Herbal Supplements post treatment

Hi FifeFlyer75

Have you contacted your GP? I am not at all a specialist but I think that the lack of libido can be due to various things, depression but also a malfunctioning thyroid. You may be aware that radiotherapy can affect our thyroid therefore well worth checking with your GP. 

Best wishes. 

Fab1

Depression and libido? Taboo subjects for many.

Probably a couple areas that need addressing by those in charge of cancer aftercare, some patients too embarrassed to broach with health professionals?

Peter

It's easier to get into Fort Knox than it is to our local GP's, and the last couple of times I've contacted them about anything (last time was the Lhermitte's Sign which they had never heard of) they come back via email or phone to say I should just speak to the oncologist about anything

Been on anti-depressants on and off for the best part of 20 years now, and don't think my mood is much worse than it was before the cancer said hello - or maybe that's just because I had my dose increased when it did

The libido thing as Peter E rightly said still feels more like a taboo/embarrassing thing, but the great thing (amongst many others) about this forum is that I've never felt reluctant or embarrassed to ask anything.

Haven't found anything online to suggest the supplements are bad post treatment anyway, including googling all the ingredients in them so ordered them although if anything untoward changes I'll of course stop.

Even a boost in energy from them would be very welcome. The "other" being a bonus....and maybe a less frustrated wife lol.

Thanks for taking time to reply

Hi Fyfe flyer. It’s quite common  Head and neck cancer patients to ask for mild anti depression tablets , let’s face it we’ve had cancer in an extremely delicate area our mouths and throats. I didn’t have them but know many who has and it helped. As for herbal supplements try your g p first. As for libido I talked this over with my husband during and after treatment there was no way I could even contemplate resuming a normal  sexual relationship . We slept in separate bedrooms during treatment and for a good while afterwards, from memory it was around Christmas time I went back into our bedroom. Uo to that point I couldnt bear  the thought  of hearing him breathe never mind anythjng else. I had my own bubble in the spare room I coukd clean my mouth sip water read without disturbing him.

We did get back on track it just evolved but there was no,pressure on either of us .I didn’t want him  To kiss me my mouth was fairly sore we used to cuddle. Luckily we had been married for 40 years at that stage .Needless to say everything’s back to normal Lol birthdays Christmas and holidays. lol xxx  well done for bringing the subject up. Recently I had a conversation with an oncologist on this subject during a call with a cancer charity she admitted it was something she had never thought about but in future she would be more aware, as she says they aim for cure without thinking if the after effects mentally as well as physically they tell us what could happen but ……. I take a multi vitamin and vitamin e have done for last 6 years plus lions mane which is a dried mushroom powder over my cereals  started after treatment  

hugs Hazel 

Funny you should say that about sleeping in separate rooms. Pretty much been doing that for the last 5 months or so too. Like you the spare room became "my place". Started using it when I was using the overnight feeding pump and just got into the habit of doing it and still oddly reluctant to give it up.

We're only 2 years into marriage so understandably my wife - still very patient and understanding, don't get me wrong - is getting a bit frustrated. Not even so much with the lack of sex or anything, just even missing the feeling of cuddling in at night. 

I don't expect I'll be playing the Benny Hill theme and chasing her around the house any time soon, but who knows

Hi we used to cuddle on sofa still was affectionate start there and see what happens. We all needed our own spaces am sure the Casanova in you will be back ! Benny Hill made me laugh I can hear him singing Ernie the fastest milkman in the west. Ain’t going to get that tune out of my head tonight. 
hugs 

Hazel x

Feeding tube and pump certainly does put a damper on any intimacy, like many others I had my own living/sleeping space for some time, my wife understood the situation, things 'normalised' after the PEG feeding tube came out ....

My oncology teams were first class but post treatment normality was never fully discussed... only from the physical health perspective 

Peter 

Totally agree....a peg is surely not the sexiest accessory to wear ..on top of it during my treatment and a few weeks after I was making very loud gurgling noises at night....I told my partner that I bet none of his friends had a partner like me who kept them awake all night ...

For 4 months my partner and I could only hold hands as he was soooo worried about dislodging my peg. Amazing feeling when my peg was taken out and we could hug again. 

Fab1

What is stopping you from playing the Benny Hill theme? Baby step....start the chase just around the kitchen . ️

Hi there,

Definitely not an embarrassing question, well not to me. I am in Australia and have testosterone and  estrogen implants every six months. I'm 67 and the libido is fantastic ! Definitely worth looking into, it's made a big difference and I hope to never stop. See your GP but I know from my GP in the UK that there has been a fair bit of ignorance around women and testosterone. They will learn.  Good luck