This past year or more that I've had Lyme disease (though I first experienced more severe symptoms September of last year), my sexual desire has been practically non-existent and the few 'erections' I have had have been largely flaccid. Now they're completely flaccid and I have zero sexual desire and couldn't get any kind of erection if my life depended on it. And this is three months into my antibiotics. Why aren't I getting visibly better?
[ 08-02-2011, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by James1979 (Member # 31926) on :
You know... Smoking cigarettes is also bad for erections. Just sayin.
Have you considered trying Maca root? "Nature's Viagra"!
Lyme messes up the entire body. Usually when the body needs extra resources to fight an infection, sexual function is the first to go. I would expect it also to be the last to return.
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
Have your doctor check your testosterone level. If it is low you can get a prescription to bring it back up to normal.
If your testosterone level is normal, consider discussing the issue with your LLMD to see what they have to offer.
Terry
Posted by kx90 (Member # 32897) on :
I'm tired of prescriptions. I'm tired of diets.
I eat an organic, all-natural diet. I take the acclaimed only mercury free wild Alaskan Salmon Oil in existence x5 I take a well-balanced, whole foods multivitamin I supplement additional Calcium-Magnesium-Vitamin D3 I take Huperzine A among a cocktail of neurosupplements I don't drink, smoke or stay up late. I'm not stressed or worried (though I have been extremely angry and rigid recently) I sleep at least 8 hours a day and try not to go too much over. I fall asleep at around the same time every day. I've only been sick two days in my entire life prior to Lyme disease, and that was with chicken pox in childhood. I get plenty of sun
Anything else?
Posted by TerryK (Member # 8552) on :
If your hormones are messed up because of lyme nothing much will help until either they come back due to treatment of lyme and co-infections or you supplement with the hormone or something that increases the hormone.
Many women with lyme supplement their hormones until they return to normal or they may need to supplement for the long term if they don't return to normal. Supplementing male hormones (testosterone) is no different.
There are consequences of not supplementing IF your testosterone is low. Energy, brain function and sexual desire are 3 very important areas that are affected by testosterone. Irritability is also noted to occur as a symptom of low testosterone.
edited to add: there may be some natural spplements that you can use to increase testosterone but I wouldn't do that unless I knew for sure that it was low.
Terry
[ 08-02-2011, 08:56 PM: Message edited by: TerryK ]
Posted by kx90 (Member # 32897) on :
I've had irritability for a long time. Maybe the length of the Lyme disease. I've also been obsessing needlessly over things for the past year or more; I'll see my LLMD.
Posted by philly78 (Member # 31069) on :
Omg. Sex is the last thing on my mind. I actually feel bad for my hubby.
Posted by hadlyme (Member # 6364) on :
Kx90.... this is one of the 'symptoms' that is listed on Dr.B's protocol.
Not sure why... but from a female stand point, I know I've waxed and waned with it throughout treatment throughout the years.
It will come back, and then, maybe it will leave again.
Enjoy the times it comes back. Truly, this disease does mess up a lot of things in our life. Getting stressed over it all makes it worse.
Take a deep breath and realize it's not here to stay. Get yourself healthy and think about it later.
Are you in treatment with antibiotics? You didn't list them. I know once I got better on abx, life feel back into place.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
something like 98% have lower libido and then 2% have heightened libido
Posted by bcb1200 (Member # 25745) on :
LDN (Low dose naltrexone) really helped my libido. I was like you before I got treatment.
Posted by kx90 (Member # 32897) on :
@hadlyme: Let's see if what I post doesn't get censored or filtered this time. I don't remember how many of my messages have been because the moderators, who set this forum up for adults, don't want to see children
----------------- Now, I'm not stressed, worried or concerned in the least. I'm just frustrated with impatience. I think that's understandable for someone who was perfectly healthy except for 2 days total his entire life (both of which I wouldn't say were significantly more than a sniffle), who was also busily engaged in enjoying life and would have graduated with a degree by now as well as been on to grad school and finished a long list of other things.
And yes, I'm on treatment. I'm on Bactrim DS (2x daily) and Clindamycin Phosphate (4x daily) and have been, starting 3rd month now. I've also been on Doxycycline a few months and am being treated by a credible and respected LLMD.
====
I want to ask you a few questions, so please let's continue this in private.
[ 08-02-2011, 11:09 PM: Message edited by: Lymetoo ]
Posted by annxyzz (Member # 20404) on :
your issue is classic low testosterone - and it can affect all organs, esp muscles and bones. It is extremely common and a week or two of testosterone cream ( can be compounded affordably as the shots are not always as effective ) will totally change the picture . You do not have to have lyme to have low T .
Posted by Fuel1212 (Member # 29312) on :
I also struggle with this on and off. Testosterone is low but has gotten better at least.
While I was on LDN before I stopped because of sleep reasons and just feeling off. I can tell you it did help a lot. Sometimes I would feel like a young teenager if you can remember those days.
