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Q&A: Unable to think about / engage in sex … causing depression? Is there therapy?

Alan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:35:53 +0000

Question by : Unable to think about / engage in sex … causing depression? Is there therapy?
I am unable to think about, much less participate in, sex. I want to explore this in the context of my depression and sleep problems, maybe understanding/addressing it will help.

I’ve never had sex, or a girlfriend. I don’t masturbate, since it was an exercise in futility. I can ejaculate but it’s never felt “good”. I don’t think about having sex, but I recollect that normal, healthy guys think about sex once every 10 seconds. (!) I cannot force myself to picture a sex act, its like my mind has to jump past it. But, I do obsess about my inability … every day I think about how I’m inferior. This makes me wonder if there is somebody out there to talk to about this. Sex therapy is about couples, so that’s not for me. Is there help out there?

I have sought help for depression, poor sleep, and low testosterone.

I suffer from chronic depression (severe, if you believe online tests). Over the past 20 years, I’ve seen two psychoanalysts and a psychologist for therapy. Primary care physicians and a psychiatrist have subscribed 1/2-dozen anti-depressants, mostly SSRIs. Neither therapy nor drugs have helped. I’ve also tried herbal supplements, kept a diary with thought analysis, improved exercise, and adopted two cats.

I’ve also attacked the poor sleep aspect (depression can cause sleep problems or vica versa). I had a sleep study, but they were only interested in finding obstructive sleep apnea (which they did, and I’ve been using a CPAP for the last two years without fail). I’m taking care to exercise good sleep hygene, tried sleep aides (nytol, melatonin, zolpidem, etc.), got a new mattress, prop up legs, and have a wedge pillow for my head. Nothing works.

My testosterone did test low (~190 ng/ml, normal 300-800). I saw an endocrinologist (and, typical for a doctor, couldn’t find a cause) who prescribed hormone replacement with patches (vs. gel or shots). I did try the patches, which didn’t make me feel different but I did get a rash.

What’s left to try? I’m 40 years old, and thinking that I should just give up.

Best answer:

Answer by Mary
it is because of your depression. Fix depression and you’ll be like other men

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Do you need to use one of them there CPAPS?

Alan — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:37:01 +0000

Question by ZBLOCKHEAD: Do you need to use one of them there CPAPS?
For sleep apnea. I gotta use one, keeps me from snoring. I didn’t realize that I had a severe case of sleep apnea until I took a sleep test.
Its kinda weird at first, but you get used to it after a while, it seems to help me sleep better. And that’s sticking pretty close to science fact.
(no more space aliens, I promise. Well, for a while, anyway) Although sleep apnea can cause some strange feelings and beliefs during one of those periods when breathing has stopped.

Best answer:

Answer by ..ROXY..sheila from oz..
so glad you are sleeping well, you will be feeling so much better.
no more space aliens? awww….

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I have sleep apnea and I am unable to wear the maskes that is supplied. Is there any other thing available.?

Alan — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:37:11 +0000

Question by ted102046: I have sleep apnea and I am unable to wear the maskes that is supplied. Is there any other thing available.?
I am allergic to the material of the masks and nose pices. They tell me there is nothing else made. My wife tells me I am geting very bad at breathing when I sleep. I need HELP!

Best answer:

Answer by jjak2001
You can control or eliminate sleep apnea if you lose weight. There is also a surgical procedure that can be done to help with symptoms of sleep apnea. Get a referral to an ear, nose and throat doctor.

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Is there any situation that would disqualify you from Bariatric surgery even if you are morbidly obese, have ?

Alan — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 00:35:55 +0000

Question by Pink Ice: Is there any situation that would disqualify you from Bariatric surgery even if you are morbidly obese, have ?
diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholestrol, sleep apnea, asthma and poor bladder control? I have been researching this procedure and it seems you have to jump through hoops to qualify. My Doctor wants me to have it and my insurance covers it.

Best answer:

Answer by ?
yes pancreas that’s the only one I know

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Is there an organization that can set up a payment plan for bariatric surgery? (for weightloss)?

