As some of you know, I have mediocre erectile function. I can get hard, but it takes significant effort/time, and then it might be fleeting. PDE5 inhibitors like v**** are a modest help. A year ago a urologist told me to just get therapy. I did that for a year and it helped with other things (lol), so I went back. My old urologist was gone, so I tried a new one, who saw me and in turn referred me to another one.
I saw him this week, and for the first time I met one who is willing to try different things to help me out. We spent 30 minutes together (he was 60 minutes late), and we discussed various options. We discussed my history. I looked him up online, he has a lot of clinical experience, and a lot of research publications on the subject.
We went over a hormone panel. They're normal. To me, they seemed low, but that's because of some bad lifestyle choices I've made in the past few months, I'm still within the norm of the general population.
He gave me a manual exams. He said that my balls are a good size (lol), and that I don't have any varicosity on my balls (good sign). He pinched in places and I told him my pain level was a 4/10.
We scheduled a penile doppler ultrasound, which will take place in a few weeks. The purpose of that is to study the veins. They measure them when the dick is flaccid, and when it's erect.
He asked me to use cialis every day. He said that unlike v**** which requires timing, cialis does not which reduces stress. He said that having it on me all the time can then build up confidence. I told him that's an expensive drug. He hooked me up with a pharmacy that produces it for cheap. Separately, he said that this will also help with my frequent urination issue, where I need to go often, and I also often wake up in the middle of the night to go urinate. He said that he now often prescribes cialis for that issue for men, regardless of whether or not they have ED.
In addition, he prescribed the prolactin inhibitor cabergoline. Prolactin was my only hormone which came close to the reference range, it was at the upper end. He said that it works for people who can get hard but need a lot of excitement to do so. I told him that sounds like me. Either way I don't expect this one to help, but it's worth trying to see what effect it has.
Finally, we discussed therapeutic massages. He said that I should consider trying them on myself. He also said that other hospitals in the area offer electrical stimulation therapy to help rebuild nerves, and it's something that we could consider in the future.
I feel hope now. Finally, a doctor who doesn't blow me off.
Now ... I do need to lose these 10 lbs that I've gained in the past few months ...