Re: PROGRESS THUS FAR

[Guest guest]

Hi Joe,

How has the improvement in the numbness been after you started this medication? Is it consistently good?

Thanks,

Steve

Subject: PROGRESS THUS FARTo: "SSRI GROUP" <SSRIsex >Cc: "IRWIN GOLDSTEIN" Date: Saturday, February 20, 2010, 5:03 PM

Hi Everyone,I have now been on Cabergoline 0.5 mgs 3 days a week for the past 3 weeks. I am only now beginning to get increased good results. I can now report that I am feeling horny almost every day and am more prone to get erections by thought. Sexual fantasies and sexual urges are increasing. I had tried the Oxytocin that Dr. Goldstein prescribed as a PRN a few weeks ago but it didn't seem to help. I will begin trying it now that my libido has increased. I still have problems maintaining erections on my own but Viagra seems to help this. For those of you who read gwistik's post I am in 100% agreement with him. This is my first success in fighting our condition since I started having problems at age 30 (I am now 47). None of us should give up, especially our younger members. I believe if I have seen improvement in my lifetime so will you.I also agree with 's stance. We cannot afford to be timid about taking a

chance on any potentially valid treatment for our condition. The alternative is to be stuck with leading an empty life. I for one refuse to go down without trying any reasonable effort to cure this.

[Guest guest]

Hey Joe, thanks for sharing. This is good news, I'm happy for you. Is the

improvement in your condition confined to your sexuality, or have you become

more emotional as well (I assume your emotions have been numbed since that seems

to be the case with most PSSD sufferers)?

Thanks

teephos

[Guest guest]

Have you noticed any improvement in sensitivity? Viagra can give me erections

but I still don't have normal sensitivity. If there was something that helped

with that it could be good news.

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I have now been on Cabergoline 0.5 mgs 3 days a week for the past 3 weeks. I

am only now beginning to get increased good results. I can now report that I am

feeling horny almost every day and am more prone to get erections by thought.

Sexual fantasies and sexual urges are increasing. I had tried the Oxytocin that

Dr. Goldstein prescribed as a PRN a few weeks ago but it didn't seem to help. I

will begin trying it now that my libido has increased. I still have problems

maintaining erections on my own but Viagra seems to help this.

> For those of you who read gwistik's post I am in 100% agreement with him. This

is my first success in fighting our condition since I started having problems at

age 30 (I am now 47). None of us should give up, especially our younger members.

I believe if I have seen improvement in my lifetime so will you.

> I also agree with 's stance. We cannot afford to be timid about taking

a chance on any potentially valid treatment for our condition. The alternative

is to be stuck with leading an empty life. I for one refuse to go down without

trying any reasonable effort to cure this.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Again Everyone,In order to answer the questions to my last post I need to explain exactly what PSSD symptoms I have been dealing with. Although many of us have the same complaints there are some variations. With the exception of a few months on Prozac many years ago I never experienced the emotional numbness that many members report. I never stopped liking music or lost interest in hobbies, etc. My primary PSSD symptoms have been very low libido, low testosterone, unable to have erections, and lack of sensation during orgasm. Compared to these past symptoms I now have a moderately steady libido, normal testosterone levels(post surgical testosterone pellets), ability to achieve erections (but unable to sustain them without Viagra), and mild to moderate pleasure during orgasm.As far as this last issue of

actual sensory pleasure that other members have asked about, things are maybe a bit more difficult to assess. When I first experienced PSSD I went through many urologists and none found any nerve damage to my penis. That was about 15-16 years ago. When I first saw Dr. Goldstein this past October he indicated that I had a moderate level of frontal nerve damage to my penis thus reducing sensation. In some ways this does not surprise me and should also serve as a warning to all men in this group.In the first few years of dealing with my PSSD I was so desperate to feel something that I would masturbate for prolonged periods hoping for some sensation. Not a good idea folks, especially without lubrication. In addition my somewhat feeble attempts to penetrate my wife was probably akin to throwing my limp penis against a wall. I finally wised up and stopped trying to force the issue but I would not be surprised

if I caused damage along the way. But to be honest it seemed like the chance of ever recovering any interest or ability was so slim I think I figured there was little to lose.It has only been since seeing Dr. Goldstein in October that I have had any hope of getting at least some sort of sex life back again. Hope this information helps.

