Yeast Infection

[divex07]

Hello MedHelp community,

  Few months ago I noticed when urinating it stung/burns almost like I had a cut or something on the glans of the penis it wasn't till a few weeks ago it felt a lot worse.  

  Having phimosis I had no way of identifying if it that were the case.  But I did my research online and it just felt like it fits, sometimes there is a bit of clumpy discharge and the other times it itches really, really badly.

I self-diagnosed myself with, "Male Yeast Infection" and was applying, "CANESTEN 1%" cream to the affected area on the glans.  

  How I applied it when I have phimosis is using a Q-Tip and blindly applying it in the suspected area.   First time I've done it, it hurt quite a bit and I believed there were small blisters because there was a bit of blood, diluted blood, after swabbing the area with the cream.  After applying twice daily it gradually hurts less and less. I am on my 5th day now and everyday it feels better and better, maybe 2-3 more days and it'll clear right up!  

  What I want to know is am I right about the Male Yeast Infection and using CANESTEN 1% to treat/cure it.    Another question is am I supposed to feel any different after clearing it up?  

I hear Yeast Infections affects lifestyle and I've had it for a few month I don't notice anything different.


Best Regards,

Michael

PS: I have Crohn's Disease (auto-immune disease) so that may be the reason I got Yeast Infection in the first place.

[solace21]

Hello divex,
         Nice to hear about your full recovery.You are right about your findings that  Ectosone is basically Betamethasone. But a word of caution, NEVER try the application of a steroid cream with out the prescription of a doctor.There are various dosages and duration of usage, what is applicable for an inflammatory skin may not be applicable for a normal skin. Higher doses and longer durations can make the skin so thin that it may lose its functionality.
Your doctor might have recommended circumcision after evaluating the nature of the foreskin (like its coverage is more and is fairly thick), and he would have felt that the condition may not be cleared by application of the cream. That is why I have advised you for a second opinion before taking a final decision.  

Secondly,  once the foreskin tip has inflamed, it is likely to occur again ( especially since you are unable to clean the area ), and you should solve the phimosis issue before that. So, it would only be appropriate that you consult another doctor and decide on the best option.

Good luck,
Solace
    

[divex07]

Hello, it's been awhile since I've returned to update.  It has returned to normal; whatever my normal was before Balanitis.  I have this cream called ECTOSONE 0.1% CR RATIO.  I am planning to do stretching methods to attempt to remedy the Phimosis. I am wondering if that cream is the same as BETAMETHASONE 0.1% cream.  If so then I could proceed on using the ECTOSONE cream to apply to the foreskin to do my stretching routine.


Regards,

Michael

[solace21]

Hello,
Thank you very much for the feedback and glad to know about your recovery. Before deciding on circumcision, better to consult another urologist, even circumcision, should be Ok, as it is commonly done by many people,  and especially when compared to the possible problems from phimosis.

Good luck,
Solace  

[divex07]

Afternoon,

  On Friday I seen my doctor for a followup.  He gave me some "Hyderm" and "Fucidin" cream to apply to the area to clear up dried skin and promote healing. At the time it was 90% cleared/healed up, today it is like 95%.  I say 95 because the phimosis seemed to be worse than before, it's almost like a pinhole now and I don't know if it will get back to normal.  I really hope it does because it feels weird urinating now(sprays).

  The doctor didn't recommend anything else besides circumsision for the phimosis which I found disappointing I asked for alternatives but he gave me none.

I am going to hope the foreskin(phimosis) ring will return back to the state it was before I got Balanitis, right now it's just too much.

  I would like to thank Solace for his major contributions to this thread.

Thank you very much Solace,

Sincerely,

Michael

[divex07]

Morning Solace, (2am here) late night cramming for what I missed today. :)

Yeah I have discussed told him about Crohn's and the phimosis issue with him, he says once this clears up he'll give me a steroid cream and apply some stretching methods to try first.  

Thanks for the link I will read into that I am thinking of minsing some garlic cloves and just chase it down with water.  Would that benefit the same? :P

... and Thank you again for your time Solace,

Regards,

Michael

[solace21]

Hello divex,
               That is like a good boy, I appreciate it. I hope you have told the doctor about your other inflammatory health issues.Cipro should help you. Have a look at the following link for some related information:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19375896

When you visit the doctor next time, remember to discuss about the phimosis issue, if you have not already done, and get it solved once and for all.

Do some Googling for food items which are anti inflammatory in nature and try to include them in your daily diet in rotation so that you will enjoy long term good health.

