Gay in Los Angeles

[briefs]

I'm a gay man living in Los Angeles. My experience with ED started in 2004. I started to have trouble getting erections. I was referred to an urologist. He suggested injectible medication, so I said I would try. In his office he injected my penis with something like tri-mix, but I don't remember exactly. Unfortunately, he selected too high a dose and I ended up with priapism. At the hospital he bent my penis forward and back, which I think caused damage. The priapism and bending resulted in Peyronie's disease, which was diagnosed by my current urologist, who I switched to shortly after this incident in late 2004.

I decided not to take high dose vitamin E, but to wait and observe. In the ensuing years my penis curved a bit more to the left, but not badly. I can feel the plaque. Also, my erection angle dropped considerably. My erections became less rigid and less vascular. I developed venous leakage. I lost about 35mm (1 1/2") in erect length, from about 175mm (6 7/8") down to about 140mm (5 1/2"). My flaccid length is the same, though, at about 115mm (4 1/2").

In the last two years my ability to get an erection has worsened and the erections I can manage are weak. I also have great trouble ejaculating. I had given up injections because I didn't want to incur more plaque. My sex drive has dropped, too, and arousal is difficult.

I've had HIV for over 36 years and have always been compliant with treatment. I don't have diabetes or heart disease. I've been using testosterone for about 20 years and my level is within the normal range. I've taken antidepressants for years, too, but that doesn't explain the rapid drop of sex drive. I would love to masturbate daily, but it is so much effort that I don't try very often.

I have a good doctor, phychiatrist and urologist on my team, all trying their best to help me. For a long time I was extremely self concious about my limitations -- not having the strong erection I used to have and not being able to cum easily. In recent months I have been more accepting of the situation.

My current regimen is daily vacuum pumping.

[radioradio]

Briefs,
Welcome to FT. I hope you find this site as helpful as I have. Wish you all the best.
Bob
2.2

[CTR5000]

Good morning Briefs!

So glad you posted and that I spotted your message just now. I'am also gay... married to my husband now for 7 years legally and together 7 years before that (illegally?!) While I haven't been through all you have by any means, my heart goes out to you. I do think we have enough in common that we can relate to. For starters, I'm HIV-positive also (Diag: 3/1/93) and so is my husband (for over 30 years.) You and I are close in age. (I was born in 1954.) I was diagnosed with venous leakage in my 30's... did Viagra and all the other pill forms of treatment. When they'd run their course of usefulness I switched to Caverject and Edex injections. Used a pump between my injection days. After a few years those stopped doing the job too. My erection looked fairly okay but that's about it. I certainly couldn't use it for much. It sort of just folded in half if I tried, or if (on rare occasions) it did get more firm it'd only last maybe 5 minutes.

Seeing your description of masturbation and basically thinking "why bother?!" hit it exactly. I could barely feel any stimulation, and what I could feel took forever to get there. It was far more work and not at all worth it. But even masturbation has changed for the better in the past two years and it's about as intense as it was when I was 18! It's as if all the nerve endings that seemed buried in my constant flaccid state have returned to the surface now that I can get a great erection again.

Saw my current urologist and upon hearing my history and doing exam, he said I basically had 3 choices: (1) Do nothing and give up on this particular Quality of Life; (2) He could prescribe Pentamix for me but that too would probably stop working in 6 months to a year also; or (3) Get an implant! (I pretty much had this hope in my mind the moment I walked into this appointment.) I've had my AMS 700 LGX implant now for just over two years and LOVE it! As my mini bio says, I wish I had done it years ago. If you'd like to email or talk by phone, let me know. I'd be more than happy to share. If you'd like, I can probably get my husband to share from "his point of view" also.

Now my only hindrance when it comes to masturbation is bad arthritis days. Since I can't grip a car steering wheel without pain on those days I obviously can't comfortably accomplish anything that requires that same grip!

Hoping we can talk ~
Colin

[Greg1956]

Briefs,
I had ED for 30 years until my recent implant. I feel your pain. I hope you find the best solution soon. Life is too precious not to do what we can to be our best.

[briefs]

Thanks for your replies. I sure have plenty to think about!

[geophd]

Briefs

search the implant board, you are an ideal candidate. With ideal surgical outcome the empirical data from medical research and anecdotal reports here on FT suggest you will see a significant increase in quality of life. Move through the following progression to determine if you should move forward with penile implant surgery. Once determined you should move quickly, from your post it seems you are not likely to see improvement in your condition.

1. Am I able to have satisfactory/enjoyable/stress free intercourse sustained until ejaculation. (If no, go to 2)
2. Do pills provide conditions stated in 1 without severe side effects? (If not, go to 3)
3. Decide if injections or VED are acceptable treatments (If not, go to 4)
4. Determine to the best of your ability if conditions in 1-3 are permanent (if yes, go to 5)
5. Receive implantation from most qualified surgeon available to you. (then go to 6)
6. Adapt to new lifestyle with implant (physical/mental/social)

Search out the best penile implant surgeon you can afford or get with insurance. A good place to start is Dr. Eid and Dr. Kramer. If your insurance covers them or you are rich and can afford them then you just need to decide which one of them you prefer, you probably will not have a higher chance of good surgical outcome with anyone else.

I am not implanted but I've spent way too much time researching this. Consider this process with optimism and enthusiasm, so many men are so happy with the implant, eg CTR... What many men do is wait and wait, think and think, about what!?!? are you going to wake up one day with a vastly improved erection... not gonna happen... unless you get an implant that is!