Wet and Spongy feeling in prostate

[kpatterson]

Hello all,
I have been recently diagnosed with prostatitis and put on a course of Cipro. Although the urinary problems seem to be less and the pain is not as bad I feel as though I have a wet sponge lodged up my rear end. What does seem to help ironically is heavy spin cycle classes. I'm wondering if the pressure from the spinning is somehow releasing some of the fluid build up. It constantly feels like my prostate is protruding into my rectum. The cycling seems to help for a day or so.

Any others with similar experiences?

Thanks

[Jay]

Hi,

Kind of hard to formulate an opinion based upon what you've written. How long have you been suffering? What are your other symptoms? Did you culture bacteria (not just white blood cells, but bacteria)? Any other clinical findings?

What you're describing sounds similar to what a lot of fellows here describe. The typical description is "golfball in the rectum," and it tends to result from pelvic floor dysfunction (but not always).

- Jay

[kpatterson]

I've had urinary symptoms for a few months now, but have only had this spongy feeling for about three weeks.
Have not yet had bacteria cultured but am seeing a specialist soon. The first GP I saw only did urine swab. She said the culture rarely finds anything and that's why it was not sent for offical analysis.
My understanding was that it's very difficult to culture the bacteria. Can you tell me how this is done? Is it mandatory to have prostatic fluid in order to do this or can it be done through urine directly or semen?

Thanks for your feedback.

[Jay]

Hey there,

My understanding is that bacteria aren't that hard to spot. Actually, in almost every reference I've read regarding acute bacterial prostatitis (5-10% of patients), the diagnosis has been described as very straightforward.

The specialist you see may want to do an EPS test. This is where he or she will press on your prostate to try and force out a few drops of prostatic fluids for examination. Your GP is right that urinalysis rarely reveals anything, but in my opinion, that's because there's often nothing to be found in terms of bacteria!

[kpatterson]

Thanks for your responses Jay. I appreciate it. I am very nervous about this whole thing as I have a HUGE phobia of having my prostate manipulated and will do anything to avoid it. I'm actually thinking of having the Dr. give me a Valium beforehand. No joking.
If there is likely no bacteria then what are they looking for in an EPS test?

Again, thanks.

[webslave]

White blood cells (pus cells), which denote inflammation. But they will be testing for bugs too.

Take a Valium if it calms you down for the EPS test, no biggy.

[Jay]

Hi there,

Webslave is right, the EPS test is not a big deal. Just some light (usually) pushing. Most urologists have done this many, many times, so you don't need to be afraid.

If you're really nervous, tell them that you need something to calm you down prior to the test. I'm sure they will be willing to oblige if you explain!

[carld]

An EPS is really no big deal...It will feel like you have to pee that's all when it's pressed. My prostate at the time was "soft and boggy" and I had white blood cells in my EPS which was inflammation.

In my case, I believe the years of anxiety and pelvic clenching has created a tightness dysfunction ( injury) to my PC muscle which over time created my prostate to get inflamed and the LUTS etc...Thanks to what I have learned here...I was lucky to find this site months after my onset, so I was able to jump in full throttle...I now live a normal life with a few irritations here and there, but nothing to get worked up over now. I probably could be 99.999% if I did my protocol everyday...but lots going on in life and I sometimes eat and drink things I shouldn't My point is that you can do the same and so can any man that has CP/CPPS...

I really believe that if you get anxiety under control through relaxation, meds as needed ( Elavil) low dosage and learn about pelvic floor dysfunction and see a good PT and learn about foods and drinks that irritate...You can live a great comfortable life...Every one is different and it takes hard work .

Good luck

[kpatterson]

Thanks for your response Carld. I am a highly driven person and am taking this thing full on. Have only had it for a few months so hopefully I can catch it early on.
Just out of curiosity; did you have the golf ball feeling? If so, what has helped deal with that the most in your protocol?

[carld]

Thanks for your response Carld. I am a highly driven person and am taking this thing full on. Have only had it for a few months so hopefully I can catch it early on.
Just out of curiosity; did you have the golf ball feeling? If so, what has helped deal with that the most in your protocol?

I like to call it a tightness feeling in the rectum/perineum...So yes...Sometimes I still get that feeling and it passes. I'm 100% convinced that feeling is from pelvic floor dysfunction and a tight injured PC muscle. ( the muscle that is used to ejaculate and stop uirine from flowing )

There is a beautiful irony here with men that have a driven personality like you and I...It's that type of personality that got us in this condition in the first place...and it's the same type of personality that can get you out...if that makes sense?? So now I charge hard in life...but in a relaxed way

Cheers, Carl...

