This is my first post. I must say I really appreciate this site. I’ve learned a lot, and this knowledge has helped during recent doctor’s visits. Any feedback that could be offered regarding my issues would be greatly appreciated.
Here is my deal. I am 40 years old and a couple of months ago, I very suddenly began having problems achieving and maintaining an erection. I literally went from never having a hint of a problem to having significant issues. Previously, simply enjoying a few fantasies or exchanging ‘sexting’ messages with my wife would result in an erection.
The first issue was halfway through sex with my wife, just getting ready for intercourse. I simply lost the erection and couldn’t get it back. A week later, and I couldn’t even get anything going. Lifeless is the term I would use.
I went to the urologist and he prescribed daily Cialis, 5mg. It worked fantastic, both getting and keeping an erection. Ten days later and I developed ringing in the ears. I didn’t realize that one of the side effects could be hearing loss and tinnitus. Needless to say, I discontinued using Cialis. I was prescribed prednisone to improve the symptoms, and that seems to have helped and I’ve noticed the tinnitus has reduced. Without baseline data, the ENT doctor isn’t sure but he did think I have minimal hearing loss at very high frequencies, but not enough to notice.
Within two days of stopping Cialis, the erection problems returned. Last week’s follow up with the urologist to review my blood work resulted in the following data:
Testosterone: 465 ng/dL (normal – 348-1197)
TSH: 2.48 uIU/mL (normal – 0.45-4.5)
Gonadotropin FSH: 2.3 uIU/mL (normal – 1.5-12.4)
Gonadotropin LH: 3.6 uIU/mL (normal – 1.7-8.6)
Sex Horm Bind Glob: 33.1 nmol/L (normal – 16.5-55.9)
Prolactin: 4.4 ng/mL (normal – 4.0-15.2)
Estradiol: 25.1 pg/mL (normal – 7.6-42.6)
Based on what I’ve read, Testosterone seems a little low, but nothing to be alarmed about(?). I’ve poked around the site and haven’t seen anything significant on the other data, yet.
Here’s the punch line. I am a competitive cyclist. I have been racing for about 6 years. Seven months ago, I had a professional bike fit which changed my position and at the same time I changed my seat. I believe the seat may be at least a part of the ED problem. I realized that I had dismissed occasional penis numbness during rides. The remedy was usually standing up, adjusting positions, etc. and the numbness would go away. Immediately after the ED problems began, I purchased a new seat that is very friendly to the downstairs plumbing. The difference in the pressure in the perineal area is huge. I can’t understand how I thought the previous seat was comfortable. Absolutely no numbness since I’ve changed seats about 6 weeks ago.
At the follow-up appointment with the urologist last week, he provided three samples of Muse, a urethral suppository. Sounds fun. I’m not all that excited about another RX, plus its crazy expensive at $45 per dose. Ouch.
As a dedicated cyclist, I am careful with my diet. In fact, I weigh about the same as I did when I was running track in high school. Don’t get me wrong, I allow myself a treat now and then and have about 2-3 alcoholic drinks a week, beer or red wine typically.
I wouldn’t call the symptoms lifeless at this point, but there are times when it seems as though it is. In the last week or so, I have been able to ‘self-perform’ and times when I haven’t been able to. Sex with my fantastic wife hasn’t been an option for the past week or so, but will be soon. I’m anxious, so we’ll see how that goes. I am having morning erections, but they aren’t particularly hard.
I do have a vericocele, but the urologist didn’t seem too concerned about it, probably because the testosterone levels weren’t too bad and I don’t have any discomfort or pain.
A few thoughts I have floating around in my cranium;
1) If Cialis worked so well, and I was able to keep an erection for an extended period, it seems as though venous leakage is not the likely problem.
2) Is there any value on an ultrasound? The procedure seems at a minimum, odd. Thanks starry for the post a couple of weeks ago. However, I am concerned that cycling may have caused damage, and it may be good to know results that an ultrasound can provide.
3) Regarding increasing blood flow, supplements and diet seem like the best option, just not sure where to focus my attention.
4) I’ll probably order the Neogenis test strips to check Nitric Oxide levels.
5) My libido is not as strong as it was, say, six months ago, but wouldn’t say it’s a dramatic decrease.
I’d like to treat this issue without an RX, but with all the great information on the site, I’m not sure where to start. I’d like to come up with a plan and present it to my urologist this week.
So there’s my story. Sorry for the long post. As I mentioned at the beginning of the post, any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
