My First Post - Please Advise

[So. Cal. Accountant]

Hi guys. I joined this usergroup because I think that I may have CPPS. I am now 35 years old and I am in generally good health.

My first episodic period was about 4 to 5 years ago. I felt a strong sense of urinary frequency and urgency that came on suddenly, with corresponding lower back pain. I went to a urologist and my urine was clean. The urologist put me on Pyridium and Flomax. My problems went away after approximately two months.

My second episodic period was two years ago, with similar clean urine, symptoms and treatment, which resolved my problem after approximately two months again.

A little over a month ago I started to feel the urinary frequency and urgency symptoms again. I went to see another urologist about a week later. Again the urologist put me on Pyridium and Flomax for the first month.

During that month, I voluntarily had myself tested for all major STD's (chlamydia, gonorrhoea, HSV 1, HSV 2, Hep B, Hep C, and HIV). I tested negative for all STD's listed above except for HSV 1 (the oral version of herpes), which I understand is quite common in the overall population, and could easily have been contracted when I was a child via saliva from another child. My urologist also gave me a PSA test, and I came out at 0.4, which I understand makes a diagnosis of prostate cancer pretty unlikely for me at this time.

I went back to see my urologist after one month, and now he has put me on a 1-month regimen of Doxycycline, of which I have been on approximately one week now.

My symptoms for the last month during this current episodic period are as follows: (1) an almost constant sensation of a frequent need to urinate, (2) corresponding urethral / penile discomfort until I urinate, which generally returns almost immediately after urinating, and, (3) a really sore lower back. My symptoms seem to get worse as the day goes on, and if I don't take Pyridium at least once or twice a day, the discomfort / pain is pretty much unbearable.

Now that I have experienced my third prostatitis episodic event in my lifetime for which there was no clear discernible bacterial origin, it has occurred to me that I may have CPPS.

Do my symptoms / condition sound like chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome to you guys? If so, does my urologist's approach make sense to you guys? Also, does anybody with a similar personal experience know how to properly treat / control this condition?

Please let me know. Thanks for your help, and I wish all of you the best of health.

"So. Cal. Accountant"

[webslave]

Yes, CPPS/IC sounds like. Uro advice is so/so (doxy is useless for this other than as an anti-inflammatory), but you need to look more at what people are doing here to prevent further attacks. Others will expand on this.

[So. Cal. Accountant]

One thing that I forgot to mention. I had an orgasm about three weeks ago (about two weeks after my symptoms started), and my urethra hurt like the devil for the next couple of days. It will be a long while before I try that again. I suppose that aspect is also part of CPPS?

[webslave]

Post-ejaculation pain is a classic sign!

[scoobysnacks]

I think you will find this board helpful. You sound like you are a chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome candidate to me.

The best thing to do is find a member that has similar symptoms to you, and then read all their posts. Then, PM them if you have specifics. Everyone is very willing to help.

Read AHIP, along with this entire board when you can.

Your symptoms are mainly different from mine. Though, I think we ALL have post ejac pain, and penile/urethral discomfort at some point.

I differ in that I bet your most annoying symptom is the urge/frequency, whereas my worst symptom was an intense spasm upon trying to first pee, which stopped urine flow, then allowed it to go once the muscle released. This caused intense irratation to the urethral canal. I have found this is due to a tight muscle just below the anal sphincter. I can now push on it and it will release. Dont be afraid to explore your body, beating this is going to take patience, time, and effort on your part.

There are many on this board with your main symptoms.

Welcome and Good Luck!

[carld]

So cal. I have basically the same symptoms as you and I live in LA also. Things that may help are Uroxatrol, Quercetin supplier supplements like any accredited quercetin product and BPQ which help fight the inflammation. You can try taking Aleve (naproxen) but don't take more then 4 a day. Hot baths to relax the perineum and Elavil 10MG as well. Try yoga and stretching everyday and find a PT that knows about CPPS, I know of one in Studio city that's great and can help you. Don't sit for long periods. Most important I think is time, that was not something I was expecting when my frequency and discomfort kicked in. I thought I would take Aleve (naproxen) for 10 days and move on. Urologists don't tell you that, although I have a great one who understand chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome as a stress disorder which causes most of our problems. You can PM me and I can go over more things on a personal level. You will get slowly better. I'm not a Dr. these are things that have helped me...

