Diagnosed with Chronic Prostatitis

[jwattenbarger]

I am a new member to the forum and have went though hundreds of threads and have found this site extremely useful. Everytime I feel bad about my situation, someone always has it a lot worse. My thoughts and prayers are with the people suffering from horrible pain and depression. Although my situation is mild compared to others, I need your thoughts on some issues. I will first explain my situation.

I am 32 years old and live a healthy lifestyle. I workout 5 days a week and eat healthy. About 6 weeks ago I noticed I had to urinate more often and progressively got worse. I went to a family doctor, and he put me on Bactrim for 7 days and did a urine culture. He called me with the results and did not find anything and suggested I go to a urologist.

I saw a urologist, and he checked my prostate. He said I had acute prostatitis and put me on Cipro for 10 days. He said I should feel some relief in 48-hours. He also said that I may feel worse later that day due to bacteria being released during the exam. Everything went well and all symptoms vanished within 5-days. However, after 3 days off Cipro, my symptoms returned. I returned to the uro, and he scheduled an ultrasound and cystoscopy but did not want to do the procedure until the infection was gone. He put be back on Cipro for 20 days.

I then went out of town for business. My symptoms returned in force despite being on Cipro for 5 days. Pain in by back, legs, constant urge to urinate, stomach ache, slight fever, and fatigue. I called my urologist, and he wanted me to come in right away and perform the cystoscopy and ultrasound and look for tumors, polyps, and stones. I told him that I was out of town and could not. He said to take three Cipro a day and drink cranberry juice until symptoms subside. Most of the symptoms were relieved and I went into the hospital and had the tests. Everything came back fine. The urologist put me on doxycycline (2/day) for 10 days. I am 7 days into the doxycycline, and I still have the symptom of constant urination.

Is it possible that I have non-bacterial prostatitis and the relief I got from the antibiotics were from the anti-inflammatory effects of the drugs? The family doctor said I had no bacteria present, but the urologist said I had acute prostatitis by only checking my prostate and testing my urine. I plan on making another appointment with my urologist and ask him if bacteria is present. Can I expect my symptoms to get worse and what are some other questions I should ask my urologist? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

[webslave]

Is it possible that I have non-bacterial prostatitis and the relief I got from the antibiotics were from the anti-inflammatory effects of the drugs?

It's more than just possible, it's probable.

Can I expect my symptoms to get worse and what are some other questions I should ask my urologist? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Your urologist probably just saw white blood cells (WBCs) aka pus cells and assumed that you had an infection. He may order more tests, like a cystoscopy. You could ask him for a 4-6 month trial of an alpha blocker (has to be taken for longer than 3 months to be effective).

[superuse]

If you've read many of the threads then you know that many times the urologist leads to a dead end other than excluding blockage infection, etc . At least you're here and won't beat the (Hidden) infectious angle forever.

Pelvic floor spasm tends to radiate from around the groin with an aching/spasming/tearing sensation down thru the legs and/or up thru the rectum, lower abs and back. It also tends to refer from the levator muscles around the rectum/prostate, and the chills, fever like symptoms, urgency and pissing/pooping needles imitates infection of the prostate etc. Whether Cipro etc. actually at first helps the possible trigger, (a mild infection) or just reduces the urethral inflammation from spasming muscles has been argued.

Read thru my posts and webslaves, get the HITP book and study pelvic tensing, type in BM, bowel, spasm etc into the search and you will find your symptoms and others in all possible combinations and permutations. You'll also find that almost 70% of the folks here meet the profile at the bottom of my signature. In addition many suffer from anxiety, stress disorders, ocd etc predating their first/worst onset.

--jjf

[garyholc]

Hi Jw

Sorry you have been diagnosed with this condition. My symptoms started exactly the same as yours and I went through the same treatment, initially Cypro which I stopped due to pain in my joints and then onto 3 weeks of Doxy, which did nothing to be honest. Initial symptoms were the constant feeling of wanting to urinate which went at nightime in bed, and went after a few drinks of alcohol.

I've had this condition over a year now, and thankfully the frequent urination feeling has gone completely - this I have to say so far was the worst symptom and had the biggest impact on my life. It lasted for 8 months, coming and going, but each time it came back, it wasn't as bad as the last time. One thing I have stopped drinking is tea, and I drank a lot of this each day. I read that tea can actually make you urinate more often.

My symptoms now have changed to pain. I get an ache and stitch pain feeling in my low stomach, I sometimes get backpain in my sides of lower back just above buttocks, and I get pain sometimes shooting down my legs, especially behind my knees. I have also had mild pain in my penis and testicles on occasion, and have ED also on occasion.

I am going to see a PT next month, I have read HITP and I sometimes do stretches. I think over time, in one aspect it has got better and in other aspects it hasnt, though I continue to think that over time if the frequent urination feeling has gone, then the rest of it will go too. I believe on average it takes around 3 years.

This website has been a lifesaver for me, and for others, with huge amounts of information on here. The search facility is really good and no doubt you will find answers to all or at least most of your questions on this site.

[carld]

I think once you have been cleared from your Uro of any serious conditions, which I think you have...There really is no further need for a uro other then getting scripts. Read up on the many options for you here with the protocols that have been already mentioned to you.

• Anxiety control
• relaxation
• alpha blockers
• PT / Pelvic floor exam for function/dysfunction
• stretching
• Elavil low dosage
• benzos as needed
• diet restrictions for now through elimination

Read up ....You will recover over time and hard work...

[jwattenbarger]

Thanks to all who responded. You gave me hope. I appreciate the support and will start putting your advice into action.

Even after reading hundreds of threads on this forum, I honestly thought that I would be the exception and have bacterial prostatitis and that the antibiotics would cure me. I decided to call my urologist and ask him if bacteria was ever present. He said no bacteria was present but to still take the antibiotic. I decided not to take the antibiotic and ordered the book A HEADACHE IN THE PELVIS and a bottle of Quercetin. Hopefully after reading the book and applying the techniques along with taking the Quercetin, my symptom of constant urination will go away. If not, I plan on switching urologists. I am fortunate to be close to the Cleveland Clinic and noticed two of the urologists mentioned on this forum. Furthermore, I started working out again and stopped feeling sorry for myself. My symptoms have diminished.

I am amazed how most urologist's treat non-bacterial prostatitis. I am not a doctor, but it does not make sense to treat a non-bacterial problem with long term antibiotics. After taking antibiotics for 6-weeks, I have had fatigue, upset stomach, and joint pain. The antibiotics only provided a short term relief and added more symptoms.

Thanks again