Prostatitus Advice

[xylophone]

12 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Perhaps you genuinely know something I don't, but I don't understand why you are advocating taking doxycycline for 60 days when Roxithromycin will likely clear it up in 10 days if it is bacterial. I have direct experience of Roxithromycin and it has been effective every time within 10 days. Granted doxycycline could be broader spectrum and a better choice from that angle.

But clear what up??

 

Prostatitis can be a condition which is extremely difficult to cure, if at all, and I have much clinical research as to why that is; too long to go into here but it involves the prostates own protective measures, biofilms etc. Some men suffer with it for decades, which I have.

 

So long term continuous treatment is needed and 10 days with any antibiotic is not enough for prostatitis.

 

If what you had was cleared up within 10 days I would respectfully suggest that it wasn't prostatitis proper, although some Drs do refer a UTI as this when it actually isn't.

 

As for Doxy, well in the end it was the only drug which worked for prostatitis over many years though not clearing it completely, but did give long periods of relief. As of yet it is not really fully understood or fully treatable with one top US urologist referring to this area as "medical wasteland as far as knowledge is concerned".

[mokwit]

I acknowledge many/most (maybe all but one)  of your points but the reason 'long term continuous treatment is needed' may be due to the nature of the prostate as you suggest or it could also be due to the antibiotic used.

 

There is no doubt in my mind what I had was bacterial prostatitis and the (IMO highly competent) Doctor who did a DRE* was also of this view and his drugs of choice were Bactrim, Roxithromycin and as a last resort an antibiotic more usually used for Tuberculosis. I am just passing that on. Maybe I have just been lucky to have had not as deep rooted infections as others.

 

* I don't recall even being able to tell if he was touching the prostate

[faraday]

Agree wholeheartedly within Xylophone.

 

When I had Prostatitis years ago, I was prescribed Doxy 3 times a day for 30 days.

 

Without looking through the thread again, didn't Sheryl suggest it could be Interstitial Cystitis?

 

 

 

[dallen52]

21 hours ago, xylophone said:

IMO that is one smart urologist.

 

Mr Gray in Melbourne. 

I can honestly say he was a sincere gentleman. 

It knocked it over in about 6 weeks.

The first visit was about $300, the follow up was bulk billed, he took the government refund only.

Any one from Australia can vouch for private and consulting fees.

Well worth specializing as my GP used to say.

Call yourself a mr. Instead of doctor, and show me the money. 

[Batty]

6 hours ago, faraday said:

Agree wholeheartedly within Xylophone.

 

When I had Prostatitis years ago, I was prescribed Doxy 3 times a day for 30 days.

 

Without looking through the thread again, didn't Sheryl suggest it could be Interstitial Cystitis?

 

 

 

Hi Faraday

 

Actualy that was something I suspected as all the symptoms matched - bladder issues, pee problems but no bacteria found in urine test and PSA normal.  It still could be that, but doubtful.  Im back to thinking its prostate related.

[Batty]

7 hours ago, xylophone said:

Actually I didn't need to try Roxithromycin in the end as finally an infection of e-coli ESBL was cultured, possibly as a result of hospital acquired infection (from cystoscopy), or because the idiot Dr Death urologist kept on prescribing month after month of different antibiotics without doing a culture.

 

Result was 14 days of intravenous rare antibiotic infusion, cost me about 50k baht in all and 1.5 hrs every day in hospital. Cured that.

 

But please note this was not about prostatitis but more about the effects of a poorly emptying bladder causing problems and an idiot urologist here.

 

Back onto doxycycline and Roxithromycin...…...DO NOT TAKLE THEM TOGETHER AS NO NEED. Give the doxycycline a try (1x100mg per day, after food and not before bed) for at least 60 days and see how you go.

 

Roxy was my next try/standy because I uncovered some good info on its use with prostatitis.

 

The peeing every hour could suggest a form of urethritis in which the urethra becomes "irritated" and that needs time to settle although doxy can help this.

 

The bladder relaxing tabs worked for me over a couple of months and helped me to retrain my bladder to empty better, so I stopped them and practise a "double voiding" technique now which is ok.

 

 In summary and IMO, try the doxy on its own; the Tamsulosin will help if you have a problem with passing water, which you don't seem to have now, and Cialis has been approved for BPH but doesn't do much for me in that regard.

 

You need to separate treatments and note the results so that you know which works and which doesn't. Take a methodical approach and it will help you understand things better.

Thanks Xylaphone, realy appreciate the feedback there.  I will start with the doxy and see how it goes.  My wife is baffled by this - why I would have to go and buy my own antibiotics based on research from a web forum and keeps asking 'well why didnt the doctor prescribe antibiotics on last visit?'.  She is doubting the need for me to go down this road of self medicating and is a little worried.

