Re: Prostititis - Prostate Infection info

Posted By HFHS M.D.-SS on March 23, 1998 at 17:23:36:

In Reply to: Prostititis - Prostate Infection info posted by TLB on March 20, 1998 at 00:39:07:







: About two 1/2 months ago I was diagnosed with Prostititis. I went to the urologist and was prescribe
Levaquin for 6 weeks. Previously, for almost 6 months, I had noticed a strange sensitivity in my urethra
and an odd uncomfortable feeling in my penis. The reason I ended up going to the doctor was because one morning
I woke up and found blood in my urine. Anyway...after reading alot about Prostititis on the net..it seems that there
are numerous posts about how difficult it is to get rid of..and how for so many people it just keeps coming back over and over again.
I have been off the medication for almost 4 weeks now..and although there is not trace of blood in my urine, I somehow still don't feel right.
I am not in any pain..but I notice that there is still a noticeable sensitivity in my urethra and it seems that when I urinate..I feel an odd pressure
on my prostate. The doctor explained that the healing of the prostate after an infection is almost like having a hurt shoulder...it will get better, but will not happen overnight.

I am concerned that my prostate infection is going to come back..and also concerned that I am still experiencing some sensitivity. My question is..is this normal?? and if it does come back
is there anyway to be sure I get rid of it for good??






Dear TLB
Thank you for your question. You describe having sensitivity in the urethra, pressure in the prostate and blood in the urine. I agree with your doctor in giving the antibiotic and the duration. Prostatitis is a difficult condition to objectively diagnose and treat. A therapeutic trial with antibiotic often needs to be given. You may be suffering from what is called a chronic prostatitis. This condition often flares up for no known reason. A prostatic massage and examination of the secretion helps to identify if this truly is  prostatic inflammation. In the past prostatic massage was a treatment for this condition. Your Urologist is correct in saying that this may take a long time to heal and get better. If it recurs, another course of antibiotics will be given to you. In the mean time one has to rule out that you do not have another urinary infection or any urethral discharge or urethral inflammation. The blood in the urine certainly needs to be evaluated by a urologist by an X-ray of the kidneys(IVP)  and cystoscopy(looking in the bladder). What is most important is that one has to make sure that there are no other bladder or prostate conditions masquerading as prostatitis. I hope this will suffice for the time being. Feel free to respond .
This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.  Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition.
HFHS M.D.-SS
*KEYWORD: Prostatitis