Hi guys (I'm guessing most of you are),
I'm a 32 year old male. I've had problems with ED since I was 22; prior to that I had no problem getting or maintaining an erection, though I did have trouble reaching orgasm.
When I turned 22, I suddenly started getting lazy erections and had trouble maintaining them. I also stopped getting them spontaneously, even when psychologically aroused. I had a series of 3 bad relationships just prior, the last of which was very psychologically abusive, largely because of my inexperience with sex and my partner's constant berating over the firmness of my erection. Foolish, I know now, but at the time I just put up with it.
Since then I've had lots of trouble getting an erection. Seldom do I get morning erections, and I never get spontaneous ones. No matter how aroused or turned on I am by my partner, I still have trouble getting any erection at all. I've tried Viagra and Cialis which both initially worked, and Levitra which did nothing. I also used medicinal marijuana, which seemed to quell my anxieties and help me achieve a firmer erection, but even then I would have problems maintaining.
I've yet to find a medical or psychological cause for my condition, which seems to be getting worse. Now I barely orgasm; semen, rather than shooting out with muscle spasms, just pours and I don't get a physical feeling of pleasure. Cialis seems to be having less of an effect as well, which is beginning to make me nervous. Recently however, I discovered research linking Pseudephedrine, the active ingredient in Claratin-D and Sudafed, and ED. I've been on Claratin D every day for the past 15 years due to my very severe allergies; if I try to go without it, I get very, very sick, breaking out in hives with terrible nasal congestion often leading to sinusitis. I'm trying to take the non-Pseudephedrine variety, but it seems to have little effect.
I don't have to explain here the importance to self image and relationships of having a healthy erection. I've been single almost 10 years, often because my partners find our sex lives unfulfilling due to my failings with my ED. It is of course a cause of constant shame and embarrassment.
I entered into sex therapy for about a year which I found unbeneficial. My therapist kept telling me that I would never get a firm erection, that the cause was anxiety and psychological due to childhood abuse (I was never sexually abused) and my bad relationship history, not physical, that I should consider implant surgery or using a penile pump. I can't think of anything more humiliating or pessimistic; naturally, I stopped seeing the therapist.
I wonder if anyone might offer any insight as to the Pseudephedrine ED link, if my long term use has lead to permanent vascular damage, or anything I might do to counteract it's effects. I'm also interested in finding an alternative to Pseudephedrine to keep my allergies in check. I'm far too young to have this kind of physical problem (or was when it started, anyway) and I want a solution--preferably one as aggressive as possible. Not a treatment, not a substitute, a cure so I can trust my body, and so can my partner. I want to enjoy sex without stress or worry to me or my partner, and find a long term solution to this issue.
Any insight any of you could offer would be most welcome. Thank you!