 

I cant answer her question realy.  I guess when I explained to the doc that I was feeling better compared to a few weeks ago, but still unwell, he took that literally as totaly well, no symptoms.  I did explain that I still feel symptoms but they are improved, I made sure to drill that in as much as i could but im still confused why he would not prescribe any kind of antibiotics.  I think I am doing the right thing here, in self treating it.  If i go back to the doc once more what will it achieve?  I have already had every test possible and on the last visit he just gave me bladder muscle relaxers so i dont see how going back there will help me in any way.

 

[Batty]

7 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Next get your kidneys checked, stones, function etc

 

Then again it could be the pancreas.

Pancreatic cancer is hard to detect until the last stages, I'm not joking about that Google it.especially as u have back pain.

 

 

Christ that is terrifying.  Pancreatic cancer?  The thought never entered my mind and after weeks on the internet googling my symptoms, I dont ever remember seeing that as a possibility.  Thats disconcerting to say the least... A friend of mine died from that 5 years ago.  He went to the docs with abdomen pains and 6 weeks later died.  It just ate him away in the final week.

 

My back pain is more on the flanks, sort of lower lumber area just below the kidneys and just above my bum.   Wouldnt pancreas issues be a little further up?  Im guessing after 7 weeks if i had something like that I would be riddled with fever by now and jaundice?  Also pancreas issues wouldnt lead to having issues peeing would it?

 

Could someone put my mind at rest with this?  Obviously im not suddenly freaking out about the possibility and i see it as extremely unlikely, but is there a chance of it being something awfull like that?  Sort of in my mind a little now, that thought!

 

Surely there would have been red flags during my full health screening at Bumrungrad wouldnt there if it was pancreactic cancer???

 

Blimey, even just saying the words bothers me...

[Sheryl]

Your back pain is likely nothing to do with your prostate OR your pancreas or anything else dire.   More likely just something musculoskeletal. Muscle strain, spinal issue or sacroiliac joint. Lost of people have this. Unrelated. If it really troubles you try some yoga or stretching. Lots of exercises on you tube for lower back pain and sacroliliac joint issues (I mention SI joint because it sounds like the discomfort is to the side a bit). If that doesn;t help or seems to make it worse see an ortho.

 

As to your urinary symptoms, prostatitis that is largely but not totally resolved is most likely bet. That and/or, as the doctor suggested, anxiety and excessive focusing in your physical sensations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mokwit]

In my direct experience

9 hours ago, Sheryl said:

just something musculoskeletal. Muscle strain, spinal issue or sacroiliac joint.

Whilst back pain can be caused by the above and I am sure many more, my direct experience is that my lower back/kidney pain was caused by my prostatis. It felt like I had done something to my back  Others similarly attribute this pain to actually being as a result of enlarged prostate. So, while there are many likely causes of lower back , Prostatitis cannot IMO be ruled out as a cause.

[xylophone]

3 hours ago, mokwit said:

In my direct experience

Whilst back pain can be caused by the above and I am sure many more, my direct experience is that my lower back/kidney pain was caused by my prostatis. It felt like I had done something to my back  Others similarly attribute this pain to actually being as a result of enlarged prostate. So, while there are many likely causes of lower back , Prostatitis cannot IMO be ruled out as a cause.

True enough...…….when I was suffering badly from it, I had pain in my testicles, lower back, perineum, lower stomach/bladder area, flanks and sometimes even my thighs!!

 

This condition can get so bad and worrying as to force men to seek alternatives to the everyday oral antibiotic meds, which I did at one time.

 

I researched a doctor in the Philippines who has a clinic in which he devotes his time to trying to cure prostatitis and his results, although mixed, have shown several positive outcomes. The only problem being is that after many tests he will inject the selected antibiotics direct into the prostate, which sounds excruciating to me.

 

This can go on for some time, so a stay in the Philippines would have been a preferable way to deal with it.

Having said that he quite openly admits that because the prostate is so "compartmentalised" with regard to its internal structure, that even the injection of antibiotics might not get to where they are most needed.

 

I have added this because it seems that the OP has gotten to the point of worrying unduly and focusing unhealthily on the subject, and just to let him know that there are others out there, including me, who have been through the mill and have now come out of it (hopefully).

 

So to the poster Batty, try the doxycycline regimen for some time and note any improvement, although it will not be immediate, and perhaps if the back pain becomes too bad, see if an anti-inflammatory such as Nurofen or similar will take away the pain.

 

As a side note, pelvic stretching exercises have also proven to be helpful for some guys

 

[dallen52]

10 minutes ago, xylophone said:

True enough...…….when I was suffering badly from it, I had pain in my testicles, lower back, perineum, lower stomach/bladder area, flanks and sometimes even my thighs!!

 

This condition can get so bad and worrying as to force men to seek alternatives to the everyday oral antibiotic meds, which I did at one time.

 

I researched a doctor in the Philippines who has a clinic in which he devotes his time to trying to cure prostatitis and his results, although mixed, have shown several positive outcomes. The only problem being is that after many tests he will inject the selected antibiotics direct into the prostate, which sounds excruciating to me.

