Surgery for Peyronie's Disease

[Pops]

Jackp & Lwillisjr,

I understand how you feel about surgery and I have been facing the same things. I have 80 degree curve and didn't think there was anything else for me. After being on this forum for a while I've decided to try some other things first and let surgery be my last option. The first uro I visited seem to think that surgery will most likely be my best option and that it was the answer to all my problems. I'm scheduled to see another uro in New Orleans tomorrow and get a second opinion. He's supposed to be a leader in the field of Peyronies treatment. I let you know how it goes.

One thing I haven't seen on this forum are any post from members that have had surgery. I wondered if they quit the forum after surgery. If I get to the point of having surgery, I'm going to hang around and at least let the ones that are interested know how my experience was.

[MUSICMAN]

Well here is a thought concerning surgery. When the word "Surgery" is used
all I hear is No No No.  But if a good period of time has passed and a man
has a 80 deg. bend and can't use his penis maybe it is a possible answer.
It might not work but is it working now?  Yes I am using some supplements &
on the VED for about 2 1/2 months. I feel I am some improvement with the VED.
I think is is possible to stretch the plaque and lose a few degrees, but will the
VED or Traction bring a man back to the before???  I don't think it will make the
plaque go away. NOW to the point - if a man has the "Plication Surgery" it is
noted that he may lose some length.  Boy I sure don't what to go from 12" down
to 10" in length.  If the Plication surgery can make it some what straight then
with the VED and or Traction some length maybe brought back.  If a man has
a small deg. bend or dent then this post would  not mean anything to him. I
would like to hear from you as to the thought of this idea?

                                                                         Musicman

[AR]

A good point you made Pops, about where are the guys who've had surgery..? And a chuckle to you Musicman... I say yes - if your that well endowed and can spare an inch or two, fine - but what about the other hazards I've read about, like loss of feeling, etc..?  I would hate to lose an inch, and then be impotent as well... talk about insult to injury.

It's such a very serious decision, and so bleeping scary that I can't even fathom the thought.

Take years, and try ever thing possible first!!!

AR

[Old Man]

Musicman:

Just had to put my 2 cents in on the subject of surgery after reading your post. I agree with you that surgery is a viable option for Peyronies Disease correction. However, what those of us who oppose surgery to some degree are saying is that it should be the last "resort". All other options and/or treatments, oral, VED, traction and even hand manipulation (jelqing) should be exhausted first.

About the only surgery posts that I have read on the forum are the ones that went "badly". Don't recall ever seeing one that stated their surgery went well without complications, i.e. lose of feeling, lose of length, not total success due to more scar tissue, etc. However, if one has exhausted all the known treatments/therapy that he can find and still no good results, then consider surgery.

I suppose that there could be cases when surgery would be necessary from the get go, but if it were my decision, knowing now what I do about Peyronies Disease and its inroads, I would only consider surgery as a last option.

Thanks for listening.

Old Man

[LWillisjr]

Old Man.....  Thanks. That is what is great about this forum. The ability to learn about other options and treatments. I am facing potential surgery and I also agree it is a "last resort" type option.  I have a 70 degree bend that literally occured overnight last March. I'm learning there is no quick fix for this, and in fact there may never be a fix for it. But I'm not one to site back and wait (advice of my first uro however).

I may be a bit unusal in that everything still functions normally, I have no pain, and my wife and I are able to have sexual intercourse. Some ED has set in since all this started, so I will occasionally use Levitra or Viagra when necessary. My wife and I are able to have sex, it is just ackward. And she says certain positions are uncomfortable for her. So I don't ever think my erection will be straight again, but we would like to lessen the curvature somewhat.

I'm sympathetic with anyone who is dealing with Peyronies Disease, but I would happily take a 20 degree bend that some claim to have. I'm not a candidate for the plication surgery as this is mostly for those with a lesser bend. More than 40 degrees or so then you are looking at excision and grafting intead of plication.

