we will call it intimacy :)

[becauseican]

I know there is kind of a thread on this already, but i'm going to ask anyways, is it normal for a man on dialysis to have a difficult time getting it up. Is there anything I can do to help with this or do i just have to go without?    

[smcd23]

If you find a solution, let me know. We deal with this problem a lot.

I believe it is fairly common. In the case of my significant other, we know the cause - his testosterone is LOW. VERY low. And the endocrinologist we went to was a fruit loop and worthless IMHO - he wanted him to do a sleep study. Since my SO has been on an antidepressant he has had more "urges" (like 3, total) but that's still an improvement.

Dialysis messes up with all aspects of your body. The toxins that build up mess with brain chemistry. Other things like the parathyroid hormone can mess up other parts of the adrenal system (or the nephrologist said) and then just the stressful and depressing nature of the disease itself. My SO's psychiatrist has offered him the little blue pill numerous times, but he refuses to take it. He wants a testosterone patch first to see if that helps. He's lost a lot of weight - close to 80lbs since starting dialysis. The most recent loss has all been muscle. The muscle started going when his drive did, so he thinks the 2 are related.

Good luck, it's tough, and I know that because I'm in the same spot.

[Grumpy-1]

the short answer is YES.  Prior to kidney failure and D I had a good sex drive and capability.  After, it dropped to zero on both counts. Only now after 2+ years is the drive starting to come back but the physical part (erection) isn't cooperating.   As mentioned by SMCD23, my issue maybe be low testerone and I think I need to have that checked.  So hand in there and there is still the option of oral (him to you)  Grumpy

[iketchum]

I finally found something that works, it is a suppository that burns a bit after it is in, but works great. I stopped using it due to lack of interest by my spouse or I could tell you the name of the stuff. I also needed the pump to aid the med.

[Grumpy-1]

iketchum   Yes I would be interested in knowing the name of the product. 

[becauseican]

this is all great advice, he does what he can to please me but i hate to see him to have to go without, plus sometimes its just nice to have that closeness. I was glad to find this site and find out that it wasnt because of me that he was having these problems. If he were to get a transplant would his drive and mechanics go back to normal, or somewhat normal?

[smcd23]

If he were to get a transplant would his drive and mechanics go back to normal, or somewhat normal?

From what we've been told by my SO's nephrologist and other doctors - yes. D can mess up more than just the kidneys, so if he gets a transplant and everything gets cleaned and in semi working order, things should resume as they were prior to dialysis. We've been told that, and I am praying it's the truth!

[natnnnat]

Gregory's mechanics are in order.

[becauseican]

perfect, i hope then he moves trough the transplant list quickly, unfortunately his blood type is O  , but heres hoping for the best

[smcd23]

If I hadn't already shared my spare he could have had it. I'm screwed if my remaining kidney quits on me, my brother and I are different blood types.

[Garrett]

I am in the same boat as well, have been for over a year - no mechanics work at all, fully working before though

Very frustrating indeed

[Charlie B53]

Poor blood flow is my major problem.  Chronic restrictions growing in all the arteries everywhere. It got so bad I couldn't even walk, much less think about having sex.  Multiple stents in the iliacs at the Y feeding both femerals restored flow to my legs and I can walk again.  However the smaller arteries feeding the lower abdomen, major buttock muscles, groin, Dr's tell me they can't do anything for them at all.

I use garlic and onions on everything, hoping the enzymes will help to clear the arterial deposits.

Hopefully someday soon the medical world will figure out a med to begin clearing out all the deposits that clog up everything!

[Paul]

is it normal for a man on dialysis to have a difficult time getting it up.

I've been using this as an excuse for years, if I ever get a kidney transplant I'll have to think of a new one! Seriously though, a transplant doctor told me it affects the ability to become erect, the performance when/if an erection is achieved, and the desire to try in the first place. He said that the usual remedies (pills pumps etc) can help a bit with getting an erection, but only a transplant can help with the other two. However reading this thread through, I wonder if testosterone patches or other testosterone therapy will help with all three.