Coping With Prostatitis

[Jake James]

With no real understanding of what prostatitis even was, it came as quite and assault on the senses to be told that I had prostatitis, of which I couldn't get answers on the causes to be able to come to terms with the effect..

In my own journey, there were times in the lead up to eventually going to the doctor that I couldnt sit down, urine leeks, dizziness, cold sweats, confusion and the list goes on..

As a male, we are accustomed to be able to deal with pain, to be able to handle the tough hits and roll with the punches.. But the reality is, we are only human and this disease is something that really distort our perception of reality and begin to question our infallibility.. In it's own strange way, its probably the best thing that has ever happened to me as it's opened my eyes to a whole new world and I have discovered many things about myself ....I have come to really appreciate he hidden heroes in society such as the doctors, nurses, health care professionals, naturopaths and the list goes on of genuine people that sincerely try and help their fellow human beings..

Perhaps in my own experience and I know that it may be different for you, the worst part was not knowing, waiting for results, the tests, wanting to make plans for the future and things having to be put on hold, frustration etc etc..

Some things that I have felt to be quite helpful and possibly something that you may wish to consider are the following :

- Stretching excercises, especially in the groin area - some yoga stretches and breathing excercises, particularly in times of stress.
- A high fibre diet to alleviate any stress that the bowel may be placing on the prostate ( I personally went for colonic irrigation 4 times - it's not fun but its a good clean out)
- 2 - 3 litres of water per day
- Vitamin supplements such as fish oil, vitamin c, barley grass, folic acid, selenium and saw palmetto.. I found a natural product by the name of Prostate Eze
- Regular excercise, even if it is a short walk
- Regular massages of the lower back area, in particular, the tail bone
- I have recently begun acupuncture and will be able to let you know more at the end of the 5 week session
- Orthotic souls are on order to apparently keep the hips aligned - will let you know how it goes
- Prayer - lots of it and prayers of thanks for being in this situation and for the gift of life that we sometimes, take so much for granted
- Surround yourself with good people
- A good doctor and a good natruropath
- Accept the situation for what it is and move forward - one day at a time..
- No alchohol, fizzy drinks, citrus, fried foods, wheat, dairy, sugar, coffee .. lots of fruit including watermelon, banannas and green apples..
- Letting go of anger, frustration or any triggers of negativity attached to the past..


We are all different and our symptoms and remedies vary ..

What's your story ? What are you feeling ? How are you coping ? Any suggestions that may help your brothers going through this?

[jeffos]

I really would like to be as positive as you, I have been sick for 14 months...Abacterial Chronic prostatitis.
Sometimes it was so bad that i couldn't even sit and the doctors were never considering this disease seriously, I mean as a normal disease with a protocol to treat it....there is even a tendency to ignore it.
In front of chronic prostatitis the medical community is lost and we are alone in the dark way to find relief....and lets face it: nobody really care....It hasn't been an interesting subject for research for decades.
So we end up trying many things and "treatments" which in most cases don't work.
But it is true that when you accept this crual reality you start to see things differently around you. And it is very difficult to accept it!
I do not believe or listen anymore to the doctors as I was doing before: the relationship has changed a lot.
My way of living, of working is not the same as well...today I spend more time with my family than when I was doing before and I do not consider anymore my job as my first priority....because as you wrote it: "health is not granted".

So far this is what I found quite helpful for me:

-Drink 2/3 liters of water every day.
-Eat healthy (less meat, more fish and vegies)
-Exercice= swimming at least once a week.
-stop overworking.
-using donut cushion seat (thera seat) for working and driving.
-stop oral antibiotics.
-one tramadadol or ultracet (tramadol+paracetamol) pill as a painkiller when needed.

I didn't find alcool, spicy foods, coffee to be a problem but I cut them off anyway.

Acupuncture, prostate massage has not been helpful for me.

[Jake James]

Hi Jeff,

That's some really good input that you have put in..Now that it's almost summer here, I look forwward to lots of swimming ...

I understand how you have lost your faith in the medical system.. What country are you based in?
Just a bit of encouraging news on that point, in Australia ( this is where Im located) during the month of November, there is a fund raising charity called " Mo vember" whereby men are growing moustaches all over the country to raise awareness for prostate cancer..It's become very popular and although we do not have prostate cancer, its encouraging to see the level of awareness for mens health issues raised and people actively donating to a very good cause.

I feel that perhaps many doctors are at a loss on finding a cure for prostatitis...There is a huge market for the phrama companies to make some serious money out of a cure, so Im wondering what progress they have made or if there are any new ground breaking studies ?

