Venous Leak Surgery/Embolization

[Descatalogao]

Hello good people, I'm here to bring a bit of light to those who have venous leak erectile dysfunction.

It all started five years ago, I was 19 and going to university, I wasn't aware of this condition I had, I was happy and wholesome, young and naive. I had my first intercoruse with one of my friends, in which the sexual tension started to grow naturally and little by litlle, as it should. I had tingles on my thing, and erections, specially when the underwear was tight. Everything was so romantic, but when we tried I discovered my erection was not sufficent. We tried more, in more private places, and the result was the same. Was she maybe going too fast with me? I was very eager to have sex by then, but only achieved a proper erection through hand stimulation, holding it, because I later discovered there was a risk of my thing going limp. So, I noticed.

I went to an urologist here in Spain, it seems like it's the same worldwide... The first one told me, OK pass, I told him: I am having issues, he said: can you masturbate to the end? Which I answered, yes. So that's it, it's psychological, so now go please.

Later, one year passed. I ignored this issue, and assumed what the doctor said even though he was so bitter, there were good moments, but also bad ones.

So, again, I went to see another urologist, but this time one that could trust me. Still, this one believed it was psychological but seemed more interested in hearing me. He said it was by good chance psychological and gave me a psychologist's phone. I started therapy for one year: long story short, it didn't help me in the sexual issues I had. We just talked about everyday's stuff that was mostly filler.

After this, I quit the psychologist, I was very angry with her. I decided to start putting some deadlines in my life, like just for my own sake, I didn't deserve to be like that one year more. Probably one of the most mature decisions I made.
First, I went to my new urologist, and I demanded a Echo Doppler test to see if I had venous leak. I had to insist A LOT, but he acceeded. He said I hadn't anything for sure and that 'I could punch him in the face' if I had a leak.

Meanwhile I found and sexologist and went there seeking for further help. In my case, he was one of my salvations. We made a lot of steps forward in terms of sexuality and letting go, introspection and analysis of feelings, letting go of thoughts of comparison, intensity of erection, how should it be, etc.

I finally could made the Doppler with a radiologist and to my bad luck, it was positive. With the injection could not have an erection at all, it just grew a bit on size. So yes, I had venous leak.

Now was time to find solutions, for me, in my case, I found that my case was not that severe cause that enhancement of the mind with the sexologist, allowed me to have good erections. Even I started to train masturbating and setting aside my hands every time. Of course the implant was on the list, but also an intervention called embolization that seemed more suitable for my case. At some point I tried pills, and there were clearly not for me, they helped, but was able to achieve same results by doing intense exercise, and specially the duration of the erection continued being short. Also, it made me dizzy and tired.

So yes, I found this doctor called Natalio Cruz in Seville, he was Andrologist, not Urologist, and speciallized in the field of venous leak. But I'm gonna tell you the thing, he can solve superficial venous leakages, not deep ones. By then, my parents were aware of my issue and went to Seville, where we did a Caverno CT to see all the venous pathways with a contrast medium.

Again, he couldn't intervene me. It was very deep located. He didn't know how to solve that. He said that embolization was 50-50 chance for me. He would opt for the implant, just to be practical, he said.

So, my options were vanishing. I continued reaching here and there including this forum of course, even reddit, discord, etc. I found by myself about Dr. Eric Allaire in France. By luck, I am used to look up for papers on the scientific community, for my age is not usually the case. I read his papers here:

https://www.ejves.com/article/S1078-5884(20)30834-0/fulltext

I even considered that embolization in Seville as good option, but here we were combining embolization with venous surgery. It is talking about a procedure done ad hoc for the patient. Chances are up to 75%, if you consider a second intervention in case of failure, %82. Wow, those were good numbers.

I had a video meeting with Dr. Allaire, and he was so comprehensive and empathetic. He took me seriously, and started talking about my case, and the intervention, how would it be, how much would it cost, etc.

I should say it takes some time to put everything together, but finally I got a date for the surgery. I knew this surgery was for me because I was able to have erections, but was a hell mantaining them. But I could. It had to be something before the implant.

