Following my husband’s recent strokes in December 2022 he is unable to take viagra medication anymore for obvious reasons given the anti-coagulation and heart regulation medication he has to take. The GP couldn’t recommend a safe mechanical device alternative at all, so wonder if somebody here can. There are plenty of ‘sex toys’ on a well known selling site, but as safety is the key element it is difficult to know what is safe and what is merely a gimmick. Many suggest using it in a bath or shower prior to sex, but this is certainly not an option for my husband. Many thanks
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@fish4lou Hi and welcome to the forum. Hope your husbands recovery is going well.
I can’t help with your specific question but didn’t know if you’d seen this leaflet which may help.
Best wishes.
Ann
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Thank you and we have read it. I would like to hear other people’s experiences too, good and bad as it does say that vacuum pumps should not be used If taking anticoagulants which he is, but our GP suggested a pump so conflicting advice
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I have used a vacuum pump for some years now after surgery for prostate cancer. I am also on an anticoagulant due to atrial fibrillation. The pump was prescribed by the ED clinic at my local hospital in full knowledge of my medical situation. Perhaps you could should ask to be referred to the ED clinic, I have found them to be kind and helpful.
Hi @fish4lou, let me reach out to our Helpline here at Stroke Association. If anyone knows of something or knows where to find advice.
I do know of one charity that seeks to change the way people see disability. Their section on Sex and disability may be of some use. Or someone on their forum/hub may be able to offer a recommendation.
I’ll come back here once I’ve heard back from our Helpline as well. And thanks @Loshy for tagging me in.
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Hi @fish4lou, I hope you and your husband are keeping well.
I’ve heard back from our Helpline who passed across these two organisations/resources:
Choice Support
Their website provides very detailed information on disability and sex, they also have a list of useful resources at the end of the webpage below including one on ‘top sex toys for disabled users’.
There’s also SHADA (Sexual Health and Disability Alliance) who run a Sex and Disability Helpline (07900 957 393 11am-7pm weekdays) which might be useful for them to contact:
https://shada.org.uk/sex-disability-info/
The woman I spoke to also invited you to give the Helpline a call if you needed or wanted a space to talk things through. Their number is 0303 3033 100.
I hope this helps,
Ashley
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Shwmae @fish4lou, it would be worth talking your GP further about this. After a cursory look around the net, it seems that anti-coagulants may not affect the use of viagra, and most heart medication may be okay unless they contain nitrates. Yet, I am not medically trained and can only speculate. As for mechanical aides, I don’t think that they would pose a problem. The body is fairly rugged, unless there was a cause for potential haemorrhage, it shouldn’t affect “normal” blood flow to parts of the body during sexual activity.
Both the GP and Stroke consultant have removed the viagra from his medication which indicates that it is not safe for him
Many thanks and we saw an advert for it so have made an appointment to discuss it with our GP as our concerns are obviously safety combined with my husbands other medications and medical history