I've been reading this among other boards for some time now, and having read the trials and tribulations of a few brave souls, I thought I`d finally throw my hat in the ring.
Although I certainly don`t enjoy reading about people going through the same pain I am it does offer a level of comfort to know I`m not suffering alone, so I figured I`d post my story if at the very least for the sake of consensus.
I haven`t had ED my whole life. I used to have great erections. Unfortunately, some time in high school, I started to notice that my erections were getting worse and worse (not as firm, hard to maintain).
Naturally, at my age, nearly all of my research led me to believe that my ED was a mental disorder. And so, for several years I suffered through repeated attempts to have sex with numerous women to much embarrassment and frustration, convincing myself with every subsequent failure that I must have somehow let myself down mentally and that the next time I`d be, calmer?
Finally, after years of this silly process with no results, I simply gave up.
Fortunately! About 3 months after my subconscious decision to stop pursuing women or sex, I noticed a burning sensation while urinating. I went to my GP for the standard tests, assuming I'd gotten an STD during one of my numerous attempts. However, all of the tests came back negative. And so, my GP sent me on to a urologist, unsure what was ailing me.
The urologist diagnosed me with having "Chronic Prostatitis." I had the so-called nonbacterial form (there are several forms). Which is to say, the form where the cause is completely unknown, and the efficacy of treatment is as solid as the understanding of the disease itself (non-existent). The symptoms, I was told, are: Painful ejactulation, burning during urination and DUN DUN DUN Erectile Dysfunction.
?Relieved? I asked for some remedies regarding the ED.
I was prescribed Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, yielding no success with any of them!
I went back after my failure and requested injection therapy. The urologist flat out refused to prescribe me the medicine because of my age, as it would "Damage my erectile tissue." What erecitle tissue? I thought.
He subsequently referred me to another urologist working out of the university hospital. However, this urologist disagreed that my chronic prostatitis was causing the ED (turns out there is much disagreement). Regardless, he scheduled me for a penile doppler which I attended.
With the injection I was actually able to achieve an erection, however only with a high dose (The same dose they give men in their 60s). Also, the erection was strange, in that it was only at about 60% for the first hour (yes, the first hour), then achieved about 90% at an hour and a half, then refused to go away for another hour and a half despite running it under cold water. It seemed a little erratic to say the least.
This urologist reviewed the results and said that I had a venous leak, and didn't seem to think it was related to my prostatitis.
So, I'm to be prescribed some prostaglandins during my next visit to the urologist in about two weeks. That's the beginning of my story and we'll see how the injections work, I'll keep updating as progress and setbacks are made. I'm open to any questions or comments.
As for my background. I'm 22, in excellent shape and I bodybuild as well as rockclimb, so there shouldn't be any health issues.
Regarding the quality of my erections -- I can maintain with reasonable stimulation while lying down, constant stimulation while sitting, and no hope in hell while standing. Also, I am able to achieve a full erection directly before climax for some reason.
Thanks for Reading,
Ethan.
Last edited by Ethan54; 06-23-2009 at 02:40 PM.
The following user gives a hug of support to Ethan54: concord212 (09-05-2011)
Thanks for the post and sharing your story. From experience, I know it's not at all easy to talk about ED, much less while in your teens and 20's! Ya certainly have my respect.
Gotta say, that yours is a definitely a new story to my ears, and perhaps yet another fine testament to just how little science really understands "erectile anything." The part about seeing a doctor initially and just being given the usual viacialitra...made me laugh out loud; such mirrors mine and probably a bazillion other men's experiences. "Whatever's wrong with ya down there, the answer has to be in one of them pills, right?" lol - Doctors, what're ya gonna do?
I'll first put up my usual disclaimer that I'm certainly no doctor (rather just forwarding what I've read/experienced, and absolutely not what's gospel), but from what I understand of venous leakage (and with all respect to your doctor), your symptoms don't seem to fit the descriptions. There are absolutely different forms, severeties and locations for venous leakage, but all seem to share the commonality that one cannot maintain an erection for any "functional" length of time (and of course owing to the outward flow of blood, etc). If the usual shots gave you a hard-on that lasted for hours, and that hard-on was sufficiently rigid (at least for the majority of that time) that you could have had intercourse, it would seem to me there are no holes in your proverbial dam. While I'm the first to say that mine is probably one of the more extreme cases (since birth, always been, blah blah.), full syringes at the "max" dose (or so said the uro) brought me maybe 60% or so "up," and then almost immediate failure.