 

This can go on for some time, so a stay in the Philippines would have been a preferable way to deal with it.

Having said that he quite openly admits that because the prostate is so "compartmentalised" with regard to its internal structure, that even the injection of antibiotics might not get to where they are most needed.

 

I have added this because it seems that the OP has gotten to the point of worrying unduly and focusing unhealthily on the subject, and just to let him know that there are others out there, including me, who have been through the mill and have now come out of it (hopefully).

 

So to the poster Batty, try the doxycycline regimen for some time and note any improvement, although it will not be immediate, and perhaps if the back pain becomes too bad, see if an anti-inflammatory such as Nurofen or similar will take away the pain.

 

As a side note, pelvic stretching exercises have also proven to be helpful for some guys

 

Sounds unbelievable but, 

Kegel exercises are often beneficial. 

I do them daily. 

Its easy to learn.

Can do them everywhere. 

Read up, it is not just women who benefit. 

There is a huge set of muscles in and around that area.

It's a supplement to, not a cure for...

 

And as an old friend said. 

"As you get older, it gets shorter and thicker "

 

Some Japanese practice the weight lifting exercises and I believe it helps many people with various problems in that area.

Certainly builds up the strength. 

 

NOT for me.

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, dallen52 said:

Sounds unbelievable but, 

Kegel exercises are often beneficial. 

I do them daily. 

Its easy to learn.

Can do them everywhere. 

Read up, it is not just women who benefit. 

There is a huge set of muscles in and around that area.

It's a supplement to, not a cure for...

 

And as an old friend said. 

"As you get older, it gets shorter and thicker "

 

Some Japanese practice the weight lifting exercises and I believe it helps many people with various problems in that area.

Certainly builds up the strength. 

 

NOT for me.

Knowing my luck, the weights will plummet earthward with my little old fella attached!!!!

 

And, the Kegel pelvic floor muscle exercises were what I was referring to......thanks.

[mogandave]

Knowing my luck, the weights will plummet earthward with my little old fella attached!!!!
 
And, the Kegel pelvic floor muscle exercises were what I was referring to......thanks.

It looks like some kind of male “enhancement” device...

[xylophone]

30 minutes ago, mogandave said:

It looks like some kind of male “enhancement” device...

At a stretch, yes!

[faraday]

13 minutes ago, xylophone said:

At a stretch, yes!

Think he's pulling my leg!

[Batty]

Quick update on this.  Seems I am pretty much healed, and I probably have xylophone to thank for that.  I started taking the Doxy every day in November and after 2 weeks it was 80% better.  Now a couple months in and its pretty much gone.  Zero bladder pain for almost 2 months now, no weird feelings in the prostate area, peeing pretty much normal.  I say pretty much as it still isnt 100%, something still not quite right about it but I never have to strain anymore and im only going 5 or 6 times a day - compared to every hour or every 30 minutes at its worst.

 

All those doctors I seen, all over Thailand.  Two private hospitals and two goverment hospitals.  Shed loads of money and travel hassles, hotels, flights, long drives, and not one of them gave me Doxy - yet this is the pill that seems to have done the trick.  Im not slating them for that, its not like they didnt want to heal me, but you have got to wonder why they didnt try it?  Anyway, whatever man... I am better pretty much, so who cares.  Either way this thread has been a massive help and I just want to say thanks to everyone for chipping in.  Realy useful.  

 

So im in good health, very happy about that.  Back to jogging again starting this week.  Still struggling with the sleep apnea thing but thats nothing to stress about realy, I will figure that out.  I did actualy have a sleep study at local hospital which was useless as the room was full of mosquitos and the bed was rock solid like a table, so I got no sleep at all.  Just lay there, getting bitten lol, wide awake most of the night.  No stress about that as I said ill figure it out.  Im generaly in great shape thats the main thing ????

 

Thanks again for all the posts and effort with this thread, truly appreciated.

 

Regards

 

Batty

 

 

 

[xylophone]

That's really great news Batty and thank you for your kind words.

 

It was the only antibiotic that worked for me over the years and I took it on and off for decades, and once I got used to it and when to take it and what not to do (i.e. do not take it immediately before laying down/going to bed, or spending too much time in the sun) it was not a problem taking it at all.

 

I don't want to rain on your parade, however please be aware that, in my situation at least, I would stop taking it and get quite a few months of "freedom" from the symptoms, but occasionally would have to go back on it again, however as I said, it's not a pain taking it and it is extremely cheap here, so the downsides are pretty minimal.

 

It is one of the only antibiotics that seems to work well for things like prostatitis and not one specialist I have spoken to quite knows why, but there is a suggestion that it does penetrate the prostate better than a lot of other antibiotics and this can help if there is indeed a deep-seated bacterial infection, and it does have some anti-inflammatory properties which can also help if indeed it was a nonbacterial prostatitis.

 

Anyway great news and let's hope that your good health continues to improve the point where you are 100% again.

 

Cheers.

[faraday]

Glad you're getting & feeling better.

 

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