I'm not going to rush into anything, and may certainly ask many more questions of this group. I have already benefitted from the threads and advice many of you have provided so far. I'm going to look into the VED therapy a bit to see if this might be yet another option for me.

Thanks all.......  

[Tim468]

Personally, I sometimes feel like that character in the Monty Python movie who gradually had all parts of him chopped off and kept challenging the other guy to fight. I may get dented more, I may get ED, I may try reconstructive surgery and even volunteer for being a test case for a test-tube grown penis. But if it comes down to it, I will go down on my woman and please her with my mouth or wear a strap-on if she wants penetration.

It ain't what I signed up for when I enlisted in the sex army, but you take what you get. I keep trying to get some (more) too.

Tim

[AR]

Funny Tim, and good point... but we want to be pleasured (with out pain) ourselves...

...and as Old Man states: exhaust every option first!!!

AR

[percival]

Those of you considering surgery may benefit from looking at a number of posts I made on this site in 2006.
Although the outcome for me was reasonably ok, I would not recommend it, and can only reiterate the others here who say that surgery should only be used as a last resort.
Percival

[AR]

Thanks Percival:

I just went back and read most of the posts from '06 on this thread and I'm feeling choked up, and a little speechless...

Sobering,

AR

[Pops]

To All of My Friends On this Forum,

As I told you earlier in my post I had an appointment with Dr. Wayne Hellstrom at Tulane School of Medicine in New Orleans yesterday. Well it may take a little while but heres how it went.

Before I begin let me tell you about Dr.Hellstrom's background. He's on the medical board of advisor's for the "Association of Peyronie's Disease Advocates". If you view the list of names on the board his is third just behind Dr.John P. Mullhall and Dr. Laurence Levine. I'm sure most of you have visited this site and are already familiar with these doctors. He is a specialist in the field of Peyronie's.

He and two other doctors were involved in the test and diagnosis of my problem. The first thing he wanted to do was induce an erection by giving me a shot in the penis. It was painful but the pain didn't last long. The next step was to do a songram, I hope I'm referring to this correctly. Once they finished  the doctor that was doing this told me that my plack was at the bottom of my penis and it seemed to be from the base to the head. Dr.Hellstrom came into the room again and did a manual exam and said before he made a suggestion he wanted to evaluate the sonogram. He took some time to do this and returned to discuss my options. He said that my plack being on the bottom my penis was of much concern to him because it was developed around my urethra and could cause serious problems. He then said my only option was surgery. I ask him about the use of VED and traction and he said he had patients on both types of therapy now but that it would not work for me and that it was not an option in my case. I ask him if I were to do surgery would I benefit from using VED or traction to help stretch things out and make surgery more successful and he said in my case it wouldn't make any difference. So my next question was how many implants had he done and his reply was over 3000 and they were at a rate of 200 per year. I ask him what the failure rate was and he said nation wide it was 2% and that with his special scrub procedures his failure rate was at 1%. He said that he only did minimal surgery and that he would take out only enough plack to give me 30% curve and would not go further than that and would only make as minimal of an incision as he could to take me to this point. I ask him about getting back my original length and girth and he said that it would depend on how much plack he had to remove to get my curve to 30% or less and that he would not go any further than that and that his main objective was to clear my urethra. He also said that the inflation exercises he would perscribe  should lessen the curve with time. He said he was would install a graph in the areas where he removed plack. All and all the visit lasted over 4 hours and they didn't seem to be rushing through any of the visit. One of the other doctors came in with the implant device and demoed it for me and my wife. He said all the failures were attributed to infection. So there you have it. Not what I wanted to hear from him and I'm looking forward to hearing from all that are interested. I would particularly like to hear from   Tim468, Oldman  and Hawk.

Dr. Hellstrom stated he sees and treats Peyronie's patients every week and he sure appears to have the experience in this field. The other two doctors agreed with his diagnosis and recommendations. Well guys it doesn't sound so good for me and I had already received the surgery recommendation from an old local Uri in my area.

