Prostate Problems?

Male pelvic pain, prostatitis, IC
Redmen1892

Prostate Problems?

Post by Redmen1892 »

Hello to all,

I am so glad that I have found this board; hopefully I can learn something about my symptoms.

If you good people can take time out to read the below and let me know your opinions.

To Summarize

I'm 35 years old, relatively fit, never smoked, alcohol in moderation

Over the past 10 months I have been experiencing the following

i) The frequent need to urinate; I originally put this down to drinking up to 2 liters of water a day, sometimes I get the feeling of not emptying my bladder.
ii) Abdominal pains prior to and post urination, pains also experienced in my left hip and lower back (not so frequent)
iii) I now have to get up 2 or 3 times in the night to urinate
iv) Occasional pain in the perineal area, and or spasms during urination.
v) I now have a very week flow when urinating and sometimes pass very small amounts of urine.
vi) Recently after I have drunk a glass of beer or have a 500ml of water etc. I need to urinate every 20 minutes.
vii) My semen has turned watery and my erections do not seem as full

I visited my doctor last week, convinced that I have prostate cancer, he suggested that it could be prostatitis, an infection, or BPH, and said it was highly unlikely to be PCa for someone of my age, and also there is no history of cancer in my family.

He has taken a Blood test and I supplied him with some urine, the test from this shows traces of blood, levels of protein and infected cells in the urine. I am still awaiting the results of the blood test.

He has prescribed me a 6 week course of Trimethoprim, I have been taking these twice a day for a week no and it has made no difference at all, I know that the prostate is a hard area to treat and that is why the course is so long.

What are the board members opinions on my symptoms and treatment so far?

Kind regards Jon (Apologies for the long winded post)
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CppsDad
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Post by CppsDad »

First off, you definitely need to rule out the more serious medical causes for your problem. Getting blood and urine test results is a good first step. No one should attempt to diagnose you until you get all the results back. A little blood in the urine is not abnormal as far as I know, and not often times something to worry about. But if nothing turns up for you (meaning there are no good answers from your doctors), and your prostate appears fine, and the antibiotics don't help, then (and only then), would you be at the point where this forum steps in. Many of your symptoms could be caused by any number of things, but they are also common symptoms of CPPS. I suggest you go to the front page of the web site https://ucpps.men and read the "New To This Site" section. It has good information and will tell you much of what this forum is dedicated to. Basically, this forum is dedicated to people who have prostatitis-like symptoms due to muscle tension, trigger points, and tautness in the pelvic floor. These conditions can cause extreme pain in some conditions, or can do less painful things like squeeze on the urethra slightly and restrict urine flow or cause the feeling of the need to urinate, or reduce blood flow and cause erectile dysfunction-type symptoms. Read all you can on this site, and see how much applies to you.

Michael
This is NOT medical advice. I am NOT a doctor.

Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
MastCells
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Re: Prostate Problems?

Post by MastCells »

Redmen1892 wrote:He has taken a Blood test and I supplied him with some urine, the test from this shows traces of blood, levels of protein and infected cells in the urine.
By "infected cells," do you mean white blood cells (WBC)? WBC=inflammation, not necessarily infection. Did the doctor say he found bacteria in your urine?
This is not medical advice. Please consult your physician.
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blacklaw
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Post by blacklaw »

CppsDad wrote:First off, you definitely need to rule out the more serious medical causes for your problem. Getting blood and urine test results is a good first step. No one should attempt to diagnose you until you get all the results back. A little blood in the urine is not abnormal as far as I know, and not often times something to worry about. But if nothing turns up for you (meaning there are no good answers from your doctors), and your prostate appears fine, and the antibiotics don't help, then (and only then), would you be at the point where this forum steps in. Many of your symptoms could be caused by any number of things, but they are also common symptoms of CPPS. I suggest you go to the front page of the web site https://ucpps.men and read the "New To This Site" section. It has good information and will tell you much of what this forum is dedicated to. Basically, this forum is dedicated to people who have prostatitis-like symptoms due to muscle tension, trigger points, and tautness in the pelvic floor. These conditions can cause extreme pain in some conditions, or can do less painful things like squeeze on the urethra slightly and restrict urine flow or cause the feeling of the need to urinate, or reduce blood flow and cause erectile dysfunction-type symptoms. Read all you can on this site, and see how much applies to you.

