Frustration, getting down

[sirgawain]

A few years ago, I had an illness that required spinal surgery, which damaged some nerves. It left my penis at about a 4 out of 10 in sensitivity in the shaft as compared to pre-illness. I've learned to deal with it, but the main outcome is that while I can get a natural erection just fine, it doesn't last through sex. I can get going, but at some point, it just quits, even if it feels good. Not sure if the damaged nerves are letting blood leak out or what, but it's left me in a state of having to use trimix if I want a guaranteed night. We keep experimenting with not having to use trimix...it's frustrating because I get morning wood, I can get hard, I just can't last through sex and it's maddening. I'm not that old yet! (55 in a few weeks).

Viagra/Cialis -- no help.

I feel like I've taken so much damage in the last 5 years -- I lost most of my ejaculate via an infection years ago (like a faucet turned off) and urologist didn't care, and now this. Jesus.

I complain because my wife would like to be more spontaneous and maybe do it two days in a row, and the trimix takes away from both of those. We did a two in a row this weekend and we tried without trimix and I lost it during a blowjob, had to get up and inject a small dose just to make it through -- it's kind of embarrassing. I guess the "gratitude" version of that should be "at least you have trimix."

Anyway, just wanted to share with people who get it.

[abhishek26]

Yes I understand your frustration and feelings 100%, but hey you’re right, aren’t you glad at least there are treatments like trimix out there?

[Wiggles123]

Hi abhish. y diabetes gave me the leakage issue you speak of (may not even be related to your old illness). That is why I gladly moved on th the implant - all those TriMix issues go away..... It is your decision, but even with issues I've had with implant failure I am super happy with my choice.

[Simbarn]

A few years ago, I had an illness that required spinal surgery, which damaged some nerves. It left my penis at about a 4 out of 10 in sensitivity in the shaft as compared to pre-illness. I've learned to deal with it, but the main outcome is that while I can get a natural erection just fine, it doesn't last through sex. I can get going, but at some point, it just quits, even if it feels good. Not sure if the damaged nerves are letting blood leak out or what, but it's left me in a state of having to use trimix if I want a guaranteed night. We keep experimenting with not having to use trimix...it's frustrating because I get morning wood, I can get hard, I just can't last through sex and it's maddening. I'm not that old yet! (55 in a few weeks).

Viagra/Cialis -- no help.

I feel like I've taken so much damage in the last 5 years -- I lost most of my ejaculate via an infection years ago (like a faucet turned off) and urologist didn't care, and now this. Jesus.

I complain because my wife would like to be more spontaneous and maybe do it two days in a row, and the trimix takes away from both of those. We did a two in a row this weekend and we tried without trimix and I lost it during a blowjob, had to get up and inject a small dose just to make it through -- it's kind of embarrassing. I guess the "gratitude" version of that should be "at least you have trimix."

Anyway, just wanted to share with people who get it.

Looks like you started the T replacement only a year after the surgery? What type of HRT protocol are you on and how low were your T levels before starting the replacement? Did you have any other low t symptoms other than ED and the apparent lack of sensitivity in the penis itself?

[sirgawain]

Looks like you started the T replacement only a year after the surgery? What type of HRT protocol are you on and how low were your T levels before starting the replacement? Did you have any other low t symptoms other than ED and the apparent lack of sensitivity in the penis itself?

Yeah, I'm on 140 per week, injected in half twice a week. I also take HCG (or the equivalent they give now). My t was down in the 400's, so not basement level, but not awesome. I had libido issues, trouble losing fat in spite of working out and dieting, and the ED. Everything got fixed but the ED/numbness. Even during sex, I have to hit the angle just right to manage to get some sensation -- it's hard to explain. It's like I have sensation on the head, and if the shaft is compressed I can get pleasure from the pressure, but the normal feeling on the skin and outer layer changed entirely after my spinal surgery.

But again, I can *get* hard, I just can't stay hard very long. And like last night, I was able to put in about 3 units and that gave me 45 mins of hardness to have sex. If I could just stay hard...

[bldoink]

Have you tried adding some novelty/sex shop cock rings to the mix? It might be the extra bump you need.

