Ready to throw in the towel

Posted by scottbeammeup @scottbeammeup, Jul 19 6:50am

I'm 60 and was diagnosed as Gleason 7, T2B. Was given Lupron, 5 sessions of SBRT and they want me to continue Lupron for a year. I just got my second six month shot.

I honestly don't think I can make it. I worked REALLY hard to stay in shape but now my arms and legs are like toothpicks and my stomach is huge. I've forced myself on a 500 calorie a day diet (two protein shakes and a multivitamin) for the past month and it's STILL not getting rid of my belly. I stopped going to the gym because, frankly, I'm embarrassed to be seen there among my old gym buddies.

I had a fantastic sex life with a good number of f***buddies but now it takes so long to get an erection by myself that it's not even worth it.

Worse, though, is that I am SO sad with a grief I have never felt in my life before--not even when my parents died. I feel like I am underwater looking up at a hazy world. I cry or feel sad at least 4-5 hours a day.

I sleep, at most, four hours a night even though I take a double dose of Xanax (2 mg total) and two Benadryls. The drugs knock me out but I wake up at 2 or 3 AM and can't go back to sleep.

Today, I casually told a nurse I can't wait for the next six months to be over because that's the end of Lupron and she said it's going to be more like 18 months to get back to normal because Lupron takes a very long time to leave the body. Hearing that made me want to hurl myself off the roof of the medical building--I just literally froze with fear.

I'm technically "alive" but there is no quality to anything. My day consists of faking my way through work, then coming home and crying on the couch and staring into space. Sometimes my heart will start racing at 150-180 bpm for a few minutes and I pray I will just have a heart attack and die.

My friends and family have given up on me, and I honestly don't blame them. I also got tired of their "you need to be positive," "you need to have a positive outlook" bull****.

I guess what I'm asking is how the hell do so many other guys do this and still have any kind of a life. I feel like I'm 100% destroyed inside.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

@heavyphil

Hey Chamblee, That was such a great post! You really distilled all the emotions and turmoil men face when they no longer see the ‘ME’ they always knew.
Men suffer as much shame and feelings of inadequacy sexually - perhaps more- than breast cancer patients. Not trying to minimize their anguish but breast reconstruction has really come a long way - and you DON’T need a breast(s) to perform sexually.
This disease robs the majority of men of their ability to achieve penetration; pills and injections MAY help some, but others like me who are totally impotent have to think about implants, pumps and inserts to even come close!
Lucky for me I am married for almost 40 years to a wonderful woman who really understands my literal shortcomings. She’s not happy for either of us but even though our sex lives are non-existent (ADT as well) our love is even stronger than before. I never believed it when someone said that (yeah, right…) but I’ve found it to be true. Best to you!
Phil

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This is a great post. Sex is just one way to express your love and care for your partner. However, it is not a necessary one. Faith, love, fidelity, loyalty, presence.....these are what make a truly, loving relationship.

15 years ago my wife had to have an early full hysterectomy. They took everything. It put her into immediate menopause. We both decided that she should not do hormone therapy because of the serious side effects. However, one of the most troublesome side effects of women losing their hormones is that the skin becomes non-elastic: it doesn't give. Intercourse becomes extremely painful because of that lack of elasticity. She felt like "not a whole woman" anymore. However, other sexual expressions can be quite fulfilling. Now, she feels that everything is ok, that she is a complete person and our sex life (up until the prostate stuff) was quite satisfying. You just have to be imaginative.

We have been married 48 years and we love each other more each day.

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Have you thought of seeking mental health services? A good therapist can make a world of difference. Give yourself some grace. It's OK to not be ok every once in awhile but not constantly. Our brains need treatment too. Get into therapy.

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