Michael
I have to agree. While you may want to get the answers immediately (as most of us want), you should be tested throughly. In my own case, I had my urine tested at least 4 times, had a bladder sonogram, had my pelvic area x-rayed, lower back x-rayed, DRE's, a CT of the Pelvic and Abdomen areas (with and without contrast), blood work (CBC with differential, AFP and B-HCG tests). All negative. This was probably the most stressful time for me. I was going crazy waiting for all these results (this was over a two month period of time). The results all came back negative....of course I was on doxycycline and 1000mg of naproxen a day (for the pain and spasms) for eight weeks. Finally, and after all of the tests, my uro told me I had pelvic floor dysfunction. Told me it would get better in time and that he would refer for a neuro consult or accupuncture....in the end I bought any accredited quercetin product tried advil and that seemed to take the edge off of things, and I am going to start PT in the next week. Again....hang in there.
Age:40 | Onset Age: 30 | Symptoms: Occasional Penis Pain, urge to urinate, thigh pain, lower back pain, occasional golf ball feeling, muscle spasms. | Helped By: Relaxation, Deep Meditation, Soft Cushions, Quercetin, Saw Palmetto, exercise. | Worsened By: Increased sexual activity, stress, allergic response.
Redmen1892

Re: Prostate Problems?

Post by Redmen1892 »

MastCells wrote:
Redmen1892 wrote:He has taken a Blood test and I supplied him with some urine, the test from this shows traces of blood, levels of protein and infected cells in the urine.
By "infected cells," do you mean white blood cells (WBC)? WBC=inflammation, not necessarily infection. Did the doctor say he found bacteria in your urine?
Hello to all

According to the doctor my test results came back as

PSA score was 3.3
Urine Sample contained high concentration of WBC
The DRE showed that I have an enlarged prostate and there were no signs of any irregularities.

The doctor diagnosed Acute Prostatitis.

After about 3 weeks of the original medication of trimethoprim the pain eased off, however I was still urinating frequently (esp. at night). Within 48 hours of completing the medication the pain had returned.
I have no been given a 5 week course of Cipro.
If things do not improve after this course the doctor will send me to a urologist to conduct some more tests.

I know from reading that I have undertaken that when a DRE is conducted I should have experienced some discomfort, however aprt from a pushing sensation on the bladder I experienced no such discomfort.

In my own mid I feel that this may be case a BPH rather than prostatitis, but I shall wait to see the outcome of the treatment first.

regards

Jon
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alprost
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Re: Prostate Problems?

Post by alprost »

Redmen1892 wrote: In my own mid I feel that this may be case a BPH rather than prostatitis, but I shall wait to see the outcome of the treatment first.
Hmm... at 35 this would be unlikely IMO. Your symptoms suggest prostatitis or CPPS. I completely agree with the advice given to you by CppsDad.
This is not Medical advice - Consult your Doctor!

Age:39. Age at onset:31. Symptoms prior to treatment: Golf ball in rectum, severe urinary frequency (2-3x/hr; 5-10x/night); weak stream; painful ejaculation; coccygeal pain; tip of penis pain; general pelvic pain on left; testicular pain; supra-pubic pain. Current | Symptoms: Urinary frequency 1x every 2-3 hrs and 1-2 x a night; mild pelvic pain on left hand side (all symptoms still improving!)
Helped by: Trigger point release; avoiding exercise; pelvic floor relaxation; Neurontin decreased bladder sensitivity somewhat. Worsened by: Exercise; frequent ejaculation; ibuprofen irritates bladder. Made no difference: Diet; biofeedback; quercetin; Steroid anti-inflammatories; Elavil.

****UPDATE*** I am now able to sit again at work all day, and can perform moderate aerobic exersise again for the first time in 8 years!!!

Please read:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=808&p=3954
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=239&p=1158
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=248&p=1214
Redmen1892

Re: Prostate Problems?

Post by Redmen1892 »

Hello to all

Thought I'd take time out to update you guys on my progress since the last post

After a return visit to my doctor's he diagnosed acute prostatitis and changed my meds from Trimethoprim to ciprofloxacin.

Within 48 hours of taking the new meds the pain had ceased and I was started to pass normal quantities of urine.

Within the last ten days I can now go easily 4 to 7 hours without having to pee, no longer need to get up during the night, on average over a 24 hour period I'd say that I urinated 4 or 5 times, as opposed to 10 - 20 whilst on the Trimethoprim. This is every day now and my quality of life feels much better.

I no longer feel the urgent need to pee, have any bladder pains, cloudy urine or discomfort in my penis.

My only slight concerns are

1) I still have Watery Semen
2) The flow has improved, it is now a thin flow but still not as forceful as it once was
3) If I drink a pint of beer I get some discomfort in my bladder and need to pee frequently (i.e. 2 or 3 times in short succession).

I feel more confident about the effects of Cipro, I know that this type of ABX can mask or suppress the symptoms, so I still have another 3 weeks to go and only time will tell if the improvements continue, where as before 4 weeks of trimethoprim only suppressed the pain.

I am grateful for the support of members on this board.

Best Wishes

Jon
Otter

Re: Prostate Problems?

Post by Otter »

I always get watery semen when I get a flare up. I think it has to do with contriction of the urethra.
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LightningTree
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Post by LightningTree »

Glad you are starting to feel better.

It sounds like we have seen a case of acute prostatitis.

This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.