Episode 23: Embracing Intimacy After Transplant: A Taboo Worth Breaking / “Let’s Talk About Sex”

Show Notes

In this episode, hosts Kristin and Tiffany delve into the taboo topic of sex, highlighting its significance in the lives of solid organ transplant recipients and LVAD patients. They stress the importance of normalizing conversations around intimacy, emphasizing its positive impact on emotional well-being and overall quality of life.

Quote: Sex is both healthy and risky because sex connects us”. Matthias Roberts

Key Points:

Importance of Intimacy: Intimacy encompasses emotional, physical, and sexual connections, playing a vital role in building relationships and promoting well-being. Recognizing this importance validates the needs of transplant recipients and LVAD patients for connection, supporting their holistic recovery process and quality of life.

Pleasure-Based vs. Performance-Based Sex: Shifting the focus from performance-based to pleasure-based sex is crucial for individuals adjusting to life with chronic illness. Pleasure-based sex involves open communication, focusing on physical sensations, and embracing various activities, emphasizing fun, pleasure, and intimacy with the partner.

Safety Precautions: Intimacy post-transplant or with an LVAD requires careful consideration due to specific medical considerations and modifications. Patients and partners must consult healthcare teams to understand guidelines, including infection prevention, wound care, and medication management. Safety is paramount for a satisfying intimate life.

Normalizing Sex and Intimacy: Transplant/LVAD Social workers and a patient’s individual psychotherapist can play a vital role in normalizing conversations about sex and intimacy. By initiating open discussions, we reduce stigma, facilitate communication, and help patients and partners address their concerns comfortably and safely.

Providing Education and Resources: Transplant/LVAD Social workers and a patient’s individual psychotherapist can offer direction towards where to find educational materials and resources, guiding patients on safe practices and addressing concerns. Referral to peer forums, support groups, or counseling services specializing in sexual health can enhance patient support overall.

Collaboration with Healthcare Team: Collaboration with the patient's healthcare team ensures comprehensive care. Social workers work with physicians, nurses, and specialists to address medical, psychological, and emotional aspects of intimacy, offering holistic support.

Normalizing Emotional Support: Acknowledging and addressing the emotional aspects of intimacy, including anxiety, fear, guilt, and body image concerns, is vital. Social workers and therapists offer emotional support, normalizing these emotions and providing coping strategies for patients.

In conclusion, normalizing intimacy for transplant recipients and LVAD patients is essential for their overall well-being. By embracing conversations around intimacy, ensuring safety, and providing emotional support, social workers and therapists empower patients and partners to navigate this aspect of their lives, enhancing their quality of life.

 Resources and references utilized in today’s episode:

·         https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21372729/  

·         https://www.mylvad.com/patients-caregivers/lvad-lifestyle/living-lvad/intimacy-and-relationships-lvad  

·         https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022522303021147  

·         https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268087249_SEX_AND_INTIMACY_AMONG_PATIENTS_LIVING_WITH_AN_LVAD  

·         https://www.heartandlung.org/article/S0147-9563(11)00224-X/fulltext  

·         https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-love-in-chronic-illness/202201/sexual-creativity-chronic-illness  

·         https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-love-in-chronic-illness/202009/sexual-challenges-chronic-illness  

·         https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sex-love-in-chronic-illness/202007/the-grief-process-chronic-illness-and-sexuality   

·         https://youtu.be/UEpqJJoDRNk  

·         https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ehf2.12014

·         https://journals.lww.com/transplantjournal/Fulltext/2020/09003/SEXUAL_FUNCTION_AFTER_LEFT_VENTRICULAR_ASSIST.879.aspx

 Thanks for dropping a beat with us!

Like, subscribe, and review, to ensure the best goes on ;) We ALWAYS appreciate feedback from our listeners. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, or if you'd like to share any relevant experiences while maintaining HIPPA compliance, reach out on any of our platforms:

 Email: BeatsBySW@gmail.com

Social media: @beatsbyswpodcast

Website: beatsbysw.onpodium.co

Disclaimers:

If you are a patient or professional experiencing a medical or mental health crisis, please seek immediate help. If you are having a medical crisis/emergency please call 911 or go to the nearest hospital. The information we share is not medical advice; consult your healthcare provider for specific medical conditions. If you are having a mental health crisis call 911 or the National Suicide Hotline Toll-Free Number at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or your local suicide hotlines including 988.

 For transplant and LVAD social workers and other professionals, our insights come from our experience as Certified Clinical Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Social Workers. Our views are our own and not affiliated with any specific institution. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes and does not override any institutional policies or guidelines. As humans, we may make mistakes, but we're open to feedback and strive for accuracy. If we say something incorrect or inappropriate, please let us know so we can improve. We're here to share information and connect with our audience respectfully.