Prostatitis and Smoking Marijuana...please help

[JM9917]

Well it taken me a long time to admit to myself that I think pot smoking has something to do with my prostatitis. I am a male in my early 20's. I don't know that it caused it, but I am sure it is what has continued to aggrevate it for the last several months. I have been a daily smoker for a few years now, about a year ago I started experienced pain in my butt and lower back when I drove for longer periods. It began to get worse, but it took me a year to finally realize something was really wrong and went to the doctor. In addition for several month now I have been experiencing urineary problems....frequent unrinating, feeling like I need to urinate but only a little comes out, dribbling often occurs, sometime I am not sure if I dribbled a little or I just think I did because I am paranoid about it now. I have continued to smoke pot daily and it has continued to aggrevate it when I do, the symptons are there when I don't smoke, but much more evident when I do. I now realize what it is doing and am going to stop smoking completely for a while. My doctor thinks the frequent urinating and pain from sitting are related and said it was prostatiis. After being unsuccesful with Levaquin, I am now taking Cipro and Saw Palmetto. I didn't tell my Dr. about the pot, because I wasn't comfortable doing so. Is this something that can be cured and go away for ever? Is stopping smoking for a while and then starting a little again gonna cause it to come back or is it does it only the prostatitis you have have prostatitis? Can anyone relate or have any remedies?

[webslave]

Over the years I have seen quite a few messages in various groups about the negative relationship between pot and CPPS/pm. Just say "No" is the easy answer

[Jorge]

Mariuana can be used as medical drug as relaxation. So I always thought it would relax the muscles at the pelvis region as well

[akia]

I smoked pot a few (maybe 3) times in and around the time that my prostatitis started. There were also a few other things like antihistamines that I was taking at the same time. Maybe one started it and maybe it was a combination. I don't know and I'll never know because I'll never go near either of them again.

[woppow]

i too smoke. but am unsure if it makes things worse or better!

[erics]

I have noticed a negative relationship between MJ/CPPS as well. (And I too thought it might help because of relaxation and analgesic qualities). I can't tell if it actually makes the pain worse, or if I am just more aware of it/focused on it (or if my awareness creates anxiety which creates more pain which creates more anxiety, etc)

I certainly don't think that pot "caused" it. Oftentimes we want to latch onto specific things because of our need for a simple cause/effect type situation in what is a complicated/chronic condition with probably more than one contributing factor.

As with food (spicy, etc) and alcohol I would say it's an individual thing - if it seems to make things worse avoid it, if it seems to make things better or there's no change, I wouldn't worry about cutting it out. But I don't think you should fret too much about pot smoking "causing this horrible irreversible problem"

There are other health reasons to moderate your smoking as well (says this former daily smoker who now smokes a few times a year)

[jamo]

Its a fact that (very rarely) it takes more than one correlation to bring on the disease of CPPS. Smoking (including pot), stress and anxiety, diet (irritants), past and present lifestyles,work, sexual relationships past and present, the list just go on ...................

[woppow]

this is very true!!!
I could probably think of numerous reasons that I have whatever I have, STRESS being a major part of it!!!

[anajnasn]

Really love Pot. Smoker for 15+ years. Few breaks of about 4-8 months - but otherwise at least twice a week. Occasionally noticed some issues with pain in the testicles/prostate (though I didn't know it was the prosdtate). didn't even realize it when I had prostatitis before ( 5 year sufferer now). But my recent episode that won't go away - made me quit 12 weeks ago - I react terribly to pot - I can't descrie the discomfort - desperate urge to pe- but just can't - actualy tried it just once about 6 weeks ago - same reaction on just one hit - I am a guy who smoked as much as .5 oz per week some weeks... it is forever a thing of the past - I wouldnt discourage young adults from using occasionally - it was a good thing for me - just not something I will do again - at least for a really long time...

[jamo]

Maybe your body is trying to tell you something. Cannabis, tar, nicotin are toxic and harmful to the body.

[webslave]

I wouldnt discourage young adults from using occasionally - it was a good thing for me - just not something I will do again - at least for a really long time...

I would discourage young people from using it! Apart from all the research linking it to DNA damage, amotivational syndrome and the threat of oral/lung cancer (much worse risk than cigarettes), many men have named it as a key component in the initiation and/or exacerbation of their pelvic pain.

:sad:

[anajnasn]

Agreed. I was incorrect in suggesting it is OK to do any kind of drug once in a while. I completely stopped drinking 4 weeks ago and dont plan on touching alcohol in 2004. I stopped smoking a week ago. I am past the nicotine withdrawals and will not be smoking again. And the same applies to marijuana. The bright side to acknowledging I have CP is it has made me realize that I am not immune to diseases and has made me want to embrace a healthier and stress free lifestyle. Even as I find myself discouraged by my illness I am learning to look at the positive things and it is helping....

[A50]

It's strange. I've was about to make this same post. I'm glad I came here today. I've been SUFFERING with prostatitis for 1 year now. I've been smoking pot for way to long now. Heavy (3-5 times week) use for about 15 yrs now, and DAILY use for about 3-4 years. I too have noticed a direct connection with smoking pot and chronic prostatitis. I just never wanted to admit it to myself. I actaully fisrt noticed my prostatitis while smoking a joint. In June '03 I went on Vacation for 2 weeks and did'nt smoke any pot at all for those two weeks. I felt like a totally new person in all aspects of my life, mentally, physically, and most importantly to me, I was free of the pain in my prostate that had pushed me almost to the brink of suicide. I won't say that my prostatitis was healed, but I will say that I was 95% better. Well after vacation, I went back to my dail ritual of smoking pot every day. Immediately after smoking, I ALWAYS notice that my prostate is aggravated and inflamed. The other day, what I had thought in my mind for months, became reality to me. I went a couple days with out smoking and I felt so good. No pressure, no pain. The following day I fire up a joint again and 20 minutes later my prostate is spasm'd and cramped. As of today, I'm stopping the use of Marijuana. Prostatistis has taken my life away and if I've found the key to correct my illness, then thats exactly what I'm going to do. I'll post back in a month or so to let you guys know how I'm feeling.