Prostatitis

I have had apparent Prostatitis diagnosis by a specialist since Feb 07 (8 months now). I have been through every antibiotic and am currently on 100mg Doxycycline daily for the last 4 months but still have all the usual symptoms of prostatitis and no relief and I am getting very depressed. A rectal exam showed my prostate to be very tender (so much so I shouted and moved about 1 foot when the specialist touched it :( ). Is there any other medical condition (hernia?) it could be and if prostatitis any other medications that may help? I have been doing all the usual warm baths etc. My urine and semen samples were both free of bacteria.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

A prostatic massage can be done and any fluid expressed be sent for culture and analysis.  Any bacterial resistance can lead to continued symptoms.  

I would also consider imaging the prostate with a transrectal ultrasound to exclude an abscess.  In these cases it would need to be drained since antibiotics would not be effective.

These options can be discussed with your urologist.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com

[skyman99]

I forgot to say I'm a male in his early 40's.

[boyblue]

Hey Sky..read your post and I have been experiencing prostatitis symptoms for the past 2 1/2 years- every day in agony.  I have been on every freaken antibiotic known to man- had ultra sounds, cat scans, cystoscopy, you name it I've had it- prostate fluid tested- with no sign of infections... my prostate is swollen and tender as well- so tender that the Dr won't even go near it again due to my agonizing screams every time he does the rectal exam.   The depression that has resulted from this is horrible- this has affected my sex life due to the pain that occurs after ejaculation,  2 1/2 years with NO RELIEF, the Dr's tell me that this is just someting that I have to learn how to deal with- I am only 36 for christs sake..learn to deal with it ??!!!!  My point is this I guess- there has to be another reason for the inflamation (inflammation) that antibiotics are not fixing.    May I ask what all your symptoms are that you are experiencing?  

[jedispider]

im 18 and i feel burning or discomfort on tip of penis, im taking cipro, could i have prostatitis? dr said i was too young for that but im worried. I was never really diagnosed with anything cuz i took tetracycline for 10 days.thank u

[skyman99]

Usual Prostatitis type of problems... Urgently to urininate, burning feeling, discomfort and pain (stringing) on ejac sometimes. Varies from totally awful resorting to heavy painkillers (which are not much good) to thinking it has nearly gone away (and then it returns :( ). It was strange for me as it first happened between girlfriends (7 months between them with no sex etc) so infection seemed very unlikely to me. I have been told that it may be just an injury or physical damage to the tubing that leads to infection reoccurring so there is nothing that can be done :(.

I have noticed things that do work to ease the problem or that cause the problem to get worse...

Too frequent or too infrequent ejaculation
sexual arousal without ejaculation
withdraw from completing at the time of ejaculation
too much exercise
spicy foods, citrus fruit drinks and caffeine
Sitting for long periods of time - this is DEFINITELY a problem!

A warm bath for 15 minutes works best of all and avoiding STRESS!

I believe there is a cure but finding it will take time and effort.

[skyman99]

It is possible but rare as from what I was told Prostatitis is something that begins to become a problem from about 35 years old on. It could be bacterial Prostatitis from an infection but the true bact ones are usually sorted with antibiotics. More likely a STD if just the tip of the penis or if you have had no sexual contact then a standard UTI. See your doc either way.

[boyblue]

Sky...I agree with your comment about what eases/ makes the problem worse.  I sit at a desk all day and this definetly makes the situation much worse..I notice that on the weekends when not sitting all day the pain and symptoms are much less irritating.  I have daily leaking of either urine or prostat fluid that is causing constant irritaion at the opening of the penis...this entire thing is a nightmare- the Dr's are making me crazy becuase they are at a loss and telling me that I just need to deal,   daily pain killers and anti-inflamatory meds are helping somewhat but what the hell are they doing to my liver.  LIke you it will go away and I think thank god, and then a day or two later BAMN there it is again...do you experience severe pain at the tip or entire penis at times??   If you find a cure god please let me know...this had truely ruined my life, I know that may sound a bit extreme but it has..my sex life is pretty much non existant due to the pain that results following...   thanks for your response...  

[skyman99]

I'm taking everything going!!!

I have tried some herbal helpers…
• Redbush tea, D-Mannose and Xylotene (to remove bacteria from the urinary tract just in case)
• Zinc and Vit C (Fizzy tablets in orange box – cannot remember the name), and Omega 3s
• and making my diet very simple (avoid tomatoes and their sauces).

Although not sure I believe that it has helped greatly (in general) although I still get flare-ups they are not as bad now as they first were. I’m going at some stage give Saw Palmetto and Peenuts a go to see if they help.

My specialist said Prostatitis is like a sine wave that diminishes over time to very infrequent with low toughs so it will get better but it is a LONG waiting game.

My game plan to date although not perfect it does help a lot in my own case is...

• AVOID STRESS - I have been away on two chill out weekends lately where I felt no stress and virtually no symptoms because of it. Under stress I can feel the problem come on worse making me think it may be the pelvic muscles tightening making the thing worse and putting pressure on the prostate.

• Eat simple but good food and no caffeine or high sugar foods especially citrus fruits! When my diet is good the problem makes less of an appearance. Eating high acid and sugar foods (which I love) just brings the problem on worse. I have noticed that after eating a large meal (about 40 mins) that the problem gets worse – I have no idea why .

