QUESTION about ELASTICITY:

[Patfun]

QUESTION about ELASTICITY:

I am 58 years old.
I have had Peyronie's for 8 years.
I am continually losing elasticity, expansion, length and girth.

It began after I was put on a Beta Blocker for 2 years (Atenolol).  It started with a slight tilt to the left (due to shrinkage on the left side first), and then equalized on both sides so that it became a sharp symmetrical curve upward at probably 30 degrees or so.  I refused to take Atenolol after I read it can cause Peyronie's, and now take Cozaar which doesn't seem to have sexual side effects (for me anyway).

I have been taking Pentox 2 to 3 times per day, Vitamin E 400 twice per day, and Ubiquinal twice per day for 7 years.
I went to Dr. Lue here in San Francisco who put me on the Pentox.  The condition didn't improve. The Dr. also did ultra sounds and gave me print outs of the plaque.  I didn't find him particularly helpful and I also didn't care for his attempts with the same joke each time (pointing out a smiley face on the ultrasound – I assume all others get the same joke as well).  I know he was just trying to add levity to a bad situation, but the fact the conversation was the same each time I saw him made it feel like it was a canned routine.

Once it was clear the Pentox didn't work Dr. Lue gave me an RX for a Fastsize traction device.  It started fine and I even began to briefly gain back a little girth.  Then it all quickly went south.  I found the Fastsize experience unpleasant, but put up with it for two years.  I think it actually caused damage because I lost elasticity.  I lost about 2  1/2 inches in length as well as at least 15% or so of the girth.  It continues to shrink to this day.  Dr. Lue likened it to the spiral coiled cord on a phone and showed me a new phone's coiled cord and how quickly it expands and then retracts, and he then showed me an old phone cord how the coils are no longer elastic and it just hangs there.  The elasticity and ability to grow is substantially declining.

I have no problem getting erections, but they are not what they used to be.  The stretching and expansion is not happening and it just seems like the flaccid member becomes stiff with minimal growth.

UCSF then stopped taking the medical group many belong to - therefore I can no longer see Dr. Lue with my insurance since the Univ of CA stopped accepting it.  I now see another Dr. here in SF.  He applied for Xiaflex and it was approved by my insurance.  I can start treatment as soon as the paperwork is finalized and the product is shipped here from the Rx provider, but after reading some of the threads posted on this forum and seeing some of the photos, I am afraid to do it.  I need to let the doctor know I am horrified by the photos.

What should I do?  Is there hope to gain back elasticity and lost length and girth?  I have read some of the posts about the VED but am not sure if I can dedicate the time to do it every day for such a long period, especially after my bad Fastsize experience.  I don't even know where to purchase the three tube VED system in San Francisco which I have read about - or where to order it.  Do many people actually gain back what they lost?  I don't seem to have stretching ability anymore since there is little elasticity.  Is that what the term fibrosis refers to?  The curve actually bothers me less than the loss of length and girth.

[MiniMe]

Are you taking any Cialis or other PDE5 drugs for erections?
Because I have the same elasticity problem, but it only occurred after I started taking cialis...however, when I went to my ultrasound check and they injected me with the "erection shout" (I don't know what it was), after the erection went down (had erection for straight 4 hours) my elasticity went back to normal and the pain that I experienced from regular erection subsided. Afterwards, I took cialis after a week or so and the elasticity problem came back with a serious decrease of sensation (My penis feels all numb, however, when I'm on l-arginine it's much better).
About Xiaflex, so far, all the results that I read here on the forum seemed really good and I'm thinking of getting it myself. Although, I don't know how exactly, since I don't live in the US and it's really expensive.

[james1947]

Patfun

The decision is yours of course, but I would read all the new Xiaflex posts to get to conclusion if yes or not.

James

[UrsusMinor]

VED and very low-dose Cialis definitely helped with elasticity for me--if by elasticity you mean 'flaccid hang.'

I'm a little surprised that you think VED would use too much time after two years of doing traction. VED is about like brushing your teeth in comparison.