Hi all,

I'd like to introduce myself and tell you about my experience with Peyronie's to date, that it might prove useful to others hopefully as much as this forum and it's members have proved useful for me.

I'm a 34 year old from Melbourne, Australia who has had a mild-moderate congenital curve to the left (25 - 35 degrees-ish?) as long as I can remember getting erections.  It's always been a bit of problem for my self-esteem, even though it has never physically interfered with my sex life.  I'm currently married, although haven't had sex with my partner for about 9 months... but that's a different story altogether.  Size about 6.5" along the right (long) side, girth around 5".  Uncircumcised.

Sometime in December last year I awoke to my usual morning wood, but it felt a bit sore on the left (shorter) side.  Felt fine flaccid, but kept my eye on it over the next few days.  Every time I got an erection, it was painful - masturbation also hurt.  I knew what Peyronie's was after educating myself on congenital curvature.  Upon further inspection, I felt a palpable lump (while flaccid) on the left side just below the glans - I immediately suspected the worst.  GP visit, referral to an ultrasound (which didn't find anything - it appears conventional ultrasound machines and untrained sonographers aren't that helpful).  After a bit of research of local urologists I asked my GP for a referral to see Melbourne urologist Dr Darren Katz who specialises in Peyronie's.  

Some time in the middle of the few weeks between referral and appointment, my worst fears came true.  One morning in the shower, my erection was pointing much more to the left than it usually did - now around 45-50 degrees.  My heart sank, as many of you can likely attest.  A couple of weeks later, I had my appointment with Dr Katz.  After physical inspection and palpation of a plaque he diagnosed it as Peyronies.

I started immediately on Pentox (three daily), Viagra (quarter daily) and some anti-inflammatories, and after my own research (including on these forums) included Acetyl-L-Carnitine and a combined CoQ10-Vitamin E supplement to my daily regimen.  My urologist was up-front with me at the start, stating that the goal at this stage was to halt disease progression, not cure it.  He gave me the choice of considering Verapamil injections in the near future, however after much reading decided against it.  We agreed for a three-month follow-up, and to schedule an ultrasound around this time (could have had it done earlier but did not have the funds).  

Happily, after jumping on the medication asap, pain resolved within a few days.  I have been mostly pain free since early February (aside from when I've fapped too hard) and about a month ago had an ultrasound by Dr Katz which confirmed the presence of two plaques - one just below the glans on the left side, and another septal plaque half-way up in the inner tunica between the corpus cavernosa, causing a mild downward bend when semi-erect.  I thankfully still get solid erections without the Viagra.  All other functions are normal.

Plication surgery is booked for early August, and I'm both apprehensive and excited - I'm looking forward to having a straight penis if all goes well.  The surgeon wanted to circumcise me as making a sleeve incision around the base of the glans will cause my foreskin to swell, meaning I'll likely need a catheter for a few days - however after much thought and after reading some of the stories from other members, I'm going to elect for an incision in the foreskin directly where the plication sutures will be placed.  I'm not fussed about having a scar, and figure that a two-inch incision on the side is less traumatic than a five-inch incision around the sensitive bit.

I'm happy to field any questions or comments you may have.  I also aim to start a thread after my surgery to document my experience of recovery in the hope that it will benefit others.

Best wishes to you all.

Welcome to the group PorkChopSandwiches!!

We are of course sorry you have to be here but we gladly welcome you This is a great group of people and resources, we certainly are happy to hear that you are progressing in a positive way.

I look forward to seeing you on the boards

Have a great day!!

Hey porkchops,

Sorry to hear you have had to deal with this awful condition. I'm happy that you are no longer in pain though, and are on your way to get rid of peyronies. I know you have most likely researched your surgeon thoroughly. Just make sure that he is very skilled with this particular surgery.

I wish you luck and a speedy recovery. Welcome to the forums porkchop.

I would agree with Wonderbread, for most of us surgery is the very last resort if all else fails. If, however, you've decided to go down that route, be very, very sure of who you let near your dick with a scalpel!  

I will just add to Jonbinspain post.
Take care your surgery is made by someone that have 100th++ surgeries per year under his belt.

James

Thanks all for the welcome.  

I've done plenty of research into this surgeon and he comes recommended by other urologists in Melbourne.  He's quite young (relatively speaking, for a surgeon) and is research active, also serving as a reviewer for a number of academic journals on urology.  My initial conversations with him indicated that he was up do date with current treatments for Peyronies across medication, traction / VED and surgical techniques.  

All I can do is take his credentials as a hopefully good indication of his surgical skill!  Surgery is always something of a gamble.  I plan to share my post-surgery experience with the forum, of which I hope will be a positive story.

porkchopsandwiches

You have written:

QuoteI plan to share my post-surgery experience with the forum

Hope you will do that  , many members didn't, even to the level that they wrote:
"I am fine, I will not spend more time here, never see you again"
Wish you a very successful outcome.

James

Hi Porkchopsandwiches,
Just wondering how you went with Dr Katz?
... Looking for doctors in Australia, and would love your feedback.
(Hope everything went well!)

Hi Lady_

So far so good - I have my three month follow up appointment next month.  I think he's the most competent Peyronies surgeon in Melbourne, after much research.  I've also started a thread documenting my experience with surgery which might offer you a bit more insight.

When I see him next month I will ask him in more detail which type of plication he did.

P