An older newbie...

[dunedin]

Hi all,

I am a married 62-year old, and first noticed the curvature just before I turned 60. I didn't go to a urologist right away, but did see one earlier this year. I may not have gone at all about the Peyronies Disease, but I was also experiencing ED and symptoms of BPH. Getting up 6 to 7 times a night to pee was the final straw. I wasn't getting much sleep.

I don't know if the ED is caused by the Peyronies Disease, or if it is basically psychological in nature. I still get regular strong nocturnal erections, but usually can't seem to keep an erection to successfully complete intercourse. Sex is quite difficult to manage, I have about a  55° upward curvature. I showed the urologist photos that I took of my erection, and he thought that sex shouldn't be a problem, but it is. It is rather difficult, and not all that pleasurable for me, however.

There are noticeable plaques along the left side of my penis shaft that give it a bit of a cookie-bite look. I'm surprised that it doesn't curve to the left in the erect state. It does slightly in the flaccid state.

The urologist gave me a prescription for Tamsulosin (Flomax) for the BPH, and that has helped a lot. He also gave me a prescription for Cialis for the ED, but I don't think that this is simply a not-enough-blood-flow issue. From what I've read, it may be that the Peyronies Disease scarring causes a not enough retention of the blood once I have achieved an erection.

The urologist has referred me to a nurse practitioner that is supposedly helping me with both the Peyronies Disease and the ED. She prescribed vacuum therapy, and suggested I buy a cheap pump at a local adult novelty shop, rather than pay the money for medical grade version. I don't know if my insurance would pay part of the medical grade version or not, but I found that the 2.25" i.d. of the cylinder to be too big and not helpful, and and subsequently purchased nicely made acrylic cylinders in both 1.75 and 2.0 inch diameters from an online source after an email discussion with them about Peyronies Disease. I use a MityVac hand pump with a gauge for both of these two cylinders.

Prior to visiting the urologist, I had checked out of the local public library and read most of Laurence Levine's Understanding Peyronie's disease. I bought a JES Extender, and after using that for a while, a Phallosan Forte extender. I have been trying to use both traction and vacuum therapy. It was doing some online research that I found this forum, and have some questions about the Vacuum Therapy Protocol and also about traction therapy that I want to ask, but decided that it would be best for me to introduce myself here first. I probably should read the existing threads more thoroughly to see if my questions have already been asked and answered.

The urologist also recommended vacuum therapy, but dismissed the traction therapy. He said I could try it if I want, that it probably wouldn't hurt anything. The nurse practitioner tells me that injections are very costly—about $1000.00 per injection—and not very effective, so I have not pursued that angle as an addition. I have taken L-Arginine, and am starting to resume doing that again.

Anyway, best of luck to all fellow Peyronies Disease sufferers. I will appreciate any advice you have. Thanks.

[kuaka]

Since Peyronies Disease is a fibrosis condition...scarring...consider a decent Magnesium supplement as well.  Not Magnesium oxide.  I found "Slow Mag" at Walmart to be quite affordable.  Most, if not all, fibrosis conditions have magnesium deficiency as a factor.

I made my own traction and VED devices, but have been too distraught over my daughter's medical issues at present to really pursue them with consistency.  The key is both consistency and NOT overdoing either as anything which causes additional scarring will be counter productive.

Good luck.

[Jonbinspain]

The injections that you were speaking of will be Xiaflex. There is a section dedicated to it on the forum. And yes, it's expensive and results are mixed.

Most would disagree with your Uro re traction. I also use a Phallosan, which I have used extensively since my surgery. I also VED - about 15 mins per day. follow the protocols and never overpump!

You can read about all the various oral treatments for Peyronies here too. They display mixed results, as one of the enigmas of this disease is that what works for one guy does not for another.

Have your testosterone levels checked too.

Lastly, surgery may be a option you wish to consider. You can read of the various methods of curve correction in the appropriate section.