Viagra Lovin’: Jim and Carol Story
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As well as people with spinal injuries, another large user group of Viagra are men with MS. Jim is in his mid-forties and has had relapsing remitting MS for ten years. He’s been using Viagra for seven or eight months to help him have sex.
“Frankly I was surprised to be having sexual problems because my MS isn’t that apparent. But something like MS takes its toll. I had been noticing several of my problems getting worse - especially leg spasms and urinary difficulty - so I don’t suppose I should have been surprised when I found I was also having difficulty with sex.”
Jim says it was the start of a new relationship that provided the catalyst for him to sort out his problem. “I had been out of relationships for a couple of years before I met Carol, and it was having sex for the first time after a long absence that made me realise that I definitely had a problem. Carol was very sympathetic and also very matter of fact, which I think helped me.”
“Of course, I wanted to sort the problem out because I worried that it could damage our relationship. Also, if you can’t get a good erection as a man you feel a bit of a failure. But I kept on telling myself that it was the MS, not me. Carol agreed. That’s why it was easy to see my doctor about the problem, which I did.”
“I think I’m so lucky because I can talk to Carol about all this. I’m lucky as well because my self esteem has been preserved more or less intact.”
Jim’s been using Viagra for eight months. “I get four 50mg tablets every four weeks. I’ve heard that 50 mg is the dose they start you off with. There is a bigger dose - 100 mg - but 50 mg seems to do the trick for me, so I’m sticking with that for the time being.”
“I read in a couple of places that I could get four tablets, which I think is a small amount. But I only see my girlfriend every couple of weeks - we live a long way apart. I’ve read that four tablets is the approved amount based on what is thought to be the average frequency of intercourse.”
Jim too has tried other things, such as a vacuum erection device. “Yes. I bought one of these,” says Jim. “I got it from a sex shop. It made me laugh because it’s quite unwieldy! Somehow it looks out of place in the bedroom. I’ve also tried a technique called ’stuffing’, which I read about in a magazine for people with MS, but I found this a bit awkward.”
How does Viagra compare with these? “It’s much easier and more straightforward. Viagra’s had a phenomenal effect. I can’t really put into words just how good it’s been for me and for Carol too.”
What about side effects? “On the leaflet that goes inside the Viagra box there’s a list of possible side effects,” says Jim. “But for me it’s all been positive. It does exactly what it says on the label - or rather the leaflet inside the pack. It helps me get an erection.”
Like Bob, he has no complaints. Neither do their partners.