Neuropathy & Sex (one for the ladies)

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Rockmonkey

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Hello, I am new here and this is bit of an embarrassing one. I have struggled with my diabetes for many years and have been suffering with neuropathy mainly in my legs but recently I have noticed I am not so sensitive 'down there' and it is more challenging having an orgasm. I defiantly haven't lost my libido and not suffering with dryness which I know can happen, it's defiantly a sensitivity issue.

For a man they have viagra which can help with this, but for us women I can't seem to find anything. I am already on meds for Neuropathy but it doesn't seem to be doing a lot for this problem.

Is there any other diabetic ladies out there suffering with this....
 
I think my problem is more down to my age than my diabetes @Rockmonkey. However, I can heartily sympathise, and ask that if you find a fix, please let me know x
 
This is an enraging issue. Sexuality in women is just as physical as it is in men - you need spinal and uterine nerves to fire before you can have an orgasm. You need blood flow, undamaged nerves, and uterine muscles that can contract. You also need hormones. There is a whole interplay of physiology that makes sexuality happen, but if you read the literature, you'll see - over and over - that women are advised that it's all in their head. Literally, this is the advice. There are websites saying partners need to take it slower, and women need to relax, and maybe they need to let the housework go etc etc, but NOTHING that talks about the anatomy and physiology of it.

What you're describing sounds like a form of neuropathy - there may be nerve damage. If your libido is intact, it's less likely to be a hormonal issue.

You really need to talk about it with an expert who understands the nerve damage that diabetes can do, like an endocrinologist. And you need to be insistent that you know your own body, and it's not a psychological issue. Men get counselling for the sexual dysfunction caused by diabetes, so women should too. The problem is that even gynaecologists buy into the "it's all about relaxation" narrative, particularly if the doctor is younger and the woman is older. GPs probably know exactly nothing. You have to be a complete pest about it and insist that you think you have nerve damage that needs to be checked out.

Oh and some women report good results with Cialis.
 
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Thank you. I definetly have my labido. Me and my husband are quite sexually active so it doesn't seem to be anything hormone wise going on. I have had my hormones and everything checked and all was ok. So it does seem to be Neuropathy. Thank you for the advice/responces. I will defintly keep chasing it up.
 
Could it be due to the medication for neuropathy in that it’s reducing pain (sensitivity) of nerves (albeit damaged ones) - perhaps the same for healthy nerves? What does the side effects say for your medication?
Or was it as bad before the meds?
 
Doctors agreed to take me off the medication to see if this was a problem and so far we have not seen any noticable difference so I don't believe this is the case. Thank you for your idea.
 
Sometimes it takes a while for meds to leave the system, if you notice your neuropathy getting worse then that would indicate the meds leaving the system. Do the meds list it as a side effect?

Good luck tho, I hope it gets sorted
 
Yes this was a joint decision with my GP, who did not think this was a side effect but it was worth a try. The time it has taken and new symptoms and the way it is almost spreading she felt very strongly it is neuropathy.

Thank you
 
I haven't got much to offer with this discussion but I wonder if looking at foods and supplements to support your nervous system would be worth investigating. I believe vitamin B12 and cholesterol are important for nerve health/repair. Cholesterol gets a bad wrap but our brain and nerves are reliant on it. Just wondering if, as a diabetic, you have been prescribed a statin and it has maybe dropped your levels lower than your body needs or would benefit from a slight increase. Not suggesting that you stop taking statins if you are currently taking them but something else to consider, especially if your cholesterol levels are very low. I wonder if exercise can also help to improve things. I believe a certain amount of nerve repair is possible and exercise stimulates blood flow to facilitate that repair. I should add that I am very much thinking off the top of my head here with no medical training.
 
If it is Neuropathy, then the "Neuropathy Cocktail" may help - it's a combination of supplements that is routinely prescribed in Europe, but Doctors here do not seem to have heard of it. It certainly helped the neuropathy in my feet that I had when first diagnosed. 20+ years on I no longer suffer from it.

The DPN Cocktail

The following is a recommendation for treatment of DPN by use of anti-oxidants, and is based on the research of Stan Angilley. It has been used successfully by many diabetics to reduce or even eliminate DPN. Before starting on this regimen, you should discuss it with your doctor, as you may have other medical issues which would contraindicate its use. It is likely that your doctor will have heard little or nothing about this approach, so we have provided citations to applicable literature below.

The DPN cocktail has three components: Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) as contained in Evening Primrose Oil (EPO), and Vitamin C. These components are available from many sources, including pharmacies, health food stores, and over the internet. The ALA component is somewhat expensive, so we will provide some internet sources that many have used successfully. We have no profit motive here, and suggest that you research sources to find your best buy. The unique properties of the components make this cocktail synergistic, in other words, the parts work together to reinforce and replenish each other.

Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA), also known as thioctic acid, has a short plasma half-life of about 30 minutes. It is also both water and fat soluble, which assists in its transport in the body. It also isn't cheap, so to get the maximum benefit use only Extended Release versions. This used to limit you to formulations from the Lipoic Foundation and Jarrow. Nowadays, it is made by a couple of others. ALA is a sulfur based compound, so expect your urine to have a sulfur smell. ALA is also known to assist in the reduction of blood glucose, likely by decreasing peripheral insulin resistance. You should carefully monitor its effect on your BG to avoid potential hypos.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) is an n-6 (omega-6) polyunsaturated fatty acid commonly contained in Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) and Borage Oil (BO). EPO typically contains more GLA than BO. Depending on the method of extraction from the plants, EPO can contain varying amounts of GLA. Buy a brand of EPO that contains at least 10% GLA. For example, choose a 1300mg EPO tablet that contains at least 130mg of GLA.

The last component is Vitamin C. There is nothing special required in selecting a specific form of Vitamin C, so you can choose generic, Rosehips, or Ester C.

The components of the cocktail are:

* 300mg Slow Release Alpha Lipoic Acid
* 1300mg Evening Primrose Oil
* 500mg Vitamin C

Starting off, take one cocktail morning and night. After you get relief from the neuropathy feelings, you should be able to reduce this to a maintenance dose of once a day. Most report improvements in DPN after about 3 months of use. Some report stomach upset from the cocktail, so taking it with a meal may help. No other serious adverse reactions have been reported.
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rebrascora said:
I haven't got much to offer with this discussion but I wonder if looking at foods and supplements to support your nervous system would be worth investigating. I believe vitamin B12 and cholesterol are important for nerve health/repair. Cholesterol gets a bad wrap but our brain and nerves are reliant on it. Just wondering if, as a diabetic, you have been prescribed a statin and it has maybe dropped your levels lower than your body needs or would benefit from a slight increase. Not suggesting that you stop taking statins if you are currently taking them but something else to consider, especially if your cholesterol levels are very low. I wonder if exercise can also help to improve things. I believe a certain amount of nerve repair is possible and exercise stimulates blood flow to facilitate that repair. I should add that I am very much thinking off the top of my head here with no medical training.
Click to expand...
Thank you. They did automatically prescribe me statins due to being Type 1 Diabetic. However being on several meds I did ask if it was necessary as my cholesterol was good. They have said I do not need to take it at the moment but if there is any signs of my cholesterol changing I need to go on them. I have seen a dietician recently and she said my diet was good. My cholesterol is good, I regulary exercise, Not on Statins, Have a healthy diet and
nothing has come back re bloods taken and hormone tests and I also had a scan to check everything was ok down there.

I will look further into food supplements to support the nervous system and see if thereis any additional things I can take to help - thank you.
 
Pattidevans said:
If it is Neuropathy, then the "Neuropathy Cocktail" may help - it's a combination of supplements that is routinely prescribed in Europe, but Doctors here do not seem to have heard of it. It certainly helped the neuropathy in my feet that I had when first diagnosed. 20+ years on I no longer suffer from it.
Click to expand...
Thank you, this sounds interesting, I will look into this further and give it a try.
 
Do you mind me asking if you have been diagnosed with diabetes long? Just wondering if there was an extended period of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes prior to your Type 1 diagnosis?
 
Also, how long were you on the statin if you don't mind me asking and how long has it been stopped? Was the reason it was stopped due to the pain (neuropathy) you were experiencing? I have heard that it can take quite a while (months) to recover on the odd occasions where statins have caused issues for people.
 
rebrascora said:
Do you mind me asking if you have been diagnosed with diabetes long? Just wondering if there was an extended period of undiagnosed or uncontrolled diabetes prior to your Type 1 diagnosis?
Click to expand...
I have been a type 1 diabetic for 38 years (diagnosed when I was 5 years old). So it is defintly not new and not due to anything there.

Re Statins, as mentioned above. I do not take them and never have done. My cholesterol is good so I have not yet needed them. They were prescribed to me as they automatically do for a type 1 diabetic, but I have not yet had to take them as they said I was ok for the moment as they have no concerns with my cholesteral.
 
Ah! Sorry to misunderstand. Bit of an odd situation to be prescribed them when you don't need them and are not expected to take them. I wonder if that is some sort of box ticking exercise. I am a bit naughty as I was offered them but declined because my levels are not particularly high, but being almost 60 and female and diabetic I apparently have a lot of risk factors. 🙄
 
No problem at all. It was the Diabetic specialist who prescribed them for me being I have risk factors (Diabietic/health and getting older) apparently they do it for all. Anyway when I had my last tests I said to both the diabetic specialist and Dr... Do I really need them as my cholesterol is all ok. I also said I am on enough medication I really don't want to go taking more if it is not necesary. So they said ok that's fine but if any changes then I have to start taking them.
 
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