Had a 'Lively Discussion' with my GP!

[DMcU]

Ok so I went into my GP because I've developed a sort of a heat rash that has become infected.

I feel that it developed after my anal sphincter became very itchy after PT sessions. I do have hemorrhoids and boy do they get itchy!

When I itch them or sit on a bike saddle the itch seems to be causing the urethra to get irritated too.

I explained to the GP that I feel that this could have emanated from bacteria from the anus due to treating the sphincter by stretching out the tense connective tissue (which does reproduce the urethral burning). He couldn't understand the connection between this and the urethra or the bladder, in other words, the concept of TrPts seems alien to him.

He felt that paying for this type of treatment or 'abuse' as he put it is scandalous and that this type of treatment is off the wall craziness! He recommended a cystoscopy and following a more mainstream 'medical' approach. He feels that this is all in my mind and that I am creating this syndrome myself by programming the brain etc.

He fully supports putting patients on 6 weeks of antibiotics and following strictly the urologist's recommendations. He had very strong opinions against this site too and also against the Wise-Anderson protocol saying that neither of them had any 'obvious' medical background.

I have cut all my treatments down to only this PT every 6 weeks, but he urges me to stop going to her, even though I feel that I improve with each session. He reckons it's only that I'm feeling improved as the pain she causes takes away from the neural flow of pain signals to the main symptomatic areas.

I fairly confused I have to say.

This itching seems to be one of the main symptoms now, and how it causes an urge to urinate as soon as I pass a BM past the sphincter and this irritated area. I felt nearly bullied and patronized.

I do think that I cause a lot of the urge to urinate myself when I'm on my own and contemplating a lot of things, I can really innervate the bladder and in turn, the muscles perhaps of the bladder that nearly force urination but I do feel that I have to continue rectifying physical problems like TrPts. I have yet, though, to find a TrPt or an area that directly innervates and reproduces this sense of urgency. He feels that anyone's urethra would get irritated if someone stretched out the anal sphincter to such an extent as to cause me to nearly collapse.

Any opinions!?!

[Jay]

If Rodney Anderson and studies posted in the Journal of Urology constitutes no medical background, I don't know what to tell the guy. "It's all in your head" is one of the oldest and most offensive lines most of us get fed.

[webslave]

DMcU:

1. Stop seeing that GP. Most GPs (called Family Physicians in the US) are unfamiliar with CP/CPPS. They see very few cases. They are very poor sources of information. Yours seems particularly opinionated, doctrinaire and unwilling to learn.
2. If you insist on seeing him, give him the paper by Dr Shoskes (Dr Shoskes List of Tips for Urologists Treating CPPS) to read.

[skypro]

I agree with webslave on both of his points. I would drop him if possible and if not try to educate him....if he is open to that.

I had a similar experience with a GP I had for a number of years. He meant well but had a horrible bedside manner and talked down to me, all the while not knowing how to treat this condition. I would assume it is frustrating for Dr.'s too. A lot of them don't know how to help...some handle the challenge better than others. I "fired" my renegade GP and found a caring GP that is willing to work with and listen to me.

[scotsman]

Try Preperation H Gel (make sure it's the gell tube) after physio plus after each bowel movement - might help calm the itch down if it's surface irritation.

[DMcU]

I only went into him to get the rash that broke out on my body seen to and as soon as I mentioned that the itch started after PT he started interrogating the matter and in fact, forgot to add the needed medicines to the prescription. A sportscar-driving young doctor hmmm! I wouldn't consider him for any future help in this matter.

[CMT23]

These doctors are all really funny because they are useless in helping and so conclude that you are imagining it all. I've heard it all before. It's remarkable to me thy these doctors don't take some interest in getting to the bottom of what really is going on. It seems like they are happier to send you away, telling you that there is nothing that they can do, than to learn about something new.

[Jay]

Having had this condition for so long has changed my perspective on doctors. I would be more inclined to stick with one who was willing to say 'I don't know' when confronted with a perplexing issue. My opinion is that the ones who're quick to blame the patient's mental state are suffering a crisis of ego, and that is good for neither party.