[AR]

Thanks for your report Pops. I wish you the best of luck.  AR

[Angus]

I know you asked for replies from Tim, Hawk and Old Man but I'm chiming in anyway  .
I understand your concern with getting the best information from the best specialist(s) that you can. But there is a thing or two I question here. You specifically asked him about VED and traction therapy, and he said he has patients on both right now but it wouldn't work for you. Then later in the conversation, he told you that inflation exercises that he would prescribe should lessen the curve with time. I assume this means the inflation and deflation of an implant. I submit that inflation/deflation cycles are EXACTLY what VED therapy is, vacuum induced and not by ones own blood pressure. If it were me, I would not be convinced just yet that inflating and deflating an implant in a system of exercises is better or would work, and that a VED and traction program would not work. All I am saying is, do not jump into this quickly without exploring ALL options that are NOT invasive. I do not know what you will decide to do; I do know that if it were me, I would question the logic of how things were explained during that visit. JMHO.

[trigger]

I have just found this forum and read quite a bit and there isn't a lot on here about surgery.
I will endeavour to let you all know how mine goes.

I have a 35 degree bend to the left and I am scheduled for the Nesbit procedure on Monday.
It's been a long road to get to this point and here's my story.

I can't actually remember when the curvature developed, but I decided to do something about it 18 months ago, when my partner at the time said it was beginning to get uncomfortable for her. The truth is I was also not happy with it.
I saw a doctor and was referred to a urologist who told me to take Vitamin E and we scheduled another appointment 6 months later. 6 months later there was no difference and I was scheduled to see a specialist 6 months later.
I had taken photographic evidence with me to each appointment. Finally I met a specialist and there was still no further change.
He recommended the Nesbit procedure for me.
But not the removal of the skin down the shaft , he described a cut along the side and some sutures to straighten the curve rather then removal of any tissue.
 
After reading the input on this site it scared the hell out of me about the surgery. I have done a lot of research online about the procedure and it's mostly a 98% success rate for the Nesbit procedure for what I am having done.
I am still totally unsure about the particulars about the operation but I will be speaking to the surgeon again on Monday morning before the operation and if I am not happy I will walk out.

One thing I will say is that this has thrown my confidence a bit and by having this operation I think/know I will feel more confident about myself. undressing in front of someone.
I think if I were married or older. (I am in my 30's) then I wouldn't have considered the surgery.

Thanks for all the informative information and as I said I will keep you all posted about how the operation goes.

[Pops]

Angus,

I didn't want to hear from just Tim, Oldman and Hawk. I wanted to hear from all that were interested in my chain of events. I thank you for your input and I feel the same way you do about surgery. I know that once you go for surgery there's no going back and it's permanent. If it's a failure then I'm ruined for life. The one thing that's got me concerned is the part he discussed about the plack being around my urethra. I'm certainly not looking forward to surgery and I lie awake at night thinking about it and it's on my mind all day. I never wanted to be a woman but that will probably be all that's left if infection sets in. The pain associated with the post-op in almost unbearable and that's nothing to look forward to. I would not recommend surgery for anyone except as a last resort. The bad part about my situation is that I'm still able to get an erection and have sex even though it is with much difficulty. I've already seen two doctors and I'm planning to see one more before I make my decision. I'll keep you posted.

[AR]

Trigger: Welcome to the PDS Forum.  I'm fairly new here myself.
Your post leaves me feeling uneasy. If you just found this site, I think you should spend a lot more time here before going under the knife. Did you go back a few years on this thread? There are some sobering reports/accounts of surgeries. Not to dismiss or diminish what ever pain or anguish you are going through, but I haven't yet seen anyone with "only" a 35 degree bend having surgery...
Check-out VED's and Traction, as they've been reported to help "straighten" some guys, or reduce curves and bends.
Listen to the Veterans on this site!!!! They continually stagger me with their wealth of knowledge and experience, and they are incredibly helpful.

