Erection causing drowsiness

[FunkyChickens]

This is a serious question.  I have looked online quite a bit for the answer to my problem, but I have always found the exact opposite: drowsiness CAUSING erections.  I am 20, 6'5'' 180lbs.  I have this problem, it doesn't happen every single time but it happens enough for me to be concerned about it, when I get an erection I get immediately drowsy; as if someone shot me with a tranquilizer dart.  The best answer I have gotten is its just the rush of blood to the penis that causes it, I just can't wrap my head around that if that is true.  I apologize in advance for the detail here but I assume its needed for anyone to make an accurate guess as to what is going on.  I am on the larger side, and I have been told that it is very heavy, so I am guessing it DOES have quite a bit of blood in it.  But can it have SO MUCH blood that it just ***** it all from my brain immediately and makes me want to pass out?? And the other problem I have with this theory is, does the blood used to make the penis hard just come directly from the brain? I would think it could come from somewhere else.  I really would like some kind of answer even a different theory I might be able to take to a doctor or something, hell for all I know this is a well known problem just not covered online.  Thank you in advance for any help, I do hope this isn't just written off.

[FunkyChickens]

Unfortunately yes, I hope this thing is treatable.

[AnnieBrooke]

I think, in answer to your question about whether an EKG would catch this, that they do the treadmill tests exactly because the EKGs don't catch this kind of thing.  You're resting when you do an EKG, for one thing.

[FunkyChickens]

I am very grateful for your reply.  I did exactly what you said to do with the pressure cuff, pulse was 102, 119/82 was the pressure.  Pulse was raised from before though, light exercise.  I am hoping the pressure is normal, I got drowsy and everything.  But I did also make an appointment to see a doctor just in case it is my heart, I don't have the best family history regarding the heart.

[FunkyChickens]

Thank you very much for your comments.  Would this be some kind of intermittent thing? Because I have had two EKG's done because my father has atrial fibrulation and I am being watched for it.  Would this problem show up on an EKG? or would they have to catch it as its happening.

[AnnieBrooke]

I would second what caregiver says, don't guess if it is your heart.  Go see the doctor.

[caregiver222]

Becoming drowsy secondary to sexual arousal suggests a cardiogenic etiology. Prudence would indicate a consult with a cardiologist. This is unusual in a younger person but happens with older patients with elevated left ventricular pressure, left heart enlargement and developing failure, and unstable angina. The heart rate increases, and at the same time there is inadequate filling of the chambers. This in turn reduces blood oxygen levels causing the drowsiness. You really need an in-person evaluation by a cardiologist, and preferably a stress test.

[AnnieBrooke]

The blood that causes an erection is like hydraulics, I think .. it doesn't take a lot more liquid to lift a heavy weight than a light one.  And of course you are correct in thinking it cannot come straight from the brain anyway, it comes from the body's general circulation.  (No matter how large a man's penis is, it can't hold enough blood to make you feel lightheaded.)  There has to be another cause.  Possibly what you were told has something to do with the blood pressure changing.  (That's how Viagra works, after all.)

I'm also wondering about possibly a psychological cause.  My husband gets instantly sleepy from cues like someone talking about a certain topic, he just can't stop yawning and so forth.  Your story kind of reminds me of that, and also of a friend who always fainted at the sight of blood.  If you have had a complete workup from the doctor (paying special attention to blood pressure), and you want to double-check it, you might try a home experiment by buying a blood-pressure cuff and taking a couple of readings during sex or masturbation.  If you can't get any medical answers, you might try what my friend with the fainting problem did.  She noticed how automatic it was, as though it was the result of post-hypnotic suggestion, so she went to a medical hypnotist, and got hypnotized out of having that response.  She didn't faint again.