This is a useful thread. I too have been on this path (epididymitis and possible UTI) … and my main advice, when antibiotics don't work first or second time, get off them or start looking at other things and do some new tests. I had a doctor who wanted to put me on CIPRO for what we thought was a UTI (after taking doxy and flagyl), and I was reluctant (because of shoulder tendonitis and risk of CIPRO exacerbating condition). So he sent me up to urologist to do a prostate massage, take sample, look under microscope and take a culture. He found nothing of concern in sample, but did see A BUNCH of inactive yeast spores floating around. I had an outbreak in past, and my body was taking care of infection (likely from a girlfriend who has type I diabetes). After two to three weeks off antibiotics I started feeling better on my own (almost back to normal), and I asked to give nystatin cream a try to complete the process. I'm also taking probiotics and something called Yeast Fighters (which I think is helping with symptoms and recovery). No big deal, perfectly manageable, but the antibiotics made the problem much worse (and not better in the long run). I wish doctors would consider this side-effect when treating conditions "empirically." They now give you a slew of antibiotics as a first line treatment, and when these don't work start looking for something else (like what is causing condition). The approach is entirely backwards.
If you think you have a yeast infection, you should try and examine and address the cause. I'm wondering if antibiotics in the water supply have something to do with it. Diet is one of the main things to look at. And immune system issues are something too. If you have issues metabolizing sugars (as with diabetes), then you have to be even more vigilant and aware. Yeast and bacteria are our friends … it's time we start learning how to live with them and understand their role in health, wellness, and finding a balance.
Some UTI's are caused by an Ecoli infection, according to Dr Jonathan Wright and treatment using a simple sugar called D-Mannose for a few days should clear it up.
Keep your chin up guys. I had this same issue (epididymitis and prostatis) for about 6 months. My urologist tried to put me on every antibiotic out there. You pretty much have to be your own champion for such a condition. It can be very disheartening at times I know. Don't rely on just one urologist if your not getting the results you want. I eventually got fed up with mine and started trying the self-med route. Anyway, I did a couple of things to help kick my problem and so far so good after about 3 weeks...
- Take selenium once a day to improve the immune system
- After reading that this condition can also be caused by fungus as well (rare), I was able to buy some anti-fungal pills and I took them twice a day. I would definitely try and get a prescription if you think this may be a fungal infection.
- Lower lumbar / pelvic exercises. I do them for about 10 minutes -twice a day and this has really helped me.
- Be positive. Knowing that you are doing something about it and keeping a positive attitude and NOT stressing I am sure only helps.
Update. All symptoms gone (and with relatively simple change). What's the magic. Well, it's a little embarrassing to say, I wish someone had said something earlier, I wish doctors would stop treating this issue empirically with antibiotics and figure out what's ACTUALLY going on. But after months of trial and error, figured it out on my own and symptoms of epididymitis and mild UTI are gone ("completely"). Mason74 talks about fungal infection, and I've read the same on line that suggests this is "rare." Certainly, dangerous and very painful fungal (or Yeast) infections are rare ... but mild and irritating ones (where the immune system is working overtime to restore normal balance) is NOT (IMHO). My suggestion ... AVOID ANY LUBE WITH GLYCERIN IN IT (I won't mention any name brands). Glycerin is sugar, feeds yeast (which is a fungus), and over time can create an imbalance. Women know to avoid the stuff (especially if they are prone to yeast infections). It's time for men to learn the same.
If this is the source of your problem, it will take about a week to clear up. Yogurt or probiotics applied to area speeds up recovery (women will tell you this works too). But antibiotics will just make it worse!!! And if you're currently sexually active, you're probably trading the yeast overgrowth back and forth with your partner (and both going on antibiotics as a preventative … doctors told both of us to go on Doxycycline) just exacerbates the cycle. And remember … you're also getting a good dose of antibiotics from the water supply and any meat and dairy (if you don't buy the good stuff). You can also get yeast overgrowth in bladder, stomach, mouth, throat (as passage ways to prostate). Maybe you have type I or II diabetes, or compromised immune system for some other reason. Doctors need to take a full and detailed history before prescribing antibiotics. We're certainly paying them enough to spend more than 5 minutes with us (and getting rid of us with a flawed pharmacy prescription).