The psychological effects of prostatitis are a point that may be worth mentioning.. i noticed from my perspective, that before I initially went to the doctor I just wasn't right...It got to the point, that I couldn't sit down.. Thats I knew that it was time to go.. In the lead up ,I would get constantly confused, irritated quite easily, on edge and would often break into sweats etc... i feel a whole lot better now in myself but it was pretty scary not knowing what on earth was wrong with me... did you or has anybody in cyber land gone through anything like this ? How has it effected your relationships?
What do you feel may have triggered the symptoms for yourself, from a metaphysical perspective?









jef said:

I really would like to be as positive as you, I have been sick for 14 months...Abacterial Chronic prostatitis.
Sometimes it was so bad that i couldn't even sit and the doctors were never considering this disease seriously, I mean as a normal disease with a protocol to treat it....there is even a tendency to ignore it.
In front of chronic prostatitis the medical community is lost and we are alone in the dark way to find relief....and lets face it: nobody really care....It hasn't been an interesting subject for research for decades.
So we end up trying many things and "treatments" which in most cases don't work.
But it is true that when you accept this crual reality you start to see things differently around you. And it is very difficult to accept it!
I do not believe or listen anymore to the doctors as I was doing before: the relationship has changed a lot.
My way of living, of working is not the same as well...today I spend more time with my family than when I was doing before and I do not consider anymore my job as my first priority....because as you wrote it: "health is not granted".

So far this is what I found quite helpful for me:

-Drink 2/3 liters of water every day.
-Eat healthy (less meat, more fish and vegies)
-Exercice= swimming at least once a week.
-stop overworking.
-using donut cushion seat (thera seat) for working and driving.
-stop oral antibiotics.
-one tramadadol or ultracet (tramadol+paracetamol) pill as a painkiller when needed.

I didn't find alcool, spicy foods, coffee to be a problem but I cut them off anyway.

Acupuncture, prostate massage has not been helpful for me.

[Shehan Pingamage]

Hi Jake,

Thats some real good advice that you have posted there! I pretty much do almost all of the things that you mention as being important. My experience is pretty similar. It started very suddenly for me about 3 1/2 years ago, and i think the first 1 1/2 years i really suffered very badly, to a point where i was nearly suicidal. Since then through antibiotics, and mostly herbal meds i have come to a point where really sitting is my main problem, and since my work is very much sitting oriented (i.e. software developer), I go through pain everyday.

I think the key question is how do we cope mentally with a situation that looks so bleak in terms of a permanent cure ?

I think for me, its been trying to live one day at a time, and accepting the condition for what it is. Its not easy, and most of the time, i tend to get irritated for the smallest things, but i don't stop myself from that either, cause i think we do need to let the steam out at times :)).

I have gotten close to my wife and family even more than before, and realized that they are the most important thing in my life. I also try to start my day with a prayer and also a loving kindness meditation (i.e. where you think loving thoughts for your fellow human beings), this definitely relaxes me. I also try to give as much as i possibly can. If i get negative thoughts i try to talk it out with my family, since i think keeping it inside makes it worse. With regards to the relationships, i think in a weird way it has make my overall relationships even better. My wife has been totally understanding, and i think our relationship has grown stronger.

The triggering events for me are catastrophic thinking, stress, and sitting too long.

[Jon]

Can anyone tell me what kind of stretching exercises might be useful for prostatitis? I try to take regular exercise, but haven't tried anything like yoga, so I'd be grateful of any advice.

[Jake James]

Hi Jon,

Yoga Stretches have been very helpful in stretching and loosening the pelvic area.. If you decide to go to a yoga class, mention to the instructor that you have a prostate issue and ask for the recommended stretches...There are many books on yoga stretching and the prostate area in most good book stores or online..

Also, my doctor who is also into alternative medicine advised me to get orthotic soles for my shoes, as he believes that if your pelvis is out by even a couple of millimetres, this can effect the prostate.. Im my case my left foot is arched and my right foot is flat.. I have the orthotics and I feel that this is also a contributor to my improvement.. But, I'm not kidding myself, i know that this thing can come back..

I hope this helps..



Jon said:

Can anyone tell me what kind of stretching exercises might be useful for prostatitis? I try to take regular exercise, but haven't tried anything like yoga, so I'd be grateful of any advice.

[Jon]

Thanks for the advice, Jake. I've never considered orthotic soles, so that might be worth investigating.

[Jake James]

At this point I have no symptoms at all.. I find it hard to believe.. The last pain attack was about 3 months ago and that was after 1 beer on a hot Sydney day after not having any alchohol for months.. Since then, nothing. The orthotic souls work well and a change in career into something less stressful and more rewarding has been a big help.. Intresting that my new stress barometre is my prostate.. The more stress, the more pain ..

A change in lifestyle and more sports have helped also.. The acupuncture seems to have worked well..

Everybody's journey is different and I have learnt that if we focus more on the solutions than the problems and reverse our thinking pattern from 90% problem focussed and 10% solution focussed, so that we are now 90% solution focussed and only 10% problem focussed, the drive to pleasure from the pain takes a whole new turn.

I know that it can come back at any time, but focussing on the solution has at this point, helped heaps and I hope that it helps you too, if you decide to go down that route.

God Bless