When you said you'd be speaking to the doctor on the morning of the surgery, I had this image of me in that situation; I could see myself running back through the parking lot looking for my car, wearing foam slippers and the OR gown, and my tush blowing in the breeze..    

My best to you,

AR

[LWillisjr]

Pops,
Thanks for the post! I'm curios what if any ED history you had prior to the decision for surgery. I'm wondering what led to the decision of an implant instead of just having a Nesbit or excision performed.

[LWillisjr]

Trigger,
Good luck with the surgery! And no it isn't just for 30 y/o. I'm 52 and also considering. I don't think a bent erection is preferred at any age. It's ackward and can really work on you mentally. Of course we are all interested in your outcome. There are some posts about surguries gone bad, and not so many positive ones. I think the key here would be to go to someone who has a strong reputation and track record. Dr. Levine also quotes similar success rates.

[Pops]

lwillisjr,

I haven't decided that I will have surgery yet. It is the only option that Dr. Hellstrom says is for me. The surgery is not for correction of my peyronies, and due to the fact I don't have any ED problems I would not consider surgery now except for the fact that I have plack build up around my urethra. Dr. says this is what makes mine different. According to him, he uses all the other options available, such as traction and VED, and only uses surgery as a last resort and when Ed problems are involved or when sex has become impossible.  He stated that he recommends this site and that a lot of good things have came from this forum. Before my visit with Dr.Hellstrom, I had purchased the reccomended VED device and was looking forward to starting my road to improvement. I started to cancel my appointment with him because I felt that I had learned how to attack this problem. I had even made plans to get out in my backyard shop and start building a "homemade Pops special traction device" with custom fit. My wife wasn't too crazy about this idea. So, my plans now are to consult with a doctor that my wife works with and lay out all the info I have gather with him. He is a very good friend and an extremely smart doctor. He's a gastroendoroligist, but he's the type of guy that will start studying my problem and call other doctors and learn all he can before giving his opinion. I'm lucky to have him for a friend. I'll let you know what he finds out as soon as I can.

[trigger]

Thanks AR. i have done quiet a lot of reading on the forum this weekend and have decided to exhaust all other avenues before surgery. So will not be having the operation on monday. You mentioned traction and VED, i am a little baffled that the doctor never recommended these. They obviously don't have much faith in them. So i want to talk about the surgeon about these. if anyone can direct me to some threads about the best VED or traction to use and instructions on how to use them i would be most grateful. Does anyone know which is more successful ? If anyone could let me know where to purchase these in the UK, that would be very helpful.

[jackp]

I do not know if they ship to the UK or not. Reach Medical is a local company that filled my prescription for the VED. They have several over the counter models.
There email is www.info@reachmedical.com. I have no intrest in the company only a client. They have been helpful for me. Send Brent an email and he will let you know if they ship to you or not.
Hope that will be helpful.  
As to use of the VED I recommend you contact Old Man. He is the Pro.
Jackp

[flexor]

A UK source of supply for the SomaCorrect is www.imedicare.eu.
As the VED is for medical use, you may not have to pay VAT.

[trigger]

Thanks for the information.

i was wondering if anyone had heard of  Dr S Minhas in London, UK. He is the man that is supposed to be doing my surgery.

[Tim468]

Interesting Link..They are marketing a "SomaCorrect" with an explicit claim that it treats Peyronie's Disease. This sort of claim is not permitted in the US for medical grade devices (though that ought to change).

Their linked "fact sheet" is odd. It is disjointed and oddly written (in that small text boxes with snippets of information are interspresed throughout in a way that makes no connection to the adjacent text). None-the-less, it does have good data and references in it.

http://www.imedicare.eu/Peyronies.pdf



Tim

[Old Man]

Tim:

You are right, there is no FDA in Europe. They can sell just about anything they want to there. Maybe one day, FDA will give some credence to Peyronies Disease and devices for their treatment. The company might have had a good stock of the Soma Correct VEDs on hand when FDA shut down their sales here in the USA.

