MS or Something Else

[beesting84]

I've been suffering from severe erectile dysfunction for the past year or so, its to the point I can't even achieve an erection. I've also had frequent urination and some leakage after urinating. I also have some tingling and numbness in my hands and feet but it goes away with movement. I'm also had been diagnosed with depression since I was 11 and I'm always anxious about having MS. My GP doesn't think it's neurological and my Urologist doesn't think its related to my weight but the problems still continues even after I lost 40 lbs. Nobody seems to be taking my ED seriously, I just want to find out what the problem is. I'm so scared it might be MS. I take Wellbutrin 300mg and klonopin 1 mg 4-5 times a day and I'm still nervous. Any suggestions? My GP doesn't want to give me a referral to a Neurologist so I feel like I'm stuck. I also have Bi-Polar disorder.

[beesting84]

I was pretty overweight and I would still like to lose another 30lbs. I didn't not have any tests for urinary tract or prostate infections. I have been taking artificial testosterone for about a year now to get my levels normal.
I too was thinking it might be something else hormonal. I had a lot of blood tests ran back in March when I was at my heaviest and was seeing a different doctor. My fasting blood sugar was was 82, which I beleive is far below even pre-diabetic. My cholesterol was normal except my Triglycerides were high, but no medication were prescribed to deal with this. My blood pressure was also normal. I see my Urologist's NP next month I will ask about the prostate and urinary tract infections, but could these infections last for over a year? I've been on some pretty strong antibiotics since then to deal with a sinus infection, not sure if this would be the same treatment though.

There is a very good doctor here in town who specializes in diabietes, weight managment and other hormonal issues. I might get a referal to him if I'm unhappy at with my next Urologist appointment, but I will bring up the prostate and urinary tract infections tests.

[Paxiled]

First, none of us are doctors, including me, but I'll add to the brainstorming here.  We don't know how heavy you are, but apparently you were pretty overweight as you had 40 pounds you could lose.  I'm assuming they tested you for urinary tract infections or prostate infections, though you say the urologist performed no tests -- so I'm assuming your GP at least did this.  If not, then something very simple and obvious has been omitted.  But you also say you were very low on testosterone, but that it's normal now but only because you took, I'm assuming, artificial testosterone.  Now, it doesn't sound at all like MS, and if you think urologists have few good tests, wait until you see how little neurologists know about the body -- talk to one and they'll tell you this, though they have a slew of usually inconclusive tests they can do on you.  But to me, I'm thinking endocrine system, including blood sugar, especially due to your weight problems.  The endocrine system depends on proper cholesterol flow, since good cholesterol plays such as large role in manufacturing hormones.  So even though medication might have gotten your testosterone up, it hasn't changed whatever condition caused it to get low in the first place.  Also, you're on a huge amount of klonopin, which could cause anyone to have their systems slowed down, and you're taking the wrong antidepressant to treat anxiety -- the way to use wellbutrin for anxiety to minimize sexual side effects is to take an ssri that works and then, if you have sexual side effects, add some wellbutrin to it, not just take wellbutrin.  Again, just brainstorming here.  So you might want to see an endocrinologist, or try something else, such as seeing a naturopath or physician who practices integrated medicine and might see you as a whole person, not little pieces of one, and see if dietary changes and supplements can get you slowly back to normal.  

[beesting84]

Im sorry they did check my prolactin levels to rule out a pituitary tumor, they also checked my sex binding hormone (i think this is what its called), estrogen and testosterone. The testosterone was very low but ive been on test replacement for about a year with no improvement and my levels are now normal. all other tests were normal.

[beesting84]

Thank you for your concern. My Urologist who is very prominent has ordered and performed no tests. As a matter of fact since I've started seeing him I've seen his advice quoted on many articles written on ED on MSN and WebMD. From what I've been told by not only him but other doctors in his office is that urology doesn't really run many diagnostic tests. Really??? I've never had any medical training but if they're not able to diagnose a problem what good are they? I could have figured out taking Viagra and testosterone on my own! They want to start injecting a drug directly related into my penis going forward. They said it's guaranteed to give you an erection. I can also achieve a semi erection with ED pills but I'm not paying $60 for a semi erection penis. They seem completely uninterested in finding the underlying cause and more concerned with just giving me medication and have me take meds for it for the rest of my life. Just looking around the web I know there are test for venous leaks and a few other tests they could perform.

My GP asked if I could be referred to a Neuro but they said they won't see me solely based on my ED. I'm going to try and have my doctor push the urinary symptoms more maybe I can get somewhere.

In the meantime I see my Urologist's NP in December, I can't seem him directly cause he's book till February. Do you have any specific tests in mind that they could perform that I could bring up?

It's extremely frustrating!

[nursegirl6572]

I'm sorry to hear that you're going through this.  I'm sure it's terribly distressing.

The biggest thing that jumped out at me in your description were the complaints of the urinary symptoms AND the fact that you have not been able to achieve an erection at all, not even partial.  

What kinds of tests has the Urologist ordered?  What were the results of those tests?  

I would encourage you to get a second opinion from another Urologist, and insist on the Neuro referral.  You have every right to want to be seen and assessed by a Neurologist, especially because you have no answers.  Sure, there very likely COULD be an anxiety component, but my hunch tells me that's not the main cause.  AND, you're treating the anxiety and not seeing any improvement, which warrants further examination from a specialist.  A Neuro just makes sense as the next logical step.

That's my advice, a second opinion with a new Urologist (or a pow wow with your current one, asking for  more comprehensive diagnostic studies) and insist on the Neuro consult.

Please update us and let us know what's going on, okay?  I really hope you get to the bottom of this soon.

[beesting84]

I've had these symptoms of ED for the past couple of years. There was a time I wasn't taking any meds at all. I started back up when my anxiety came back, I also switched to Wellbutrin from an SSRI because I didn't want my meds to further complicate things but since I was off my meds for around a year I doubt its related to my meds. Going to therapy too but I would think even if it was all mental I would at least get an erection from time to time.

[remar]

Wellbutrin can be more of the more stimulating antidepressants and many people that also have anxiety don't do well on it. The good thing about this med though is it usually does not cause any sexual side effects. It could be your anxiety med. Did the ED start around the same time you started the anxiety med? You're on a pretty high dose too. You've seen more than one Dr about this.Have they done any testing. If not, they should. It's true that anxiety and depression both can come with a very long list of side effects. ED can be one of them. Are you in therapy? If not, I highly recommend it because it can help you learn why you have both of these and also help you learn coping skills.