Um, can I ask this here. ED question.

[Denninmi]

I know this forum is more about political men's issues than just a life advice place. So I hope this is ok.

I'm having problems in that area, as a side effect of medications I am on. I've never experienced that before, and psychologically it bothers me. I need to take these meds for the rest of my life, so this won't probably go away on its own.

I have an appt with my PCP next week. I checked, there are no medical contraindications, either from a drug interaction standpoint or in terms of my health.

I would like to ask about this, and see if a drug like Viagra or Cialis woud be appropriate and help with my self-confidence.

But I am embarrassed, AND my PCP is a woman. She's a great doctor, and God knows she had seen every inch of my body, but I still think I would die of embarrassment asking her about this.

[Behind the Aegis]

1. You should never be embarrassed to ask your doctor something.

I know it's easier said than done, but that is their job. If it is really upsetting to you, simply ask to speak to a male doctor about this issue, she will likely understand. My mother has done the same when it comes to some issues she has had, but her PCP is male. Or, you could write it down, hand it to her, and let her ask follow-up questions. This seems to work for some people as well; it makes it feel like the doctor is bringing it up, therefore it is a medical concern. It's a "psych out" of sorts.

As for the two ED drugs, I have head people had better results with Viagra, but I don't know if that is still the case. Cialis has some odd side effects, more so than Viagra. Viagra, though, can cause vision issues (blurry, blue-tinted haze), and can make a person very skittish. You can always do a comparison on-line...I don't know this for a fact, but I would be surprised if there were not a site comparing the two. Seems many drugs are doing this now (I was looking up Wellbutrin and Chantix last night to compare side effects and lasting effectiveness (they are used to quit smoking..the time has come)).

Good luck, and if you do stick with your doctor, try the note thing. It may take the edge off.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. My son used Chantix and it worked well. n/t

[Denninmi]

8. I thought that was for smoking cessation?

Who knew?

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. It is, I was replying to BtA's statement about quitting. n/t

[Denninmi]

10. Oh, sorry.

I misunderstood.

[Upton]

2. I have a woman PCP too..

I don't have ED issues, but all the same when my previous doctor retired and suggested I see her, I was real hesitant and almost didn't bother. It would have been a major mistake..she's great and goes out of her way to be helpful.

She also employs a male nurse or assistant who talks to the male patients privately if need be about problems specific to our gender then relates it to her. Doesn't your PCP have someone like that?

[Denninmi]

6. Nope, the PA's are all women, too.

Very nice, though.

I guess I just need to get over the embarrassment.

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. Definitely talk to your doctor.

"The meds I'm on give me sexual side affects."
"What kind"
"ED"
"Okay, here's a scrip. See you in six months."

[Major Nikon]

5. My dad told me never lie to your doctor or lawyer

Meaning you should always be candid with both. PCPs are routinely treating depression, STDs, hemorrhoids, and all manners of problems people would be embarrassed to speak to their friends about. While your ED problem may be embarrassing to you, to your doctor it is simply routine.

[Denninmi]

7. LOL, I'm a paralegal.

I wish your dad had talked to about half of our clients, especially the IRS tax matters clients!

[jeffsainio]

11. ED experiences

Any PCP (M/F)will give an embarrassed explanation of where any ED treatment only aids in erection, still needing female attention. This not true in my experience; intraurethral Levitra (below) is an erectant, not merely an ED treatment. But, anyway....

I have ED either due to my vintage (59), or nerve damage from cancer chemotherapy (platinum). Three drugs may help you, all of which I've used (I am not a doctor, and give no medical advice, only my personal experience):

Viagra: the famous blue pill, the original. Works. Many side effects, flushing, tachycardia, elevated heart rate. Bluing of vision. Really weird. Turn on the bathroom light, the whole room is blue. Takes an hour to kick in if taken after a meal, wears off in 8 hours. It goes off-patent soon, and should be cheap shortly. A brute-force drug, the worst choice, soon the cheapest.

Levitra: Chemically, a minor variant of Viagra. An -OH group replaces an -H group of Viagra. 6X more effective, and far more targeted. Virtually no side effects. If you're brave, you can take intraurethrally (yes... injected as a wet mush into your urethra with a hypo, a warm sensation, and it works in THREE MINUTES with a small dose) My insurance no longer covers it.

Cialis: Chemically completely different than the above, a half-life twice as long. One pill covers a weekend. No side effects I've found. Cheaper than Levitra. Tastes sweet. Doesn't seem to work intraurethreally. Who cares, it's good for a few days, plan ahead.

[Hemp_is_good]

12. I'm not sure how exactly this fits in ...

I'm.. functional... mostly, but it's uncooperative at times.
I'll be with a partner, and I swear it's 50/50 if it's going to cooperate.
it's gotten rather bad lately. possibly depression / weight related.
i'm debating even bringing it up with my doctor.
I mean I don't even have a boy/girl friend... it'd just be nice for it to work when >I< want it to.
ok... hiding in a hole now out of embarrassment ><;

[Denninmi]

13. Ah, don't hide.

I'm the op - it's normal, sexuality is biological and natural. People have biological urges. With or without a partner. It's society that places these weird boundaries on things. Whatever someone does in privacy, as long as it's voluntary and doesn't hurt anyone, with or without a partner, is their business, and no one should feel bad about it.

Besides, we're all men, I highly doubt there is one man in the world who has never gratified himself at some point in his life. Cultural barriers are higher in some countries/societies than others, but we all have done or do it. Like I have heard that Catholic priests say "all teenage boys tell me they don't masturbate, and all teenage boys are liars."

[rDigital]

14. I'm not sure what drug you are currently taking, but I can tell you with certainty that SSRIs

can/will cause male sexual dysfunction.