Need advice about ED, and treatment options
Posted , 13 users are following.
I've posted a number of times about the urinary incontinence that I was "gifted" by the doctor who did the Greenlight laser performance about two years ago. The leaking, 24x7 put an end to my love life, but I was finally able to get a resolution of the strictures in the area of the external sphincter long enough to have an AUS implant. That has worked out nicely, and I'm essentially dry again, except when I have a hard cough. I had hoped and thought that this would allow me and my wife to resume our sex life---I'd never had a moment's difficulty with than before the Greenlight procedure. Unfortunately, we tried recently, and I can't achieve a full erection, so we were both left frustrated. (At least I know I was!)
My only regular medication is a low dose (20 mg of Lisinopril) for BP control. I'll be 79 next month, but am pretty physically active, although my implant doesn't allow me to ride my bike anymore. So my question is, what are the options outside of surgery? (The doctor who did my AUS is also an expert in penile implants. After 6 surgeries within two years, I'm not quite ready to go that route.) Have any of you had experience with Viagra or Cialis? Do they really work? I've read that headaches can be a side effect. Do they last long? Thanks for any advice you have. Glenn
0 likes, 27 replies
richard25210 glenn77
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richard25210 glenn77
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jim81578 glenn77
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Hey I think you guys are great. When I opened this discussion. I started reading about you guys I thought wow you are great because you make me feel good.
Keep up the good work. I'm 61 and had prostate issues for about 7 or 8 years.
Jim
Jim
uncklefester jim81578
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jim81578 glenn77
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No just admire your drive to keep it going. I've had 2 Fla and about 4 weeks out on the second one. Only thiing that messes with my libido and orgasms is 8 mg of flomax. Hoping Maybe to cut that back or off completely if the 2nd Fla works. Jury still out on that.
Jim
oldbuzzard jim81578
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jim81578 oldbuzzard
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Thanks oldbuzzard,
I going to give it another month and see if I'm able to get off Flomax. If that doesn't work I will try it. Thanks again
Jim
richard25210 glenn77
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nealpros glenn77
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Hi Glen,
I tried most of the possible solutions to ED, meds,Cialis etc. = florescent lights turn blue, and you get temporary nasal congestion. They work well for a year or 3; penile suppositories = painful; vacuum pump = cuts off blood supply to your penis so it gets cold on the outside, and therefore it feels like a dead wet fish to your wife if she handles it. It's also painful and difficult to put on; penile injections are bound to be at least a little painful, hardly what is called for while making love; and also, repeated injections in one area are bound to create scar tissue which could eventually cause penile bending or Perones Disease. Finally, I got a penile implant. Problem SOLVED! You have a strong erection for as long as you and your partner want it, even after you ejaculate. Yes, it is surgery, and can go wrong. But it sound like you don't have much to lose. Get a very experienced person to do it. Private message me if you have more questions about it.
Neal
Neal
nealpros
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Neal
glenn77 nealpros
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I saw my Urologist today, the one who did the AUS implant. They first did a flow test. It's the first one that I've had in this office, and I was impressed by the totally automated system. I was sent into a room by the nurse who directed me to urinate into a large plastic funnel. She closed the door and left the room. The instant I operated the pump for my AMS 800 and flow started, a small device started recording, plotting the flow rate vs time. It usually takes me 3 or 4 squeezes of the pump to get to peak flow. Today, I didn't have a lot in the bladder, so the pressure was lower and I was at peak flow by 2 or 3 pump squeezes. The peak was 19 ml/second; Knowing how much greater the flow is when I have a reasonable full bladder, I would estimate my peak flow close to 30 ml per second. Since I was dealing with serious strictures last summer that was keeping me from getting the AUS implant, I am happy with the level of patentcy I have six months 6 months after a plasma button procedure to open the strictures. (My doctor, in his early 40s said I have a higher flow rate than he does.)
The nurse then did a scan to check the PVR, and it was about 6 ML, and this was probably 5 minutes after voiding, my kidneys probably contributed a CC or two in that time.
We then got to my concern about may ED. My doctor reviewed the medications I'm on and, and asked if I could achieve any erection at all. When I said I could manage about 80% or so, he said he thought medication should give me a good result. We settled on Cialis, even with its higher cost. He then told me that there was an option provided from a compounding pharmacy that would be much less expensive. He said his office would contact the pharmacy for me. A couple of hours after I arrived home, I got a call from the pharmacy, and they gave me the price for 30. Then the woman calling offered that the price drops even more for 60 or 90 quantities. I went with 60, gave them a credit card number, and should have it in my mailbox in a few days.
Should medications not work for me, there is the implant option. In our discussion today, I found that my doctor does around 150 penile implants per year. Based on the excellent outcome I've had with the AUS, I would feel comfortable going that route should I want (need?) to.
Glenn
oldbuzzard glenn77
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There are a lot of things that can impact erections outside of urology. I once read, when you have ED, don't see a urologist, see a cardiologist. The fact that you can get 80% of the way there suggests that one way or the other, you shouldn't need another surgery to restore sexual function.
Some basics: 1) Blood pressure - are you on any meds for that? Those are notorious for killing sex lives. 2) Anti depressants - notably SSRIs (Prozac/Paxil/Effexor/Lexapro/Celexa). Any cardio condition - poor circulation in general can kill libido and/or the ability to achieve erection.
If the compound they send you works - great. If not, you can try the real Cialis. If that doesn't work, there are supplements that can often help a lot. Fish Oil and Vasophil are two - there are others as well.
Again, when you're 80% of the way there, you should be able to bridge the other 20% without any kind of implant or injection. You shouldn't rule out sex therapy either. So much of sex is between the ears and a couple of years of living with a diaper and now an implant could have enough psychological impact to blunt your erection a bit. But if you're still 80% of the way there at 77, you should be able to bridge the gap.
Good luck. Have you tried porn or a pro, just to see if the results are different? If they are, that points to psychology more than physiology.
You've been through hell - good luck!