FrankTalk.org

OK So I've had ED all my life from teens. I used to be able to get it going if I was lucky but it never would stay up (secs to a minute), if I reached for the condom then it would be game over before I'd got it halfway on. This is when I'm 18/19yrs old.
I've tried every single PDE5 pill and both injections available in UK (Alprostadil and Invicorp)
every cock ring, VED - you name I've bought it and given it a go.

Now after 6 months the invicorp injects don't work at all which I am so gutted about.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20622

So its implant time, I've spend a lot of time researching. I'll go with Prof Ralph in London, he wants to go with Titan.

I have a pro/con list and tried to settle me head round it. My main reservation that's making me hesitate is that fact.
normally I have zero morning wood or night time erections. If I take 80mg of Pycnogenol at night then I will sometimes get a 10 to 60 secs good morning wood which then gives out and then gives out (L-Arginine seems to make zero difference for me - or Citrilline)

So my hesitation is that surely if I can get morning wood (albeit for a very short time) the plumbing cant be that far gone?
Well that and the very basic 80's design of the implant, risk of surgery not going well, IPP durability, needing revisions, etc

I've not had a doppler test as I was told by Sheffield Urology that it would not change the treatment options - which they said was none. It might be useful info to understand where the fault is but since the only options are cockring/ VED, pills, injections then IPP does it matter?

I guess I'm asking has anyone still had very brief morning wood, but unresponsive to pills/injections etc and still went the implant route?

Implant is the next step after injections. When injections worked for me I hated them. I enjoy the implant much more.

It's all about what constitutes a satisfying erection for you. If 10-30secs is enough then stay with that, if you think that's insufficient then you can look at the other options

I understand what you are saying. I'm almost 69 and am going to be getting an implant next month and on occasion still wake up with a hard on but when it comes to have penatration it's too soft and useless. I tried all the medication and injections but nothing helped. So I'm where you are but older. So I'm ready for a real fix that will work 100% when I need it to.
I wish you luck in your journey and success with your final outcome. But I don't know how many times I've read men with an implant say "I wish I had done this sooner"

Sounds like you’re at the point of implant. It’s still your decision and nobody else’s. As far as concerns from everything I’ve read on here Dr Ralph is a very good high volume implanted and as far as Titan it’s a great implant. If you read the facts there’s a 98% satisfaction rate! Can’t argue with that! I like the way I’ve read it on here before… if your knee blew out…. Would you hesitate to replace it if it was a viable option? Sure the knee comes with some risk of infection as with any surgery, sure the knee may not last a lifetime without some issues. There’s risks with any surgery and implant is no different. Best thing is pick a good surgeon(which you have) and make your mind up and go for it. It’s not a fix all and there is an adjustment time before it seems more natural. Took me 3-4 months before I was comfortable day to day. It was another month before I could have very aggressive sex with no pain or discomfort. But from the first time I had sex with mine at about 4 weeks I’ve never looked back and never regretted it. I’m at 8 months now and all is amazing! If it breaks I’ll replace it. As long as it functions I’ll use it to the max! God luck on your journey and keep us all posted of your progress!

You are right to be sure before going for an implant. I've been through all that myself. Had ED forever just like you. Perhaps mine was not as bad as yours seems to be, but still bad. I had sex, but often with failures and always with workarounds. ED always impacted me. I never once in my life had free, unrestricted sex, without taking my ED into account and finding ways to work around it.
I tried all the stuff. Cock rings and all OTC pill that claimed to improve "male performance". None of them did really. Viagra did for sure, but it only made things better, it didn't really make things good.
So I went for the implant. Skipped the injections, which I don't regret. Easy to say when I never tried them, but that's how I feel.

I understand you're clutching at straws. But if you look soberly at it - if something gives you 20 seconds morning wood, is that going to help you?
Pycnogenol is a safe substance that seem to have a positive impact on the prostate as well. I have taken it through periods for that reason, and I have noticed some impact on my dick as well. It is like a light (very light) version of Viagra. When I take it an hour before sex, I feel my dick just swells up a little bit better and seems to get a slightly better blood flow.
But ED of you severity - forget that any pill you buy over the counter is going to fix it.

Since you did try Viagra etc without success, then injections and implants are the only ways to go.
Of course both have risks. Injections can give you PD, implants can get infected (1-2% risk each surgery) and will need to be replaced. Several times probably if the first one is done at your age.
That means you have a decision to make. Keep having none or crap sex and avoid that risk. Or take that risk and start having sex again.

Good luck.

Thanks for all the kind replies and perspectives.

Yes I guess I am clutching at straws, it’s just so frustrating this condition isn’t it.
I still can’t believe how quickly the injections stopped working. They were amazing when I first had them. It did my mental health a world of good. And equally now they have stopped working its also Set me off on a negative state. Especially now I’ve met someone awesome.

Im someone who over analyses everything, concerned I’ve made the wrong decision. So this implant option has been going round and round.
But at the end of the day, I’m at the position where nothing works so either limp Dick and no sex or implant and the unknown.

I guess the knee or hip surgery analogy works for me. If my hip has failed then I’d be in hospital without a thought because I wouldnt be able to walk about. I’m hesitating as it’s a personal issue that I’m worrying I could make worse with this decision for surgery. Other than being in pain for a bit, or not working. I’m not in any different position than I am now?

Thanks for your thoughts. I’ve just had trouble getting my head round this. The 98pc patient satisfaction that the manufacturers claim, can’t be quite right with the number of unlucky people on this forum that have had so much trouble. But it’s like shopping reviews I guess, you only tend to leave a review if it’s a truly crap product or service. The ones that are happy tend to leave the forum and just get on with their lives.

I had some success with this in the early days:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12851125/

Biker22 wrote:OK So I've had ED all my life from teens. I used to be able to get it going if I was lucky but it never would stay up (secs to a minute), if I reached for the condom then it would be game over before I'd got it halfway on. This is when I'm 18/19yrs old.
I've tried every single PDE5 pill and both injections available in UK (Alprostadil and Invicorp)
every cock ring, VED - you name I've bought it and given it a go.

Now after 6 months the invicorp injects don't work at all which I am so gutted about.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=20622

So its implant time, I've spend a lot of time researching. I'll go with Prof Ralph in London, he wants to go with Titan.

I have a pro/con list and tried to settle me head round it. My main reservation that's making me hesitate is that fact.
normally I have zero morning wood or night time erections. If I take 80mg of Pycnogenol at night then I will sometimes get a 10 to 60 secs good morning wood which then gives out and then gives out (L-Arginine seems to make zero difference for me - or Citrilline)

So my hesitation is that surely if I can get morning wood (albeit for a very short time) the plumbing cant be that far gone?
Well that and the very basic 80's design of the implant, risk of surgery not going well, IPP durability, needing revisions, etc

I've not had a doppler test as I was told by Sheffield Urology that it would not change the treatment options - which they said was none. It might be useful info to understand where the fault is but since the only options are cockring/ VED, pills, injections then IPP does it matter?

I guess I'm asking has anyone still had very brief morning wood, but unresponsive to pills/injections etc and still went the implant route?

Sent a pm.. Happy to discuss