Regards,
Solace

[divex07]

Dear Solace, thanks for following my progress.

  Alright I made some time today pulled some strings, and saw a Doctor. It was embarrassing but I guess I had to go and get it over with to get peace of mind.  

  He examined it and said it was "Balanitis" and took a swab for culture test which I should be getting back on Friday.    He prescribed me "CIPROFLOXACIN 500 MG" twice a day daily enough for 3 days. He said I should see it clear up or improve by Friday.  He'll be giving me a cream on the next visit, though I'm not sure what it is.  I've only taken 1 pill today because it was the evening by then, but right now 11pm it seems to look less inflamed?swollen maybe or maybe it's just my imagination.  

I hope it wasn't my imagination and that it is really getting rid of the inflammation and slowly getting better. Just hope it's quicker and more obvious that it is recovering.

I will update on Friday or if there is anything significant to post about.


Thank you very much Solace, I appreciate your concerns and was taken in consideration which then I decided to just go to the Doctor today instead of tomorrow.


Best Regards,

Michael

[solace21]

Dear divex,
                 Glad to know you are improving.It may be nothing serious, but with your inflammatory health background, I would not advise you to wait any further to see a doctor. Is it so difficult for you to see a doctor in your place, apart from your busy schedule with your studies, which I think should take a second place in consideration to your health ?
Good luck,
Solace

[divex07]

Update: it looks different today, the tip is less puffy (still can't see the head glans though) but the entire foreskin seems to have doubled in weight(heavier).  If I don't see any changes tomorrow I will make time to see my Family Doctor.    I really hope it's nothing.

[divex07]

yeah that's really discouraging to hear, but I'll see how it looks tomorrow morning and assess from there.

[solace21]

Hello,
     Normally it starts reducing in a day. But if you find the condition is worsening, do not take chances, go to ER.

Solace

[divex07]

Just caught what you said in your additional post, Solice
Yeah I'll be wearing just boxers every night now letting loose for better air circulation.

On a serious note,
I am actually a bit more worried now because I just got done washing up and then applying the Canesten cream to the glans and the foreskin before going to bed and I think about probably 30 minutes later. It seems to have gotten more puffy to the point where when I try to retract I can't even see anything anymore, few hours ago I could see a bit of glan.  

Is this because I irritated the area and that is to be expected? and it'll go away by tmr morning or so?


Thank you Solice for taking your time to answer my concerns, I really appreciate it. :)

Sincerely,

Michael

[divex07]

Hello again solace!

Thank you for your quick reply once again.

  I'm sorry if that came off like I am saying you don't realize what I'm describing.  I just wanted to better illustrate it in detailed. :)

Yeah I thought I had UTI at first but it wasn't after reading more into it.

Another thing I realize is that isn't it bad to apply Polysporin to yeast infected area?(I maybe remembering it wrong) If that is the case could I just use Canesten cream and apply it to the foreskin and glans, that would be sufficient enough right?

One more thing since you seem very well informed on this particular subject, do you know when I might start seeing improvements?  More so to the puffy foreskin because that worries me more right now and hoping it subsides real soon.


My Crohn's is managed with infusions every 2 months using REMICADE.
I had surgery 2 years to ago to remove a foot of bowel because it was life threatening at that point.   Anyways this is not really relevant to what I have right now so let's just ignore this useless fact. :P

[solace21]

Hi,
   One more point I forgot to mention is that in case of fungal infection you have to keep your under garments dry, and little loose for air circulation. Check up if the room in which you sleep has mold infestation/ water leakage, or any other source of fungal spores in your environment like some nearby trees supporting fungus growth. Do not pile up your cloths after use and use it the next day if the climate is humid, you may find  fungus growth in your cloths in this case. These are some of the reasons for reinfection.
Solace    

[solace21]

Dear divex07,
                  I fully understand what you mean by swelling of the foreskin tip, that is how it inflames usually. So long as you do not have allergy to the ointment you can apply it liberally on the tip as well as inside the skin. You can continue with Canesten itself as it was found effective. I still feel that it is better to consult your Campus doctor, if available, or take time to see another, since health should come first. If you have a UTI for instance, continuing with the topical application will only give a temporary relief, delaying the diagnosis and treatment further.

For the Crohn's disease, you can try alternative medicines to pacify the inflammation as there are many herbs and food items that are anti inflammatory. For instance, onions, garlic, honey, butter etc. generally good for the intestinal mucus membrane.Take care,  

Solace

[divex07]

Additional notes that I think are relevant is that it doesn't hurt or itch; the puffy foreskin and in a way it looks like a fat lip. Also it may be my imagination so take it with a grain of salt but it looks a bit shiny.  