Now that said, there could be any of a number of other physiological reasons as to why you're having trouble maintaining (so to speak). Over the course of my many, many (many) visits, uros have told me of cases of unhealthy erectile tissue, bacterias, strains or other injuries...bunches of guesses that could often be corrected by anything from changes in diet to restorative surgery. As usual then, the only advice or comment I would forward is to keep having tests done, and to keep looking for similar folks with similar issues as yours, and to try to find an explanation and ultimately (whether you find a cause or no) a solution that works.
lol - Now I'm sure all of that must sound vague and dark, but if my own guess is correct (and nothins' leaking), then a solution might be far easier than you think!
Last edited by caddyman23; 06-23-2009 at 04:40 PM.
I'm glad you said that, because I'm not wholly convinced that I'm suffering from a venous leak either. I think it must be somehow related to my prostatitis, however, the best information I've been able to find is a few studies reporting that men with prostatitis frequently also suffer from ED. But they are only statistical reports, with no information or even speculation as to why this is or possible treatments.
Although, I should note that when I say "maintain," I mean to keep in a state other than totally flaccid. I can't get above 60%, and its extremely tenuous the entire time (requires perfect posture, technique, would be impossible for normal intercourse). Directly before orgasm it seems to jump to about 90%, but it only lasts a few seconds and I've seen this reported many times by people with similar troubles.
Do you remember some of the things your doctors suggested? I can't seem to find much information on other causes, especially the kind you'd suggested (Diseased tissue, etc.) I'd happily research any ideas you have from doctors if you can remember them. The only thing my urologist told me was, "arterial inflow looks good." Great. Thanks. You've been an enormous help doc.
I guess I feel I have to move quickly on this because I'll be starting injection therapy in a week, and from what I've read it is only effective for about 10 years, and the end result is often moderate/severe fibrosis. Although, fibrosis can even occur in the short term! So I was wondering if I'd be better off opting for an implant initially, rather than to have 10 years of injections and ending up with a penis in a very compromised and fibrotic state. I don't want to have to undergo aggresive or ruinous excisions, grafts etc in my early 30s. I want to have as much longevity as possible before the surgeon frowns and proceeds to hack of my johnson with a meat cleaver!
One more question -- how do you find urologists? I know the US is a much more open market medical system, so webpages and adverts flashing credentials are easy to stumble upon but I can't find anything for Canada. I'm sure there are talented and specialized urologists in Canada but my googles haven't produced anything. I would like to know if my current urologist is competent in the particulars of my case.
Saw my urologist today! I questioned him pretty thoroughly as to how sure he was I had a venous leak. He seemed very confident. I did some research on him and he is a very respected urologist and actually holds a position at one of the only elective, pay for service surgery institutions in Canada. He is also one fo the few doctors that performs venous ligation surgery. He has been practicing for close to 30 years and I can say I am now very confident in his ablities and diagnoses.
He is reluctant to start me on injections and instead has prescribed me more PDE5 inhibitors(Viagra, etc.), which didn't work before, but this time he has prescribed a penis ring as well. He seems to have some hope that if I use the drugs in combination with the ring that I can possibly "retrain" my vein valves to shut more adequately. He wants me to try this for 6 months at least, and if I don't have any results I am to schedule an appointment wherein we can discuss ligation type surgery.
On ligation surgery: I have researched and read many articles related to the surgery and have a few questions/concerns if anyone has the knowledge to assist me --
It seems there are different methods: Ligation, removal and/or embolization. Sometimes they seem to used in conjunction, or by themselves. I can't determine whether the different techniques mark a positive progression in techniqiue or if they're just the preference of the surgeon performing the procedure. If anyone can comment on this I would appreciate it.
Next, as for side effects: On some studies I've read they've reported possible shortening as a side effect -- however, this doesn't seem to appear on most modern clinicals, and the majority report no side effects at all. I can't seem to find whether or not this is something which occured during the infancy of the procedure and has been resolved or if it is dependent on the surgeon, technique, individual etc.
yo ethan im going thru the same thing as you. I saw the urologist and of course since i was young and in good shape, he said it was all in my head, gave me some viagra and said stop drinkin and smokin pot. I have not touched pot in a month and i cut down on my drinking and the problem is the same. this has caused major anxiety to me and after failing with sex with 2 girls in the past 3 months i am feeling humiliated. i think i might have venous leakage because i have been researching many things and even though I do have some symptoms of Peyronie's, no curve is present and this is the only thing besides my minor back pain that could be causing this. sometimes ill be able to get a halfass erection and after i ejaculate, my penis shrivels like a baby in under a minute. That never used to happen. I am going to go to my regular doctor next week to see if hell run some tests. I have never been this low in my life and I know for sure it is not in my head. 4 months ago, I could perform like a stud and now I can't get it up? Doesn't seem right to me... This shouldn't happen to a young college kid in their sexual prime. Its driving me nuts. Let me know what your results are and I'll keep you up to date on my problem
Last edited by Mod-S4; 12-02-2009 at 09:22 PM.
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