Bill,
I thought your starting post was very well understood by so many of the men fighting what you have been fighting with ED, it only struck me with honesty, not anger. I felt your frustrations, not hopelessness.
I also thought that ZODude response to you was very well thought out and balanced.
Prior to surgery, my URO spoke to my wife and I together, he was doing an extra wide
open surgery, planning on removing both bundles and then some, and that we should expect full and total ED. I was 56 then, and it was a hard pill to understand. For weeks my wife and I talked through it, and decided that we could and would handle the worse, because what we had together, for 35 years at that time, could weather it. As you know the story, surgeon did cut wide on the left, but due to an anatomy issue and difficulties, couldn't do anything on the right side. As a result, and totally unexpected, I never suffered any ED, zip, none, post surgery, and then later, even post radiation. Now 4 1/2 years later, not a trace of ED. I don't say this to rub anything in, I say it, because one never knows what they are going to get with surgery for PC. Look at the men that had nerve sparing, then 2 years late, no recovery in the natural way. It's so random, so unfair, and yet it impacts each man and each relationship.
You mention bicycles. I use to love that too. But since my surgery, and post radiation damage, I still can't sit on anything that resembles a bicycle seat, including work out machines at Oncology Rehab, it still hurts me too much to sit in that position. With sadness, just last weekend, I gave away my brand new bike, that I was given as a present just prior to my surgery. It has sat in my shed or basement, never even been sat on, the entire time.
My point, PC has a cost on all of us. Because of my Urostomy surgery as the result of the flawed radiation, I also can't swim or take a tub bath or use our Hot Tub, too much risk of infection, and because of the
location of my stoma, haven't been able to wear a pair of jeans ever since, puts too much pressure on me. Another cost of treatment, that effects my QOL.
Don't give up hope, ever. As some of the other men have suggested, it may still take more time, more than your present state of mind and patience wants it to be.
On anti-depressants, it is a catch-22. If one needs them then by all means. I was on Lexapro for years prior to PC, and the one side effect I remember, is it cut 100% of my natural interest in sex. It never effected my ability, I simply didn't think about
or care about
sex. These days, for me, I fight any hint of depression by sheer will power, not saying that is right or that anyone can do that or should do that. I do it as part of my plan to overcome all the chronic pain and chronic fatigue issues I live with daily.
Hopefully things will still improve for you, I sincerely hope they do. Keep on fighting, its worth it.
(edited to remove page of empty space at end of post - 142)
Post Edited By Moderator (142) : 3/30/2013 10:03:33 PM (GMT-6)