As per the question, I'm trying to figure out what is plaque actually supposed to feel like in both flaccid and erect states.

In my case, I can feel small bands around my shaft that are a bit firmer than the surrounding tissue when flaccid, and get a bit harder, perhaps sightly rubbery, when erect.

However, I have seen some people describe them pieces of plastic or hard rocks...

My plaque (not calcified) is feeling like following:

When full relaxed flaccid it feels like a solid gummy substance that is maybe 4x6 mm. The shape is like a lentil. Sometimes I have a hard flaccid penis where it is hard to feel the plaque.

When erect the substance stretches and becomes more firm. Then it feels similar too the rest of the penis, but it a bit harder. I can roughly feel the edges in this state, and estimate the location based on the deformity.

When the plaque first appeared it felt like a small maybe 1mm sphere from where it grew out to its final form.

What I understood is that plaque can feel completely different between patients as the Tunica Albuginea has multiple layers. Outer longitudinal layers, circular layers around the cavernum spongeum and thin elastic bands going through the cavernum spongeum. If you check Dr. Trost on YouTube you can find a nice illustration of it.

In the end the plaque is a bit like a hypertrophic scar. But when calcified the scar tissue can become more like a bone.

Therefore depending on the calcification (non, partly or full), shape and TR layer the plaque might feel different.

Also note that you have a lot of veins and other things in your penis that also feel like pumps or nodules so it is sometimes difficult for me to distinguish plaque from normal parts of my penis (for me especially in times of anxiety). Additionally the plaque might "surround" some of the veins or nerves, which in my case makes it hard to know exactly where it starts and ends.

Also note that when I initially touched and manipulated the plaque too much I often irritated the skin, caused mild swelling and anxiety.

IMHO feeling the plaque is not of much value beside the "feeling of control" (for me even a OCD compulsion). IMHO it is much better to get a proper diagnosis with Ultrasound to get information on the type of plaque (e.g. calcified) and look at the resulting form as this might impact treatment options and better determine the phase of the disease.
I therefore try to always catch myself before reaching down to check and say "Stop, this is not helping me!".

I hope this helps.

Kind regards
T

Thanks for such a detailed response, really appreciate it.

Its the first time I have also heard about the differing layers of the Tunica Aluginea. I will look out for those videos by Dr. Trost you are referring to. I imagine I must have some sort of involvement of at least one of these layers.

I am also trying my best not to keep checking but perhaps similar to yourself, the anxiety takes over and I just have this urge to see if its getting worse or not, even if rationally speaking, I cannot do anything to change it either way.

One interesting thing to note is that following a flaccid ultrasound, the radiologist just put "small echogenic lines in cavernosum". I took that to the Urologist and he immediately scoffed at it, complaining how they dont know what they are talking about...but then at the same time, couldn't give me an answer one way or another.

Ultimately, his stance was that even if I did have it, the approach for treatment would still be the same. I can reason with this logic but nevertheless, it left me frustrated since I was no more informed or educated than before the appointment.

I may go down the penile doppler route, though it is quite expensive where I am based.

Yes the anxiety is really difficult. I did manipulate too much at the start which just caused more pain and then more anxiety and therefore more manipulation.

So I can just recommend to stay out of the loop.

I also only had ultrasound of flaccid penis and there no plaque is visible as I do not have calcification.
The doppler sounds interesting. Never heard of it in Germany.