I just signed up for this forum and would like to take the time to introduce myself. I am a 32 year old male currently living in Florida and I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease 10 years ago. I sort of fit the profile of some types of people suffering from this disease. I've got all kinds of issues with anxiety and suffer from crippling shyness and am uncomfortable around large groups of people. I had a very difficult childhood and hated going to school. I don't handle stress very well and will let stress get to me on any kind of job that is anything more than entry level which never ceases to induce a flare up. Because of this I've never really gone as far in my career as I could or should have.
The good news is that several years ago I started taking about 2 table spoons of slippery elm a day plus the usual round of anti-inflammatory drugs and I've not needed to take prednisone since 2003. I haven't needed surgery like many people and if I can keep stress to a minimum I can live in remission indefinitely.
Here is the bad news:
Of all of these problems, the libido problem bothers me the most. I wonder if there are other people who have lost their libido under crohn's and successfully gotten it back? I am very depressed about this because I want to date and have a relationship, but I can't really have a good relationship with no libido.
The good news is that several years ago I started taking about 2 table spoons of slippery elm a day plus the usual round of anti-inflammatory drugs and I've not needed to take prednisone since 2003. I haven't needed surgery like many people and if I can keep stress to a minimum I can live in remission indefinitely.
Here is the bad news:
- Since the disease started in my early 20s I've had no libido whatsoever. It's very difficult to get aroused and if I can get in the mood, it's very hard to stay in the mood for more than a few minutes. I've been like this now for almost a decade. I'm in south miami and see beautiful women every day, but I feel almost nothing!
- I feel like I'm "flatlining", if such a word exists. I feel numb inside and have a hard time feeling or caring about anything. I don't think I'm capable of falling in love or loving anything. The good point of this is that I never feel depressed either. I'm just sort of "OK" all the time
- I have no appetite anymore. The only way I really know it's time to eat is when I start to feel light headed and dizzy. I do feel hunger sometimes, but it's a mild sensation and nothing like what it should be.
Of all of these problems, the libido problem bothers me the most. I wonder if there are other people who have lost their libido under crohn's and successfully gotten it back? I am very depressed about this because I want to date and have a relationship, but I can't really have a good relationship with no libido.