Libido Poll

[Michael112]

This hasnt been bought up much because I think people are more concerned with discussions of chemo/radiation related problems and cancer itself, rather than the specifics of losing a testicle. One thing that is still baffling me is the lack of discussion on lowered testosterone levels, Scott prunes the testosterone forum very aggresivly for some reason(Scott?). And I notice a lot of guys get on TRT very delayed such as 5 years after experiencing symptoms, while others never realised they had such a problem until they started TRT and noticed the benefitsm, so I assume people are ignoring low testosterone or worried about bigger problems.

But sometimes I start to think the majority of you really arnt having any low testosterone related issues at all, maybe it is just a select few because if a guy is going to care about 1 chemical in there body its going to be what makes them masculine, attractive and happy etc. Sex and reproduction is the thing that life itself rotates around wether you like it or not, so I find it hard to believe someone would keep quiet about it and not seek a remedy if they had libido problems. But then again I see people complain of the most obvious symptoms such as testicular pain and gyno without mentioning the other symptoms such as loss of libido. Which is why I have made this poll.

[fuse929]

Physically and emotionally....if I didn't know I had lost a testicle about 2 months ago, I would have no clue. I don't feel any changes in anything about myself so far (knock on wood). All of my gear seems to be working properly.

Bobby

[Michael112]

Physically and emotionally....if I didn't know I had lost a testicle about 2 months ago, I would have no clue. I don't feel any changes in anything about myself so far (knock on wood). All of my gear seems to be working properly.

Bobby

Thats good to hear because for me personally I noticed big changes and because of that I found it hard to believe despite reading everywhere that one can work as well as 2, although I do see here a lot of people are coping well like you, but as much as I see that I also see people starting TRT or who are on TRT who havent mentioned anything about low T, so I dont know whos having problems and who isnt its just one thing for sure is that its underdiagnosed.

[fuse929]

I agree with you that it would be good to see what the general trends of people in this forum are, namely: to get an updated list of everyone's diagnosis, symptoms and treatment protocols. I think it would be beneficial for both us as well as people concerned with symptoms to see that there is much variation in what is going on with each of us. We would be able to see the % of people who had a swelling vs a bump vs a shrinking etc........% of people who feel low T effects and % of people getting TRT........% of 1a seminomas on surveillance vs RT.......% of non-seminoma who got rplnd vs. surveillance. The list just goes on as to all the information we can learn with a resource like this..........plus maybe we will find some trends that will lead to serious in-lab research. I don't know much about computer programming, but it doesn't seem like somthing like this would be too tough to create and maintain. Just a though.......

Bobby

[Scott]

Scott prunes the testosterone forum very aggresivly for some reason(Scott?).

This simply isn't true. I aggressively remove obvious spam but almost never delete member posts.

Maybe it just appears that way because people post there less often? Remember that you can change the Display Options when viewing each forum to show older threads.

[Fed]

This hasnt been bought up much because I think people are more concerned with discussions of chemo/radiation related problems and cancer itself, rather than the specifics of losing a testicle.

Michael,
I believe there is a very simple reason for that. Cancer can kill you. A lack of testosterone won't. I believe that the priority with a cancer diagnosis is to rid oneself of the disease. Once that is done, then one can take care of the secondary issues. I agree with the importance managing issues secondary to the cancer, be it low testosterone levels or physical changes that come along with the treatments, but the priority (and, in turn, the central aim of the Forum) is to aid people with the life-threatening issues. On the side, hormones are compounds that are not to be taken lightly. Hormonal balances drive the general homeostasis of our bodies, and messing with that delicate balance can have disastrous consequences if not done carefully and under the supervision of an endocrinologist.

[Mom]

Michael, people do function normally with one testicle. My husband only had one at birth. He managed to go through puberty just fine, there was never a problem with libido, with attitude, with energy. He did have a low sperm count but we were still able to conceive naturally. However, after he lost his only testicle to TC, he needed testosterone and it took a long time to get him back to normal. So what his body was producing with one was hard to recreate when he had none. My son has had no problem with the loss of one testicle to TC. I think there is not much conversation on the issue because most of the guys just aren't having a problem. I don't think anyone is shy here. Dianne

[TCLEFT]

Michael, people do function normally with one testicle.

Michael,
I'm 46 years old. I have one testicle. I've had cancer 3 times. I'm scared to death about losing the survivor, but....
I can still play my guitar though not as long.
I can ride a bike further and with better company than before.
I can still kick and punch, not as high or as long, but I've learned to wait for the other guy's move, much to their dismay.
My soldier still salutes
AND....
Before I let anything get pumped into me again (don't get me wrong, if I need I will), I will continue on my own steam.
If you're dealing with TC you're a strong man. Whether you need help or not. And, don't think anyone skirts away from any issue here. Especially Scott. He's saved my ass on more occasions than even he knows. Diane (Mom) is probably one of the most caring women I know (and I don't even know here yet). In short everyone here is on your side. Don't think we'll ever ignore you, your topic or what's on your mind. I've said it before, you're a warrior. The good news is you have an army. The bad news is why. Live strong bro.
Mark

[djmac]

Michael,

I've had a INCREASE in libido, but I think its mostly due to my sexy fiancee who stuck by me through a difficult time. I've had bouts with low libido years ago, when I was trying not to slip into a depression after a breakup and being stuck in an awful postdoc.

So I think libido depends more on your attitude and your desire for your partner, or partners, or strangers who want to sleep with you, or whatever. That said, I do have other symptoms of low T, such as muscle and joint pain, and low energy. I finally got a script for a T test, but haven't done it yet. Should I do it first thing in the morning? I mean, after I'm able to get out of bed and walk (the morning wood makes it difficult).

djm

[fuse929]

I may be a little tired, but the question to this would be Why ?