Some days ago, I had the surgery, and wow. I am having so many erections at night specially. It is not comfortable at all by now cause I have the openings still healing, but wow. I even masturbated, although I had pain because my testicles were full these days. I had to. And wow, I discovered another level of things.

Of course, the thing with this surgery is that everything has to accomodate to the new pressures and blood flows, so a period of 3 months is required to wait to confirm the success, so I don't know the real results yet. I'll write back anyways.

I just wanted you to know that this exists and is an option that has to be considered before talking too fast about the implant. Of course there are situations and situations, but this brings hope even for the people that have to save money.

I think it HAS TO BE more information, specially in webs like this about these kind of procedures. At the end of the day, it is a vascular disease, so it has to be a way of reversing that using a vascular approach.

One thing I want to say about Dr. Allaire, is that he is a very wise man. We saw the CT together and saw a leakage to the right. But the Doppler revealed a leak to the left. He knew this kind of disease occur usually in a symmetrical way in the body, so he could see yeah you have two and two veins to embolize, bla bla bla. Things that I don't understand well, you know. HE KNOWS THIS DISEASE BY HEART. So if I were to do this kind of procedure, you will be in the best hands possible w/ Dr. Allaire. I am very grateful I found and met him.
By the way, he treats all kind of venous leakages with this procedure, external, deep. Even arterial insuffiences. He is not afraid like other urologists, I hope more Drs. like him start appearing.

So, if you are interested here you have a link to his website:
https://erectionvascular.com/en/surgery-2/undergoing-vascular-surgery-for-venous-leakage/

I hope you all can solve your problems the best way possible you can find for your case. This is just mine.
Thank you for reading and have a good day.

[Eric1959]

Thank you for your testimonial Descatalogao.
Indeed, do you use Tadafil or Sildenafil after surgery and at what dose?
Thank you in advance.

[Descatalogao]

Thank you for your testimonial Descatalogao.
Indeed, do you use Tadafil or Sildenafil after surgery and at what dose?
Thank you in advance.

Hello Eric, no, for the moment I'm just fine, I didn't use them in the past (in a daily dose, I tested for 5 days, and later on just 1 or two times). I think it is not necessary. But depends, usually it's more of a mental thing, and helps recover confidence, but just w/ sexologist and sport were the same (or better) results than with the pills. I just tried Tadalafil, not Viagra. Even the injections (for the Doppler didn't work well.

I think it's logical, in my case I don't have issue with arteries and blood entrance, I just have a leak. So taking this meds will just help more blood enter, not less blood leaking. I'm young, eat well, don't smoke, etc., so that had kept my arterial health just fine.

I'm probably doing the recovery without them. I am having erections each night, but the doctor said that most of the times, fade for some time and reappear later. From day 3, I should have had the decrease in erection, but I continue to have them. Now it's been 14 days. If I notice a decrease of erection, I may add them to the recovery.

Thanks.

[Eric1959]

Hello Decatalogao,
You said you could get erections before surgery, but it was hell to maintain them.
Were they sufficient for penetration (for example 60%) or not?
Thank you for your answer.

[Descatalogao]

Hello Decatalogao,
You said you could get erections before surgery, but it was hell to maintain them.
Were they sufficient for penetration (for example 60%) or not?
Thank you for your answer.

Ok. Very good question. I would say I had good days in a month for whatever reason. Out of 30 days there would be 2 or 3 days in which my erections, for whatever reason were really good. I call them 'the good days'. So these would be suitable for penetration, and taking into account the physical pressure against the other partner when penetrating, it would have been a good intercourse. That kind of keeps the blood there. Of course its out of control, and for having realtionships its very difficult. But even in those days, my problem came when some seconds pass after that erection, it would just fade over little time. So i could see achievements in hardness but not in duration, even with 10mg tadalafil.

So basically, yes I would have been able to penetrate, probably in a good day. When I was with 5mg daily tadalafil I must admit I had more good days, and even random erections, but for me it was not possible to continue taking, the secondary effects were very strong. If I hadnt those, probably I would have been taking them one year more, but knowing that I would have the surgery, cause in the long run you dont solve the leak, or could get worse.

