treatments from what most post they seem to be a waste of time. There is a forum on here dedicated to that.
As far as your depression I don't blame you for wanting to get the implant now. Once I had my implant done all my feelings of doom left.
Schedule with the close by doc, see what he says.

[Greenshorts]

Yes I feel like the close surgeon is going to be the best option, he did put the vein glueing/embolization forward to try but the wait list is so long and the success rate is not all that promising, It could have a chance to work on someone with a minor leak but I have been shown to have a moderate leak on both sides of the penis, I am trying to reassure myself that I'm definitely not making a mistake going straight for the implant.

I feel like the implant is the best option for me, I would appreciate others input with their thoughts on my situation.

It's scary to think I'm going to have a chunk of plastic in my body and never get a natural erection again, but it is not like I have gotten a natural erection of any quality in a long long time without pills anyway so even if it is scary I just have to commit to it that this is the best choice to improve my quality of life and mental health instead of obsessing over how shit this situation is

[Shadow9494]

I sincerely feel for you. Erections are such a big (no pun intended) part of a man's life. We often place our value on the size and quality of them (which, by the way, we shouldn't).

Anyway, I'm implanted 3 weeks now. If you read from others on the board, I think you'll find the numbers don't lie. The majority of men are happy with their implants.

I am not very well hung - always been average (best was when I was in my 20's - 6" length by 5" girth), but porn warped me and I never felt I had enough. After having peyronies (which I believe was onset from a combination of weakening my penis with an extender and having vigorous intercourse), I was down to about 5.5" by 5" when using a VED with a ring, but it was not sustainable and not very "spontaneous".

After 10+ years of having ED and pills not working anymore, I decided to take the plunge. I wish I'd done it years ago.

I still feel I'm on the "short side" after surgery, but others have encouraged me that with cycling I can be back to "normal", and maybe even more with the LGX, in 6 months to a year. Regardless, just 3 weeks out and the quality of my "erection" is outstanding. Rock hard - harder than it's ever been on its own, or at least that I can remember.

After dealing with ED as long as you have, and at your age, I feel it would've been a no-brainer for me. Knowing you can get an erection any time you like, and a hard one at that, boosts your confidence like there's no tomorrow. I would never have experienced performance anxiety with this thing. Also, as you kind of touched upon, I didn't know how I'd feel not having a "natural" erection any more, and would it just be lifeless meat between my legs. Well, I'm happy to say that when I "flex" my kegels, like you're stopping your pee, I can feel it, and my penis moves! The fact that attachment still exists was paramount for me - it made me feel like it was still mine and I could control it.

With that being said, you have to take multiple factors into consideration - cost being a big one, and with your age, there is a good chance you will need more than one replacement/revision in your lifetime. Also the down time - you need at least 2 weeks to recover - most say 3-6 weeks. I took 3 weeks and feel well enough to work from home now. Also, once you go bionic, there is no going back - it's a lifetime decision. The good news is, I would think implants would only improve in the future!

Do your due diligence. Get out there and read! Weigh it out. Do what's best for you and your life, and most of all, do what's going to make you happy!

Wishing you the best, and good luck with your decision, whatever it may be - keep us posted!