Thanks James,
I would be more than happy to share my experience.
I first acquired this disease when I just turned 20. My girlfriend at the time was on top, came down on it wrong, and I think we all can figure out the rest...
The progression of the disease has continued to deteriorate over 10 years. Immediately after the accident, I didn't know what had happened, but all of the blood flow basically just disappeared. I was a healthy normal 20 year old with no diseases, cardiovascular issues, etc. For about a year after the accident, I didn't really notice anything significantly different than before, which led me to believe that there really wasn't anything wrong. Then, after about a year, a somewhat significant indention began to form around the base of the left cavernosum. From there, scarring began to form and continued to worsen over the next 2-3 years. I could definitely tell a difference when the scarring came about, as my erections began to get less strong and the erectile pressure continued decreasing from 100% to 90% to 80% and finally ended up at around 70% -75% of what I originally had.
Needless to say, I became extremely depressed and basically began drinking...alot. Most people's college years are filled with fun and experimentation...however, mine were filled with anger, frustration, and spending a large percentage of my time alone as I didn't have the confidence to date anymore. Luckily I had a good group of friends, but my dating life basically died at 22.
When I turned 25, I found out about Dr. Levine in Chicago who introduced me to the Penile Extender device, which made a huge difference for a while, however, after a few months the scarring became worse and worse as my erections were not strong anymore, which allowed for even more trauma anytime something happened during sex (when I was actually able to have sex).
I am now 29 and anytime I actually can obtain erection, it is probably at around 20%-25% of my original self. I have fought this disease for around 10 years of my life and I'll be 100% honest with everyone...I have yet to figure out a good way to cope with this disease. It strikes at the very core of who I am as a man. When someone loses an arm, an eye, it is a piece of their anatomy. This disease strikes at the very heart of what makes us male and destroys hopes, aspirations, ambitions. Even after 10 years of having the disease, I continue to have days where I'm angry, depressed, demoralized, hopeless. I have had my faith in God shaken, relationships have become harder, etc. The only thing that keeps my head up is knowing that there are people working on this condition. Hope is my fuel now. Hope of things to come, the prospect of a future with a wife that I can be intimate with, hope for feeling like a complete man again. I wish that there was a rosier picture that I could paint to help anyone who comes across this post.