Just Started The Process - Need Early Advice

[soulcase]

Hello All,
I am 31 years-old and developed symptoms of prostatitis a couple of weeks after a bout of food poisoning during a stressful period at work. I have now been suffering with symptoms for about six weeks. I wanted to try to get any advice that I could about what to do as I am relatively early in the process of recovery and am trying very hard to avoid making any mistakes that might make my symptoms worse. My desire to do as much as I can to resolve this issue with somewhat of a "shotgun" approach, even though my symptoms have not been long-term, is largely due to the fact that I suffer from some other chronic medical conditions (long story).

My symptoms have been mild to moderate but consistent and consist of wandering pain in my bladder that moves from bladder, to the shaft of my penis, to the "joint" between my penis and scrotum, and, less often, my perineum and pelvis. The symptoms are mostly on the left side. When there is no pain, I experience mild urinary frequency. I have experienced no pain upon ejaculation other than a kind of tingling, but my ejaculation has consistently been weaker than normal. Erections are consistently weaker than normal. I have not suffered arthritis so I do not believe that I have Reiter's syndrome.

My symptoms gradually improved and disappeared for about a week but then came back again this week. I have visited a urologist in Georgia who is sympathetic to employing trigger point massage. My urine was tested negative for bacteria. However, based on the nature of my symptoms, he diagnosed me as having an infection of the prostate and prescribed Cipro. He believed that the "wandering" symptoms were consistent more with a infection of the prostate than an issue with pelvic floor dysfunction.

So I guess his thinking is that I have basically a urinary tract infection that infected my prostate and, as such, cannot heal itself naturally like a normal urinary tract infection without antibiotics. However, my symptoms also appear consistent with chronic abacterial prostatitis. I am an introverted, highly stressed individual (at least a work) who sits a lot throughout the day and has always had poor posture; I have recently noticed that I "clench" a lot at work.

My questions primarily revolve around blood testing that I can perform prior to taking the Cipro to better understand the cause of my symptoms. I have schedule an appointment with a PT, eliminated all carb's, ordered a cushion, and started probioics, approaching the issue from a pelvic floor dysfunction perspetive. I wish to begin taking the Cipro to eliminate the underlying infection ASAP, if there is indeed an infection. However, I want to do as much blood testing as possible to try to isolate the causes before taking Cipro . Unfortunately, I am not certain that I convince my urologist what I need to have tested as he did not even perform a prostatic fluid test.

Could anyone recommend any specific, helpful blood tests that I could perform prior to the Cipro. Any other advice, of course, would also be helpful. I wanted to try the following

1) Testing the prostatic fluid for bacteria.
2) Testing prostatic fluid for anti-inflammatory cytokine TGFβ1 and pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ and CRP to further isolate the cause of the problem based on this study (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_pr ... 7146921-36)
3) Maybe have a urine broth culture done.

Any other advice would be helpful. I apologize for the length of my post, but I have been dealing with other chronic issues (again, a long story) for several years now so I approach these things aggressively.

Thanks for your help!
SC

[carld]

However, based on the nature of my symptoms, he diagnosed me as having an infection of the prostate and prescribed Cipro. He believed that the "wandering" symptoms were consistent more with a infection of the prostate than an issue with pelvic floor dysfunction.

So I guess his thinking is that I have basically a urinary tract infection that infected my prostate

Get a different doctor...Based on what I read in your post, your urologist is assuming with no cultured EPS(expressed prostatic secretion) to verify infection that you have a UTI??? If you take the Cipro for 4 to 6 weeks and your symptoms come back...do not take any more AB's...Infection is likely not the case..

Pelvic floor dysfunction is likely the issue through stress, genes and diet....Please read my starter list to possibly help you and familiarize your self with the many options that can help you slowly recover....

Also please fill out your profile signature...

Best, Carl...

[webslave]

Soulcase, there are no diagnostic blood tests at this stage, unfortunately. It's a diagnosis by exclusion type of condition.

What are your other health problems, briefly?

[soulcase]

Well, get ready to be depressed... I suffer from secondary hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction due to rreversible arterial blockages in my groin. This has been confirmed through numerous blood tests and a penile angiogram. Supposedly, this just happened spontaneously, but, I dunno, I discovered my symptoms after having taken finasteride for three years.

Whatever it was that happened must have affected my prostate as I have watery ejaculate and weaker orgasms.

[carld]

Supposedly, this just happened spontaneously, but, I dunno, I discovered my symptoms after having taken finasteride for three years..

What was the reason for taking finasteride? I have a strong opinion regarding those types of drugs...This only re-confirms my anger when I think of drugs like avodart... ( My first urologist prescribed it for 3 months to shrink my prostate. I stopped after 2 months with emotional side effects in the beginning of my onset and it did not relieve my discomfort I had.) Horrible drug...

Very sorry to read about your conditions...Not sure though if the finasteride can cause your condition except the ED...It's not listed as a possible side effects. But you never know...? Here is a link to Dutasteride...similar drug...
http://prostate.emedtv.com/avodart/avod ... fects.html

[soulcase]

I took it for baldness. Not a wise choice.

[carld]

That's what I figured...But it is what it is...The point now is to get you on track to slowly heal and I really believe you can do that with the available options we have here....


So...lets get started shall we....

Regards, Carl...

[webslave]

Soulcase, do you have a family history of circulation problems?

[soulcase]

Soulcase, do you have a family history of circulation problems?

I have a family history of high cholesterol but no heart disease or circulation issues. No one one either side of my family, to my knowledge, ever was diagnosed with heart disease. They all just became frail and passed away in their old age.

My urologist has theorized that finasteride deprives the tissues and arteries of DHT and NO, somehow resulting in high susceptibility to elevated cholesterol levels. DHT may protect the arteries from developing blockages.

[carld]

My urologist has theorized that finasteride deprives the issues and arteries of DHT and NO, somehow resulting in high susceptibility to elevated cholesterol levels. DHT may protect the arteries from developing blockages.

Very important to note your doctor theorized anti androgen 5 -alpha reductase drugs can cause higher LDL cholesterol...There is no medical literature to back this up as far as I know...Perhaps webslave can find it...If he can't, it doesn't exist.

[webslave]

LDL not affected:
http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2156887

About the blockages of your pelvic circulation ... that's a strange one. Time is a great healer.

[cam_05]

http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/

This forum lists all the studies done on finasteride. Before people access this site can I add my opinion that it is my firm belief that a lot of the posters there seem to exasperate their condition through catastrophic thinking. Take what these guys say with a grain of salt, but let it serve as a warning to those considering taking the drug.

[carld]

it is my firm belief that a lot of the posters there seem to exasperate their condition through catastophic thinking.

Agreed...

Although I did take it for two months as stated in this thread...

[cam_05]

I took Propecia for 5 weeks and lost my manhood, things approved after stopping the drug but not immediately. I'm with you that it's a drug that very seldom should be taken, it doesn't make sense to mess with your hormones in hindsight.

I went through a stage where I blamed it for this condition. I think I lost a lot of sexual confidence after taking it, that I should have naturally regained but my mind didn't let me.