I'm a little worried....

It isn’t usual for organically-based ED to strike real suddenly, skins. It sort of sneaks up on you gradually. Performance anxiety, though, can strike overnight. You have a failure, maybe two, and you start worrying when the next one will happen; soon the anxiety is a self-fullfilling prophesy. You start pumping out that good, old adrenalin every time and the cock goes south.

If your program doesn’t work, consider talking with your doctor about a short course of one of the erectile drugs. A few successes and you can then pack it away in a drawer as a security blanket.

I tried the Libidus and it did absolutely nothing. I fell for their line “Forces men to have an explosive erection even if they don’t want to”.

Hi Skins, here’s a reply I posted in the mattersofsize.com, Getting Better With Age forum on 1/16/06 on this topic:

"I take Androgel 1%, a testosterone supplement. Had low libido, some depression, ED, and other symptoms. My family doctor tested for low testosterone and low and behold, my natural testosterone level was in the low hundreds, normal is 300 - 900 ng/dl. With daily application of Androgel on forearms, my level is in the 300’s. What a difference. Libido is back big time and I’m cutting back on my anti-depressant. No more ED, and wifey is lovin it. Testosterone levels are not usually checked in normal bloodwork for older guys. Who knows how long my level was low? Hey, if any of these symptoms sound familiar, look it up on the web. There is hope and help out there. MC"

My testosterone levels as of 3/15/06 are 380, so my current levels, with medication, are steady. For more on Androgel and the symptoms of low testosterone, visit: http://www.androgel.com/

By the way, most docs do not test for testosterone. My brother-in-law, who runs an urgent care clinic, says he never tests for it. So, it’s no wonder it’s often missed. Also, the topical gel has just been introduced in the last two years or so. Before that, I think you had to get injections - ouch!!

Good luck with your situation. Perhaps, as you said, it was just a blip on the screen. Who know, maybe you or someone else actually has low T, and can benefit from this info. MC

Thanks mrconvetable. I scheduled an appointment with my doc for two weeks from today. I told him I want a complete workover including blood testing. I guess this is something I should do annually at least. I am not a young man anymore and really need to pay closer attention to my health. Although I do not feel bad, who knows what is lurking beneath the surface. The men on my dad’s side of the family all have had heart disease. That alone should spur me into action. I think I have been in denial for several years about my age. I still think I am 25 and have no worries. I guess it is time for me to start being responsible and acting my age!

I am 100% sure that your erectile dysfunction is caused by one or both of these two drugs. Nasacort is a synthetic corticosteroid. Corticosteroids mimic the hormone cortisol which is a stress hormone. You are essentially pumping stress hormones into your body. Cortisol has an inverse relationship with testosterone. The more cortisol you have in your body, the less effect your testosterone will have. Less testosterone = less erections.

Zyrtec is an antihistamine. Antihistamines are known to cause erectile dysfunction.

I highly recommend you try taking two months off Nasacort and Zyrtec and see how your erections react. I am very confident that you will be back to your old self once you stop these drugs.

You are correct about being in more control of what they test you for. When I was hunting for the reason why I had no sex drive I had to insist that certain tests were run. Total T, Free T etc. My doctor let me try Androgel for two months and get retested but there was no improvement in either my levels or my libido so I stopped.

Man, that sucks formula1. I guess I don’t want to admit that I am getting older and may have low T levels. I was always the strapping jock type, muscular and fit. One marriage, three kids and a business to run may have taken their toll on me. I’m not complaining, I have a great life and wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s just that this is the first “major” physical problem I have ever encountered and it freaked me out a bit. Perhaps I am looking at my own mortality in the face and don’t like it. I don’t know.

Well, I will see what comes of the tests. I haven’t had any issues the last few days ( I had a nice successful time last night). I will hope for the best and prepare myself for the worst.

I could understand things changing gradually but mine happenend overnight. I’ve had just about every test run known to man and everthing comes back normal. In fact one of my testosterone test showed my level at 1157, off the top of the charts but I still had no sex drive or libido. So sometimes numbers don’t mean anything.

It’s true that hormone levels don’t explain everything, but unless you had been using something a free test of 1157 is extremely unusual and cause for more investigation.

Wow, interesting info in these posts! I just turned 60, and “think” I’m in relatively good health, but I’ve been to the doctors more in the last 10 years than in the previous 50 - mostly minor stuff (high cholesterol, hernia, reflux, etc.), Thank God. But, for guys in my age bracket, you know what I mean. Fortunately, most of my conditions can be corrected / repaired, or treated with meds. I DO know that there’s quite a bit involved with sex drive and performance, from your brain to your balls. Once you get checked out by your family doctor, he/she may want to refer you to a urologist or an endocrinologist for further tests and evaluation. Eventually, one of these specialists will come up with a diagnosis and treatment that is specific for your condition. Good luck! MC

In about a two year period I was tested around 10 or 12 times and the level would be anywhere from 480 up to the 1157 and I never felt any different regardless of where the numbers were so I just gave up.

Been there done that. I’ve seen 5 urologists and one endocrinologist.

Just a quick update for everybody. I had my doc’s appointment yesterday afternoon. He took blood samples, urine, everything. I even got to have a prostate exam! That was fun! I think my doctor’s fingers are as girthy as Big Girthas cock! Anyway, he said that my prostate felt very good. I should get the blood work back in a couple of days.

I haven’t had any issues with erections as of late. I am beginning to think I was just exhausted physically and mentally at the time.

By the way, my doctor did something that puzzles me and I should have asked at the time, but didn’t. He had a med school student also check my prostate ( a pretty damn cute brunette with an ass to die for!) which in and of itself is not strange. I thought what she did was strange. She massaged my prostate until what felt like semen was coming out of my cock. Then she had me stand up and face her and started milking my flaccid shaft and then dabbed what looked like pre cum on a glass slide. Does anybody know what they would be checking for by doing this? If this is part of a regular physical, I’ve been slighted in the past. I actually found it to be quite pleasurable. I am sure it was much more so because of who was doing it, but still…