For giving a hardness score they were from 1-4, in a good day 3.5, with tada 3.7. And now probably 4. In that time, i believed my 3.7 was a 4.
3 means hard but can bend,enough for penetration, 4 is hard as a block of wood.
If i didnt continue stimulating, in 20 secs would fade, most of the times,even when masturbating it faded, and I had to catch up again.
Having the erection for full 10 minutes lets say was a difficult job, maybe with tada I would have reached.

In normal days i had 3's. Don't know if I answered your question. Just ask me if I missed something.

I dont't know your problem, but being thinking on these things, while having intercourse will just make the psycological ed mix together with your physiological issue. So get calm, and focus entirely on your partner, breathe properly and let everything go. You must have your mind blank and focused, and happy. Focusing on different parts you like. You have that.

[Bambino09]

Me alegro que tu cirugía haya sido un éxito. Cuenta como evolucionas.

[Descatalogao]

Me alegro que tu cirugía haya sido un éxito. Cuenta como evolucionas.

Hola Bambino, pues sí, ojalá salga bien y quede para siempre, como nadie escribe sobre estas intervenciones, que hay gente que se lo hace pero no comentan nada en internet, pues ya lo hago yo para que al menos quede constancia. De momento va todo muy bien, pero iré reportando cambios. Creo que es de interés, ya que a mí me hubiera gustado leer sobre esto. Gracias.

[Anyman]

Hello,
How much did the entire procedure (consultation, examination, and operation) cost?
How invasive was the operation?
Have you noticed any side effects from the operation, like reduced sensitivity?
How long did you have to wait before having the consultation and operation?

Thank you
Anyman

[Descatalogao]

Hello,
How much did the entire procedure (consultation, examination, and operation) cost?
How invasive was the operation?
Have you noticed any side effects from the operation, like reduced sensitivity?
How long did you have to wait before having the consultation and operation?

Thank you
Anyman

Hello Anyman,

Total: 22.000 euros -23.000 euros, not more. Just Dr. Allaire's honoraries are 13.000, anesthesiologist, 2500; and hospitalization + hospital rent for op.rooms, and materials, 4700. Tests just 300 for Caverno, and other 300 for Doppler.
Stay in paris: 4400 euros (17 days). First week for tests(Doppler + Caverno CT + consultation), then 10 days more for post-operatory.

The operation is invasive, is open surgery, but you are just asleep and it's painless. It was four hours, but for me, just a minute passed, and I woke up painlessly and with good humour. I couldn't believe I was operated. Of course, you will be nervous, but it's normal, and they will do their best.
Then, doctor cares about those things, sensivitity loss can happen 1% cases, in my case, no. Even with implant can happen that, so the same fears exist here. They left my friend as it was. The thing is, there will be 3 scars now, two on both sides of pelvic foldings, the line between thigh and pubis, and one scar in the penis shaft, at the base( if you have venous leakage) You will have them seamed with absorbent stitches.

In my case, I had one of the stitches opened, up to now, but doctor told me as long as there is no infection, is no worry. And new tisuue will grow in there.
Not any other side effect, just the expected things. Painful erections, specially first week post-op. Now, the pain is anecdotal, but it exists, is very little. It will fade over time. I had an hematoma on my scrotum, and swelling, but it is very normal as well, it faded completely. And... nothing else to report. Now I'm waiting for the scar to close.

So, for dates, it depends on the schedule of Dr.Allaire, but it takes quite a bit to have a day for surgery. First video consultation, I think he is available every weekend using Doctolib, so that is easy. But for the operation he has a list of people waiting, so more/less 3 months after you called him.

Ah, important thing, people here isn't saying: hey I have venous leak. If you are not sure, go to an urologist, and get your tests done. Dr.Allaire is just a hope for people with Caverno-venous leakage / arterial insuficciencies, okay. I hope you know what you have, and are responsible for these things. Don't be afraid of sharing your stories, you are helping a lot people. Remember, it could be psychological, but not with a report on your hand saying it's the other way.

Thank you. Have a good day.

[Anyman]

Hello,
Thank you very much for your reply.
Do you know how many veins were embolized and how many veins were operated on and their location?
Did Dr Allaire have to cut loose and retract the penile skin to get access to the veins?
Does embolization in your case mean that some agent was put in the veins as a permanent "plug" or is the vein sclerotized?

Thank you
Anyman