Introduction and looking for advice

[JW86]

Hi all,

Glad to be here. I wanted to introduce myself, and also seek some advice from this community in what I can best do to help myself. I'll give you all the short version of the story; the long version would take me hours to write.

I'm a 31 year old guy. I grew up with extreme phimosis. I was circumcised at age 18, it was a slightly uneven circumcision with the scar-line higher up on the right side than left side of my penis. I've struggled with performance anxiety and got into porn as a way of coping. I contracted a case of psychological/porn-induced ED, I'd say. Late 2017, I had a relationship breakup which put me in a very dark mental space and left me with mental health issues, which even now 12 months later I'm slowly recovering from.

During this post-breakup period, I used a Bathmate pump and did manual stretching in an attempt to grow my penis. Overcompensating for how down I felt. It would appear I injured myself as my penis, when erect, would begin to hang downwards at 7-8 o'clock position rather than its usual 9 o'clock position. Additionally, it would angle left around 20 degrees from the base. There was also a drop in erection quality.

After a lengthy wait here in the UK, I finally saw an andrologist last week. He examined and palpated the flaccid penis and asked me some questions. He did not carry out an Ultrasound, MRI or any other tests. He told me that I maybe had some peyronie's around the pubic area/very base of the penis, and maybe a weak or damaged suspensory ligament. He was not willing to carry out any further tests or treatments and recommended me to psychosexual therapy.

I will pursue this therapy. I am also pursuing andrology for further testing as they have not carried out a thorough investigation of given me a diagnosis, just a few hypotheticals. I am, however, wondering what I can do to try and help myself from home and this is where I'm seeking your advice.

I purchased the 3-cylinder VED from Augusta Medical Systems. I also have a PeniMaster Pro extender, and VLC tugger for foreskin restoration.

I've been taking Nattokinase, Coenzyme Q-10 for the past 2 months and have yet to notice any improivement in my condition. I additionally have Gotu Kola and ALCAR, but discontinued these when I was started on Citalopram for depression 1 month ago. I'm also currently on a strict "NoFap" regime as I need a break from sexual stimulation and especially porn. I don't plan to be on antidepressants any more than necessary in my life and these meds do lower my libido, so thought I would use the opportunity to rest and recover.

That said, I have equipment, supplements, and time, and would really welcome your expertise on what I can do to help minimise/heal any possible Peyronie's. If anyone has advice with compensating for a weak suspensory ligament and low penis angle that's also welcome.

All the best.

Jack

[Hawk]

I am in a deadline at the moment but want to welcome you to the forum.  You are where you need to be for information and support.

Please read this through carefully.  There are a few things you can do immediately.  Add the things in this article with a VED protocol. Peyronies Survival Guide - Information for New Members - Peyronies Society Forums

Also, As far as I am concerned you are wasting money on Nattokinase.  They make a lot of great claims but I know of no one that has any evidence of benefit.  I poured a considerable chunk of money into it with zero benefits to any facet of my health.  

[JW86]

Thanks for the warm welcome, Hawk.

I'm now taking the Arginine, ALCAR and CoQ10.

Guess I'll get started with the VED protocol in the next couple of days, just got to stock up on lubriucation.

My main point of concern is that this may be largely down to a damaged suspensory ligament and my urologist is unwilling to carry out surgery. I may need to get a second opinion.

[Hawk]

I just don't know how you could have damaged your suspensory ligament so severely that it would not heal with rest.  I think it is very doubtful that it is torn.  What is the proof or evidence it is damaged?  I certainly would not want surgery on my penis on the theory my suspensory ligament was damaged.  Are your erections as hard as before?  Maybe your downward angle is simply a matter of weak erections.

If not I would try the basics like wearing a supporter to keep it upward at all times and cautiously taking an anti-inflammatory.  Where you doing aggressive stretching downward?

[JW86]

I have no proof or evidence of damage. Only several matching symptoms (downwards and sideways angulation from the base of the penis, floppiness/lack of solid attachment at base of penis). It is frustrating that I've been unable to get a diagnosis through the urologist as I ultimately want a clearer idea of what the problem is so that I can take appropriate action.

This problem occurred during a period where I was using a Bathmate on a regular basis and doing some manual stretching. Aggressive downward stretch? Possible, but I can't think of a single defining moment. I've never experienced pain. I'm aware that previously when pushing the erect penis downwards, there was a sense of resistance from the ligaments, but now there is none whatsoever. Perhaps over-stretched rather than ruptured? I don't know.