Alan — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 06:35:02 +0000

Question by Erika G: Is there an organization that can set up a payment plan for bariatric surgery? (for weightloss)?
I am in desperate need of bariatric surgery for weightloss but my insurance asks that I begin seeing a doctor to monitor my weight for a whole year. However, I gained over 50 lbs. from last year and I am very afraid that I will gain more weight from here until my insurance will cover it. I am willing to pay for it myself, if there is any way of getting a payment plan of any kind. I am running out of options and meanwhile I am gaining more and more weight. Is there any type of organization that helps people in my situation who need to lose weight NOW! I am a 30 year old female and I weigh 350 lbs. I am suffering from high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythm, sleep apnea and asthma. Exercise is excrutiating for me and I have failed at dieting time and time again. HELP!

Best answer:

Answer by Leo
Weight loss surgery-like gastric bypass /lap band surgery / stomach stapling and gastrectomy have become very common and very safe now. My cousin got her Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in India. She has lost more than 65 lbs in 5 months and is very happy with the results. The price for obesity surgery is very less in India. My cousin just paid 25% of the cost she was quoted in America. She got her surgery from a company called Forerunners Healthcare.

Forerunners Healthcare is very famous in India. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and magazines. I have read a lot of their patient stories also. They arrange financing for USA, Canadian, UK and other international patients who plan to have surgery abroad for low cost, as bariatric surgery and weight loss surgery is not covered by insurance. They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. There are huge cost savings. As a doctor I personally believe that your Obesity surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of healthcare available In India is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.

http://www.forerunnershealthcare.com
Hope this helps.

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Are there any lawyers out there??

Alan — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:36:07 +0000

Question by kim.york: Are there any lawyers out there??
I am trying to find one who will file a suit against a doctor’s office who let their nurse give information over the phone about:my sleep study which is a “Medical procedure” and it got me fired from my job and cost me my benefits,my treatments for sleep apnea,lupus &fibromyalgia.And I also lost my side jobs and my wedding plans.I am trying to get unemployment until I find another job and I am flat broke until they deny/approve it which I know the employer will fight it! SO now the doc got away w/not only violating the HIPPA ACT but also violated my own written requests on the HIIPPA Act that I added stating that NOBODY except my fiance’ get information re:my info!!So please any help would be great!!The fla bar referal is NO HELP!! Thank you!!
I have read the HIPPA Act all the way thru including all the subsections,however they released information to my boss who is not the insurer and the information he was given was not vital to any claims or for any health related information that was needed for public health reasons,he just invasivly went behind my back to call my doctor to get info to use to fire me because I had filed a sexual harassment claim against a co-worker and was a “risk”to his department.The EEOC is handling that,I have a lawyer who is interested in taking my case he called me today,but until we sign a contract the more info I get the better.Yahoo answers are both w/w and local so If it helps I am going for it..Thannk you!

Best answer:

Answer by you g
i dont get how it cost u ur job but gl finding one

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Is this considered any kind of sleep disorder, or is there anything I can do?

Alan — Sun, 08 May 2011 18:50:15 +0000

Question by Tracy J: Is this considered any kind of sleep disorder, or is there anything I can do?
I have always had this problem my entire life. When I was a little kid I always slept until at least 11am, when all other kids I know wake up at 6am. But, I’m 29 years old now. I have always had a hard time waking up in the mornings (it’s not just the typical teenager not wanting to get up thing). I can go to bed at 8pm or midnight, and still can’t get enough sleep. Currently the alarm goes off at 3am (I usually don’t get out of bed until 4:20, but that’s only because my husband pulls me out). But, even when I worked a lot later, I still had this same problem. Plus, if I wake up in the middle of the night and actually get out of bed for 2 minutes (thank god it doesn’t happen often), my body has to pretty much start the entire sleep cycle over again. So, that night I’ll need twice as much sleep. My husband has started to just leave me on the couch if I fall asleep. Does anyone else have this same exact problem? Please help, it’s the biggest pet peeve about myself and my husband is really starting to get angry that I can’t get up in the mornings, but I can’t even hear the alarm until an hour later.

