Things I have learned ..

[seeking info]

First and fourmost is that ED is more common than I thought and it is no respector of age. Next I have discovered that my owm penis is the size as most everyone elses. Thirdly, I did not know that all guys have a fat pad behind their shaft. I thought that was only for those of us who have extra padding anyway. Next is that low testoterone can really be a serious issue. When I came to this site and after reading about the condition and the causes I had my levels checked. My testosterone level was 67...WAY WAY too low. I found out what was causing mine to be so low too. It appears that anyone on long term opiodal pain management will have problems with their hormone levels. An amazing 96% of men who take opiodal pain meds will have low T levels and must be managed by an endocrinologist. I am on androgel and use 2 pumps a day. I have just got my levels over 300 and normal range for a man over 50 is between 300-1100. Mine is on the low end of normal my doc wants it up a little bit higher but even now I see and feel the benefits of the replacement. You guys have certainly helped me overcome some of my own feelings of in adequateness. I no longer feel the need to hide in a gym setting. I feel like I can hang with the rest of them. Of course my wife never has had problem shes told me for years it was all me. Lastly with all this knowledge and confidence from the education received on this site, my own ED issues are getting better. For me thats better the winning the lottery.
My advice is keep researching and reading and fighting until you find your own answers and never ever give up!
Thank you all!!!!

[dtwarren1942]

Congratulation,Seeking for all the progress you have made. Just a word of caution though. Make sure your doc periodically check your PSA. I had been on HRT for about 6 months and my PSA started to rise slightly (from 1 to 1.6). The doc advised that the raw number was still acceptable, but the increase was troubling so he advised me to cut The T dose in half. My total T was 195 before TRT which increased it to 750. Once I reduced the T dose, it dropped back to 350 and my PSA returned to 1. The doc was pleased with my latest PSA and T levels.

[radiodec]

I second this! "Just a word of caution though. Make sure your doc periodically check your PSA."

When I was diagnosed with PCa my PSA (5.5) was just over borderline as a gross number but had increased by 1.0 in a year. The prostate even looked fairly good on ultrasound, but biopsy showed widespread agressive cancer (gleason 7-8) in much of the prostate. This was at 53, so watch the PSA numbers. This is despite whatever the new studies show; for me once a year saved my life.

Radiodec

[antelope]

Yep, testosterone is a feedstock for prostate cancer.

[seeking info]

Thank you for the advice and they are keeping a watch on my PSA levels. They are testing and checking size every six months.
I new from readi g this site that this could be a problem. Thanks again guys! Both my urologist endocrinologist and my pain Dr said that the hormone feeds cancer and doesnt cause it but I wouldnt relent. They are chking it 2 times a year for my own peace of mind. So far it hasnt changed its .06. They say thats excellent. Thank you all for looking out for me