loss off sexualty

How serious was your prostate cancer? One of the advantages of prostatectomy is that androgen deprivation (removing testicles) does not improve outcomes. Not unless distant metastases were detected. Did you know in advance that he was going to do this? Perhaps you can get a consult with a different urologist. Unless you had metastatic prostate cancer, he might be willing to give you testosterone replacement therapy.

wife accusing you of being gay??? that`s pretty cruel....not that gay is bad , but after all you have been through and she being along for the journey ...I just don`t understand her attitude .....not good .......I know when I was under the effects of Lupron for about a year , I was a non sexual person ....and it was the strangest thing I have ever felt,,,losing all desire etc.....I`m lucky to be mostly back to my previous self . But that time of being a non male was weird but bearable.....in my opinion the problem is not with you , but with your wife`s attitude ....not making your situation any better ......sorry if I`m off base on this .....David

John,

I did two years of androgen deprivation therapy (chemical castration) and during that time I had the same symptoms as you describe -- no interest in sex and not much interest in anything else for that matter. So, to your question: How did I handle the total loss of my sexuality?

Not very well.

There are some coping mechanisms we can talk about but first I'd love to know more about your doctor and why he (she?) is so down on testosterone. There may be good reasons but if there are you haven't told us about them.

Type 2 diabetes, as far as I know, is not a reason to avoid testosterone. Quite the contrary. Here is a link to a page from the American Diabetes Assn that talks about the benefits of testosterone supplementation: Testosterone Replacement in Hypogonadal Men With Type 2 Diabetes and/or Metabolic Syndrome (the TIMES2 Study)

What would be a reason to suppress testosterone is if your prostate cancer has metastasized or your doctor is worried that it might. But you told us that it was caught early and hadn't spread. So I dunno.

Maybe you could get some more information from your urologist next time you meet. It would help to know your Gleason Score. It is a number written as the sum of two other numbers. Mine was Gleason 9(4+5) but Gleason 6(3+3) or Gleason 7(3+4) are more common. You might also ask about whether the post-operative pathology report showed positive margins. If you could get a paper copy of your pathology report that would be perfect. We can help you read the complicated bits. Also, how long ago was your prostatectomy? Have you had your PSA checked since the operation? Do you know what it was?

Like I said, there are coping mechanisms -- exercise is good and forcing yourself to stay active -- but before you get too far down that road you really ought to know why you are there in the first place. You haven't told us anything that justifies permanent testosterone deprivation. There was a time -- years ago -- when most doctors thought that men who had had prostate cancer were better off without testosterone. But now most doctors have either changed their minds or aren't so sure about that anymore.

If you told us where you live -- nearest big city is enough information -- we might be able to suggest a different urologist you can talk to.

Back to TA's question...Are you being treated in the United States??

What happened to you is unheard of in this country..

If your PSA is undetectable there is no reason you could not be treated with hormone replacement therapy and feel normal again..

How about filling in your journey so far...How old are you? When and where were you diagnosed? What was your PSA when diagnosed? Your Gleason score ? What is your PSA now?

Post Edited (Fairwind) : 10/25/2017 7:54:17 PM (GMT-6)

Speaking as a wife: I'm so sorry that your wife doesn't understand the role that hormones play in sexuality. Perhaps she needs to read, or talk to other wives who've walked this same path? ADT brought about a total loss of sex drive for my husband, and while I mourn the loss of that part of our marriage, I am thankful that I can expect to have my husband with me for a while.

I've never even heard of any doctor doing what yours has done. I echo what others here have said. It's time to talk to another doctor.

I am anxious to hear more details of why this was done. Because going by the supplied facts so far it was, to put it nicely and mildly, most unusual.

I guarantee you that Kaiser does NOT have any guidelines that say an orchiectomy should be performed when performing a prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. This is not conservative -- it's malpractice. If it were me, I'd be seeing a lawyer. You are in good hands at UWSeattle.

I agree with all of the above.

I'd be curious if there was actually a choice given between HT and castration.

But if informed consent was not obtained for castration, sue if you must. But get a diff doctor and get on T therapy.

There has to be some key missing elements to this story....

jtholter said...
My Gleason was 7.5, But my PSA was 4. Scans showed it had not spread outside the prostate. I was lucky it was caught early.As I further research the subject, I find all that you guys have said is true. I am newly diagnosed, so I am a prostate cancer rookie.

And for this he(she?) castrated you? Something stinks to high heaven. Good luck to you finding out what the truth is.

jtholter-

Did he at least give you a pair of prosthetic balls to replace the ones he removed, or did he leave your scrotum completely empty? - I'm thinking that disfigurement might be one of the many crimes committed here.

How about the rest of the story.......what`s the uro`s name....details details details.....we are all trying to help here , but there must be more ...........David