My story...

[MarkJames]

Hi Guys,

Before I get into my story, I just want to say what an amazing resource this site is for men like us... Thank you to the people behind the site for the time and effort you have put in. I have hours of reading ahead of me, but it's great to see other people's experiences.

So, about me - I am 32 and from London, England. I have an amazing partner of 8years, and a 4month old son. I hope to keep this post as short as possible, but it may turn into an essay, as this is the first time I have shared my situation with anyone except my partner.

My symptoms started over a year ago, when I noticed a shooting pain from the base to the head of my penis when erect. It was an unusual pain, but not off putting. So intercourse and masturbation wasn't effected too much. It was during this time that we managed to conceive, after months of trying!

After a month or two of noticing the shooting pain, (which was always just left of the centre of my penis), I noticed that my penis was bending to the left (more so than it had done previously). It was just at this point that I also noticed a hard solid lump just up from the base on the left hand side.

Being the type of man who avoids the doctors waiting room, I decided to Google 'bent penis' - and found various stories about Peyronies, and saw such a bleak negative outlook. I read somewhere that the condition would need to take 12months to reach its worst stage, so I left it undiagnosed. As my partner was off sex due to the pregnancy, I was able to pretend that my condition would fix itself, and in theory I wouldn't have to accept that I had Peyronies. I had seen images online, so was able to self diagnose what it was. I was gutted. It was this time that I learnt that the solid lump was plaque.

My problem hasn't just been physical, this has taken a psychological effect on my life. It has made me depressed, full of anxiety, short tempered, and angry etc. Not the man I was before.  In regards to the physical, my erections are very rarely fully rigid. Mostly semi erect. My sex drive is zero. Since my partner has recovered from the delivery of our son, sex was on her mind. This added to my anxiety, however I put it behind me, and we were intimate for the first time in months. However, I found that the buckle in my penis meant that penetrative sex is a no go. It makes me feel like I am failing her. She is so supportive though, and I know she loves me no matter what. But it still doesn't necessarily make everything ok in my brain.

I decided to man up, and see a doctor. Tell them the full story, and to start the treatment - whatever the experts suggested. My GP was great, - fully understanding and diagnosed me there and then (I showed him a photo of my erect penis). He immediately referred me to a Urologist, and I consulted with my private medical insurance provider who were very supportive. The financial implications without private healthcare would have meant I could never have moved on with treatment.

I saw the Urologist on Thursday, and he has referred me to a further group of specialists. At this stage, he has indicated that my peyronies is severe, and will require surgery. His advice is that other forms of treatments are not going to make much impact on my condition.

I am now waiting for my next appointment, where I guess I will be told about surgeries available. To say I am anxious is a understatement. I am yet to discuss this with my Dad, but I will do that this week. I wonder if this is hereditary? Both he and my grandfather had the condition where a finger locks in a bent position, which the Urologist told me is linked to Peyronies. If it is hereditary, my poor little son may get it too.

I am relieved to have finally started the road to treatment, and I wish I had looked into things more seriously sooner. My mental state is something I will need to work on in the coming months. Excuse my language, but from reading through other experiences on this site, and looking at images post surgery - I am scared shitless.

Thank you for reading. Any words of advice or support would be much appreciated.

Thanks
MarkJames

[Stabler]

Hello MarkJames,

I would like to welcome you to the group. I am happy to read that you have a supporting partner as this will aid in your dealing with this disease. I would have to say though that surgery is usually the LAST thing that the men of this forum choose to have done. There are a whole list of medications and therapies that they try before going for surgery, and since you have been dealing with this for only a year I would not think that you are at a stage that surgery would yet be warranted.

From what you have provided I gathered that you had/have pain on the left side of your penis, your penis now curves to the left (but you haven't said to what degree) and you cant get a hard erection. can you tell us if you feel any plaque in your penis? have you had an ultrasound yet and have you even tried any of the medications such as Pentox?

I encourage you to read our Survival Guide:
Peyronies Survival Guide - Information for New Members - Peyronies Society Forums

Make sure the urologist you are seeing specializes in Peyronies as surgery should not be the first thing that is suggested. Please ready through the forum boards and ask questions, the men in this forum have dealt with Peyronies for a good number of years in many cases and they can offer you very good advice.

Also have a look at our list of Urologist that specialize in Peyronies I know there are some listed in London
https://www.peyroniesforum.net/index.php/topic,4063.0.html

We are here to help so let us

Mamma

[Jonbinspain]

Mark;
Has an ultrasound been done? It will help determine the extent of the plaque and if there is calcification. How severe is your curvature?  Would intercourse be possible if you could get a solid erection?  There any many drugs & supplements that will make sure you can get a sustainable erection. The only things that the prevents intercourse are pain, and severity of curvature.

The curvature can be helped by traction and/or VED. I would suggest VED. For the time being you could use a constriction ring to maintain the erection.

Surgery!  I suspect that they will suggest plication surgery. Be aware that this will shorten your penis as the unaffected side is cut and the penis straightened that way. It really is viewed as the last resort here and I would only go,down that road if there was no other option. If you do go that way, be very, very careful who you let near your dick with a scalpel!  Ask how much experience the surgeon has? How many successful operations he has done, etc. it goes without saying that an incompetent surgeon can make things even worse.

Your mental state is perfectly normal - all if us have been through it. It's a horrible affliction that strikes at the very heart of our manhood. But, in most cases, we can get back to 75%+ of what we were. Any questions, fire away.  

[MarkJames]

Hi Stabler67,

Thanks for the warm welcome! I am aware that surgery is seen as a last resort, and I was quite surprised when the Urologist said this was the best course of action to take. However he is referring me to a Peyronies specialist, who I am hoping may have some other options that they can suggest such as the medication mentioned. At this stage, no ultrasound has been completed, but I am hoping that the specialist will bringing this up in our appointment.

Hi Jonbinspain,

Thanks for your response. I think intercourse would be possible in certain positions with a stronger erection, I will look into the constriction ring you mentioned. Thanks! I will also bring up VED and/or Traction as alternative routes.

I do not know the extent of the curvature in medical terms, but if I could use a 12hour clock face as an example, with the clock hands at 6:00 being the perfect straight penis, my penis is probably 5:47! - apologies for the poor analogy. Thanks for your comments about my mental state, I really appreciate knowing that other people have been through it before me.

I will hopefully have my next appointment soon. I will keep you posted.

Thanks
MarkJames

 

[Jonbinspain]

Mark;
I can only go from what you describe, in which case your problem is more E.D. Than the curvature?  In that case, Cialis, or similar will solve that problem in the short term. You should also look at L-Arginine or Citrulline Malate, ALC, CoQ10.

Hopefully, your Uro will be clued up on this disease and treat it seriously - too many don't, unfortunately. As I said earlier, read, be clued up and don't be afraid to ask questions. Do not allow yourself to be fobbed off with the all too common Vit E and "let's wait and see"