HAS ANYONE ELSE(MALES) EXPERIENCED ANY "E-D" PROBLEMS

[DOLLMAN]

hi GUYS,
NEW TO THE FORUM, so bear with me if I make a faux paux, A bit of backround, I have been lving with being hiv+ for almost 26 years now, was 25-26 when I found out and I will be 52 on my next Bday this coming August.
Most of the time up till the last few months and NOW PLEASE forgive if it gets a bit dicey or slightly crude or what have you. But in the last few months I have notice its getting harder and harder(DEFINENTLY NO PUN THERE)to get and maintain an erection and in the last few days its completely non existant, I mean Cooked spaghetti has a better chance of having an erection than I have.
Cant really do the little blue pills since I am also diabetic and hypertensive along with all the rest of the shit. Dont smoke any more and havent for almost a year now.
I guess all in all does anyone think it could be side effects from the HIV meds or stress or the combined factors of al of this mess, I just dont know, Its embarrassing to have it just lay there like nothing, no feeling in it hardly at all, tis is NOT good for someone who rather enjoys sex but sure as shit aint gonna happen with a limp noodle.
I have an appt with my ID doctor on the 11th of January and this will be a great subject of conversation I am sure.
I knwo one thing I have heard is MAYBE I could be l,ow on testosterone but again cant say with 100% certainty on that. I guess to be a bit crude I just want Mr.Happy to pay attention and be able to salute the troops again.
Later
KEVIN

[Ann]

Hi Kevin, welcome to the forums.

Don't worry about being crude. The only things we would rather you didn't post are things that are directly and obviously pornographic. When you're talking about something to do with your health, feel free to get as graphic as you need in order to get your meaning across. Hell, one of the favourite subjects of conversation around here is bowel movements - cuz BMs and hiv kinda go hand in hand (um, ew... what a visual!) and since you've lived with hiv for so long, I'm sure you know exactly what I mean.

But yeah, ED is something discussed quite often around here (although I don't have any first hand [only second or third-hand] experience of it myself). It may help the men if you give them a run-down of what meds you're on, including but not limited to hiv meds. Sometimes antidepressants can be the culprit.

Stress can be a culprit as well - is this current holiday season being a bit more stressful than usual? Have you moved house or changed jobs lately? Stuff like this can play into it, so the clearer picture you can give everyone of what's going on, the better.

I'm sure a few of the guys will chime in soon - but remember to be patient. With the holiday being upon us, the forums may be quieter than usual over the next couple days.

Ann
(who never blushes at these types of subjects)

[Assurbanipal]

Yes.

Definitely get the testosterone checked. 

But hypertension itself could be the problem too.  That doesn't mean there are no solutions though -- just not necessarily the most frequent ones.

Do you feel you can be forthright with the doctor?  That is your best strategy.

(and welcome to the forums)
Assurbanipal

[buginme2]

Before you go blaming your HIV meds there are some other things I think should be checked first.

Your cardiovascular health.  You say you quit smoking one year ago.  Were you a long time smoker?  That and your high blood pressure and Diabetes shouts out heart disease.  ED is often related to heart disease, after all its all about blood flow.

Make sure your dr does a complete cardio work up.  Once your ticker has been determined to be free and clear then move on to other stuff.

[DOLLMAN]

hI aLL,
Well heres a rundown of the meds I take everyday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
40mg Lisinopril - 1 daily
Isentress - 400mg twice daily
Intelence - 200mg after a meal
Prezista - 600mg twice a day
Norvir - 100mg twice daily
Gabapentin - 600mg three times a day
Metformin - 1000mg twice daily
Gemfibrozil - 600mg twice daily
tetracycline - 500mg one a day
16units of insulin in the morning
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I dont think I for got anything but thats the rundown so its quite a bit
Til later everyone and MERRY CHRISTMAS/HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Kevin

[DOLLMAN]

Hi,
Yes about 6 yrs ago they found I have two veins in my heart that were blocked and I had to have angioplasty done and they went in with the balloon and opened them back up, I have the docs regularly check and they all have said my heart seems fine now, I did smoke for the better part of 30yrs.
til later
KEVIN

Before you go blaming your HIV meds there are some other things I think should be checked first.

Your cardiovascular health.  You say you quit smoking one year ago.  Were you a long time smoker?  That and your high blood pressure and Diabetes shouts out heart disease.  ED is often related to heart disease, after all its all about blood flow.

Make sure your dr does a complete cardio work up.  Once your ticker has been determined to be free and clear then move on to other stuff.

[eric48]

... I mean Cooked spaghetti has a better chance of having an erection than I have.

Opposite here, and it bothers me, and I wished I could swap w/ you

Eric ;-)

[WillyWump]

Hi Doll,

Being 52 your testo may be a bit low, I would have it checked jsut to rule that out. Ive been on Testo replacement therapy for a year or so and I can tell you that I had very low testo and had a tough time maintaining a nice and hard erection. Now, I have a tough time keeping it down 

But it could be other things also, smoking is very bad for blood flow down there, even though you quit the vessels could still be damaged or clogged. Think of it this way, if your heart was clogged chances are the vessels in your penis are effected as well. I was told by my doc that once I quit smoking (going on 7 mos) that gradually blood flow would get better all through the body, so you will prob get better flow as well as time goes on and you stay a non smoker.

Erections are actually a very complex occurence requiring several physiological and psychological things to happen all at once. Any one of those being absent will cause a lesser erection, or no erection at all.

So , I would take all this up with yor doc, and also get your testo checked. In the meantime try not to make it worse by fretting to much over it 

-Will