[Spontaneous1]

Try adding a constriction band after you get hard. With the band in place, it will help maintain your erection, plus with the additional hardness it provides it may also help with the sensitivity. I say "may help", but not necessarily, depends on what's going on with the nerves, but it should definitely help hold your erection. Don't ever keep the bands on longer than 30 minutes, less if you can. Give it a try, I wish you success.

[Simbarn]

Yeah, I'm on 140 per week, injected in half twice a week. I also take HCG (or the equivalent they give now). My t was down in the 400's, so not basement level, but not awesome. I had libido issues, trouble losing fat in spite of working out and dieting, and the ED. Everything got fixed but the ED/numbness. Even during sex, I have to hit the angle just right to manage to get some sensation -- it's hard to explain. It's like I have sensation on the head, and if the shaft is compressed I can get pleasure from the pressure, but the normal feeling on the skin and outer layer changed entirely after my spinal surgery.

But again, I can *get* hard, I just can't stay hard very long. And like last night, I was able to put in about 3 units and that gave me 45 mins of hardness to have sex. If I could just stay hard...

Ok. Low 400’s can be a normal level for some men. The problem with TRT is that it can cause the very same issues you are describing when it comes to sexual function. It can be great for body composition, muscle maintenance and improvement, energy levels etc., but it can affect sexual function in the male negatively. Especially if you are raising T levels too high which your body sees as an unnatural level. 140mgs per week is quite a lot of T. Read my posts in the “testosterone” thread which is near yours. I explain in a few posts there as the OP in that thread has been taking a very high dose of T: 200mgs per week for many years. This will be creating negative side effects, especially with regard to ED and sexual function. Young guys using anabolic steroids, sometimes use around 200mgs per week of T as a steroid course as testosterone is the strongest anabolic steroid available. It also causes the strongest side effects of all the anabolic steroids. This is why dosage is absolutely critical when it comes to HRT for men.
It is good you are at least replacing some LH action in the body with HCG. But remember this will also produce some testosterone as well, so you could be quite supraphysiologic on the protocol you are on.
May I ask why your doctor has prescribed 140mgs per week?

The issue I see here is that over time it could be possible that the nerves may heal that have been disturbed by the surgery, this can take a long time if it is to happen at all. If it does occur, the T replacement may cause all the same side effects, such as loss of sexual sensitivity in the penis and erections that do not maintain, plus a very erratic libido. Did the specialist who performed your surgery mention the possibility that the nerves may regenerate over time?

High levels of T can feel amazing for some men initially, however after time this changes as the androgen receptors lose sensitivity for the hormone due to excessive levels and constant exposure and the effects of the excessive conversion of T into other hormones takes place. We also have the side effect of the loss of gonadotropins too, which over time affects sexual function in some men quite seriously. HCG can help this to a point, however, it can also lose effectiveness in short time for some men.

With a level of over 400 naturally, I would be questioning if you need to be on TRT in the first place.
Another medication called “Enclomiphene citrate” may work better for you as it could raise your levels of gonadotropins if these are low naturally, which will raise your natural testosterone to a better level, but still keep levels well within range and maintain the natural diurnal rhythm of T production during the day.
Defy medical in the US have access to this medication otherwise it is difficult to obtain.

With regard to sexual function, it will always be better if all the natural hormones are in place and working as the body naturally intended. Anything else will only be a compromise and there will be shortcomings.

[Spontaneous1]

Great post Simbarn.

[sirgawain]

@Simbarn - great post and questions. I was having this issue, and almost no libido, prior to the TRT. TRT was my hope of fixing it. It has fixed my body comp issues, and my energy, but the damage from the surgery and loss of sensation hasn't changed. They were hopeful that my nerves might heal, but it's been years and nothing has improved.

So, the Trimix at least lets me stay stimulated long enough to (a) give her enough time to have pleasure and (b) stay hard long enough to have an orgasm myself. Without the trimix, I get hard for a period of time, but rarely long enough to orgasm. The TRT might be delaying my orgasm -- that I would be believe, but it's not the cause of the erection problems -- they predate this.

My TRT number we set based on results -- we haven't moved them since starting last year. He keep trying to get me to take an AI, and I have fought that. He wants my estrogen to be down below 20, which I think conflicts with a lot of other people I have talked to about this (including other doctors). It amazes me that there are so many opinions on protocols...you'd think at this point, they would have this pretty well understood....