There are some pretty good studies that compile this exact information. We are all in a cancer registery. There would be no way this could be scientific enough for anything useful.

I believe I have already answered the "why" question by personally stating that I think it would be useful to see what the diagnosis and treatment plans of people in this forum are to see the many different paths a TC diagnosis can take. People can read journal articles and scientific papers about statistics and protocols until they are blue in the face, but putting an actual person who you correspond with in a forum quite regularly to the data, I think, would make it more meaningful. If I were to be reading a journal article about "patient 335 who had a 1A seminoma and was given RT" there is no way I can contact that person and ask why they chose that option, or what lead them and their doctor to make that decision. In here, if I could see who the 1A seminomas were, I could ask them the reasons behind why they chose the treatments they did. There are vast amounts of information I got from this forum that I did not get through on-line research, or by calling the ACS. I am in no way saying that academic journal are bogus.....they are incredible sources of information and should be studied by everyone dealing with cancer. But in some cases, such as mine, the doctors leave the treatment up to the patient......I'd like to think I based my decision on something solid.

I disagree with you that this type of data would be "not scientific enough to be anything useful." When I was deciding between surveillance and RT, talking to the people in this forum with similar diagnosis to myself really helped me make my decision. A doctor can help, but as I have read 1000 times before in this forum that the average urologist sees TC only a few times in his career........the people in here see and live with TC daily. I feel the decisions and treatments of the people in this forum, documented and organized, could be a benefit. Sure, it may be an impossible task to set-up......I have no clue how to computer program or even if my idea is feasible. But I by no means think that it would be a non-useful project.

Bobby

[fuse929]

'
Well, I will solve the "scientific part". Do you know how many times in this site that someohas told me they had for instance " 100% choriocarcinomoma and in fact had seminoma" ? you want to base your treatment on that?

easier way would be for everyboday to put their dignossis on their profile. Most do.

No, I don't want to base my treatment on that type of person. I want to base my treatment on the diagnosis and treatment of the MAJORITY of the people with similar circumstances, who I hope actually get their diagnosis right. If the majority of the people in this forum have their diagnosis wrong (not necessarily from the start.....people may not understand a pathology report when they first read it....but ultimately they get it straight)......then what the hell are we doing? "Scientifically", there will always anomalies and inaccurate data for any type of study. That is why it is important to look at the whole.

I agree that people putting their diagnosis and treatment in their profiles is very helpful: if they are an active poster and also if they keep it up to date. If this is the extent of categorizing diagnosis and treatment, I can't complain.

Bobby

[Already Bald]

This hasnt been bought up much because I think people are more concerned with discussions of chemo/radiation related problems and cancer itself, rather than the specifics of losing a testicle. One thing that is still baffling me is the lack of discussion on lowered testosterone levels, Scott prunes the testosterone forum very aggresivly for some reason(Scott?). And I notice a lot of guys get on TRT very delayed such as 5 years after experiencing symptoms, while others never realised they had such a problem until they started TRT and noticed the benefitsm, so I assume people are ignoring low testosterone or worried about bigger problems.

But sometimes I start to think the majority of you really arnt having any low testosterone related issues at all, maybe it is just a select few because if a guy is going to care about 1 chemical in there body its going to be what makes them masculine, attractive and happy etc. Sex and reproduction is the thing that life itself rotates around wether you like it or not, so I find it hard to believe someone would keep quiet about it and not seek a remedy if they had libido problems. But then again I see people complain of the most obvious symptoms such as testicular pain and gyno without mentioning the other symptoms such as loss of libido. Which is why I have made this poll.

Michael, I feel I have to respond to your post- if only because you are 23 and I am 40. I know you are a big believer in HRT- and it sounds like it is working out very well for you. I don't think it is necessary for every man who has had an IO. So far I do not need it, and hopefully won't.

I can remember though- back when I was your age that I did have occasional libido problems. Maybe it wasn't really libido because I had the desire- just not always the erection. I really think it was a part of the normal maturation process we all go through. It seems so long ago I can hardly remember- but it was as big as the world to me at the time.
I can remember the girls too - Janet and later, Heidi. I think the problem was I liked them TOO much, and let myself get worked up and nervous around them. As I got into my later twenties- I got more confidence in myself and played the field much more, all those libido issues became just a distant memory. I never even had this conversation with my wife (I was married at 34)- only because my "libido" issues were over years before I even met her.

If I can offer any advise Michael- not just to you, but using this thread to speak out to all the younger men on this site:
Try not to get wrapped up about libido, and it will take care of itself. Go on dates, laugh a lot and have fun- you are sure to be happy.
TC really sucks man- and in so many ways. I am so sorry that you are going through an already complicated stage of life, and deal with TC as well.
I wish you the best, and I really think things will work out without lifetime HRT.
Joe

[Michael112]

This simply isn't true. I aggressively remove obvious spam but almost never delete member posts.

Maybe it just appears that way because people post there less often? Remember that you can change the Display Options when viewing each forum to show older threads.

Oops my mistake sorry. How can I set it to display older threads?

Already Bald, thats very good advice, infact libido was low on my list for needing to start HRT and I am sure the psychological aspect of it played a small part although it was a real issue.
I am one of those sensative people who notice every change in my body and can tell if something is off, the libido issues I were having was mostly desire, which seemed to go hand in hand with the other symptoms such as lethargy and irritability.

[Scott]

How can I set it to display older threads?

When you're in a forum, displaying a list of threads, toward the bottom of the page is a section labeled "Display Options." In the "From the:" options menu, try selecting "Last Year" or "Beginning," then click the "Show Threads" button.

If you always want to show older threads, you can change the "Default Thread Age Cut Off" setting in your user control panel.