primitives discuss erector sets

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11144929

Oh my.

Well, it's not exactly that, but I didn't want to write a salacious headline for this campfire.

Denninmi (4,075 posts)    Thu Nov 1, 2012, 09:31 PM

Um, can I ask this here. ED question.

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 (25,650 posts)    Fri Nov 2, 2012, 12:41 AM

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.

Upton (8,841 posts)    Fri Nov 2, 2012, 09:50 AM

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 (4,075 posts)    Fri Nov 2, 2012, 11:15 AM

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

Very nice, though.

I guess I just need to get over the embarrassment.

lumberjack_jeff (22,830 posts)   Fri Nov 2, 2012, 10:32 AM

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 (6,969 posts)   Fri Nov 2, 2012, 11:07 AM

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 (4,075 posts)    Fri Nov 2, 2012, 11:16 AM

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 (5 posts)    Fri Nov 2, 2012, 10:50 PM

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 (45 posts)    Tue Nov 6, 2012, 02:07 AM

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 (4,075 posts)    Tue Nov 6, 2012, 10:52 AM

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 (1,662 posts)   Fri Nov 9, 2012, 11:59 AM

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.

[Carl]

Do they give sex offenders drugs that take away the desire?

[Aristotelian]

Do they give sex offenders drugs that take away the desire?

If I had my way they would - well not so much drugs as a rusty knife applied to the relevant area...

[ChuckJ]

Denninmi (4,075 posts)    Thu Nov 1, 2012, 09:31 PM

Um, can I ask this here. ED question.

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.

I have a hard time (no pun intended) understanding how someone who posts at a site like DemocratUnderground can be embarrassed about anything. I mean, they support and promote pretty much every perversion known to man without embarrassment. So why would discussing an actual medical problem with a medical professional embarrass them?

I'm not the nicest person you'd ever want to meet. That's frank. But I am fairly nice and fairly polite. Especially in mixed company. I'm also pretty shy about things that normal folks keep behind closed doors. Despite that fact, years ago when a female doctor prescribed medication that gave me some problems in that area, I didn't feel any embarrassment about explaining my problem to her. Her response was concerned and professional.

[marv]

I once had a catheter inserted and later removed by a female nurse. I wasn't embarrassed - hey, the ER isn't a strip club!

[Chris_]

I once had a catheter inserted and later removed by a female nurse. I wasn't embarrassed - hey, the ER isn't a strip club!

My doctor asked me if I wanted a male or female nurse to remove my catheter last time I was in the hospital.  My answer was "I don't care, just get it out!"

[Splashdown]

They found a chemical compound that takes away a woman's desire for regular sex


It's called wedding cake...


        

[Tucker]

My doctor asked me if I wanted a male or female nurse to remove my catheter last time I was in the hospital.  My answer was "I don't care, just get it out!"

Same here. If they would have let me, I would have done it myself.

[JohnnyReb]

My last rectal prostate exam was by a skinny female doctor with short fingers.....next time I'm looking for a doctor that doesn't have to try to cram a fist up my butt.

Bashful.....not me.

[Dori]

Same here. If they would have let me, I would have done it myself.

Oh no, don't ever do that.  You could injure the bladder and urethra.  The foley catheter has to be deflated by someone who knows what they are doing.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

Do they give sex offenders drugs that take away the desire?

Yep! It's called "chemical castration" I believe.