Doctors give antibiotics because sometimes they work for this condition. The problem is they are not figuring out what is causing the situation in many cases, especially if they can't get a good culture. There are several protozoa and bacteria that can cause the same symptoms. Doctors have traditionally had a hard time accepting that men can get fungal infections and also catch them from partners.
The problem with taking antifungal drugs is that it can set you up to develop a resistant fungal infection eventually... so watch for that. If you have a reoccurance and the drug that worked before no longer works it is likely that the fungus is now immune to that drug
First let me thank everyone who contributes to such forums. Epididymitis and Prostatitis are very scary problems that I was not aware of until I was diagnosed with one. There seems to be a lot of men on the net with problems, and not many with solutions. There also seems to be a few different causes, and it seems difficult to figure out wich one it is. I will post my experience thus far, in hope for suggestions and help, and also to help others. I will keep updates on how it goes, and hopefully how I end up curing it. Arrowwind09, you seem to be a very knowledgable person, and you have contributed lots of usefull information already. I would like to know what your take of my situation is, and what steps you would take next.
I am a 29 year old male, in relative good shape and health. About 2 weeks ago I started to notice my scrotum was redder than usual and testicles were enlarged. Urination seems more often than usual, also hot and almost itchy scrotum skin. I went to the doctor and he said epididymitis, most likely caused by a STD. The only sex I had recently was oral received about two weeks prior to my symptoms in wich I recieved a skin brakeing scrape from teeth. I have had no other symptons of STD and am waiting for a urinalysis to come back, but believe it will be negative for Chlamidya and Gonerea. Doctor prescribed 10 day course of Tetracycline 500mg 4 times daily. 8 days through I went back to the Dr. with no signs of anything getting better and maybe worse. He pescribed me with Ofloxzcin 200mg twice daily for 14 days. I am on day 3 and the pain has seem to gone down in the Epididymis and things actually feel a bit better, but my testicles are still enlarged and red. Do you think they might take a little longer to return to normal size. I am going to ask for an ultrasound tomorow when I see the doc. I really would like to cure this and also after, keep my body strong so nothing like this happens again. Any input is gratefully accepted. Also I will keep posted of my condition. If I can help anyone else with this problem, I would like to. Also I was not aware of natural remedies to fight bateria or fungal infections before now, but I would love to try these before antibiotics any day. I am going to study and learn more about this, and pointing in the right direction would be awsome, I really know nothing, so beginer stuff would be great. Again thanks to everyone that takes their time to help.
Here is a link that I found while researching. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1553215/
Also what do you think of making Kefir and consuming it as a Probiotic. I am concerned with this especially since I have been taking anit-boitics, and don't even know if it is bacteria or fungas I am fighting.
Also where is a good place to get good quality Allicin and perhaps what brands are true Allicin in its helpful state?
Last edited by jofus; 12-13-2010 at 08:26 PM.
Reason: Forgot to ask 1 more thing
For allicin I recommend Allemed. For a probiotic I recommend VSL#3. Probiotics shuld be taken for up to 4 to 6 weeks post antibiotic therapy along with a good diet consisting but not limited to some raw veggies daily.
So you are on your second antibiotic? Certainly if it is not resolved after this It must be fungal. If you get a fairly good decline in the condition but it does not resolve it still may be bacterial but not the right antibiotic given... but I would not consider this unless it is at least over 40% better. When the wrong antibiotics are given sometimes you get partial relief then the condition gets worse again. When infection declines swelling should start to decrease. If none of this works Tell the doctor since he is not able to do a culture and tests come back negative for bacteria or STD you want to try an antifungal. Ask him about Ketoconazole. This is really a wild guess but see what he says... I prefer this drug over Diflucan for a number of reasons. ketoconazole can and may be needed both topically and orally
I also wonder if it would be worth doing a culture on ejaculate. I would give that a try so you can know for sure about that possibility.
You may want to look into mms1 and mms2. I do know that some guys have resolved similar problems with this. Learn it well before you start. www.jimhumble.biz
There are a number of herbal products that I think I mentioned in this tread somewhere. You will have to look for them as I never bookmarked them.