Best answer:

Answer by swomedicineman
Ask your husband if you snore. You may need to be evaluated for sleep apnea. A good physical at your doctor is a pretty good idea as well. A good multivitamin especially B vitamins are good. Even at 29 you may have a decreased hormone level which can contribute to your need for lots of sleep. I had a low testosterone level and prior to finding this out I had similar sleep problems you have described. Go get a physical and request that your doctor draw labs that check your hormone levels. I had to suggest this to my endocrinologist and he was sure I didn’t have low testosterone until the results proved otherwise. With testosterone injections every 2 weeks I improved.

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Who has been to a sleep clinic and exactly what goes on there?

Alan — Wed, 04 May 2011 00:49:17 +0000

Question by Rvn: Who has been to a sleep clinic and exactly what goes on there?
My husband thinks I have sleep apnea. I probably do, but I am very reluctant to pursue it medically. I don’t want to go to a sleep clinic. I don’t think I could fall asleep with someone watching me or if I were hooked up to things. Also, if I did have sleep apnea, there’s no way I would wear one of those face masks anyways, because I wouldn’t be able to sleep, so it would seem like a waste of time and money just to find out I have it and refuse to do anything for it. Maybe if I knew exactly what would go on there, I wouldn’t be so against going. I guess I’d want to know how horrible the CPAP masks are, too. I sleep on my stomach. Any other way and I can’t really sleep either, so I don’t see how this is all going to work out.

Best answer:

Answer by helper
yes, they hook you up to electrodes, to monitor brain waves, to see what stage of sleep you are in, and yes at times people monitor you.

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Are there other medical conditions that create similar symptoms to those of depression and anxiety?

Alan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 18:39:59 +0000

Question by Miss J: Are there other medical conditions that create similar symptoms to those of depression and anxiety?
I am doing a little research. I have found a considerable amount of overlap in symptoms that are typically diagnosed as depression, anxiety and bi-polar disorder. I have looked into Epstein-Bar Virus, PTSD, Anemia, ADHD, Thyroid, and Sleep Apnea. It is amazing how much the symptoms overlap. I’d like to know if there are other conditions that cause or mimic symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. I would be interested in doing further research.

Best answer:

Answer by sunnny
of course, psych illnesses should be the last to be considered after all other med tests done.
chronic diseases, cancers, diabetes, obesity, but the docs can misdiagnose for years. I know, took them 4 years, 3 picc lines for pseudomonas and a DNA test to prove I have Cystic Fibrosis.
I fired the last idiot who pulled the “depression” needs cymbalta crap, got an MRI brain, shows meningioma. before the new medication, had stuttering, wt loss, forgetfulness, fatigue, muscle weakness, pains in joints/muscles, nausea, low K+, that is not depression, esp the onset and presentation and I knew it wasn’t CF. depression can be misdiagnosed by apathetic docs, pt has vague sx, abd pain, or other sx, labs don’t really show anything, but a disease in process, MS, lupus, ovarian cancers, neurological sx, plus all the wrong meds are Rx’d and the pt suffers until their illness is so bad it ’s too late. supposedly 2% of the pop has depression, but the way they’d have you think, everyone is depressed clinically. see www.effexor.com phases of depression,

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I think I may have sleep apnea. Anyone out there have it?

Alan — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 12:39:43 +0000

Question by Rae: I think I may have sleep apnea. Anyone out there have it?
I was wondering for those that have this sleeping disorder what were you symptoms and experiences. Your input will be very helpful! Thank you!

Best answer:

Answer by haslo
Three screening questions are useful in diagnosing sleep apnea:

1. Do you snore at night?
2. Do you wake up tired in the morning?
3. Do you have frequent morning headaches?

Saying yes to any of the above, combined with overall poor energy during the day suggests possibility of sleep apnea. To diagnose it, you would need a home overnight oximetry test, where you wear a little oxygen sensing device on your finger. If that test is suggestive of sleep apnea, you would need a formal sleep study test done in a local sleep lab. Your doctor could order all these tests. If you do have sleep apnea, you can treat it very effectively with a special oxygen machine that you use at night. People say they feel 10 years younger when they finally treat this disorder.

Hope that helps,

-Halso

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