If anything comes up I will be sure to add.

Thank you,

[divex07]

Hello Solace,

Thank you very much for your in-depth response to my situation.

Yes Crohn's is an official diagnoses from my doctors.  As for phimosis it is actually pretty easy to apply the cream even though I can't see where I am putting it but I could feel it.   Few days before I stopped applying it the symptoms were completely better from day 1.  It use to burn when I urinated and when I applied it stung.  But everyday it got better and better until day 7 where it didn't hurt anymore, at all. Which I stopped (big mistake I guess).  Like I said, few days after that I had an INTENSE itching urges which I could not stop at the tip/foreskin and the next thing I knew it puffed up like it got stung by a bee.  

Throughout this process I have considered to apply the stretching methods to correct the phimosis problem, but first I need to clear the yeast infection and the puffy foreskin or it won't work.  

Yes, the white thing is normal apparently thank you for go into detail.

Addressing the last part of your reply, when you say apply "Canesten or Neosporin" could I use Polysporin instead? That's what I have only and if so where do I apply on the glans or on the foreskin this time.

Another thing to put more of an idea what I mean by "Puffy tip foreskin" just to get on the same page.  It sort of looks like it is filled with fluid at the ring(tip) of the foreskin.

Last note,
Seeing a doctor isn't an option since it isn't life threatening and I could deal with it myself if it is really simple.  I have started my 1st year at University and I basically go from 7am - 7pm everyday. I can't make the time unless it's an emergency.


Again thank you very much Solace for your quick reply!
I hope to hear from you again.

Best Regards,

Michael

[solace21]

Hello,
    It looks like the infection has not got cleared by application of Canesten for one week. With phimosis in place it will be difficult to apply the cream properly and therefore difficult to cure completely. You should get phimosis corrected.Normally a steroid cream applied on the fore skin will be sufficient to soften it and make it move back easily. At your age it is important to correct this condition as bacterial or fungal infection will recur if you do not maintain the area clean.About the white thing you mentioned under the fore skin, is it having a connection with the penis head, or simply a kind of coating under the skin? If it is the former, it is the membrane attaching the foreskin to the head, otherwise may be a normal coating that develops on any mucus membrane.  
Again responding to Canesten does not necessarily mean that it is a fungal infection, it could as well be a bacterial infection.It could also be an internal infection.So, a proper diagnosis by a doctor is essential.
Is your Crohn's disease confirmed by  proper diagnosis, it is important to confirm it, as inflammation of the digestive tract can come from many bacterial  infections as well as simple reaction to over use of antibiotics, which can all be cured.
After taking an over all view of your situation I strongly advise you to consult a urologist for necessary diagnosis and treatment. In the mean time clean the area in luke warm water, wipe it dry and apply Canesten or an antibacterial cream like Neosporin ( if you are not allergic to it). Do not take clearing of the symptoms as a cure, you should talk to a doctor even in that case..

All the best,
Solace  

[divex07]

Perhaps it'll go away in a few days. Like any allergic reaction if it is one.

[divex07]

Evening, so after a week or so applying said area.  I stopped because it felt like it was gone.  

But a few days later (today) it started itching like crazy again especially on my foreskin next thing I knew my foreskin puffed up like how skin puffs up when you rubbed with something you're allergic to.   I am wondering if this is this the continuation of the Yeast Infection?, because this time it doesn't feel like it's on the glans. So should I be applying the "CANESTEN 1%" cream to the Foreskin this time?  the area around the puffy part is dry.

If you have any more questions please don't hesitate and ask.

Regards,

Michael

[remar]

I would think that if you had a yeast infection your girlfriend would also have it. Can you get in to see Your Dr to have things checked out?

[divex07]

Thanks for your reply remar,

I have talked to my girlfriend she is fine. :)

  I have another issue I noticed when pulling the foreskin to see under, I look and see some white stuff attached to the foreskin; not the glans. At first I thought it was smegma it maybe still is.  I tried to get rid of it but it seems to be ?fused? with the foreskin.

Anyone know what it may be? It doesn't hurt or anything. It's formed like a squiggly white line.

If you need more details please don't hesitate and ask.


Regards,

Michael

[remar]

If you have a partner they will also need to be treated because you will just be passing it back and forth. You might want to see your Dr if this is the first time you've ever had this. With women, it's a little different. Once they've had one or two and have seen their Dr they know what the symptoms are if they ever get another one it can be treated with over the counter meds.