My erections are not as hard as before. Whether that is due to Possible Peyronie's, or the general depression and stress following the breakup, I can't say. I'm also now taking an SSRI, and abstaining from all sexual stimulation, so this is also in the "I don't know" category.

I'm encouraged to read your advice of using a supporter. This is actually an idea I was entirely unaware of and had never been mentioned to me previously. I'd be very keen to start doing this straight away. What could be used to support the penis is an up position? I'll start researching, but if this is something you're familiar with and could expand on, I'd be grateful.

The urology nurse is giving me a call later today to discuss things further. I'll ask about Pentox (Trentax in UK). and also about an Ultrasound.

[Hawk]

I want to be clear that your issue of an unstable downward printing erection is not a typical one that I see here so I am doing some guessing.  This might be a long rambling post.

There are a few things that could make an erection point downward
1. A damaged ligament as you mentioned.  I think it would be characterized by a downward pointing firm erection.  The penis would point down even though it was very firm.  It would likely be very unstable meaniing you could point your erection at your feet or lay it against your stomach if you were laying down.  I would think there would be at least some initial period of pain following some specific initial injury.  I see no way a bathmate which is just a VED could do this unless you pumped an erection and dramatically forced it downward.  Aggressively forcing an erection down toward your feet might cause such an injury but the act if done should have been painful.  Aggressive repeated stretching a flaccid penis toward your feet might do it but I doubt it.  I have done this with a traction device for years.

If it is a stretched ligament that has associated pain or discomfort I would try antiinflamatories and support upward with a common athletic supporter.  It can't hurt.

2. Caused by Peyronies Disease deep in the base of the penis, maybe even in the portion of the shaft that is inside of your body.  If this is the case you might have some plaque you can feel but maybe not.  If this is the issue and you get firm erections it would not cause instability and your erection would be stable in a downward direction and resist pointing upward toward your head or laying against your stomach

3 simply pointing downward because the erection is only a partial erection and not engorged enough to firmly stand up.  If this is true your penis would feel too soft to penetrate and have intercourse without buckling or bending the shaft.  This would be erectile dysfunction caused by anything from anti-depression meds, to stress, to Peyronies Disease, to venous leakage, to several other health issues all which have to be addressed in their own way.

[JW86]

Thank you for the logical breakdown here, Hawk. This is very informative and helpful.

I think that a safe course of action to follow for now would be to follow a VED protocol (I have a high quality Augusta model now), use an athletic support to rest the penis is an upward position, and to supplement with Arginine, Acetyl-L-Carnitine, and CoQ10. I will speak to my Urologist today about adding Pentox.

I do have a high quality traction device (Penimaster Pro) as well as Foreskin restoration device. The foreskin is tighter on the left side than the right side, this -may- be a contributing factor but would think it fairly low down the list if so. Afterall, I'd had a straight penis for years despite that unevenness.

I'm unsure if using traction is wise, as I'm unclear on the mechanics of force distribution - if it is working directly with the penile tissue, great, but if it stretches the ligament that would be counter-productive. That said, I could use traction to keep the penis in an upward supported position, or even use it with the belt system to stretch up-and-right, contrary to the left-and-down angulation. For research.

I do notice sometimes when semi-erect that the penis is curving to the left quite markedly, like a banana, but this does not carryover to full erection. Still, this is something I don't recall happening in the past.

[Hawk]

I am a proponent of traction, HOWEVER, If there is any chance you have a stretched or torn ligament I would NOT use traction.  A VED Exerts stretch only on erectile tissue.  A traction device will also tug on the suspensory ligament.

[JW86]

I just spoke with the urology nurse who confirmed the same as you, Hawk. I won't be using any traction.

Unfortunately the head andrologist at my local hospital is not willing to request an Ultrasound, or any other imaging. He is also unwilling to prescribe Pentox. I feel quite upset over this. I've met a dead end in terms of medical assessment unless I were to pay £££'s to go private, which I can't afford. The urology nurse will see me again Feb/March time to see how things are pogressing. This forum is going to become my sole support for dealing with all of this. I'll implement the recommendations here and pray for improvement over time.

Thanks for your responses.

J