I have been looking into UVB therapy and that may be an option, I don't know. It works very well on bacsterial issues but all the research on it was done before fungal infections werer understood back in the 40's. Some doctors combine UVB and ozone therapy in the same session and if you can find that it may be worth a try. Even if the doctor you find to provide this service does not find bacteria or fungus in the blood, most of these doctors do LIve Blood analysis by Dark Field Microscope it is my opinion that the treatment may still be of benefit even if he sees no microbe of concern in the blood as these treaments will greatly inhance your immune function.
I wish I could offer more ideas.. this is a very difficult condition that no one seems to know the answers too... one other option that may help is long term Olive Leaf extract standardized to 20% and Pau de Arco.
So I went to the doc today. My discomfort and pain symptons are feeling a lot better, but most of the pain and discomfort caused by epididymitis is from the inflamation. And Ofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone, which are also know for working as anti-inflamatorys. I am wondering if this is why I have seen a lot of people with similar conditions on the net saying that when they started cipro, they felt better for a while. My testicles are still red and enlarged. The doctor said that they have a lot of fluid from the infection, and it may take longer for them to shrink down to normal. I am going in for ultra sound the day after tomorrow regardless. I am going to keep going with the Ofloxacin. Can I take Colloidal Silver, MMS, MMS2, Allicin, or prescribtion anti-fungals while I am taking Ofloxacin? Also I am confused, can Colloidal silver actually cure baterial or fungal infections. On Nutrasilver's own web site in regards to MRSA infections it states "When you stop taking NutraSilver�, the symptoms will return in about 10 days." That sounds like it is not curing it, but only treating it.
Sorry I am all over the place here but, how long should I take my prescribed antibiotic for, the whole course, even if it doesn't get any better than it is now.
I am really starting to think it is a fungal (Candida albicans possibly) infection. The more I read about it, the more it all makes more sence then a baterial. Of course I am worried about quiting my antibiotics part way through my treatment and risking causing a superbug. I also don't want to be feeding my infection for two weeks while I wait out the AB treatment. What do you think?
For anyone else out there with the same sort of problems, definitely look at the fungal infection side of it as well. I find a lot of sites that say epididymitis, prostatitis and orchitis are only caused by baterial and viral infection. Every once in a while I find one that includes fungal or yeast as a possibility. It seems like its something that wasn't considered in the past, but is starting to be by some now.
Hi jofus, welcome. Here's a link that I posted earlier in this thread that has some useful info regarding herbs, etc. Don't know if you've already seen it.
My pain and discomfort symptons are better today, but my orchitis (enlarged or swelling of testicles) and redness of the scrotum are still very aparent and unchanged. My doc said there is a fluid build up from the infection and may take some time to work its way out. I am going in for an ultra sound the day after tomorrow regardless. Most the pain and discomfort of epididymitis, and prostatitis is caused from inflamtion. Cipro ( which I have heard a lot of people are priscribed when having troubles curing epididymitis and prostatitis) and ofloxacin (which I am currently on) are part of the quinolones family of ABs. They are also know for their anti-inflamatory effects, hence I my symptons "feel" better but don't look any better. I have also read numerous accounts of people with these problems having sympton relief after taking cipro, only to have it return in days.
Here is a link that has yeast/fungas as a possible cause https://www.drugs.com/cg/epididymitis.html
Arrowwind, couple questions for you?
Can one take Colloidal silver, mms, allicin, and antibiotics/ or antifungals at the same time?
I am confused by something I read on NutraSilvers site, in regards to MRSA it says "When you stop taking NutraSilver�, the symptoms will return in about 10 days."
Does that mean it doesn't actually cure it?
Sorry this is kind of a double post because I thought I lost the other one. Some of this stuff I just said a couple posts ago. I am a forum newbie.
Last edited by jofus; 12-14-2010 at 08:28 PM.
Reason: I'm a forum newbie
Yes thank you, I did check it out. Any information is greatly appreciated. There is so much out there on the web, and concentrating as much as possible in one spot (like this forum) could be very helpful for lots of people. My prostate is not bugging me as of yet, my problem is more to do with orchitis and epididymitis, but I well definitely be keeping that area in check as well, as they all seem to be connected.
I would call Russell at Nutrasilver and talk to him about it.
I would finish the antibiotic before starting anything else.. Lets see what happens with it.. I have never heard of anti-inflammatory properties to antibiotics.. If the infection goes the inflammation goes, but may take a little longer for the normal pathways of drainage to clear fluids out.
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