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Is lack of sex drive normal after prostate surgery???

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Posted 5/2/2018 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I am very fit, in excellent physical health, full of energy/drive, and I have always associated both physical drive and sex drive to be one in the same. I am sure it is even hard to imagine having an erection but lack sex appetite/drive. My penis conditioning after radical prostatectomy have included; viagra, to cialias and injections and have recovered to obtain strong errections without medication(s). Thanks for the replies and sharing your progress.
Posted 5/2/2018 1:09 PM (GMT 0)
Liamsameach,
What do you think what is worse: no sex drive with erections possible or no erections possible with strong sex drive?
I had my RP about month before yours 11/2/16 and now, 18 months later I still did not experience anything spontaneous despite aggressive penile rehab with Cialis, Viagra, VED, TRIMIX, BIMIX, L-arginine etc.
I also suffered significant loss of length of 2+ inches which I did not recover a bit while doing extensive penile rehab.
Per surgeon, both nerves were spared which I doubt.
Another problem for me is nonexistent orgasam, it takes forever with flaccid penis to build up then it ends up as switch being turned off with out any satisfaction, most of the times I am not sure I even had one.
MK

Post Edited (MK1965) : 5/2/2018 7:14:15 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/2/2018 1:21 PM (GMT 0)

MK1965 said...
Liamsameach,
What do you think what is worse: no sex drive with erections possible or no erections possible with strong sex drive?
I had my RP about month before yours 11/2/16 and now, 18 months later I still did not experience anything spontaneous despite aggressive penile rehab with Cialis, Viagra, VED, TRIMIX, BIMIX, L-arginine etc.
I also suffered significant loss of length of 2+ inches which I did not recover a bit while doing extensive penile rehab.
Per surgeon, both nerves were spared which I doubt.
Another problem for me is nonexistent orgasam, it takes forever with flaccid penis to build up then it ends up as switch being turned off with out any satisfaction, most of the times I am not sure I even had one.
MK

Sounds like me but URO told me he took all nerves on both sides. Chance of recovery little to none. Tri mix caused sever pain and started to cause pyronies. Implanted 4-17-18 I don't know how long I would have waited if I wasn't sure about nerves.
Posted 5/2/2018 2:02 PM (GMT 0)
Oldbeek,
Was your penile implant covered by Medicare?
My situation is not good but I am to young for Medicare. I am 53 now, had surgery 18 months ago.
Heard, private Insurances(employer sponsored) do not cover penile implants.
Mine, so far did not cover single pill, did not cover VED pumps , nothing at all.
MK
Posted 5/3/2018 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Yes it was covered by medicare and a supplement Aetna that I have. Made the decision much easier to jump in.
Posted 5/3/2018 3:17 PM (GMT 0)
MK,

I'd check on your assumption that insurance won't cover an implant. Mine did. I had other work done in the same insurance year and, since I'd already hit my out-of-pocket maximum, I didn't even pay a co-pay for the implant.

There's usually a bit of paperwork involved. Your doctor will have to explain the medical necessity but ED caused by prostate surgery generally qualifies.

The usual expectation is that post-surgical ED will improve within the first two years if it is going to improve at all. This isn't always true. We've had reports here of guys who recovered in the fourth year but they are rare. You are 18 months out. Give the more conventional efforts another six months then re-evaluate.
Posted 5/4/2018 3:40 AM (GMT 0)
MK1965,

Very good perspective and viewpoint!

Thanks!

Post Edited (Liamsameach) : 5/6/2018 6:33:30 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/3/2018 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
My husband had robotic surgery 8/16.
Cancer all contained in prostate.
He recovered very fast.
Found out he had blocked arteries.
Bypass surgery 7/17.
At work in 6 weeks.
Now at gym 3-4 times a week.
Total loss of libido.
Doesn't want me to touch him.
Says he can get slight erection.
He will bring me to orgasm once a week, but it's no fun because he isn't into it.
His doctor says no hormone replacement until PSA zero for 3 years.
I use hormone replacement, and I have the sex drive of a teenage boy.
I MISS him.
How do I help when he doesn't want to talk about it.
Doc prescribed sub-ligual Cialis...nothing, but if we don't work on it, then there WILL be nothing.
When I was hormone deprived...all levels approaching zero, I could orgasm IF I/he really worked at it.
We are mid 50s...don't want to spend next 20-30 years like this.

Pluffmud, I started a new thread for you. Please note it on page one. I'm temporarily locking this thread so that replies to you come on the other threed. Moderator Jim

Post Edited By Moderator (Tudpock18) : 6/4/2018 1:54:06 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/4/2018 7:17 PM (GMT 0)

Pluffmud said...
My husband had robotic surgery 8/16.
...
Total loss of libido.
Doesn't want me to touch him.
Says he can get slight erection.


I made this comment earlier in this thread, about 8 months ago, regarding the topics of your comments above:

NKinney said...
Sex drive is not related to anything that was done physiologically (physically, to your body) during RP.

Sex drive is different from erectile function.

RP degrades (to differing extents) erectile function in 100% of men. Recovery is impacted by whether neurovascular bundles were retained ("saved") or not. Many men with nerve bundles "saved" have a partial recovery; others not so lucky...and indeed for most men the recovery is mostly luck (or should we say bad luck for those who don't).

...

All that being said, some men do report feeling that their sex drive has been psychologically impacted by RP. They are often discouraged and embarrassed by leaking urine, incomplete erection, Peyronie's disease, penile shrinkage or other changes brought about by PR. Many major medical centers offer counseling for this.

Besides the psychological issue, note that testosterone level (associated with libido) is measureable. What is your husband's T level? (I did not see you say that it's known to be low...knowing what it is would be step #1 to possible future TRT).

Sorry, I can't really speak to the possible interaction with the cardio issues...other than this other comment which I also posted 8-months ago:

NKinney said...
BTW, loss of libido and low sexual frequency increases risk for CVD, cardiovascular disease...the number one killer of men diagnosed with (or without) prostate cancer, so if you are suffering from failed sex drive after "only" having RP or RT, you may want to see someone about that.


Post Edited (NKinney) : 6/4/2018 1:49:44 PM (GMT-6)

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