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Sex life over?

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Posted 8/9/2015 8:36 PM (GMT 0)
As mentioned earlier, had robotic prostectomy 4/22/15, 6 mo injection of Lupron on 6/24/15 and began adjuvant radiation 8/3/2015 for 39 sessions. My Gleason had risen to 9 from 7 after surgery pathology report. My continence had been restored to "almost" normal but Doc didn't want to relay radiation any longer. Is my sex life over for good?

If someone can give me a format to post stats I could try.

Thanks!
Posted 8/9/2015 8:44 PM (GMT 0)
There is a lot you can do to get sex going again. There are pills, shots and therapies. Your URO should be able to help you work through all that.

Get a copy of this book: Saving Your Sex Life: A Guide for Men with Prostate Cancer by John P Mulhall

Best guide to getting it back. It's not over unless you give up.

Andrew
Posted 8/9/2015 8:54 PM (GMT 0)
I hope you will also keep in mind that there's more to sex than intercourse. And surprisingly, many men seem unaware that you don't need an erection to have a very satisfying orgasm.

You may have to get creative, and try some things that have never really occurred to you before, but there certainly can be a very satisfying sex life in your future, and it need not be "over."
Posted 8/9/2015 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Digger,
Review my signature, I'm almost a G9, had robotic surgery and adjuvant RT and HT. I am 61 years old and still have a satisfactory sex life without meds. If you are not so lucky, there are meds, injections... It will not be over if you have the desire...
Take care
Posted 8/10/2015 1:19 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the comments. i believe following surgery after recovery I would have been "ok" sexually. And I know the side effects of the Lupron. I guess I am wondering ince I am off the Lupron does sexual function return or will the radiation have long term effects in that regard? I can be patient.

Thanks.
Posted 8/10/2015 1:33 AM (GMT 0)
There are two different things going on here. First is libido - the desire for sex. Lupron kills that, but it should recover as the Lupron leaves you system. Then there is the physical problems caused by the surgery and radiation. Those physical problems can be worked on. Sometimes they return on there own and sometimes you need to help that along with pills or shots.

Andrew
Posted 8/10/2015 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
Lupron is chemical castration. It's as simple as that...Not only does it destroy your libido but it destroys your ability too.....The longer you are on ADT the longer it takes to recover. After 3 years on ADT, recovery is uncertain..Your partner will suffer a greater impact, you simply will not care about sex anymore....
Posted 8/10/2015 10:47 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah. 2 years & 7 months out, last Eligard was last October, last blood test was 2 weeks back. Still no T, no PSA, no desire and no ability. Will keep my fingers crossed, keep up the daily pump exercise and try to be patient....like my wife.
Posted 8/10/2015 10:55 AM (GMT 0)

Fairwind said...
Lupron is chemical castration. It's as simple as that...Not only does it destroy your libido but it destroys your ability too.....The longer you are on ADT the longer it takes to recover. After 3 years on ADT, recovery is uncertain..Your partner will suffer a greater impact, you simply will not care about sex anymore....


Sadly true. Recovery stats are kind of worrisome. Younger folks do better, but testosterone recovery can take years.

But if this is what it takes to squash a G9 case, I guess we take the hit. Unfortunately, there are various studies about how long one should stay on ADT, but none really conclusive for G9s (36 months shown good, less maybe also good. How much less? How good? Arguable). They lump a bunch of risk factors into a cohort so they can get statistics to work. There are so few G9s that they seldom really show specifics for that group.

Sorry you need to get the whole unpleasant sandwich, but here's to great results for you!
Posted 8/10/2015 12:55 PM (GMT 0)
"The whole unpleasant sandwich" is Jerry's polite euphemism for my term for the RP, RT, HT triple treatment. I call it the "three-scoop sh:t sandwich" and I contend that the hormone therapy is the most flavorful ingredient.

As for whether your sex life is over that depends. It is pretty unlikely that you will be able to get it back quite like it was before, but if you are willing to be a bit flexible... sorry... make that "willing to try new things" ... you should be able to find something you can do. The usual order of battle is pills and, if they don't work, a vacuum pump, then injections, then an implant.

While you are on hormone therapy the primary goal will be to get several erections a week to keep your hydraulics from seizing up. You won't be particularly interested in sex but, on the other hand, if your partner wants to participate you probably won't mind. Pills work poorly for men on hormone therapy. Some guys are pretty happy with their vacuum erection devices (VEDs) but a lot of us move on to injections.

These are things to talk to your urologist about. There are "prescription" vacuum devices which insurance may pay for but which are rather expensive. If your insurance doesn't pay the better consumer VEDs are often a good choice. If you talk to your urologist about injections make sure to mention that you are interested in "trimix" which is a custom mix of drugs that works better than the branded injections but costs a small fraction of the price.
Posted 8/10/2015 9:46 PM (GMT 0)
I have NO ability to get an erection and after SRT, it's worse. I can have an orgasm with effort, but it's still great. If you're on ADT, you won't care because you'll have no libido. At my aqe (71) sex is less important, but an occasional orgasm is nice to have. You just need a cooperative mate.

Bob
Posted 8/10/2015 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
Many doctors prescribe Cialis or Viagra or the other after surgery (some right before) as a prevention against the muscle tissue in our little buddies from atrophying by increasing blood flow. Mine started me right after surgery. If you search many of the larger medical practices websites you'll find that most take a use it or lose it approach after surgery.when it come to recovering sexual function. I'm not sure how Lupron and or radiation affect it of if there are any good reasons fore not taking it. If it were me I'd ask for it and let the doc explain why not. Look at what they do with muscles immobilized by spinal cord injuries. Even if the motivation may not be there I'd still try to move the muscle. You want it in the best shape possible after you come off the Lupron.
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