Fuel
Posted by pme (Member # 31621) on :
Looks like this is frustrating for both genders. I always wondered if the lack of desire had to do with cognitive stuff or neuro.......can't feel many parts of my body. Think its a combination of both.
I think that it will be one of the last things to return to normal, though I hope it does.
Just wanted to commiserate with everyone. I feel really badly for my hubby too. This lyme stuff is so much worse than just a little joint pain.....it is so far reaching.
Good luck
Posted by skies (Member # 28064) on :
I am the same, NEVER in the mood. I feel really badly for my husband! We are newly married as of last Sept. (I was very sick for the wedding)..I'm sure he thinks we've had a great marriage so far!! Posted by pme (Member # 31621) on :
Skies...it must be so difficult being newly married and going through this....especially not even being well for the wedding. Be patient and think positive. Seems like the is a long journey but maybe there is a happy ending. Hang in there.
Posted by skies (Member # 28064) on :
Thanks pme.. It is very difficult. The wedding was a nightmare.. so much for a wonderful, special day!
On top of it my husband has lyme as well. We've got to get him into treatment. He is not nearly as bad as I am, but still..this all sucks.
Sorry to get off topic here!
Posted by ktkdommer (Member # 29020) on :
I asked for my oldest son's testosterone to be tested after reading about just another way Lyme plays havoc on the body. His levels are that of a 90 year old. He has started a compounded therapy that he takes M, W, and F. He looks normal with facial hair and all. I'm glad I asked.
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
I see lots of commiserating but no suggestions, at least not for women. Any ideas? I feel sorry for my husband too.
Posted by ItsMyTurn (Member # 31469) on :
What sexual desire? But I do the best I can. Posted by Fordace (Member # 14874) on :
KX90, I had issues for quite a while with my ex-girlfriend of 5 years.
I thought I would be needing Viagra or something, things just didn't seem to work right.
What worked for me was getting a new girlfriend who LOVES sex and is very sensual with me.
I am 47 and I do not have any problem at all now with this new girlfriend....
Just a thought....Good luck and get back in the saddle as soon as you can....Rich
Posted by FYRECRACKER (Member # 28568) on :
This may help some, this may offend some....
Impotence:
The mental cause- Sexual pressure, tension, guilt. Social beliefs. Spite against a current or previous mate.
New thought pattern- "I allow the full power of my sexual principle to operate with ease and joy"
Got this out of "Heal Your Body A-Z" by Louise Hay. I dig the book.
In my case, it wasn't until I truly took responsibility for my illness and addressed my obsessive negative thought patterns that this book really started to make sense. At first I was like...yea, right. That phrase is gonna cure me? P*ss off. You have to first decide you're ready to be DONE (mentally) with staying in the mind rut of the illness and feeling guilty about things that have changed. So what if they have changed? Decide what you want, whether its to be 100% healthy or work it out in bed for 4 hours. Address you're deepest feelings from an objective standpoint and see what happens.
This might be an unpopular belief, but that's just what worked for me. You can always politely disagree
Im 27 and don't feel like having sex after being disappointed so many times. Half the time it's uncomfortable, difficult to achieve a climax, or else I can't feel anything at all (obviously I'm a female )
So I can completely understand the frustration. My choice... I'm not going to feel guilty about not puttin out. I'm single so it's not so much a big deal. I can see how women in marriages would feel bad.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
quote:Originally posted by jackie51: I see lots of commiserating but no suggestions, at least not for women. Any ideas? I feel sorry for my husband too.
- Get all of your hormone levels checked. I was low on testosterone, too (female) and supplementing has really helped with libido, muscle strength, energy, and depression.
Posted by jackie51 (Member # 14233) on :
Thanks lymetutu.
Itsmyturn--thanks for the laugh. LOL
Posted by hopeandfaith (Member # 19884) on :
My holistic practitioner advised me that low cortisol levels causes lack of sexual desire. Until this is corrected, he said upping your testosterone levels will not even work. This could be something worth checking into.
Posted by Bluemoon (Member # 25255) on :
I agree with Fordace, the right partner can make ALL the difference.
But you should check the possible physiological causes as well.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
hopeandfaith... I got both covered!! Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
Huh. It's been so many years I don't even know what it is. But it's hard to be sexy with somebody like my mate.
Posted by Lymeorsomething (Member # 16359) on :
Don't use hormone supps unless you're desperate. Using T alone will impair fertility and shrink the testicles. There are better protocols, such as HCG alone or HCG and T together plus a slight dose of aromatase inhibitor to keep estrogen in check.
If you're not susceptible to blood clots, you could try Clomid to boost T as well.
Sometimes simple tribulus works well for some. Herbs work sometimes.
From my own experience, hormone supps. won't help all that much. The infectious load has to be brought down.
Also don't make your diet so good that you're excluding important minerals from your diet, like selenium, zinc, iron, etc.
Good luck.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
You body can't function properly with low hormone levels.
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