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I'm just beginning my lovely ED journey at the age of 43. Low T was part of my problem and is being dealt with, but with aortic stenosis on a normal tri leaflet valve and a CAC score of 156 (indicating subclinical CAD, which is abominable at my age), I know where things are headed courtesy of massive atherosclerotic damage for a man my age.

My heart is in rough shape (for a man my age), and will no doubt be much worse in twenty years (if I keep living after my inevitable aortic valve replacement surgery).

I know what this does to erections, but what happens once you get an implant? All the PDE5 inhibitor commercials tell you to ask your doctor if your heart is healthy enough for you to have sex -- presumably the implant means your heart health has nothing to do with your ability to get and maintain an erection anymore, so how bad does your heart have to be that you can't have sex with one?

I know lifestyle modification should help, and I did lose 60 pounds right after ED invited itself into my body, and radically changed my habits (I am now only about 2-3 pounds overweight after having lost over 25% of my body mass). But with aortic stenosis and a CAC score like that, "avoiding heart disease" left the building some time ago, and all I can hope for now is to slow the barreling locomotive down somewhat over the next 40 years -- or however long I've got.

I doubt if your heart health has anything at all to do with your penis. Apart from medication, the health warnings pertain more to overall exertion and stress and their effect on your heart, which can be considerable.

"The heart and the penis are one."

That's why guys with ED have a much higher rate of heart disease and heart attacks.

Of course this is relatively recent knowledge, but it's (sadly) very true.

I mean it does depend on WHY a guy has ED -- but atherosclerosis causes both ED and heart disease. I have that, and low T, and (now) psych issues, and God knows what else.

Yes, this is definitely a question for a cardiologist, and maybe get two or three opinions.

They do say that penile health is an indication of overall health including heart health.

I've had ED for a long time, but it has gradually gotten worse with high blood pressure and high blood pressure meds.

But my BP is under control with medication and the doctors have not told me to abstain from sex. I hope not, I just got an implant and have yet to use it!!

Keep us posted on what the doctors say. Best to you.

Thanks. My heart is doing fine for now, but as I indicated, all signs are that over the next 10-20 years, things are gonna get ugly. Statistically speaking, I have about 10 years until I'll be needing aortic valve replacement, and about 15 years on average after that. That's a tough one to come to terms with -- I had been hoping to enjoy a retirement -- but I need to bear those realities in mind as I consider how to deal with my ED (which is managing quite well for now on minimal Cialis -- 2.5 mg per day).

My bottom line is that I don't want to suffer through ten years of crappy erections until I finally get an implant -- and die of a heart attack two years later.

Nocturne - check your PM.

Nocturne wrote:Thanks. My heart is doing fine for now, but as I indicated, all signs are that over the next 10-20 years, things are gonna get ugly. Statistically speaking, I have about 10 years until I'll be needing aortic valve replacement, and about 15 years on average after that. That's a tough one to come to terms with -- I had been hoping to enjoy a retirement -- but I need to bear those realities in mind as I consider how to deal with my ED (which is managing quite well for now on minimal Cialis -- 2.5 mg per day).

My bottom line is that I don't want to suffer through ten years of crappy erections until I finally get an implant -- and die of a heart attack two years later.

I certainly empathize with your situation. They really can do wonders with heart surgery any more. Maybe the future is better than you anticipate. At least I hope so.

If you're doing well on 2.5 Cialis a day, that's pretty good. The daily 5 did nothing for me. The 20mg stopped being effective and then injections worked for a while but lost their effectiveness. I probably have poor circulation due to a sedentary lifestyle and I know I have high BP (controlled by medication). The high BP and medicines really contribute to the ED. The implant was the only thing left for me. I sure do wish you well.

Sorry -- got that wrong, it's 2.5 mg Cialis every OTHER day. But 5 mg per day was not working for me a little over a year ago. Low T or psychogenic issues or both, I am not entirely sure.

It isn't bad for now, but I am only 43. If I need Cialis now... Well. I can see what is coming down the pipeline, especially considering my other issues.