"Man problems downstairs"

So just over a year ago I had real bad pains in my lower stomach, left it a couple of days to see if it would go away, it didn't, tried to get an appointment with my doctor but it was going to take weeks so called NHS on 111 who advised to attend at A&E, I did and turns out I had a ruptured appendix, this was removed promptly, when I awoke I felt a whole lot better, still very sore and struggled to move which is difficult when I am generally a very fit taking part in Crossfit 6 times a week and walking my dog around 10 miles a day to not being able to sit up in bed, it felt like some of my abdominal muscles had been removed, this was not the case and I got my strength back soon enough but going back to sitting in bed and managing to get up for the toilet, when I did get to the toilet trying to go for a pee was the most excruciating pain, I've heard people talking about peeing razor blades, well this was exactly what it felt like, the more I went the easier it got but I couldn't understand why as this area was not operated on, turns out whilst I have been under I had a canula fitted then removed again prior to me waking up, this explained the pain in my penis. 

Anyway I was very thankful that my appendix was out and I could now be on the road to recovery and get back to full fitness to be there for my wife and kids.

Next issues came a couple of weeks after leaving hospital when I and my wife finally had the chance to have some sexy time, this started well but when I started to get an erection there was a pain in the shaft of my penis and my penis just point blank refused to become fully erect, it also formed a curve which had never been present before, it just was not happening, every time it would start to become erect it would stop due to the pain, I could feel what I can only describe as scar tissue in the lower shaft of the penis and getting an erection became very difficult, thankfully my wife was very understanding and we persevered but this issue was not going away.  

I decided to make an appointment with my doctor, I received an appointment within a couple of weeks  and explained my symptoms, my doctor prescribed me some Viagra and put me on a waiting list to be seen by the Urology Clinic at the Urology Diagnostic Treatment Centre Level 2 Queen Margaret Hospital Dunfermline with Nurse Ruth.

The Viagra worked well and allowed me to gain a full erection but sexual intercourse had to be planned around when I was taking the tablet and the pain was very much still present, also the Viagra left me with what felt like a heavy congested cold every time I took the pill.

A month or so later I received my appointment, I was very nervous about attending especially  as I was being seen by a female.

Ruth seen me and immediately put my mind at rest. She carried out a full examination of the area and very quickly came to the diagnosis that I had a condition known as Peyronie's Disease  a noncancerous condition resulting from fibrous scar tissue that develops on the penis and causes curved, painful erections.  She was brilliant and explained everything to me and it made sense. Ruth seen me a couple of times and prescribed me with medication and 2 Manual System Penis Pumps, and advised me to take daily vitamin E to ease the pain.

I have now been on this course of medication for 2 months and what a difference, there is a lot less pain, I am now able to achieve a full erection as I had in the past, there is still a slight curve to the my penis but it has not gotten any worse, my sex life feels like it is back to normal, I can now achieve a full erection when required and have a lot less pain, all thanks to  Ruth, to whom I am very grateful. The Pump is like a workout for the penis, Ruth suggests that if you don't work it out it won't be as strong as it can be and this has helped a lot.

I am due to go back and see Ruth next month and look forward to giving her an update on my condition.

That's my good news story about my treatment with the NHS.