• Walk and move about a lot even at work. Keep yourself busy in the head also with, for example, fixing stuff around the house etc. If work is too much do a 4 day week instead of 5 etc.

When I feel it starting a flare up I do a number of things where possible…

• Walk – it works as long as you do not over do it.
• Bath – it works the best.
• Lie down (not sit down) if REAL bad pain or even just go to bed and sleep.

If pain killers are necessary than I use Aspirin first as it is an anti-inflammatory usually 600mgs to see it that works, if not then another 300mg and up to 2x 500/30 Co-codamol (they are the strong buggers but 500/8 work nearly just as well).

I have been on antibiotics for 8 months now (currently 100mg doxy daily).
I tried coming off them but it flared up so I’m waiting until it settle down and I’ll try again after Christmas. The antibiotics are also anti-inflammatory but not good for the system – if you have to take them also take a pro-biotic to help the good digestive bacteria. None of these (antibiotics or painkillers) are good for other organs.

[jedispider]

thanks it went away with cipro wohoo, it was a UTI cuz i swim alot. Yea i did go to the doctor he said it couldnt be that, im too young and i told him that i knew a guy that was 27 that had it and he told me i wasnt 27 and argued. So hes right, well either way cipro totally took care of it.

[jedispider]

thanks it went away with cipro wohoo, it was a UTI cuz i swim alot. Yea i did go to the doctor he said it couldnt be that, im too young and i told him that i knew a guy that was 27 that had it and he told me i wasnt 27 and argued. So hes right, well either way cipro totally took care of it.

[gman354]

[calh2o]

http://www.chronicprostatitis.com/forum/index.php

I have just been diagnosed myself with prostititus and were screwed, no cure. Sometimes it might just go awy and there are differet treatments that work for different people. Check out this link and your journey will begin. Alot of tis is stress related, one thing vryone agrees on.

[Mac711]

I thought I was alone in this category and you guys have deleted that myth.  I to have that discomfort feeling after ejaculation and it is a sex killer.  You want to cuddle and hold afterwards but the feeling is so intense that you want to pull your prostate, bladder, and rectum out and replace it all.  Do any of you have the urge for a bowl movement after ejaculation? Thanks.

[skyman99]

No not for me, although I have noticed that if I'm unlucky enough to have go bowel wise a lot it can inflame the prostate for some strange reason :(.

[trapshooter]

I have had prostatitus for about 3yrs now.  It never really gets better, sometimes becomes horrible.  I am 44 and have a new love.  So the worst thing for me is that it now causes lack of sensitivity.  I have to try as hard as I can and it will take 30 to 45 minutes of intercourse to acheive an ejaculation.  And it use to take a very short time.  I have never had pain with or after ejaculation like some of you have stated.  I think my problem now is the pain or maybe even damage in the uretha.  Like I said I've had prostatitis for 3 yrs, but the sexual side effects are very recent.

I have lost wieght and am in better condition than I've been since I was in my late 20's.  Also, my blood pressure is down to a very good level.

I have a sit down job, do you guys know of anything a guy can do to help, like sitting on a pillow or something?

[skyman99]

I have a sit down job too and try where possible just to find a reason to walk about e.g. get a drink of water (also keeps you hydrated which can be help a lot), go get a manual, talk to someone etc. I don't like the idea of highlighting the fact in work with a ring pillow etc as I find it embarassing enough especially as of the half dozen people I have told (over the 9 months) at least half said "you get that from STDs don't you" :(, which I didn't as it happened after a year of not going out with anyone - I just don't talk about it now to people outside my closest friends and girlfriend of course.
You will find that the caused problems vary over time - sometimes they effect your sexual side and sometimes not at all so you may find the sensivity will come back especially if you can stay hydrated and stress free etc. I found the heavy painkillers I was taking for the problem at it's height also had the sensivity issue during sex so it may well be that?

[warrior110]

my symptoms are painfull urination, not feeling empty, painfull or uncomfortable ejaculation, sharp pains in anus. i am married and depressed about this. i am 31.  is this prostatitis?  all my tests have been normal

[skyman99]

It does sound like it but go to a specialist and follows the stuff we have mentioned above. All my tests were normal also.

I have found that D-Mannose works for me but in large quantities (3 teaspoons a day).

[islandhopper]

I have been experiecing various aches and pains and am trying to figure out what the heck is going on. A few months back I started feeling a kind of burning sensation in my perenium. It wasn't a sharp pain but enough to distract me from my work and think about it. After a week or two I visited a urologist and had a urine test, urine culture and an ultrasound of my prostate. Everything was fine. After another week passed it all seemed to fade by itself. A couple of weeks later it came back and faded again ... and then a couple of week later I started having a burning sensation around the foreskin of my penis, a feeling of "urethral awareness" and a slight burning sensation in my testicles. All of this seems to come and go ... don't have it daily. I also had some bloodwork done and everything came back fine.

I would like to know if any of this reminds you of your condition and how you finally had the problem diagnosed. It's not fun having issues and not knowing what they are. Any suggestions, insights or experiences you have would greatly be appreciated.

[the los]

My nephew had a bad case of Prostatitis and was prescibed Flowmax. He says it has helped alot.