Dried prunes

[pcasucks]

ADT ZOLADEX its been 15 months since stopping. Still experiencing depression, fatigue, minor flashes and of course zero libido. The amazing shrinking testicles ,I was on it 24 months. Any insight on how long it last. 

[WAMCCARNSJR]

I have been on Eligard for over a year, all the same side effects, the urge is still there, but the only thing that functions is my hands and tongue, can't keep a sustainable erection, it's fruitless. My Oncologist says I should be as good as knew in 6 months, we will see. All I know is Eligard is a cancer drug cocktail, it shuts down all body production of testosterone, without it we are no longer men. Good luck and hang in there.

[pete0550]

Hi - I was on zoladex for a year, last one in Nov 2015. I never lost my libido though erectile function was poor but I remained capable of intense orgasm (still OK). My local cancer support group had a 'wellbeing' day in Sept 2015 for cancer patients (not only PCA) and partners, one of speakers being a sex therapist. She encouraged the men to 'use it or lose it', advocated as much intimacy of a non-penetrative kind as you could manage and recommended use of vacuum pumps as a 'gym' therapy to restore/maintain erectile function. I found the pump extremely unerotic initially but it seems to be working in maintaining the capability for erection. At the moment, my partner & I enjoy non-penetrative sex and I'm hopeful that, as the zoladex effects wear off, intercourse may again be possible because, boy, do I miss it. In the meantime, I enjoy the intimacy and pleasure of satisfying my partner manually/orally and I enjoy my dry orgasms. I had psychological problems last year, lots of looking back and remembering how things were. I had a couple of sessions with a cancer psychologist, my partner & I did a lot of serious talking, we worked over my issues and everything has improved remarkably. Obviously nothing will never be as it once was and that was a big issue for me but I've learned to let go of the past and live for today. My major problem is now dealing with hot flushes and, to a lesser degree fatigue. I can't do much about the hot flushes but I'm happy to have a nap when I feel like it (luckily I'm retired). For exercise, I have 1 gym session a week (organised by cancer support group), I cycle daily (avoid using the car) and play golf as often as possible though I have 2 teenage daughters and partner works so I'm lucky to get 1 round a week. I do a bit of cycle race marshalling in the UK and a friend invited me to the Redlands Classic in California last month to help out as a volunteer marshall. My family encouraged me to go for it so I did. It was my first visit to the USA and I really enjoyed myself, a great boost psychologically. So much so that, again with the support of my family, I'm returning in October for the music festival in Coachella. Doing my ageing hippy thing!! Living for today is now my ethos.

Not sure what the parable of all this is apart from, yes, Zoladex knocks you out but maybe you too, with some help from people, can work out how to minimise the side effects which I agree are very unpleasant, I lost things badly for a while, no self esteem, no self confidence, but, with support, I'm coming through it. I still relapse but I'm still here and I'm thankful for that, every day's a bonus. Hope this helps and all the best.

[pcasucks in reply to pete0550]

Well I hoping time will be kind to me after my RP I had no problems every thing worked fine, but the Radation. And ADT toasted it. It's the dam fatigue that gets me the most. Good to see your doing ok Pete and thanks for the reply.

[Scmaggi in reply to pete0550]

I found relief from hot flashes by taking prescription Effexor. It is an antidepressant and I don't know how that works, but it does. It takes some time to kick in and we had to keep slowly increasing the dose till we found a level that works. Occasional breakthrough flashes but not dozens per day like before. Goodluck.

Cancer Sucks.

[JoelT]

Recovery of testosterone after stopping ADT drugs is very individual. Some men recover realitivily quickly while others never recover. We have no way to know how an individual man will or will not recover.

Usually, the older a man is the longer or less likely he is to recover.

I wish that I had a solution to your problem, but I don't think there is much you can do to aid in your recovery of testosterone.

Joel

[pcasucks in reply to JoelT]

Dam Joel I'm only 62 still a spring chicken :-)))

[JoelT]

Let's just hope that you are a slow recovery type and it will eventually come back.

Joel