Old Man

[LWillisjr]

I had my 7th appt with Dr. Levine today. Since the Verapamil Injections weren't improving anything, he suggested discontinuing these. His next suggestion is surgery, and in my case would mean excision and grafting due to the 70 degree bend. I thought you all would find the following interesting:

Dr. Levine has just completed a 14 year study that was just submitted and accepted by the AMA. The study was for 120 men who had undergone surgery for Peyronies Disease. The follow up has been in progress over the 14 year period. My wife and I tried to write this all down after the fact and hope we got most of the numbers close.

1. None of them required a second procedure.

2. 30% of them had some decreased feeling, but some thought this an advantage as they were able to "last longer" for their partners.

3. 20% (I think) had some increased ED in their abililty to achieve a firm erection, but all these were treated through the use of drugs like viagra.

4. 5-10% had some reoccurance of curvature but not near like they had prior to surgery.

5. (And the one I find important) ALL men were still able to climax and ejaculate during intercourse.

I haven't given in to the surgery yet......   but strongly considering at this point. I'll keep you updated.

[Peregrine]

I was offered the v injections w/ the drugs but haven't taken them.  Am considering consulting another urology department just to get another "take" on the injections and surgery.  The reports in this forum on injections are discouraging.  In fact, I can't recall one that reported any positive result.  My wife tells me there was a recent convention of urologists in the U.S. recently, you'd think some info would come from that.

Has anybody heard of any improvement by taking a dose of Viagra (50 mg) daily to increase blood flow and possible slow healing?

[LWillisjr]

It's interesting that there are not more success stories on this site. My uro has documented that nearly 70% of his patients respond in some way to a combination of:
1. Stretching therapy
2. Drug therapy (Pentoxifyline and L'Arginine)
3. Verapamil Injections

I will admit that I fell into the 30% that did not respond to the combined therapy. I'm now considering other options.

[crank]

It's interesting that there are not more success stories on this site. My uro has documented that nearly 70% of his patients respond in some way to a combination of:
1. Stretching therapy
2. Drug therapy (Pentoxifyline and L'Arginine)
3. Verapamil Injections

I will admit that I fell into the 30% that did not respond to the combined therapy. I'm now considering other options.

Same here lwillisjr...I was delighted to find this site,at first,but the more I read ,the more doubts I have about "repairs"..from your profile, I see that you are a later in life patient...me too..However, I'm grateful that I didn't get it at 22 like some of the guys on here..that would be a bummer..

Good luck on the other options..

crank

[jackp]

crank, peregrine
Surgery should be the last option you choose. It is not always successful.
Stay away from injections for ED/Sex. Injections of PGE1 and Trimix cause corporal fibrosis and that only makes things worse in the long run. You can go down to October of last year and read about my failed attempt at an implant because of injections.
Option:
VED use it every day for Peronies and exercise. Old Man has the right plan for both. I have used it successfully. Caution: DO NOT OVER PUMP! More is not better. (I found out the wrong way.) Over the long run you will see results. I have gained back some size from Peronies almost 15 years ago.
Good Luck and keep us posted.
Jackp

[Iceman]

jackp - is ved really worth it and will it work?- im just a bit nervous about using this - can you convince me abit please

[Old Man]

Iceman:

Your question was posed to Jackp, but I feel obliged to jump in and add my 2 cents about VED usage. My history of Peyronies Disease goes back a little bit over 50 years since the age of 24. Many and varied oral meds treatments were tried, but none actually helped in any manner. In addition, I had 45 three minute x-ray bombardments of the affected area which did nothing. Bottom line nothing helped until much later in life.

