Single with ED

[Al1962]

Use it or lose it. Just feeling sorry for myself.
Well that is no fun when single. I like women and sex but would rather be in a serious relationship. Without that relationship I fear ED will get worse sooner. If ED gets worse then I don't feel good about looking for a relationship. There is more to a relationship than sex and there is more to sex than just a penis but realistically if a woman likes sex then she probably hopes the man brings a penis. Back in November when I joined this I had a better outlook. A lot of people here have or are considering implants. I just thought maybe that's a long way off for me. In February I had a mild heart attack and had a stent. I feel good but I can't take Nitro if I've had Sildenafil. Now I have wondered about low testosterone but I don't want to shrink my testicles. I take Prasugrel and Metoprolol. So I can't use vacuum which I thought would be good for maintenance. I won't be able to use the shots. For now the Sildenafil does work its just not no fun by myself. I don't know how you guys keep your spirits up.

[Lost Sheep]

I don't know how you guys keep your spirits up.

Welcome to the forum and thanks for asking our advice.

Hope ever springs eternal. That's how I keep my hopes up.

Sex, even without coitus can be satisfying for a woman. Don't let a non-functional penis prevent you from enjoying the company of women nor satisfying sex. Women like to have a hard penis, but it is not their only desire in sex, much less in emotional satisfaction. I have posted many times before, women are incredibly understanding and supportive if they feel trusted. If they feel desired and loved, even more so.

I don't understand how you cannot use a vacuum device for maintenance. I started to look up Prasugrel and Metoprolol for reasons, but thought you could give me a better answer than the internet. As far as I know, a gentle vacuum, judiciously applied (probably far short of full rigidity, but at least approaching full size) should accomplish most or all of what is desired for penile tissue maintenance (oxygenation and elasticity).

Do Tadalafil and Vardenafil also have the prohibitions on Nitroglycerin?

Alpostradil cream or suppository might be a viable alternative, and, of course, injections are a potential; all short of the drastic step of an implant.

[Al1962]

Mr. Lost Sheep. The metaprol is something with blood pressure to be less strain on heart. The Prasugrel is a blood thinner for patients with a stent. I read that if you use blood thinners to not use VED but used gently for Maintenance as you refer sounds fine. I will have to check on the two medications you mentioned or eat more healthy and maybe not need nitro.

[Al1962]

Reality of humanity or humility or I need to be more open and honest upfront.
I have a male FWB that I have not told I take Sildenafil. The ED thing may still be more of a psychological obstacle than a physical one me. I imagine if I get past being shy and actuality date I would be upfront with a new female that functionality is fine but may take more drastic measure. I would love to date an old crush from school but am scared to death to deal with this reality for fear she will just think "great I'm glad I didn't date him and I'm not missing anything now".

[Larry10625]

Use it or lose it. Just feeling sorry for myself.
Well that is no fun when single. I like women and sex but would rather be in a serious relationship. Without that relationship I fear ED will get worse sooner. If ED gets worse then I don't feel good about looking for a relationship. There is more to a relationship than sex and there is more to sex than just a penis but realistically if a woman likes sex then she probably hopes the man brings a penis. Back in November when I joined this I had a better outlook. A lot of people here have or are considering implants. I just thought maybe that's a long way off for me. In February I had a mild heart attack and had a stent. I feel good but I can't take Nitro if I've had Sildenafil. Now I have wondered about low testosterone but I don't want to shrink my testicles. I take Prasugrel and Metoprolol. So I can't use vacuum which I thought would be good for maintenance. I won't be able to use the shots. For now the Sildenafil does work its just not no fun by myself. I don't know how you guys keep your spirits up.

Why can't you use the vacuum?

Larry

[Al1962]

Larry, because of taking a blood thinner it can be risky. But if careful It should be ok to use vacuum. I read it on a medical advice website I think.

[Larry10625]

Larry, because of taking a blood thinner it can be risky. But if careful It should be ok to use vacuum. I read it on a medical advice website I think.

I take ASA every day and so far, I have had no problems. Dr. Perito says to pump the vacuum until it's still comfortable but one more pump would be uncomfortable. Leave it for 30 minutes. This twice a day is 100% better than once a day.

Larry

[Al1962]

I might be low on Testosterone also.
I have for almost a year (since divorce) now taken Sildenafil and then visited the guy friend/FWB about once a week.
For the past 8 months I have only solo masturbated to ejaculation without taking Sildenafil maybe once a month. Quite often I give up because it takes to long and I lose what ever erection (maybe 85%) I had, or my cat comes in to see what I'm doing.
Twenty years ago wife and I did things 2-3 times a day. That was more than I wanted but I could do it. Fifteen years ago it was maybe every other day. Five years ago 2-3 times per week. Last year of marriage about once a week but a little more would have been nice.
Just wondering how much of this is typical for a 57 year old.

[Lost Sheep]

I might be low on Testosterone also.
I have for almost a year (since divorce) now taken Sildenafil and then visited the guy friend/FWB about once a week.
For the past 8 months I have only solo masturbated to ejaculation without taking Sildenafil maybe once a month. Quite often I give up because it takes to long and I lose what ever erection (maybe 85%) I had, or my cat comes in to see what I'm doing.
Twenty years ago wife and I did things 2-3 times a day. That was more than I wanted but I could do it. Fifteen years ago it was maybe every other day. Five years ago 2-3 times per week. Last year of marriage about once a week but a little more would have been nice.
Just wondering how much of this is typical for a 57 year old.

That sounds fairly typical for the popular conception of the so-called "Age-related E.D."

(Edited to add:) Aging does diminish capacities over time. We can do nothing to affect that simple fact. But we can do A LOT to affect the RATE OF DECLINE.

To answer your specific question: Your E.D. progression pretty much matches mine year-for-year except I was almost 10 years later, I was never a multiple times per day guy, I never found it difficult to orgasm (orally when flaccid) and am heterosexual.

To philosophize (and proselytize some):

But we do not have to put up with aging in this manner. Witness the late body-builder and health guru Jack LaLane (1914-2011 and still going strong until pneumonia killed him) and take up the philosophy of Dylan Thomas' poem, "Do not go gentle in that good night". Eat healthy, exercise, do not smoke...all that stuff. There are many activities we do that prematurely ages us, impairs blood flow or impairs our thought processes and physiological responses.

I believe, when we ate healthier and lived healthier, there was a lower incidence of E.D. (Statisticians will point out that E.D. had a lower reporting rate in years past, skewing the data.) But it is true that we age ourselves faster by living less-healthy lifestyles. So, even if "Age-Related E.D." is a real phenomenon, we can slow it (and even reverse it somewhat) by being healthier.

To conclude (with hope):

Having said that, even if age has done its (dirty) work, medical treatments are available.

[Larry10625]

I might be low on Testosterone also.
I have for almost a year (since divorce) now taken Sildenafil and then visited the guy friend/FWB about once a week.
For the past 8 months I have only solo masturbated to ejaculation without taking Sildenafil maybe once a month. Quite often I give up because it takes to long and I lose what ever erection (maybe 85%) I had, or my cat comes in to see what I'm doing.
Twenty years ago wife and I did things 2-3 times a day. That was more than I wanted but I could do it. Fifteen years ago it was maybe every other day. Five years ago 2-3 times per week. Last year of marriage about once a week but a little more would have been nice.
Just wondering how much of this is typical for a 57 year old.

I am 52 and currently once every 3 weeks if I'm lucky or if I keep my mouth shut... one snide comment about not getting it will cost me.

Larry