Do I have prostatitis?

[eric1032]

Another update, these past 3 weeks have not been pretty. I am currently in a flare, feeling like I am back to step 1. Early Oct, I felt a split second sharp sting while peeing, the sting was not painful. It was follow by discomfort in scrotum. The discomfort went away after lying down for 15 to 20 minutes. This is about the 3rd time I experienced this and it is always followed by a flare. This time there is a new symptom involved, bladder pain when urine fills the bladder. For the past 3 weeks, I get the urge to pee after 45 minutes (on a very bad day) to 90 minutes after the last void. The urge is not strong so I can hold it, once the urine fills the bladder, the pain sets in. It's not intense pain, actually I rather deal with the pain than the urge.

I am not sure what's the trigger, I been eating the same food, IC diet. It's frustrating because I can't figure out what's the trigger. The only things I can think of are 4 days before pee sting incident, I took Prelief and ate some acidic food. This is the only the 2nd time I took prelief. I been pretty good with the IC diet. Also, I took my daughter to the beach and we scootered around for couple miles. It was a real work out on the lower body.

Like I said I feel like I am back to square 1. Thoughts?

[webslave]

Pain with bladder filling is usually IC/BPS. Acidic food can be the trigger. Scootering means you were doing hundreds of mini-squats, which I would guess was the real trigger this time.

[eric1032]

I agree. Come to think of if, last year July/Aug, I took my family to Disney Alaska cruise. Before boarding, we stayed at Vancouver for 3 days. There was this big park in Vancouver called Victoria Park, it's 9 acres next to the ocean. The #1 thing to do in the park is renting a bike and ride inside the park. I must have ridden for like 3 hours and i haven't been on a bike for at least 25 years back to my college days. About 6 to 8 days later, toward the tail end of the cruise, one nite had sex with wife and I felt this sting while ejaculating.....next day this urge and frequent urination started.

If this has something to do with muscle, should I look for a PT and start doing some pelvic floor exercise? I haven't wanting to do that because it's manageable right now and I am afraid going to a PT will make it worse before it gets better.

[webslave]

Yes, it could make it flare before improving, and yes, the right therapist could be very helpful. Pelvic floor exercises can also be game changing for many men.

[eric1032]

Last nite, I had unbearable belly pain....went to the ER, took CT scan, they found a fecal stuck in the appendix. I have appendicitis. Scheduled to have appendix removed in about 8 hours. Its a relieve to learn the belly pain is not related to IC/BPS. But now I am wandering the after surgery effect will have on my ICBPS? The appendix so close to the bladder. Plus I been taking various types of pain killers at the hospital as I wait for surgery, norco, morphine, IV Tylenol.

Thoughts?

[webslave]

Really, no cause for concern. The two issues are probably completely unrelated.

Strangely, I had my appendix removed by a surgeon who thought my CPPS was appendicitis. Turns out my appendix was fine. Another doctor told me afterwards "Keep away from surgeons, Mark". That's generally good advice ... unless you really need one.

[eric1032]

hello all,

Just want to give an update, it's been couple month.

1. the appendectomy back in mid nov 2020 was successful. I don't think this issue is related to my frequency problem. I was so nervous that the surgery is going to make everything worse but it didn't.
2. my frequency issue, bladder pain, scrotum pain all got better because I finally found the culprit that's causing the havoc. I am not healed by any means but I am confident to say it's in control now. So I thought I was following a strict IC diet since April of 2020 but the problems got worse, then in Nov I cut out salt and soy sauce and voila everything seems fine now. I think my bladder is somehow sensitive to sodium. I read on some IC forum that cutting down salt and sodium may help, I tried and it was indeed the issue. Since Nov, the frequency issue is gone unless I eat some acidic food. the bladder pain is gone. I can sleep thru the nite 5 to 6 hours straight. I am on a very strict diet, no salt, no sodium. This basically took away lots of food and dessert. No more eating out, it's all home made food. My wife really helped out in this regard, she cooks everything twice, one without salt and sodium and one with for her own enjoyment. I took my family to ski on new year's day (I know it's covid time, don't judge), on the way back, we got stuck in traffic for 6 hours, I was able to hold my urine for that long.
3. My scrotum pain is not related to IC or CPPS. I think I have a case of varicocele. This is self diagnosed, I still need to go to my uro to make sure. But ever since July or Aug 2020, that's when the scrotum pain started, I notice a thick vein in my left scrotum, I never felt this vein before. I also feel pain or uncomfortable when I stand for a long period of time. If I lie down on my back, the pain goes away. Everything fits the bill of varicocele.
4. I also read an article that taking on statins for long time may cause IC. I been taking statin to control my cholesterol for a decade now. I stopped taking them for one month now. I am not sure if it helped or now. But at some point, I have to get back on it once my doctor sees my cholesterol level go up again.

I hope my IC diet tips can help some people on this forum. Everyone is different, I am thankful that I am able to find the right combination to eat and control this sucker.

Now how do I reverse this?

[webslave]

The changes that statins cause should be self-correcting if you stop taking them, based on this article
https://www.renalandurologynews.com/hom ... o-statins/

I'd guess that your reaction to salt is due to the urothelial changes caused by the statins.

[eric1032]

I hope so. I read similar article. But their sample size is too small. It probably did not gain any traction in the medical field.

I did find a doctor in San Diego Dr C Lowell Parsons who has suggested that salt sensitivity is related to IC. We emailed and agreed on a teleconference. But I am hesitant to go to a urologist right now. I am doing fine. I am afraid the doc is going make me take antibiotics or other stuff that may make it worse. I am hoping if I keep up what I am doing it could go into remission or be cured naturally.

[StefanS]

Hi Eric,

I found some similarities with my case here - intense biking after many years, discomfort when urine feels the bladder etc. I go to pelvic PT but not sure it helps.
Interesting experiment - lowering the salt. I should give it a try. :-)

Stefan

[eric1032]

It's been 3+ month, I figured I give an update.

For the last 3 month, I stuck religiously with the no salt diet, no cheating whatsoever. Home cook meal everyday. I can eat all types of veggie w/o any problem. Chicken and salmon account for 90% of my meat. Steak every couple 2 to 3 weeks. Eating seasonless/saltless meal sounds really boring but my taste bud has adapted and I actually enjoy them now. As long as I stick with the diet, I have no bladder issue. I can function normally but I can feel the bladder is not in its "normal" state, I just have the symptoms under control. After void, I will be fine for 1 hr to 1. 5 hr then the urge to urinate starts to creep in... but the urge is very mild, if I concentrate working, I can igore it for 2 to 3 hours.

I also stopped my cholesterol drugs for 3 month now and my last blood test showed. My cholesterol is over the recommend limit by 15% to 20%. It's not too bad but I will have to go back on it at some point.

The only medication I am on is Vitamin D 50, 000 units, it's a 8 week course, one per week. I am half way thru.

Having this under control is great but I want a cure or remission.

Any suggestions?

[webslave]

So wait, you stopped salt and statins at the same time?

We have seen reports that statins like Lipitor and Lescol can cause flares, so that could be what's making you feel better, not the salt restriction.

Experiment by going back on salt for a few weeks and see if symptoms return. If not, it's the statins, and so you may have to find a way to exist without them.