After prostate surgery in 1995 which left me totally impotent due to a non nerve sparing operation, the VED was prescribed for ED. Several month after the surgery, my Peyronies Disease came back resulting in a 45 degree downward and about 45 degrees to the right curve with pain and all the other symptoms. My uro gave me 12 verapamil injections which added to the mix of nodules and plaque. She, yes she a lady uro, helped me work out a procedure using the old Osbon Esteem manual VED for my Peyronies Disease. It took about 6 months of daily use of the VED to give me back what Peyronies Disease took away, but it worked!

There is quite a history of VED usage posted on this forum with success stories being told. I know of one other guy in his 70s who has had great success with the VED therapy. I firmly believe that using the newer model three cylinder VEDs that one can and will get results from VED usage. It must be used with caution and moderation to prevent additional damage. Based on my success and that of others, I strongly suggest that you should consider VED usage.

If I can be of further assistance with any questions that you might have, let me know and I will be glad to answer them for you.

Old Man

[Angus]

  Iceman, I'm just jumping in to second the motion by Old Man to strongly consider VED therapy. I won't repeat all that Old Man said, but I will support his suggestion. Used properly and consistently, the VED will do no harm, and may do a world of good.

[Iceman]

old man / angus - : http://www.fitzz.com/Peyronies-Vacuum-Therapy-Treatment-System-P4484C160.aspx ---is this the best one to get and will it have instructions?? - found the link in a thread

[Old Man]

Iceman:

Yes, that is the VED we have been posting about. The regular price for it is $299.99 and the $229.99 price is a good deal. The package includes any and all items you will need for Peyronies Disease therapy as well as for ED problems if you have any.

The Vitality OTC VED is made by the Augusta Medical Systems and is of a good medical quality. You probably will not find a better price for a package that has all the items in it like this one. If you are planning on using VED therapy, this should be a good priced unit for you.

If you have further questions, just let us know and we will help all possible.

Old Man

[jackp]

Iceman
Yes, I believe in the VED, see Old Mans post.
Old Man is the one that got me on the right track. Listen to him!!! It works, slowly but it works.
Good Luck
Jackp

[Angus]

Yes, that's the one. Jump on the 229 price. If the instructions with it leave some loose ends, post questions about VED therapy here; we've probably got most of the answers about how VED's work, the protocol and just about any other question that you'd have.

[jackp]

Doctor Visit June 3rd

I went to Dr. Yari Walzer MD this afternoon. The reason for going to Dr. Walzer was he was the only one on the AMS web site that had a bio posted.

I had a 3-page list of my Urological problems starting in 1972 with a prostate infection. After the usual check in and urine sample I gave the nurse a copy of my Urological History.

When Dr. Walzer came in the exam room we had the usual introduction and I opened my folder. I had a list of 16 questions. Dr. Walzer looked at me and said "Jack with your history I can not help you and no doctor in Memphis TN is qualified to do the surgery you need. I recommend you go to Vanderbilt University in Nashville or to Texas."  I choose a referral to Vanderbilt. He said I need a doctor that does at least 100 implant operations a year and that most here only do one or two a month.

Dr. Walzer then did a penile exam and said he would be glad to help with the follow-up here. He said that I might have to have the procedure where they resect the scar tissue and have a graft.

Conclusion;

One of the most honest doctors I have ever met. Told me like it is and said you do not need more problems and I do not need the money,
(I know a couple of doctors here that would try just for the money.)

I will get a copy of the referral in a couple of days and then make plans to go to Nashville.

Thanks to all who have supported me, especially Gary, Bob Bacon and Old Man.

Jackp

[Old Man]

Jackp:

You are welcome from my end of the game and good luck on your visit to Vanderbilt. That is a very good teaching hospital I am told.

Old Man

[Tim468]

Jack,

Great story.

I sent a patient of mine to San Diego for a clot removal from her lungs - they do more there than anywhere else in the country. The local surgeon asked me why I sent her there - "I could have done her here" he said. He asked it in an aggravated way.

