Pillsnews. Pharmacy News

After a recovery period, the doctor will instruct you to slowly and gradually pump up and deflate the implant. This is only to make sure the prosthesis inflates evenly as healing progresses. You should wait until your doctor gives the okay before attempting to have sex. If s important not to jump the gun and try inflating the implant too soon. Some men are so tender they don’t even want to think about doing this for several weeks.

Typically, a man has to wait six weeks before he can have intercourse, and even then it’s important to proceed slowly and gently. It will be a lot more comfortable, at least at first, to inflate the implant to about 75 percent of capacity at the most. It’s important that the implant be completely deflated most of the time. If it remains partially inflated, scar tissue can form around the reservoir and prevent it from filling completely. The end result can be a penis that is partially inflated all the time.

Surgery is necessary to correct this avoidable and relatively uncommon complication.

Of course the inflatable implant has drawbacks. A leak in the system is probably one of the most common problems. It takes just a tiny hole to sabotage the prosthesis. Usually, removal and repair is necessary—requiring additional surgery. Twisted tubing which prevents the fluid from traveling between the reservoir and the cylinders is a rarer occurrence. But if it does happen, surgery is necessary to straighten out the kinks. A weakness in the corpora cavernosa can result in a lopsided erection—because the implant balloons out to fill up the space. When most of the fluid ends up in one area, less is available to go elsewhere. The man finds himself with a mostly soft penis that has a big, stiff lump. Again, surgery can correct this condition; the physician replaces the cylinders with specially designed ones which won’t balloon, but also aren’t quite as big in diameter.

*158\184\8*

Although flaxseed has been best known as a source of linseed oil, this ancient food which contains both soluble and insoluble fiber is also the richest known vegetable source of omega-3s. A food with incredible heart-protecting properties, flaxseed contains the highest levels of alpha-linolenic acid, a variety of omega-3 fat. Flaxseed oil is another option. Its omega-3s promote the formation of prostaglandins, the hormonelike substances that help to relax capillaries, decrease cholesterol levels, and lower blood pressure.

If you decide to use the seeds, sprinkle a few tablespoons on your cereal, mix them into yogurt, and, if you wish, grind them and add the powder to food. Use the oil as you would any salad dressing. You should be aware that this highly polyunsaturated oil has a shelf life of less than a month and that exposure to heat, sunlight, and air can turn it rancid. It should not be used for cooking. However you use flaxseed or its oil in your diet, just make sure you do so a few times a week in order to get your optimal dose of omega-3s.

Another heart-healthy ingredient, olive oil has been found to be especially helpful in transporting LDL cholesterol out of the body while at the same time guarding HDL cholesterol levels. It is the HDL which protects the heart. This has been observed in coronary disease studies of Italians and Greeks in their native countries. While these people consume about the same amount of daily fat as do Americans, their choice—three tablespoons of olive oil a day—has shown to be very beneficial to their health. (In this country, Americans average three tablespoons of olive oil a month.)

My recommendation is to cut out any butter and margarine you may be using and substitute the best olive oil you can buy instead. Your body will thank you for it.

*124\183\8*

Developed more than fifty years ago to block the release of histamines from cells, these drugs are widely available in both prescription and over-the-counter forms. They work by counteracting the body’s reaction to allergens, the ordinarily harmless substances which trigger the immune system to produce antibodies to destroy them. When you’re prone to allergies, a special type of antibody, called IgE, is produced, making you super-sensitive to the allergen. Each time you’re exposed to the offending substance, it combines with the IgE antibodies, releasing histamines that bring on sneezing, watery eyes, and runny noses.

Antihistamines, which dry mucous membranes, can also be responsible for ED as well as a drop in libido. I have had success with patients who switched from antihistamines to Nasalcrom or Flonase nasal spray. These medicines control allergic symptoms without affecting sexual function.

*95\183\8*

Another view of personal gratification can be seen in the case of fifty-five-year-old Edward. Married for the third time, he was besotted with thirty-year-old Nicole, and his concern about aging motivated him to see me.

Running his hands through his steel-gray hair, Edward made his wishes known. “I’m not deluding myself. I know my personal sexual clock is ticking and it’s bound to slow down. I want insurance that I can count on. The last thing in the world I want to do is disappoint Nicole and have her look to a younger man for satisfaction.”

The fact that Edward was in my office alone disturbed me, and I told him so. In order to be a part of the trials, he had made an appointment for them both.

“Well, I don’t want Nicole to know that I need help,” Edward said. “Right now we’re in a really good place, sexually, for both of us. But once in a while I’m not as hard as I’d like.”

When I asked what Nicole’s reaction had been on those occasions, he shrugged his shoulders. “It amazes me, but she doesn’t seem to care. She had a really bad marriage when she was twenty—the guy was very abusive to her—and she says that feeling safe and loved is one of the biggest turn-ons of all, sex or no sex.”

After I explained to Edward that the oral intervention could bolster his confidence as well as his erection, I made another recommendation. Given his closeness to Nicole, and her comfort with him, I strongly suggested that he speak to her first. He did, and they came in for a second visit. I prescribed the drug, and now they are prepared to override any sexual glitches that may arise in the future. The emotional issues in this case were:

• fear of incompatibility arising out of age difference

• concern about a partner’s level of pleasure

• the desire for increased pleasure

• expectation of an even better relationship

Think about your own feelings concerning:

• how often you have sex and how satisfying it is for you

• restarting sexual activity where none has existed for a prolonged period of time

• whether your sexual expectations have diminished or risen

• keeping your sex-life status quo

The most fulfilling sexual satisfaction is based on an understanding of the other person’s needs and desires.

*67\183\8*