The lurker at the threshold.

By: John Scott

You are poised at the door of your doctor's consulting room but not in the Lovecraftian way the title of this piece would suggest. Or perhaps we should explore the idea for a moment. For those of you not into HPL and The Mythos, there is a vast shared universe of novels and short stories which assume that there are Elder Gods still able to influence and threaten us in our everyday lives.
Freud would be impressed by the way in which a mind can find layers of meaning in the most unexpected places. To be writing a piece about erectile dysfunction (ED) and find yourself thinking about a Lovecraft story of cosmic horror is extraordinary. Men plumb the depths of their own dark despair, experiencing true horror in the loss of their lovecraft. They seek the help of Viagra, Cialis or Levitra (which sound as if they should be Elder Gods, hopefully willing to cure rather than eat you for disturbing their sleep). It is all so apposite.
Anyway, we must get on. You have done everything that you should. You made the appointment (perhaps a little dishonesty there, but white lies about ED are always acceptable). You conquered your fear. You came. You sat in the waiting room. Now it's your turn. But you still hesitate to go through the door. You always worry about situations like this. You never feel in control. Uncertainty disturbs you. And this subject is so difficult to talk about anyway. Fear slows the moment. You are hesitating.
So what we need to do is to take some of the uncertainty away. We need to predict how the conversation will go, let you prepare yourself to ask the right kind of questions and not be shocked or embarrassed at the questions the doctor should ask you.
So, what should you ask your doctor?
Well, let's get the obvious ones out of the way. You've made the admission about the reason for your visit. The ice is broken. Now your real concern, "Am I going to be all right?" or "Is there a cure?" You can read what sites like this might say and not really believe. You need to hear it from someone who really knows.
OK, your question has provoked a smile and words of reassurance. Form now on, it's getting easier. You can ask what ;ED treatment methods are available or what the causes might be, but they are probably getting a little ahead of yourself. Until there is an examination and diagnosis, the doctor cannot know what the cause might be nor what treatments might be indicated. Perhaps it will be something as simple as taking Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, or there will be more to it. Perhaps the doctor will talk about lifestyle changes or counseling. Hopefully, the outcome will be a cure so that you don't have to keep taking the tablets for the rest of your active life.
Perhaps you should keep quiet now. The doctor may want to get a word into the conversation, ask a question or two.
So that's what we'll talk about next time. The doctor has made reassuring noises but needs to get on with the serious stuff. Ask you the right questions, poke you in the right places. Well, "poke" may be an exaggeration. In the first instance, it will all be very gentle (just remember to go on a warm day or make sure the doctor warms his hands first). Or did you stay with your female doctor? Well, view the entire examination as dispassionately as possible. You have ED. Remember not to get excited. Repeat after me, "I have ED!" and then the key phrase, "But I'm going to get the cure!"
PS For those who like complete and accurate information about everything, The Lurker at the Threshold is a novelette in the Cthulhu Mythos written by August Derleth, based on two short fragments written by H. P. Lovecraft.

Article Source: http://www.share.onlypunjab.com

John Scott, the author of this article, is a medical journalist collaborating with "Man of People" site.Read more here

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