Thoughts on Erectile Dysfunction
Hopefully, some helpful hints on dealing with ED
DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor or a medical professional. These are the observations of a layperson and shouldn’t be regarded as expert advice. The information presented is based on extensive internet research and my personal experience.
Personal Background
Up until about two years ago, ED wasn’t a problem for me and I took pride in the fact that I could still perform sexually like a younger man. However, Father Time is unstoppable and that dirty old bastard finally tracked me down.
My doctor gave me a prescription for Viagra. Before I had a chance to try the blue pills, I was bitten by a copperhead snake and had a heart attack as a result of anaphylaxis brought on by a reaction to the antivenom. It turned out I had an 80% blockage in my heart that required open-heart surgery for a double bypass.
I didn’t know I had a blockage in my heart. I felt fine and thought I was healthy. If I hadn’t already been in the ER for the snakebite, the heart attack would have killed me. There is a reason heart disease is called the silent killer. DON’T SCREW AROUND WITH IT!
After a six-month recovery period, I was anxious to get back in the saddle again and use those pills. That was the start of my experience with ED medication.
THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO WHEN YOU BEGIN HAVING ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IS TO SEE A DOCTOR. THE REASON FOR YOUR ED COULD BE RELATED TO YOUR HEART.
DON’T TAKE ANY OF THESE MEDICATIONS IF YOU ARE TAKING NITRATES FOR CHEST PAIN. THE COMBINATION COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS DROP IN BLOOD PRESSURE.
Viagra or generic sildenafil
This is the oldest of the ED drugs and probably the most widely known and used.
Usually prescribed in 20mg tablets, which can be taken as needed — up to five pills daily.
For best results, it needs to be taken on an empty stomach about one hour before the expected sexual activity
Effective for several hours at the most
Watch for the flushing —
“When your face is red, it’s time for bed”
Avoid, or limit, drinking when using, as it could hinder the pill’s effectiveness.
I’d say my experience with sildenafil was ok when taken as directed but I found the empty stomach requirement troublesome.
Cialis or generic tadalafil
Prescribed in 20mg tablets which can be taken daily as needed but no more than one pill per day
Should be taken about two hours before the expected sexual activity — does not require an empty stomach to be effective
Effective for up to 36 hours — sometimes called the “weekend” pill
It can be prescribed in lower dosages to be taken on a regular daily basis but that is mostly used for treatment of enlarged prostate. After taking it for about 30 days, it may become helpful for treating ED also.
Avoid, or limit, drinking when using, as it could hinder the pill’s effectiveness.
One reason I prefer tadalafil over sildenafil is that it doesn’t need to be taken on an empty stomach. The main reason I like it better is because of the longer effective period. For me the effects of tadalafil last for at least 36 hours and maybe a little longer.
I have had one less-than-satisfactory result but I think that was because I took it at the same time I took my evening propranolol blood pressure pill.
My blood pressure is usually on the low side due to the medications, and the ED pills also tend to reduce BP. I’ve since adjusted the timing of the propranolol to take it after sex and the results have been good.
Levitra or generic vardenafil
I don’t have any personal experience with this one but based on what I’ve read it seems to be more like Viagra than Cialis.
I haven’t noticed any side effects from either sildenafil or tadalafil.
None of these medications work spontaneously, so you don’t have to worry about getting an embarrassing erection by just swallowing a pill.
Sexual stimulation is required for any of these drugs to work.
I would strongly urge that you consult a physician before using any of these drugs. If you decide to order any of these through an online provider — do so at your own risk!
ED Supplements
Based on my internet research, the following supplements are the most effective to possibly help with ED. These are the ones I take and I think I’ve seen some benefits but I can’t say which one is the most effective. In my experience, all supplements are slow to show benefits, and hard to quantify their effectiveness.
- Sunflower Lecithin 2400mg — said by some to increase semen volume
- Pycnogenol 30 mg– French Maritime Pine Bark Extract — believed to increase nitric oxide production.
- L Arginine & L Citrulline — Amino acids that are believed to increase Nitric Oxide which aids erection
- Niacin B3 500mg — Increases Nitric Oxide. Try not to get the one that is Rush Free
I monitor my blood pressure closely and none of these supplements have affected my readings.
Other
Cock Rings — Used to restrict blood flow to help maintain an erection. They also keep the testicles from retracting. There is a wide variety of these available on the internet and probably at adult arcades. Since I live in a rural area with no handy sex shops nearby, I bought some hairbands called Elastics or Elastiques at Dollar Tree. They are sold eight to a card for $1.25. They seem to provide the right amount of tension for me but they will stretch out after several uses. They look like they would pull the pubic hairs but I haven’t had a problem with that.
Topical Gels — The newest thing on the market is an over-the-counter gel that can be applied to the head of the penis. It’s called Eroxon. I just learned of it and don’t know much about it. Since it is sold over the counter, I doubt it would be covered by insurance.
Nitrous Oxide Breathing — There is some evidence that deep breathing exercises can boost the amount of nitrous oxide (NO) in the blood. NO is a key factor in getting and maintaining erections. I’m not going to go into detail about this exercise but if you do a Google or YouTube search you can learn about it.
Sexual Fantasies — Having a sexual fantasy library to call upon when needed might improve your penis function. It’s not always possible to look at porn to get aroused but you can always take a peek into that back room in your brain. The other thing is, if you spend more time thinking about your sexual fantasies, you will spend less time thinking about the problems in your life. Those negative thoughts can harm your ability to perform.
Lose Some Weight — Losing weight will likely improve your health and self-esteem which might increase your sexual function. If nothing else, it will make your penis look bigger.
A Supportive Partner — In my opinion, this is the most important item on the list. If your partner isn’t in your corner offering support and encouragement, you are probably going to have an uphill fight on your hands.
From what I’ve seen and read, the longer the ED problem goes on, the more likely it is to become permanent, so, keep trying to get erections. Like they say, “Use it or lose it.”
The good news is that ED medicines are a huge cash cow for pharmaceutical companies, so they will likely continue to bring out new products that will make us hard and them rich.