[rider fan]

One thing that I forgot to mention. I had an orgasm about three weeks ago (about two weeks after my symptoms started), and my urethra hurt like the devil for the next couple of days. It will be a long while before I try that again. I suppose that aspect is also part of CPPS?

I wonder, given the fact that your pelvic area (including the prostate) is irritated and likely inflamed, if it would be a better idea to ejaculate at least once a week. I'm thinking this COULD help in the long run, as it would prevent semen from just sitting in an inflamed prostate for too long and aggravating symptoms.

I'm not in anyway advocating very frequent ejaculation as this will probably make things much worse, but I don't know if doing the opposite is beneficial. What are others thoughts on this?

[HelpADude]

One thing that I forgot to mention. I had an orgasm about three weeks ago (about two weeks after my symptoms started), and my urethra hurt like the devil for the next couple of days. It will be a long while before I try that again. I suppose that aspect is also part of CPPS?

Oh Ya, I had this, from a "wet dream" even. I woke in pain and went "WTF?" I also had that once after I pee but both time it went away fairly quickly.

Your symptom are mild (like me) compared to most folks here. I'm pain/discomfort free most of the time now. I think if you just follow the Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol you should be ok for rest of your life. S.P. is covered in the book "A Headache in the Pelvis" AHIP. Once you know what's going on, the feeling of doom went away quickly.

As for ejaculation frequency, it depends. When I'm in a flare it provides quick relief but make the next day worse. Otherwise I try not do it too often.

[So. Cal. Accountant]

Rider Fan,

You are correct. Based on both my uro and my symptoms, my prostate is definitely inflamed, and my uro recommended more frequent ejaculations as well, as he thinks that it may help clear up my problem eventually.

So. Cal. Accountant

[rider fan]

Rider Fan,

You are correct. Based on both my uro and my symptoms, my prostate is definitely inflamed, and my uro recommended more frequent ejaculations as well, as he thinks that it may help clear up my problem eventually.

So. Cal. Accountant

I'm sure your problem will be cleared up eventually too. It'll just take some research on this site and some experimentation on your part. As for ejaculation, I think moderation is the key. I find too often or too little both cause problems.
Good luck!

[lookouth]

Just some advice on pursuing the 'inflamed prostate' theory...
Urologists are often over eager to say you have an inflamed prostate when they don't know what else is wrong with you. That is not to say that you don't have an inflamed prostate, but I went to three urologists who all told me I had an inflamed prostate, until two much better doctors found that I didn't (I never had pain even upon digital manipulation so the first three diagnoses always struck me as a bit funny...) I have post-ejaculatory pain in the urethra as well and can tell you absolutely in my case it is nerve pain as a result of tense and spasming muscles not an inflamed prostate. The best advice on ejaculation , in my opinion (after having this for four years) is just to find out what works best for you and stick to it, if that means not ejaculating for two weeks or doing it every day, then so be it. Your symptoms are actually identical to mine-- the sore lower back being a big sign that you are probably involuntarily tensing those muscles and would benefit from relaxation and other therapy focused on muscle tension and possibly psychotherapy treatment which would help you better understand the root causes of your muscle tension. Also since you live in LA you should also consider seeing Doctor Wise at Stanford, if you are interested in pursuing treatment for CPPS.

[scotsman]

One of the most successful techniques to reduce an increase in symptoms post ejaculation is to relax your pelvis just when you're reaching and during orgasm (also feels better/more intense in general as a handy side-effect!).

Richard.

[Richie]

https://ucpps.men/chronic-prostatitis-is-a-psychoneuromuscular-condition

[LightningTree]

I developed the major pain problem a few years ago and currently have it under control (no pain). But I had post ejaculatory pain that lasted for many many hours that began when I was around 12 years old and lasted until I resolved my chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome issues at age 32.

I used to just take pain killers, assumed my insides didn't quite work right, and then told myself I was lucky that it wasn't something worse.

Then it got worse, and the stretching relaxation method relieved my problems.


As far as I am concerned, post-ejaculation pain can be the sign of preliminary chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (there are many other possibilities, however). So I do recommend you see the apprporiate Urologists and all that, make sure nothing is wrong, and then work on the relaxation and the stretching. I am not a medical doctor, that is just my layperson's opinion.

[So. Cal. Accountant]

The reason why I know that my prostate is inflamed is that it hurt like hell when the uro did the DRE in order to extract the EPS.