Gmccormack's case

[carld]

I'm a big supporter of Elavil low dosage all the way...The reason why I think it has helped my CP/CPPS is simply this...

It helps ease my anxiety along with my cognitive work in a safe low dose. I have excepted that I have a genetic issue and I'm prone to anxiety and panic disorder.

Mast cell protection, so I have less degranulation of mast cells etc....

Thus this helps relax irritated nerves and muscles so they can heal...

No placebo effect in my opinion...It's helping you, but work hard on cognitive ways to relax the body and mind.

Eat right

stretch and learn self internal work as needed

Take Aleve (naproxen) as needed...I usually take 2 to 4 a week ( on weekends) which I think is safe and I have not had any problems I'm aware of. Sometimes I won't take any for weeks.

Above all do what you love and charge hard in a relaxed way!!

[Jay]

Hi there,

The placebo effect can be very powerful, but by the same token, Elavil has helped quite a few people and is a known treatment course among urologists. If you're finding that your relief is still sustained by week's end, I'd say you're on to something.

Unfortunately, Elavil didn't help me (quite the opposite), but I suspect I have problems which differ from those of the majority.

Best,

Jay

[gmccormack]

Hi,

Anyone that has doubts regarding whether or not PT will reduce symptoms should at least give it try. I met with Ann Lavesque today out of the Boston area, she was extremely professional and knew the contents of HITP very well. As most, I was very skeptical although I had felt some abdomen spasms and in addition I was a bit leery of internal PT.

I am here to say that after the first treatment she found at least 6 point internally that had me grimacing and hurt quite a lot. So far today I have been able to sit for 5 hours pain free in rectum at least, with getting up twice to urinate. It was interesting because I had thought the pain in the rectum was my prostate hurting but she said she was no where near the prostate when she was hitting the points. She said I had some muscles that felt like bone and some taught bands. She mentioned it was good I was seeing her so quickly into my bout because the longer you wait longer the muscles have to become dysfunctional and more difficult to treat.

I'm still dealing with a weak flow and some general pelvis pain but I have no doubt that PT is the answer along with relaxation which I will learn when I head to Stanford in March.

Thank you to you all who have provided information on PT and convinced me enough to try it.

[webslave]

A good PT is like gold; you are lucky to have found one.

[gmccormack]

Just wanted to give an update on my condition and info to newer members.

I have had chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome for 3.5 months now and and the last 10 days the symptoms have been very mild, the first 3 months were atrocious with a great deal of pain. I have been doing:

relaxation
PT
psychiatrist
numerous herbs
acupuncture
Cardura
Elavil (10 mg at night)

In reality I don't know how much this protocol is helping or if I would just be feeling better regardless. After reading literally over 500 posts this weekend I went on a mental roller coaster ride, some men showed tremendous success and have been "cured" while others have suffered for a decade.

With my symptoms so mild, Saturday I told myself " I can live a normal life with this if I had to" and this mentality has relieved a lot of anxiety and I am not consumed every minute of the day by it. Could this just be the symptoms waning, possibly...

Coincidentally, I ran into a family friend who is a well known physician at an organic foods store nearby picking up some gluten free foods (based on Webslave's experience). I spoke with him for 10 minutes about CPPS/CP and he said that prostatatis is extremely common and most FULLY recover, the bouts typically burn out under a year but one may need a change in lifestyle to prevent another bout.

I found his statement contrary to what some members have stated, that it never completely goes away. Originally, I found these comments to be soul breaking but to the newer members, some of these posts need to be taken with a grain of salt, there are many experienced members with great information and others that just complain about their problem(s) and offer nothing. Dr Shoskes has said that members that post on these sites inherently have longer and worse symptoms than most and this is an important observation.

I agree with Webslave that more research must be done in terms of how many patients do recover and those that still have symptoms. However, in my personal experience with other men that I know who have had this condition it is completely resolved and I believe that to be the majority . Obviously, personal experience is no match for scientific studies but I have yet to find one with statistics of recovery.

[webslave]

Since your case is "new", there is every chance you will recover completely. But you may have another "bout" many years down the track, since you are susceptible. No biggy.

[gmccormack]

Thanks Webslave, still have reserved a spot at Stanford in March. We'll see how I am then.

By the way anyone interested there was a great debate a while back on the "burning out" of prostatitis. I tend to agree with Sleeper Service but I am still learning...

check it out...

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=5528&p=30363#p30363

[gmccormack]

Hi,

Question...
The pain level of my symptoms has gone down considerably, but my urine flow is still only about 60-70% of normal. I am able to completely void and have very little residual urine.

When I was taking Bactrim and Cipro while the pain was still there the urine flow was back to normal. Once off the flow decreased again.

I realize there is no infection and the antibiotics are acting as an anti inflammatory, but would it make sense to go back on them for a short period (2 weeks) get my urine flow back and hope that it remains since my pain level is diminished? My uro I'm sure would gladly prescribe more of them...

[jerry025]

I would try something like any accredited quercetin product first before more courses of AB.

[gmccormack]

I notice in the HITP and many members here experience flares that come and go and the pain waxes and wanes. In my 4 months of suffering I have never experienced this. The symptoms built up to a peak over 2.5 months and then slowly started coming down and feel pretty good now. Should I take this as a sign that I am on my way to being "cured" or am I at a low pain/symptom point.

Experienced members, I know you've seen a lot. Is it more common to wax and wane or to peak and slowly resolve with treatments? I asked my PT and she said she sees more that DON'T wax and wane but it is a personal experience and different for everyone. I know there is no scientific answer or stat but I ask because if it wasn't for the anxiety that this is going to come back full force I could get on with my life.

Thanks -

[graeme]

Wax and wane happens to a lot of guys after quite a bit of time normally or for me the first 6 months was full on then after about 1 year wax and wane started

[neue01]

My guess is that it might depend on what methods you're using to get over this condition. I get flares from eating foods I'm intolerant too as well as from breaking down trigger points through massage and physical therapy. This happens if I accidentally aggravate the trigger point instead of releasing it or occasionally from a difficult and heavy session that actually results in a release. If your just using relaxation I'd guess you might not flare at all.

[garyholc]

I wouldnt use the word cured as such, my symptoms as such over the months and past 2 years have varied so much, I have gone 4-5 months with nothing then wham, it comes back, so keep staying stress free, relaxed and stretching, its when you get complacent this thing comes back and slaps you in the face!

[carld]

its when you get complacent this thing comes back and slaps you in the face!

So true....

[gmccormack]

Gary,

I see that you have had this for a relatively short period of time considering the condition. You now have been pain free since September 2008, so you believe that if you are complacent it will surely come back and you are essentially in a lull and you could be back at square one in a matter of days?

Thanks -