28 year old, likely destined for implant, general advice appreciated (UK based)

[kippybrossy]

Hey everybody,

I’m a 28-year-old guy who has pretty much always had erection issues that seems to have worsened in the last few years. I think I have a venous leak (haven’t done the relevant tests yet) and peyronie’s disease, too. Having sex is pretty much impossible, as my erections aren’t strong/rigid enough and I sadly lose them very quickly. I’m also a grower, not a shower, which makes things worse, and Viagra isn’t effective for me as even though I maintain the erection better, the rigidity is still a big issue. I think I have some scar tissue in different places in the shaft, too. My guess is that I am destined for an implant, as it may be the only effective solution for my particular situation and circumstances.

I’ve finally stopped being a wimp and booked my first GP appointment to discuss my penis issues. I have my appointment in about 3 weeks. It’s just going to be an introductory appointment explaining my issues downstairs and seeing what the doctor says and what he recommends me to do for the next step, as I can’t go on for much longer like this.

For anyone in the UK who has gone down the NHS route like I am about to, I would love to know about your experience and maybe a rough timeline of how things progressed from your initial appointment to where you are now. How long did it take you to get a penile doppler ultrasound? Once this was done and you got your results, what happened next? Do you have any particular recommendations or advice? To non-UK members too, if you were in a similar situation to me, I would love to know what the process has been like for you. I’m just trying to absorb and learn as much information about the journey to an implant as possible.

It seems like the rough order of events is to try all of the solutions they recommend: a pump, injections, pills & whatever else, and if over a long enough time none of them work then they will eventually reluctantly refer you for a penile implant. I’m guessing because I’m young with no other health issues that this will be the COMPLETE last resort and they will be reluctant to advise this. There probably will be a decent amount of resistance, but I don’t know. It seems like a very long process, especially with the NHS wait times in England, which is making me consider paying stupid amounts of money to maybe go down the private route. I still have a lot of thinking and research to do.

Any advice or recommendations or personal stories would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this is the wrong discussion board to post in, I’m still getting used to FrankTalk. Thank you guys so much.

[Kodixx]

kippybrossy, I'm very sorry to hear of your challenges, especially at your young age. Mine started in my 50's and was likely caused by other health issues, so we're on different paths. Also I'm in the US vs UK, so I don't have info about navigating the health system(s) there. There are some other treatments, just not as widely used or noted for success.
But yes, that's the path. A lot of guys start with either VED and/or pills, then injections, and finally implants. The FrankTalk forums are filled with advice on each, and pros/cons of progression from one to the next. I went that route. Pills worked best for me, until they didn't. My first reaction to the implants was "hell no, never". But here I am 4 months post-op, and know was it a great decision given where I was on the ED 'journey'. It has pros and cons and risks, but some of the pros are some pretty cool "next level" stuff. I'd encourage you to keep that in mind if/when you're faced with a decision whether or not to get the implant. In the mean time, I'd also encourage you to make use of this forum to learn and gain perspective. And like everything else in life, be sure to get multiple opinions from experts (Dr's in this case) before making final decisions -- and especially if something doesn't seem right. From personal experience I can tell you that the "bionic brotherhood" in FrankTalk is an amazing cohort of guys facing difficult challenges. Like all social media it gets a little contentious sometimes, but that's because we all have a passion for helping each other overcome our unique challenges. Welcome !

- Chuck

I’m a 28-year-old guy who has pretty much always had erection issues that seems to have worsened in the last few years. It seems like the rough order of events is to try all of the solutions they recommend: a pump, injections, pills & whatever else, and if over a long enough time none of them work then they will eventually reluctantly refer you for a penile implant. Any advice or recommendations or personal stories would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this is the wrong discussion board to post in, I’m still getting used to FrankTalk.

[kippybrossy]

kippybrossy, I'm very sorry to hear of your challenges, especially at your young age. Mine started in my 50's and was likely caused by other health issues, so we're on different paths. Also I'm in the US vs UK, so I don't have info about navigating the health system(s) there. There are some other treatments, just not as widely used or noted for success.
But yes, that's the path. A lot of guys start with either VED and/or pills, then injections, and finally implants. The FrankTalk forums are filled with advice on each, and pros/cons of progression from one to the next. I went that route. Pills worked best for me, until they didn't. My first reaction to the implants was "hell no, never". But here I am 4 months post-op, and know was it a great decision given where I was on the ED 'journey'. It has pros and cons and risks, but some of the pros are some pretty cool "next level" stuff. I'd encourage you to keep that in mind if/when you're faced with a decision whether or not to get the implant. In the mean time, I'd also encourage you to make use of this forum to learn and gain perspective. And like everything else in life, be sure to get multiple opinions from experts (Dr's in this case) before making final decisions -- and especially if something doesn't seem right. From personal experience I can tell you that the "bionic brotherhood" in FrankTalk is an amazing cohort of guys facing difficult challenges. Like all social media it gets a little contentious sometimes, but that's because we all have a passion for helping each other overcome our unique challenges. Welcome !

