Pain Started while on doxycycline

[OliverH]

I was prescribed doxycycline in May for an unrelated condition. About day 7 on it, I started to experience mild pelvic pain between belly button and base of penis, but a bit closer to penis. I finished the course of doxycycline, and assumed the pain would go away, but it did not. I did a urinalysis which showed no leukocytes and a urine culture which grew nothing. Urologist did DRE and he said my prostate felt normal. The urologist prescribed four weeks of Cipro to rule out infection. I am a bit hesitant to take it since it seems like I have no signs of infection and reading some of the warnings on Cipro. I'm also confused on why pain would start while on doxycycline, not sure if that triggered it or if it is unrelated. The urologist also said I had 240ml post void residual. My symptoms are really just the pelvic pain, which could be 1/10 up to 6/10 depending on time of day. I have no frequency or urgency, if anything the opposite. When I get a mild urge to urinate, I normally expel 400ml or more. Also, during ejaculation, my pelvic muscles don't seem to contract correctly, not quite sure how to describe it. Just posting to see if anyone experienced anything similar or had any ideas.

[webslave]

Are you sure about 240ml post void residual? Less than 50 ml of residual urine is normal, and 200 ml or greater is abnormal. Doxy has a side effect of dark urine, which may mean more concentrated urine, and concentrated urine can irritate an already mildly inflamed bladder. It could be that the doxy acted to uncover a simmering condition in your pelvis.

[OliverH]

Yes, doc did ultra sound test for post void residual and said "you have a coke can worth or urine still in there", but my bladder felt fine. I checked the appointment notes and he wrote 240ml PVR.

[webslave]

So your prostate must be enlarged, probably due to inflammation. Or a narrowed urethra (have you had a cystoscopy?)

[OliverH]

He said prostate felt normal size during DRE. Have not had cystoscopy yet. I started keeping a voiding diary and noticed I'm not getting the urge to urinate until I have 400-500 ml in there.

[webslave]

Neurogenic bladder maybe. Look it up.

[OliverH]

Went back to urologist. Only 40ml post void residual now, but still have pain. He ordered a semen culture and wants to do a cystoscopy. Has anyone had a cystoscopy for this?

[webslave]

Cystoscopies are typical for UCPPS patients. Worth getting to rule things out.

[OliverH]

Just thought I would post an update. My issue ended up being caused by a central disc herniation in my back. It was just large enough to irritate my sacral nerves but not big enough to cause cauda equina syndrome. Hopefully this can help someone.

Admin comment: Thanks for the update!