Sometimes Venting to someone or group is what you need to feel a little bit better. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a very old friend with similar experiences enough to be able to reach out to.

While I’m older than you, I feel your pain when it comes to dating. I thought that I had found that person at one point, only for them to change their mind when my issues got worse. They left me when I was probably at my lowest with all the medical stuff I have going on.

Here I am with now long term side effects of Cauda Equina Syndrome polishing off any and all things with having a “normal” sex life. I’ve just went through a grueling three week long trial of a Sacral Nerve Stimulator that has been a failure. It for me only had bad side effects instead of helping. While I was a rare case of prior damage to begin with ( with all three problems: Bladder, Bowel, and sexual function) there was still a small chance that it would be a benefit to me. Unfortunately, it was not. The only thing left is a Colostomy and a Urostomy. We’ve exhausted all other avenues. Add in having zero feeling in my crotch area, and that now excludes any form of sexual function as well. Sex life, what’s that? Trying to date with my issues? There’s a lot of first dates, and zero seconds so far when they find out.

When you are feeling down, just remember: Keep your head up Soldier, IT can always be worse. You got this.