I am a male, 44 years old, non-smoker (quit 10 years ago), normal height/weight.
Three evenings ago, I had the sudden onset of these symptoms:
- VERY frequent urination, often with little volume
- sensation that bladder never voided completely
- painful, burning feeling in urethra when urinating
- sensation of sligh pressure between anus and penis
Other details:
- no fever (brief, slight fever yesterday, but the temperature where I live was 100 degrees and I have no air conditioning). No fever this morning.
- slight ache in the lower left back - more on the side of my waist than where the kidneys are located (I know where they are)
- no nausea or vomiting
I visited my Dr. promptly the morning after the symptoms started. I suspected UTI, and after describing symptoms, so did he.
He:
- examined all around my abdomen and pubic area (no discomfort felt)
- examined my back, especially where the ribs meet the spine (no discomfort felt)
- did a DRE - prostate not enlarged (I had a DRE in my physical five months ago, which was also normal, and my PSA was around 1.0)
- sent me for urinalysis and blood test (kidney function and diabetes) - results not yet available
- prescribed 1000mg CIPRO daily (10 days) + Uristat for three days
Having tried to read up as much as possible on UTIs, I note that this far more common in women than men. Many sources of information state that if a man presents with UTI, then it is almost always "complicated" and other tests should be performed.
My questions are:
1) would prostatitis result in an enlarged prostate that would be noticeable with DRE?
2) is it possible for a man to have an uncomplicated UTI (like cystitis) that resolves with antibiotics, requiring no further investigation?
3) My Dr. suggested the possibility of kidney stones (my father had them) but I feel no sharp pains. Can you have kidney stones without feeling them? Where are they most likely to be located in the urinary tract?
4) I have been averaging 4-5 hours sleep a night for many months as my wife and I have young twins. Could chronic sleep deprivation and subsequent consequences on the immune system be a sound reason for developing a UTI?
5) Is referral to a urologist essential if this resolves? Or only if it recurs?
It's been 48 hours since I started taking the meds, and my urinary frequency is down, and the burning sensation is lessened. I feel better, but not 100%. I expect in a couple of more days I will be feeling a lot better. I have been resting at home the past few days.
Thank you in advance for your help.