Still not sure if I'm right in this forum

[Amergin]

Hi guys,

this is my first post and although I've read extensively in the FAQs I'm still not really sure if I have prostatitis mainly for 3 reasons:

1. Although the doctors can't find any viral, bacterial, fungal or physical cause (they tested exhaustively for everything and did cytoscopy) for my symptoms (continual pain and redness at tip of penis and pain in upper right supra-pubic region) they have never mentioned prostatitis
2. The range of symptoms covered off under prostatitis is so broad and I only have two of them (no matter how desperate I feel I can't imagine how bad it is for some of the other guys) and so I'm not sure I qualify
3. Initially I thought it had to be a STD

I'd be grateful if anyone could give me their opinion if these two symptoms alone are indicative because I don't want to waste any more time and worry going to doctors.

Many thanks,
Amergin

[treynor33]

Those two signs are definitely right down the chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome alley. And the fact that the doctors have never found anything else makes chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome a definite possibililty. I'm no Dr though...just keep reading and you'll understand it all even better.

[treynor33]

What meds have you tried and what tests other than for infections have you had?

[CppsDad]

I agree. Those are two of the more common symptoms of CPPS. You are right that you shouldn't base your whole diagnosis on just two symptoms. However, because things like this can take a long time to track down (if ever), I always recommend to people that they start doing some of the things recommended on this forum while at the same time researching other angles (if that's what they still want to do). I wasted a lot of time between doctor's visits waiting for answers, when I could have already started treating myself. So start doing some stretching, massage and relaxation stuff, and possibly even get an evaluation by a PT for both internal and external trigger points. While doing this things, you can continue to seek other opinions as long as you want, but at least you know that if you have chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in the end, you'll already have begun treatment, and it didn't cost you a single copay.

Mike

[Amergin]

Hi guys,

as far as the medications I have tried they have mainly been anti-biotics: Azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levoflocaxin and some broad spectrum. The urologist also proscribed me something against fungal infections - although he did this without having tested for a fungal infection.

The tests I have done so far are blood tests to check for HIV, Hepatitis, Syphilis and Herpes (I had to tell the doctor that there was a blood test for Herpes!) - all blood tests were negative. The urologist also did urinalysis culture tests for Chlamydia. He also did 2 PCR urethral swab tests for Gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, HPV and HSV. All bacterial and viral tests were negative. He also used a cytoscope to examine the urethra and the bladder and saw nothing unusual.

I saw a dermatologist who was puzzled by the redness at the penis tip, prescribed hydrocortisone cream and when it didn't clear up told me to get a second opinion from a urologist!

I was considering getting a sonoscope although I fear the doctors will again just say everything is "normal"!

Are there any other tests I should still do to rule out anything but CPPS?

Thanks,
Amergin

ps how do I enter details like age, onset etc automatically at the end of the mail?

How do I

[Paso]

Go in under "profile" and then again under "profile". Edit your profile in there and then save it.

[LightningTree]

Generally speaking, abacterial chronic pain in the pelvis is long term, abacterial chronic pain in the pelvis, regardless of specifically what is causing yours. Which means you belong here.

Just use your best judgement as to what fits you and what doesn't.

Having had mostly rectal symptoms for two years, and now mostly (very mild) bladder area symptoms, I can assure you that whatever is causing isn't very particular either!