- Chuck

I’m a 28-year-old guy who has pretty much always had erection issues that seems to have worsened in the last few years. It seems like the rough order of events is to try all of the solutions they recommend: a pump, injections, pills & whatever else, and if over a long enough time none of them work then they will eventually reluctantly refer you for a penile implant. Any advice or recommendations or personal stories would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this is the wrong discussion board to post in, I’m still getting used to FrankTalk.

Hey Chuck, thanks so much for the reply, the kind words and the advice. Even though I'm new to posting on FrankTalk, I have been reading a lot of the content and threads on here for the last few months, which has got me a bit more well informed on penile implants and the different issues that men face to reach that final stage. How are you finding the bionic life now? And once the pills stopped being effective for you, how long would you say the process took for you to be implanted?

[Kodixx]

kippybrossy, sure thing. For me, the bionic life is great ! I am in a long term relationship, and can tell you that the ability to please my wife in this way is absolutely the greatest benefit of having chosen this path. Despite the risks and struggles, both now and in the future (revisions), I am very very thankful.

The delay between pills and implant was several years. But that's because of things going on in my life that weren't related to ED or other health issues.

It's not identical to a blood filled throbbing penis, but I have good blood flow to the other parts and reasonably good sensation. And, it did take some effort to adjust to a new normal for PIV sex. For example during PIV sex, I learned to pump up to 85-95% for best results. My wife likes that much better than rock hard stiff, and says it feels more natural with the contour inside her. Plus the sensation is better for me. But bottom line, the ability to have an on-demand, worry free, and reliable erection really is "next level" stuff.

- Chuck

Hey Chuck, thanks so much for the reply, the kind words and the advice. How are you finding the bionic life now? And once the pills stopped being effective for you, how long would you say the process took for you to be implanted?

[kippybrossy]

kippybrossy, sure thing. For me, the bionic life is great ! I am in a long term relationship, and can tell you that the ability to please my wife in this way is absolutely the greatest benefit of having chosen this path. Despite the risks and struggles, both now and in the future (revisions), I am very very thankful.

The delay between pills and implant was several years. But that's because of things going on in my life that weren't related to ED or other health issues.

It's not identical to a blood filled throbbing penis, but I have good blood flow to the other parts and reasonably good sensation. And, it did take some effort to adjust to a new normal for PIV sex. For example during PIV sex, I learned to pump up to 85-95% for best results. My wife likes that much better than rock hard stiff, and says it feels more natural with the contour inside her. Plus the sensation is better for me. But bottom line, the ability to have an on-demand, worry free, and reliable erection really is "next level" stuff.

- Chuck

Hey Chuck, thanks so much for the reply, the kind words and the advice. How are you finding the bionic life now? And once the pills stopped being effective for you, how long would you say the process took for you to be implanted?

Sounds like it's working great for you all things considered. Very happy for you! Thanks for the information

[LiverpoolLad]

Hey everybody,

I’m a 28-year-old guy who has pretty much always had erection issues that seems to have worsened in the last few years. I think I have a venous leak (haven’t done the relevant tests yet) and peyronie’s disease, too. Having sex is pretty much impossible, as my erections aren’t strong/rigid enough and I sadly lose them very quickly. I’m also a grower, not a shower, which makes things worse, and Viagra isn’t effective for me as even though I maintain the erection better, the rigidity is still a big issue. I think I have some scar tissue in different places in the shaft, too. My guess is that I am destined for an implant, as it may be the only effective solution for my particular situation and circumstances.

I’ve finally stopped being a wimp and booked my first GP appointment to discuss my penis issues. I have my appointment in about 3 weeks. It’s just going to be an introductory appointment explaining my issues downstairs and seeing what the doctor says and what he recommends me to do for the next step, as I can’t go on for much longer like this.

For anyone in the UK who has gone down the NHS route like I am about to, I would love to know about your experience and maybe a rough timeline of how things progressed from your initial appointment to where you are now. How long did it take you to get a penile doppler ultrasound? Once this was done and you got your results, what happened next? Do you have any particular recommendations or advice? To non-UK members too, if you were in a similar situation to me, I would love to know what the process has been like for you. I’m just trying to absorb and learn as much information about the journey to an implant as possible.

It seems like the rough order of events is to try all of the solutions they recommend: a pump, injections, pills & whatever else, and if over a long enough time none of them work then they will eventually reluctantly refer you for a penile implant. I’m guessing because I’m young with no other health issues that this will be the COMPLETE last resort and they will be reluctant to advise this. There probably will be a decent amount of resistance, but I don’t know. It seems like a very long process, especially with the NHS wait times in England, which is making me consider paying stupid amounts of money to maybe go down the private route. I still have a lot of thinking and research to do.

