Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

HELP! Treatment for Epididymitis Isn't working

I am in Thailand and I have been sick now for about a month with what doctors say is Epididymitis. After 3 different doctors and hospitals the treatment isn't helping and they keep trying to give me more antibiotics that don't seem to be working.

I didn't sleep with any girls except my girlfriend of 3 years, and she has been faithful as well. I'm 23 years old. So I doubt STD is the cause.

Let's start from the beginning.

First I experienced slow onset of pain in my right testicle that was ultrasound tested and turned out to be orchitis. I took Ciprofloxacin 500 mg 2x day for about a week and that went away.

2 days later the left side started hurting, and I could feel a lump above the testicle. I saw another Dr. and he did a urine test which turned up no UTI and said I had epidymitis and gave me Levofloxacin to go along with Doxycicline that an American Dr. said might help over the phone. 14 days later I still have the lump and I have finished the antibiotics.

Last night I saw yet another Dr. and he said, after another damn physical exam, I needed MORE antibiotics, and gave me 7 days of Cipro, again, but only 250 mg 2x per day.

What should I do? I'm in a foreign country and the medical care is pretty shabby and I still have this lump that sometimes aches especially if I walk a lot or touch it, and I'm backpacking so I have to be traveling and walking.

Please let me know what tests I need or drugs or what else this may be.

Thank you so much if you can help me!!

Kind regards,

Wski9
2 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hello,
The etiology of chronic or recurrent epididymitis can be associated with inflammatory, infectious, or obstructive factors but, in many cases, no identifiable etiology can be identified.

The most common medical therapies for chronic epididymitis are antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents; phytotherapy, anxiolytics, narcotic analgesics, acupuncture and injection therapy. But if none of them gives good results and symptoms persist then epididymectomy ay have to be performed.
I hope it helps. Take care and regards.
Helpful - 0
647273 tn?1292091141
Hi,

My dad received very good care when he ended up in a Bangkok hospital a few years ago when he suffered an angina attack. Compaired to the medical system here in Canada, he received the best care possible.

I have had numerous bouts of epididymitis and orchitis at about every three to four months from about 1994 till about 2000. Having had Cipro work very well for several years, in 2000 I had a Strep B infection of the left testicle following complications from a vasectomy. I ended up loosing my left testicle to the infection and nearly died. The ended up removing the testicle and surrounding tissue leaving the left scrotum open to heal from the inside out. To combat the infection they had me on numerous IV treatments, one of the drugs being Flagyl. The strep infection did not require oxygen to continue spreading. I was in an isolation room in intensive care and my wife was told that the doctors did not know if the Flagyl would work. The two porblems that I had with the drug was 1, It did damage to my nervous system due to the fact that I have a genetic condition, HNPP to which Flagyl did damage to the nervous system. Without the treatment I would not have surfived the infection. 2. Flagyl will give you a terrible metal taste in your mouth the cannot be controled while in treatment. I at the time was a light built person at the weight of 135lbs. around the time that I was admitted. Because I was unable to keep food and liquids down, I left the hospital on weighing about 87lbs. Once I was discharged and got back home, it took me around two months to get back up to the weight of 125lbs. I worked as a heavy duty mechanic shop foreman. I took me over 6 months untill I felt well like I did before I got the infection.
Due to the damage of the nervous system, I had to end my career in 2003 bcause of the damage giving me permanent damage of the peripheral nervous system of my hands and fingers as well as having a drop foot of the left foot. I also ended up loosing most of my peripheral visual field. I only have a visual field of about 15 to 20 degrees. Most patients treated with Flagyl will never end up with the problems that people like myself end up with. Flagyl is a problem for those with HNPP and CMT (Charcot, Marie Tooth disease). I had no choice in the matter without treatment, I would have died.
As the doctors about Flagyl possibly being considered as treatment by IV. I also was on Cipro of 500mg, treatment 3 times a day.
Once you return home, get things checked out to ensure that the infection is under control.

All the best,

Ron
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Urology Community

Top Urology Answerers
Avatar universal
Southwest , MI
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Discharge often isn't normal, and could mean an infection or an STD.
Dr. Jose Gonzalez-Garcia provides insight to the most commonly asked question about the transfer of HIV between partners.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.