[jerry025]

Thanks for your response Carld. I am a highly driven person and am taking this thing full on. Have only had it for a few months so hopefully I can catch it early on.
Just out of curiosity; did you have the golf ball feeling? If so, what has helped deal with that the most in your protocol?

I like to call it a tightness feeling in the rectum/perineum...So yes...Sometimes I still get that feeling and it passes. I'm 100% convinced that feeling is from pelvic floor dysfunction and a tight injured PC muscle. ( the muscle that is used to ejaculate and stop uirine from flowing )

There is a beautiful irony here with men that have a driven personality like you and I...It's that type of personality that got us in this condition in the first place...and it's the same type of personality that can get you out...if that makes sense?? So now I charge hard in life...but in a relaxed way

Cheers, Carl...

Hi Carl,

Thanks first of all for all the positive informative posts you make. It's nice to read someone who has battled this stuff and is willing to help and support others with it.

I'm wondering if my issue is with the PC muscle as well. Most of my irritation now is after I pee or have a bowel movement. I get this irritation kind of pressure feeling in the subrapubic area which varies in intensity. It bothers me most when sitting or driving. I still feel it when standing or walking but I guess moving around distracts from it somewhat. This feeling will settle down eventually until I have to go the bathroom again. I do have occasional LUTS, but this is much better then when I first got this thing when that was the main symptom.

Also it does seem somewhat worse now the day or a couple days after ejaculation, and I did go a couple weeks without ejaculation recently and I think it did seem better. It is very easy to ejaculate now too which it was never like that before I got this. It doesn't hurt to ejaculate, but as I say it can happen pretty quickly, and it doesn't feel quite right. Sometimes it actually feels overly good if that makes any sense. Not all the semen seems to want to come out as a little bit seems to ooze out a little later unless I remember to kind of squeeze it all out. This seems to be the case with urine as well as I have to kind of squeeze the last few drops out to avoid dribbling.

I still sometimes get a dull non generalized soreness which mostly goes away after I pee. I haven't been feeling this as much lately, but the pressure feeling is lasting longer the last 2 or 3 days after feeling fairly decent the first part of the week. I did ejaculate on Wed and Friday night which I know I shouldn't have done.

I have been seeing a PT and doing daily light stretching. I don't really do anything strenuous right now. I try to go for walks 5 days a week and to get up at work and walk around as much as I can. I take some supplements and daily any accredited quercetin product as well. Not sure what effect they are having. I avoid caffeine and alcohol. I can't tell if foods are an issue. My diet could be better, but it's better than what it was.

Again just wondering if you think it could be a similar problem as to what you have as it does seem I have most of my irritation right after going to the bathroom when the muscles release and then have to hold the urine/feces back again. And the issue of the overly sensitive ejaculation.

[carld]

Your symptoms are similar to mine. I think you are jumping on this early and I think most men with our condition have some sort of dysfunction...In your case reading your symptoms in your last post...I think you PC muscle is one of the issues that can be worked on through your PT, relaxation and moment to moment relaxation all the time. Over time you will heal. Ejaculating about 3 times a week has been helpful for me and being very relaxed...But not masterbating! Have sex with your Wife or partner in a relaxed way. Her on top is GREAT!!!

That hypersensitivity with ejaculation is what I have as well...Sometimes it feels better then ever! I guess one of the few good things about CP/CPPS...

The weak ejaculation is from the tired/injured or worn out PC muscle in my opinion. Years of clenching and anxiety causes that I think. So it takes time to calm all of that pelvic myoneuropathy.

Also...stop the Cipro after about 4 weeks and no more AB from here on out once infection has been ruled out. Your way ahead of the game in my opinion and I think you will be well again...Just get the anxiety under control and make relaxation a big part of your protocol. Of course watch your diet as well for irritation!!

Cheers, Carl...

[jerry025]

Thanks. In my case no partner at the moment .......I think masturbating isn't making it worse, but it's not making it better either. I think I'm going to go an extended period without doing it to see what that does. The hypersensitivity thing is pretty strange for sure. It's kind of bad, but really good at the same time.

I do feel somewhat better than a few months ago. I at least have days at work where I'm not irritated all the time. I realize this is a slow process so hopefully by giving the muscles as much a break as possible from anything strenuous I can get back to some kind of normal state.

[carld]

I realize this is a slow process so hopefully by giving the muscles as much a break as possible from anything strenuous I can get back to some kind of normal state.

For sure!!...