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Bent But Not Broken


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I discovered I had Peyronie’s disease when I was 48 years old. My penis was bending to the right, about twenty degrees. It was painful. I took pictures. Being that I was a premedical student in my youth, and because I am gay and have seen some very bent penises in my day, I long ago knew what Peyronie’s disease was. I was not surprised when I went in for a diagnosis to find out that I had this condition. I was living in New York City at the time with some great professionals to choose from.

Book cover

I received Verapamil with saline injections and used the Andropenis stretcher. It was all working quite well. I stopped treatment when I was told it was fine to do so. Then a few months later, everything got much worse. My penis shrank in size into a shape that I did not recognize. It bent to the left, then eventually upward toward my stomach. A strong girdle formed around the middle. My penis looked like a shrunken rocket. I got so depressed, ended up drinking too much, landing myself in odd situations, sexually, and almost lost my partner.

So what could I do about this besides continue with more treatments?

I wrote a book. BENT BUT NOT BROKEN. To help others. I thought if I could help others then I would feel better and maybe others would feel better, too. Because I am an author and a playwright, I figured my intact abilities in the writing department would be best used by putting it down on paper. And it did work. Men are enjoying the book and reaching out to me and to each other.

Featured in The New York Times and well reviewed by Kirkus and on Amazon, you can find all about the memoir on my website, including a two chapter excerpt: www.doncummings.net. It is an honest and humorous account that dives deeply into what it is to be a man who is facing the possible loss of the most important body part that defines masculinity.

I also started a Facebook Group to help others, mostly to aid with the emotional devastation caused by this disease. Peyronie’s Disease Support. Anyone can ask to join this group on Facebook. It is private once you are in. I find that people are truly helping each other in this group. It’s respectful and safe.

I hope this is not too much of a “Pitch” and doesn’t go against the guidelines for your site.

The outcome: Things got much better for me after another round of treatments and a whole lot of stick-to-it-iveness with the stretcher. And my romantic life did not fall apart. But it required years of patience.

I wish all of you well with Peyronie’s. As we all know, it is not enjoyable and there is nothing good about it. But at least we can help each other. So here we are.

Good luck to all of us.

--Don Cummings

Comment On Don's Story

  1. Birgir March 27th, 2019

    Hi Don,

    Congratulations on your book and on “surviving” Peyronie’s disease. I’m sure your book can help others, as well as your Facebook group.

    I wish you success with your book and all the best in the future.

    Kind regards,

    Birgir

    Don March 2020

    I would like to know if you could put a link to the appendix of my book, which is my treatment schedule. The appendix was actually never published in the book, and I saved it as a sort of gift to the Peyronie's world for a later date. The later date is now.

    I have been with P.D. for eleven years and I am one of the guys on earth who really had a lot of success "curing" it, with diligence and patience. Of course, I'm not the same as I was, but I am very close.

    I see a lot of guys get frustrated. That they have lost patience. That they fall into so much despair. I get it. I hope by posting my treatment schedule, it will encourage others to stay the course.

    I run the Peyronie's Disease Support group on Facebook. (different from the My Peyronie's Disease Support Group). I am very involved with helping guys. Day in, day out. I sort of feel like it is my duty to be there for them. My heart always goes out to them. And because I am basically on the other side, I feel strong and able to be their guide. Much like you!

    Sincerely,

    Don Cummings

    • Birgir March 2020

      Dear Don,

      It is nice to hear back from you and I'm glad that you are doing well. I have attached your link in your comment as well as link to your Facebook group in case someone would like to check it out.

      I wish you good luck and thank you for the work you are doing to assist fellow Peyronie's sufferers.

      Kind regards,

      Birgir

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Hello, I'm Birgir

This website is based on my experience of Peyronie's disease