Any advice or recommendations or personal stories would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this is the wrong discussion board to post in, I’m still getting used to FrankTalk. Thank you guys so much.

Hey man I’m also in the UK - feel free to message me I’m pretty far down the line with treatments at this point on NHS.

[LetoMan]

Hey brother, glad to hear you are taking steps to fix your issues.

I’m not in the UK, but I’m a lifelong venous leaker sufferer. As I’ve learned more about it, it seems like a lot of us lifelong ED sufferers are due to venous leak. We can get erections, but have trouble keeping them, which leads to psychological issues, and it’s all a vicious cycle. When I was a teenager most GPs just blamed psychological issues. Once pills came out there was no need for blame. But as you are learning over time the pills seem to lose effectiveness, especially for venous leak issues. Nowadays, urologists seem to understand this better. GPS, though, are still iffy on the whole subject! So as a very first step, make sure you get to speak to a urologist, and if you can get to one that is actually an implanter, all the better. They are going to be the best to help you make a decision.

My advice is that you push your doctors. Yes, they will likely make you try things. And you should, if only to understand for yourself whether they work or not. But no matter where you are, at the end of the day doctors just do their job, it’s your job to push and demand the care you need. Particularly with ED, it’s easy for both you and the doc to drop the subject. That’s why I am glad to see you actively invested in trying to find a solution.

If you are a lifelong sufferer, you are probably like I was and don’t even know what you are missing out on. Living as a guy with a reliably hard dick is very different than living as one where it is always in question.

At your age, I would absolutely make sure you are trying all the options available. If you can make one work, great. But if you are finding that your sex life and confidence are not turning around, don’t be afraid to go with an implant. It sounds like maybe you know that already, but I just want to reinforce that view.

Be well, Leto

[Unhappy60]

Glad you made the first move I am also in the UK your GP will probably refer to you a Urologyist then if like me be referred to a Ed nurse you will have to go through the treatments available it's not a quick process I'm afraid but good luck on the journey

[kippybrossy]

Hey everybody,

I’m a 28-year-old guy who has pretty much always had erection issues that seems to have worsened in the last few years. I think I have a venous leak (haven’t done the relevant tests yet) and peyronie’s disease, too. Having sex is pretty much impossible, as my erections aren’t strong/rigid enough and I sadly lose them very quickly. I’m also a grower, not a shower, which makes things worse, and Viagra isn’t effective for me as even though I maintain the erection better, the rigidity is still a big issue. I think I have some scar tissue in different places in the shaft, too. My guess is that I am destined for an implant, as it may be the only effective solution for my particular situation and circumstances.

I’ve finally stopped being a wimp and booked my first GP appointment to discuss my penis issues. I have my appointment in about 3 weeks. It’s just going to be an introductory appointment explaining my issues downstairs and seeing what the doctor says and what he recommends me to do for the next step, as I can’t go on for much longer like this.

For anyone in the UK who has gone down the NHS route like I am about to, I would love to know about your experience and maybe a rough timeline of how things progressed from your initial appointment to where you are now. How long did it take you to get a penile doppler ultrasound? Once this was done and you got your results, what happened next? Do you have any particular recommendations or advice? To non-UK members too, if you were in a similar situation to me, I would love to know what the process has been like for you. I’m just trying to absorb and learn as much information about the journey to an implant as possible.

It seems like the rough order of events is to try all of the solutions they recommend: a pump, injections, pills & whatever else, and if over a long enough time none of them work then they will eventually reluctantly refer you for a penile implant. I’m guessing because I’m young with no other health issues that this will be the COMPLETE last resort and they will be reluctant to advise this. There probably will be a decent amount of resistance, but I don’t know. It seems like a very long process, especially with the NHS wait times in England, which is making me consider paying stupid amounts of money to maybe go down the private route. I still have a lot of thinking and research to do.

Any advice or recommendations or personal stories would be greatly appreciated. Sorry if this is the wrong discussion board to post in, I’m still getting used to FrankTalk. Thank you guys so much.

Hey man I’m also in the UK - feel free to message me I’m pretty far down the line with treatments at this point on NHS.

Still working out this site but think I just personal messaged you haha, thanks man

[kippybrossy]

Glad you made the first move I am also in the UK your GP will probably refer to you a Urologyist then if like me be referred to a Ed nurse you will have to go through the treatments available it's not a quick process I'm afraid but good luck on the journey

Thanks man. I think that's what's going to happen too - I'll have the initial appointment in a couple of week's and then probably be referred to a urologist and maybe they''ll book me in for a penile doppler ultrasound and diagnose me properly, then I can take the steps required from there. I've accepted that going down this NHS route is going to take ages, but it is what it is unfortunately. Hope things have gone well for you