I replied that they are better there; they do more of the operations. He started to get a bit pissed and said "I taught him!" (referring to the doc I sent her to)(I also knew that he had been merely two years ahead in training. so he was exaggerating).

I said, "Bill, I'm not running for student body president and I don't care if I'm popular. I sent her there because they have done hundreds and you haven't done 20 yet."

He just dropped it and we moved on to other topics.

Tim

[Old Man]

Tim:

Way to go Doc!!! Always go for the best one can get.

Old Man

[jackisback]

Even though everything I read seems to say that surgery is the only option for Peyronie's, I seem to not read any surgical success stories at this site.  I've had Peyronie's for a year, and the plaque has gotten more noticeable. I just saw my 4th Uro, he's highly recognized locally, and the doc who referred me had his staff research into it, so I have reason to think he's good at this. However, he said it should be better in a year (based on the normal progression of the disease) but I'm not sure I believe he can have real confidence of that.

I'm 22 now and incredibly insecure about this. It's possible that I could wait a year, but after that I'd really think that with no improvement it's time to try something for real (ie surgery). My youth is slipping past me, and I really don't think that very many girls my age would be forgiving about a soft erection. This doc said he thinks it should be good in a year, but he didn't say that he would operate in a year if it's not better, but I'm hoping he could do something for me.

My scar is halfway down the penis and runs perpendicular to the penis on the right side. My curve is to the left, small, only about 10-15 degrees. In a few photos you can clearly see the top half of my penis is starting to get getting erect, has good bloodflow, and the bottom half completely flaccid, pointed slightly left.

I guess with surgery there is this risk of new scar tissue, but for some reason I think that if I'm in shape at point of surgery, and take supplements, I should be able to avoid this, since I'm young.  I just look at this little soft scar causing me this trouble, and I can't help but think it should be so easy to remove this thing, or at least most of it.

I asked my doc about getting a doppler scan. He said that I could get it if I want, but it's not going to change his treatment.  Now that I think about it, I feel that I should request the doppler anyways. That way in a year I can see objectively if there has been positive or negative progress. Also, this doppler will tell me if there are problems other than that one scar that perhaps I don't know about. Do you all seem to agree that I should get this scan? Also, it seems to me that there should be some way to fix whatever blocked arteries are in there without touching the scar. If I could get full blood flow, the scar and the slight bend wouldn't really bother me.

I know that most of you will probably say that I shouldn't get surgery, but do you agree that I should get this doppler scan?

[videogame]

In a few photos you can clearly see the top half of my penis is starting to get getting erect, has good bloodflow, and the bottom half completely flaccid, pointed slightly left.

Hmm this description is something I did not fully understand.  Top/bottom?

I'm personally bullish on surgery, at least in my case as my unit's always been quirky since day one.  So wait and watch approaches will not work.  And I don't think creams, injections or other treatments will either since the problem seems to be some disproportion of tissue that will not be easily remedied.  There's no pain or progression in either a better or worse direction.

I dunno if any docs within driving distance of me are capable of fixing it.  I may just have to wait a couple of years until I'm done with school and have more mobility, or a different insurance provider.  I kinda hate not being proactive about it though.  And oh those ladies...

*lwillisjr that study seems to be in accordance with what I've found in my own searches.  I say go for it!  Is that the Levine guy with the website?  The detailed one, for this specific topic.  I'd go for surgery from him right away.

[jackp]

Received the paperwork and an appointment for 8/22/08 with Dr. Milam at Vanderbilt.
I hate the wait, but, another couple of months and then the wait for surgery.
Dr. Milam is a Male Sexual Function specialist. I have not used him before but a friend from church has and is well pleased.
My local urologist says I need corporal reconstruction surgery form the corporal fibrosis that formed because of Peronies and shots for ED. This is only one of two doctors that can do this surgery in the south east. The others are in Houston, TX.
Jackp

[LWillisjr]

Videogame,

Yes my urologist is Dr. Levine. He has specialized in Peyronies I believe for most of his career. And he is head of urology at Rush University Hospital in Chicago.

