Epididymitis

Has anyone else here had epididymitis? After I finished the course of a strong antibiotic, I still have pain. Went to the urologist and he said it was basically tough and it may last a few months until it goes away. I think he was pretty rude.

Anyone else have this issue?

[worried1122]

hi...yes i have had this same issue. i was going to make an appt with a urologist to ask him about it lingering.  i was diagnosed with epididymitis in dec 09. i took a course of 28 days. I finished it at end of January. the pain is not constant. It is a dull pain and it happens after ejaculation.

how long have has your pain lasted? when did you finish your course of antibiotics?

you can msg me directly if you like.

thanks.

[rmprdl1964]

I used to come down with epididymitis about every 3 to 4 months, requiring a hopsital stay and a course of antibiotics treatment by IV.
Each time that it seemed to be about ok, I came down with another bout. I used to take several months before the symptoms seemed to return to normal.
After my wife and I had 3 children I decided on a vasectomy. Since then I have not had any more problems with epididymitis.
I realize that this might not be an option to some of you.

All the best.

Ron

[itsthebman]

It's been a month since finishing a 10d course of ciprofloxacin (not fun). It got better for about 2 days during the antibiotic therapy, but then the pain got much worse for about the next 6 days, then around the 10th day the pain was tolerable. I was prescribed propoxyphene/apap for pain, which helps some but doesn't completely relieve it. I still have somewhat frequent but intermittant pain which is about a 6 to 7 on a scale of 0 to 10, mostly when sitting down, and when I do have the pain, I get an immediate feeling of nausea. I made an appointment with the urologist (1st post) 3 days after finishing cipro (a month ago) and he came in the room, did very fast exam, said use Ice and ibuprofen. he completely blew me off. He said it will take 1-2 months for swelling and pain to go away and to deal with it. I also have a physically demanding job, so that causes significant pain. I am in my early 20's, and I really would feel uncomfortable telling my employer whats going on, and I really can't get accommodations b/c the physical labor is a major part of my job. I work 25 hrs a week while in school FT. Is it possible to have pain for this long after epididymitis, the doctors seem to think I'm making it up and I'm still in pain with no relief. I did let it go on a while before seeking treatment thinking it would eventually go away. I am also trying to avoid taking antibiotics due to another issue. A urine microscopy revealed slightly elevated protein in urine and yeast, which the PCP said was insignificant.

I cannot tolerate NSAIDS due to gastritis (which makes every doctor think you are lying)
and putting ice on it will only make it much worse.

I'm very discouraged and tired of spending my money on copays, lol.

Any advice or previous experience would help.

Thanks.

[itsthebman]

anyone?

[stratman2534]

I know how you feel bro...  I've been dealing with this for almost 2 months. On March 1st I woke up with pain in my lower abdomen.  At first I thought I just strained myself because I had been doing some heavy lifting the day before.  Within a day or so my left testicle felt like either somebody gave me a good boot or somebody was squeezing it.  I put up with it for a week and ended up going into the doc.  He examined me and said that he thought it was an infection and said that I have a small cyst as well.  I went in for an ultrasound the next day and he put me on 2 weeks of cipro.  By the end of the dosage I felt like things were back to normal.  I wasn't feeling any pain or anything.  I waited a week and then had sex with my gf.  Big mistake.  Within 2 days the pain was back.  I called the doc again and he gave me 2 more weeks of cipro.  I've been off the cipro for about a week and I feel better, but there's still some times that I feel a little bit of discomfort.  I'm giving it a few more days and if it doesn't get any better or go away I'm going back into the doc and I'm sure he'll refer me to a urologist.

Did your doctor tell you to wear a jock support?  Mine did and I gotta say, it does help.  I'm used to wearing boxers, and it was a bit strange at first, but the support does feel a lot better.  Another thing that I do is I'll roll up a towel and put it between my legs while I sleep to keep my legs apart so that it doesn't irritate things.  As far as work goes, I'd just explain to them the situation.  I did with my employer.  I do physical labor as well and there were times when it caused me pain.  My employer gave me FMLA papers to have my dr's office fill out so that if I need to miss a day or leave early it doesn't count against me.  The best thing to do is just be honest with them.

[sniffel]

I have similar issues.  antbiotics seem to olnl bounce off the formidable epididymitus.  the pain is not the bad part.  It is more the nasea and the fatigue that gets to me.  I hate working out and still feeling tired.  no mater what .  It dont get better it seems.  Ive had it for about a month now.  But Ive decided to just work out harder,  and accept this is the way that it is till god heals me.  Dont be a dummy,  wrap your mummy...lol

[itsthebman]

thanks for the advice, its nice to have the support.

[rmprdl1964]

Hi, I like the comment;" Dont be a dummy,  wrap your mummy..' However I have been married for 21 years now and came down with epididymitis prior to marrying my wife. Prior to that I was not sexually active. After having gotten married I seemed OK for at least 6 years and than in 1994 I started coming down with UTI, kidney infections, epididymitis or orchitis about every 3 to 4 months. Most of the time I had a UTI with it and became quite sick requiring about a week in the hospital on IV antibiotics.
Currently I discovered that I have a fistula between my prostate and rectum, and I wonder if this might have played a role all this time. In 1999 I had a vasectomy in the hope that it would stop the infections from spreading into the testicles. After the vasectomy going wrong in the form of a left hematoma, a year later I lost my left testicle after an emergency orchiectomy due to a staph infection. Even with all of that I still have problems with UTI and kidney infections, but I have not had any more problems with the remaining testicle.
Shortly after I got married I was diagnosed as having prostatis. I believe that there is a connection with the prostatitis and a weakened area of the prostate and rectum. However that is just my guess, I'm not a doctor.

All the best.

Ron