Looks like I found the right place

[UrsusMinor]

Since I don't remember any specific trauma, I'm not sure when my problems started. My best guess is between 3 and 6 months ago.

I've always been very active sexually, and have never taken any drugs for Erectile Dysfunction. I am recently 60 years old, and, although I have had some health problems over the years (mostly connected with international travel), I have never had any penis problems...until quite recently.

I went through a period 4-6 months ago where at night I had very hard erections. Not really arousal-type erections, just hard, very long-lasting erections that made it hard to sleep. I kept rolling over on them. (This may have something to do with lack of sex; my significant other went through menopause, and for a while, penetration really hurt her. Thankfully that's over—but now I have a problem of my own!)

A few months ago I noticed that even though my erections were very hard, they seemed—well, I don't know how to put this. It's like they were hard but smaller, as if they were getting hard by contracting rather than engorgement. And about that time I noticed a perceptible upward bend. Then, within a matter of weeks, the bend became sharper, moving to about 30-35 degrees. It also sort of hurt.

At this point, I had my first experience of not being able to maintain an erection during penetration, which shocked and humiliated me. It had something to do with discomfort—and, then, after that first time, with pure freak-out.

Obviously Peyronie's, once I consulted medical authorities. And the counsel? The usual wait-and-see.

I can feel the plaque. It's not a large wedge or ball as shown in so many diagrams. More like a thin hard sheath on the top of the penis, just below where the curvature starts.

I've lost nearly 2 inches in length as measured by ruler—but quite a bit of that is curvature, and it's not that extreme if measured by a sewing tape measure. But when I wasn't erect, it's as if my penis was "hiding"—pulling back and getting small and hard, as if I were in really cold water. And it hurt, on an unpredictable basis.

I distrust doctors as a class—and have many, many reasons, based on experience, for doing so. Therefore, I began researching alternative options, beginning with John Parks' website/e-book, and eventually arriving here. I may talk to a specialist at some point—probably someone recommended by you folks here—but based on my experience with doctors so far, I'm in no great hurry.

Most of what I am doing so far I believe falls into the 'no regrets' category. I am taking Acetyl L-Carnitine, Serrapeptase, Nattokinase, and Vitamin E. I am using heated castor oil packs in the evening. (I am skeptical of Thacker's formula, but I am not skeptical of castor oil packs; I have used them with success for other conditions.)

As recommended by Parks, I am using DMSO and SSKI. On my own, I've added a small amount of pure Acetyl L-Carnitine powder to the DMSO for direct absorption. (With a molecular mass of about 205, it ought to be absorbable topically, even without the DMSO. [Yeah, okay, that's a little geeky, but I'm a chemist.])

In just a couple of weeks, I have noticed dramatic improvements. My flaccid is more normal, and my overall discomfort is much lower. I don't know if something I'm doing contributed, or if things are just improving on their own, or it if it's just a consequence of taking some kind of action instead of sitting and wondering!

I've ordered a traction device—Male Edge. (I'd ordered The Peyronies Device, formerly Size Genetics, a week earlier, but US Customs sent it back. The company urged me to re-order, but they couldn't resend until they'd received their original device back...and even then they weren't sure if the new shipment would come through. So I gave up. I don't want to wait months, with no guarantee of delivery.)

In any case, I am delighted to have discovered this forum, with so many members (no pun intended) and so many people with so much experience in dealing with this problem.

A couple of questions I haven't been able to resolve after a few days of reading the forums here. I apologize if these have been answered a thousand times before:

1)   Intercourse/masturbation: Good or bad? Risky, or healthy (or both)?
2)   Cialis, etc. Is this still recommended as baseline therapy if you can get natural erections?
3)   How important would you rank Pentox, especially at an early stage?
4)   Is there any reason not to do both Traction and Vacuum?

I'm assuming I'm still in the 'acute' stage, but since I don't know when it started I can't really tell. All I know is that things were just fine six months ago, and now they aren't.

Thanks so much for running this place and contributing so much time. As I'm sure you all know, discovering you have Peyronie's makes you feel all alone, and this forum is a Godsend.

[james1947]

Ursus

I am expressing my private opinion and the forum experience, but I am not a doctor:
Both John Parks and Thacker's formula websites are good money makers, not more.
Proposing you to read regarding DMSO and SSKI before continuing. If you will make a search on the forum you will find them.
To your questions:
1) The opinions are divided between "Use it or lose it" and abstaining from sex/masturbation. Personally I am for "Use it or lose it" but have deep respect to the other advice.
2) Yes, low dose Cialis will help recovering things you have lost to Peyronies
3) Pentox is the first line oral treatment (in conjunction with low dose Cialis and VED)
4) Some forum members are VED fans, some traction fans, some both.
I will mention one additional supplement that will help with Peyronies symptoms - Ubiquinol A lot of information on the forum regarding this supplement.

James

[UrsusMinor]

Thanks, James--

(It's hard for me to see how John Parks or Thackers are money makers for anybody. The info from Parks was all free, and the Thacker's formula is published quite widely.)

As I said, I am skeptical of Thacker's--not endorsing it. It is hard for me to understand why a castor oil formula would include DMSO--ricolineic acid, the active ingredient in castor oil doesn't need any help penetrating the skin!

(On the other hand, I have a lot of respect for castor oil packs per se--and certainly can't see how the heat and oil would hurt.)

I am not using DMSO for its own benefits, but as a way of getting a strong localized dose of Acetyl L-Carnitine. (Given the nature of ALC, and the ease of L-Carnitine in entering the skin--L-Carnitine is used in a lot of skin emollients--the DMSO may not even be needed.) I've looked around, but haven't seen whether anyone else here has tried ALC topically. To me it seems like a logical first step.

-----

Deeply appreciate all the answers to the questions. Don't quite know what to make of the division of opinion around sex/masturbation, though! Looks like I have a lot more reading to do!

PS

I already take 100 mg of Ubiquinol daily for general health purposes, but after reading what you say and glancing around the forums, it sounds as if I should up my dose!

[NeoV]

James's advice is good.

Remember, natural and quality erections does not equal "masturbation and sex".

If I would have known this earlier I'm sure I could have spared myself some of the damage. I was in an inflammatory state for years.

Sounds like your doing the right things, I would definitely recommend VED therapy even with traction.

[james1947]

Ursus

Just to clarify two things:
I was in touch with John Parks in the past by email, didn't succeed to get information I wanted.
Regarding Thackers formula, I will say again, search the forum and see what other forum members experienced.

James

[UrsusMinor]

Thanks, James and Neo.

I'll look into VED. It seems as if there are a lot of decisions to be made in selecting the device, etc.--the posts are endless!

Neo, can you elaborate on the issue of erections vs sex, and inflammation? I haven't come across a thread on the topic.

(Searching shows that both topics seem to come up frequently, but usually in discussion of other issues. On the other hand, maybe I'm still just incompetent at finding my way around the forum!)