I know there are several on this website who have not had good experiences with surgery. And I welcome and respect their knowledge and opinions. But I also recognize that the medical field is one where advances in procedures and technology take place quickly.

I can't think of anyone who would look forward to having surgery performed on their penis. And Dr. Levine only recommends this as a last resort after you try his regular therapy first. It did not work in my case and now I am considering the surgery. I don't look forward to it, but I have respect Dr. Levine, he makes me feel comfortable, and answers all my questions. And the results of the surgery study he just completed look sound promising to me. My surgery is scheduled for July 21st and will keep you all updated on the progress.

[jackp]

lwillisjr
Don't mean to be nosey but if you will what type surgery are you having? Are you also having an penile implant?
I live in a large south east metro area of over a million and no uro here is qualified to do the penile implant I need. I understand that the doctors here only do one or two a month. The surgeon I am going to at Vanderbilt does over 100 a year.
You are fortunate to live in an area with Dr. Levine.
Good Luck on the 21st and do keep us posted.
Jackp

[LWillisjr]

Jackp,
No problem with you being nosey. One thing I have learned to do is to talk about this and share with other people. I've openly discussed it with my son, son-in-law, close friends, etc. It's amazing that this can be affecting up to 10% of men, and so few of us know anything about it.

My curve is 60 degrees. Dr. Levine generally recommends something similar to the Nesbit procedure for curvatures less than 40 degrees. He doesn't refer to it as the Nesbit any longer as I guess the current procedure is much update. However, for curvatures greater than 40 degrees or so, and if you are able to achieve and maintain an erection (I can), the recommendation is for excision and grafting. So this is the procedure I am scheduled for.  My understanding is the implant is only used in cases where achieving an erection in advance was not possible.

I only opted for the surgery after a discussion with Dr. Levine regarding a study he recently completed. I posted earlier what he shared with me here....    https://www.peyroniesforum.net/index.php/topic,48.msg14160.html#msg14160

[jackp]

Received a call from Dr. Milam's nurse at Vanderbilt today and she moved my appointment up to July25th and scheduled surgery for August 14th.
After being 100% impotent for almost 3 year I am glad to get the ball rolling in the right direction.
The good news is that she said because the Peronies curve corrected that I have a 90% chance or better that I will not need the corporal resection. She said He fixes things other doctors can not.
Thanks to Old Man and his advice the VED has kept me going, I do not know what I would have done without his advice. Because I also have ED, Venous Leakage and Corporal Fibrosis I have to use an extra tight constriction ring, that I will be glad to stop.
Jackp

[Old Man]

Jackp:

Be sure to tell your surgeon that VED usage helped you with the curvature problem. He could use it to advise other "curved patients" to use it before surgery and have better success with their procedure.

Glad to hear that your appointment and surgery dates were moved up. Also, am glad that you found some relief for the Peyronies Disease prior to the procedure. Any little of help I am sure is greatly welcomed by you.

Keep us up to date on how things develop for you and good luck with your surgery.

Regard to you. Old Man

[bix]

Hi,

I wrote to you on July 29th 2007 to say that I had corporoplasty surgery here in the UK on 3rd July. I wrote again on August 20th 2007 to say that the bend was now about 5 degrees (down from about 40 or 45) and that I had just achieved penetration and ejaculation for the first time for ages. After that I found that penetration was still OK but ejaculation was more difficult. I was given Cialis, which didn't help. We have now worked out how to cope: instead of attempting sex twice a week as we did when we were younger (we're 67 now) we limit ourselves to once or twice a month (average once in three weeks). The results are very satisfactory. We're very glad I decided to have the surgery.

bix

[jackp]

bix
I found that use of Cialis, V and/or L any of the ED drugs made ejaculation more difficult.
Also, Saw Palmetto can make ejaculation more difficult.
My own personal observations.
Jackp