[Guest guest]

Did your testosterone level get back to normal permanently or you need to have

continual treatment for it? What is that post surgical testosterone pellets? It

looks like testo levels don't get back to normal without treatment and even if

they do life-time hormonal treatment is required. I quited injections and my

levels got low again. Total one is slightly above the low margin.

>

> Hi Again Everyone,

> In order to answer the questions to my last post I need to explain exactly

what PSSD symptoms I have been dealing with. Although many of us have the same

complaints there are some variations. With the exception of a few months on

Prozac many years ago I never experienced the emotional numbness that many

members report. I never stopped liking music or lost interest in hobbies,

etc. My primary PSSD symptoms have been very low libido, low testosterone,

unable to have erections, and lack of sensation during orgasm. Compared to these

past symptoms I now have a moderately steady libido, normal testosterone

levels(post surgical testosterone pellets), ability to achieve erections (but

unable to sustain them without Viagra), and mild to moderate pleasure during

orgasm.As far as this last issue of actual sensory pleasure that other members

have asked about, things are maybe a bit more difficult to assess. When I first

experienced PSSD I went through many

> urologists and none found any nerve damage to my penis. That was about 15-16

years ago. When I first saw Dr. Goldstein this past October he indicated that I

had a moderate level of frontal nerve damage to my penis thus reducing

sensation. In some ways this does not surprise me and should also serve as a

warning to all men in this group.In the first few years of dealing with my PSSD

I was so desperate to feel something that I would masturbate for prolonged

periods hoping for some sensation. Not a good idea folks, especially without

lubrication. In addition my somewhat feeble attempts to  penetrate my wife was

probably akin to throwing my limp penis against a wall. I finally wised up and

stopped trying to force the issue but I would not be surprised if I caused

damage along the way. But to be honest it seemed like the chance of ever

recovering any interest or ability was so slim I think I figured there was

little to lose.It has only been since seeing

> Dr. Goldstein in October that I have had any hope of getting at least some

sort of sex life back again. Hope this information helps.

>

[Guest guest]

In my case my testosterone levels have been on the low end ever since I first got PSSD 17 years ago. Since they never raised to normal levels on their own I am assuming that I am stuck having to use artificial testosterone to replace it for life. Considering that it is probably playing a part in my current interest in sex it's a trade off.By the way everyone I hope you all get Ms. Spinak's E-mail this time. It is mspinak @ sirenmedia.comPlease let me know if you got her E-mail this time.

[Guest guest]

It's been suggested that SSRI could possibly down-regulate the pituitary gland.

If downregulation occurs, the level of several hormones - testosterone included

- will drop. Therefore, it might be a good idea to have a pituitary gland

stimulation test done. This can be combined with an anaylsis of your adrenal

glands (which can cause low testosterone as well).

Best

teephos

[Guest guest]

From your words I get that you take artificial testosterone through long years.

Doesn't it lead to gynecomastia or other problems like acne formation or hair

loss?

>

> In my case my testosterone levels have been on the low end ever since I first

got PSSD 17 years ago. Since they never raised to normal levels on their own I

am assuming that I am stuck having to use artificial testosterone to replace it

for life. Considering that it is probably playing a part in my current interest

in sex it's a trade off.

>

> By the way everyone I hope you all get Ms. Spinak's E-mail this time. It is

mspinak @ sirenmedia.com

>

> Please let me know if you got her E-mail this time.

>

[Guest guest]

I actually have only started testosterone replacement therapy since October, but the problem is that in the 17 years of having PSSD I was never able on my own to regain normal testosterone levels. As a result I am assuming I will have to take artificial hormone the rest of my life since doing hormone therapy will automatically shut down my own body's minuscule amounts of hormone.

[Guest guest]

How is " pituitary gland stimulation test " done? Lets assume downregulation is

detected? Is there a treatment? The only thing to do is to have testosterone

injections. I don't think what SSRI's have done to hormonal system is

reversible. One will need to have injections through his life to have normal

testo levels.

>

> It's been suggested that SSRI could possibly down-regulate the pituitary

gland. If downregulation occurs, the level of several hormones - testosterone

included - will drop. Therefore, it might be a good idea to have a pituitary

gland stimulation test done. This can be combined with an anaylsis of your

adrenal glands (which can cause low testosterone as well).

>

> Best

> teephos

>