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Infection 18 months on?

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User

Posted 20 Feb 2016 at 20:47

Hello all. I posted this question earlier but I can't find it. So am doing it again.

As some of you may know my other half was diagnosed with prostate cancer in July 2014 age 57 (Gleason 3+3)

Following the biopsy he got prostatitis (showed on MRI) causing aching inside in the prostate and in his left testicle. He was on antibiotics from then until January 2015 when he had brachytherapy.

Following brachytherapy he had a lot of problems with pain and burning. He has been on and off antibiotics all last year. He has visited the GP again last week complaining of a dull ache in his prostate and testicle, plus getting the burning on peeing some days still too. He has been given yet more antibiotics. I think in total he's had them for at least 7 months since the biopsy.

Has anyone else heard of this problem? We are seeing the consultant that did the brachytherapy in March. Last time we saw him he just said the other half had just been unlucky. Should I insist that something be done? Or maybe he should just keep ploughing on through antibiotics. It says on them that they are only effective for certain types of bacteria, so surely it must be the wrong bacteria. Though having said that they do help. But it comes back after stopping them. He has had numerous wee tests for infection, all are negative.

If anyone has heard of this or has any ideas of what to do next I would love to hear.

Let's hope I can find this once posting it as this mornings one has vanished! Thanks.

User

Posted 20 Feb 2016 at 21:52

Well this one has appeared sjtb.
Sorry can't help with your query,
Sorry to say it (to you) but we haven't had those problems but I'm sure somebody will answer you with advice.

Thinking of you and wishing you other half a speedy recovery

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails

User

Posted 20 Feb 2016 at 22:57

I have replied on your other thread :-(

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 21 Feb 2016 at 01:38

Hi SJBT,

Your other half's symptoms are quite similar to what I went through, although I would emphasise that I have had HDR Brachytherapy as opposed to your OH's Seed brachytherapy

I particularly relate to '...complaining of a dull ache in his prostate and testicle, plus getting the burning on peeing some days...'

That sounds just like what I had, two combined things Radiation Cystitis and Prostate Infection.

My GP couldn't help and urine infection tests at my GP's surgery showed I was clear of an infection.

However despite the infection clear urinary tract when I got to see Consultant he identified that I had an infection of the prostate (or what was left of it) which doesn't show up in the GP's tests. He put me on a course of antibiotics from the hospital dispensary.

All of this was just before Christmas when the shops were full of cranberries, so I boiled a few up and ate cranberry every day and this sorted the cystitis in no time.

Lots of people on this site have identified that the so called 'Cranberry Juice Drinks' sold in supermarkets don't actually contain much cranberry, to get the full effect you need to have the whole berries, if you can't find fresh ones, many of the big supermarkets have frozen ones in their freezer cabinets.

I don't live far away from you, I dont know if you are under a Consultant Norfolk & Norwich?

I have found that the best people to contact at the Norfolk & Norwich are the specialist Urology/Oncology Nurses, they are very knowledgable and will make sure you get treated well if you contact them with your concerns.

Dave

PS - The antibiotic that worked for me was ciprofloxacin

Edited by member 21 Feb 2016 at 10:09 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 21 Feb 2016 at 11:14

Thanks davekirkham. Sounds the same as my other half. Yes same antibiotic too. 500mg twice daily. They work but then when he comes off then all symptoms return. He tried cranberry juice but said it made him worse.

We live in Suffolk so we had a choice of N&N Ipswich or Addenbrookes. We didn't go with Norwich as I'm sure they weren't offering brachy at the time.

I obviously have 2 posts at once, I couldn't find the other on my phone. I'll look again!

Thanks for replies.

User

Posted 21 Feb 2016 at 11:25

Hello sjtb,

Like DaveKirkham I also had HDR Brachytherapy (followed by 15 sessions of radiotherapy).

Recently I have had similar symptoms, and drink home made cranberry juice every day. That has helped a lot. My own view is that cranberry juice off the supermarket shelf is of no use.

You can get frozen cranberries in Waitrose. I was in a large Sainsburys yesterday and saw they had room on the shelf for frozen canberries but none on the shelf. I boil up a frozen bag's worth in a litre of water with some cinnamon and sugar for 20 minutes, allow to cool for 20 minutes then strain and top back up to 1 litre. That usually lasts about 5 days.

While away on holiday recently I took some Sainsbury's own brand cystitis relief (about £1 a packet for 6 sachets) those helped, and also got some cranberry tablets from a Lloyds pharmacy, also helpful.

Previously (before drinking cranberry juice every day) I had two prostate infections. I was told they do not always show up on the conventional strip or sample bottle tests. Ciprofloxacin sorted those out.

Hope you find something that works!

Pierre

User

Posted 21 Feb 2016 at 11:36

Has your OH had any tests to see if he is emptying his bladder fully when he goes?

Or any tests to see of there is a stone in the bladder?

A cystoscopy would, normally show this I am told.

Just a thought as I am currently dealing with my 3rd UTI in 6 weeks. 4th viral infection in less than 8 weeks. Had Da Vinci in May 2013, all follow up test results since then undetectable, so the Docs assure me that it is nothing sinister, nothing to do with my PCancer. And could be due to one of thyme two issues above. I am to be referred for a cystoscopy. Joy!

dave

All we can do - is do all that we can.

So, do all you can to help yourself, then make the best of your time. :-)

I am the statistic.

User

Posted 21 Feb 2016 at 12:18

Hello. No other tests done. Only water infection tests. The ache in his prostate and testicle started immediately after biopsy so it must have been that that caused the problem. At that time he had no water works problems. The burning (and other symptoms) started after the brachytherapy. But it is the ache that is the problem rather than the burn as that only happens occasionally and I expect caused when he's eaten something spicy or had alcohol (both of these he avoids)

Thanks for replies.

User

Posted 21 Feb 2016 at 22:10

How does he know the pain is in his prostate? it is such a small gland so hard to be that precise - could it be that the pain is in the bottom of his bladder and he just assumes it is his prostate? Pain in the testicles is quite a common side effect of RP and vasectomy, something to do with the sperm having nowhere to go so I imagine the same can be said of brachy & radiotherapy.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User

Posted 22 Feb 2016 at 09:58

Thanks for reply Lyn. I'll answer on this thread as I have 2 going. He is assuming it is the prostate as his prostate hurt after the biopsy, then eased a bit and a week later pain came back along with aching testicle. So one can only assume it is the prostate as it was all fine before biopsy.

As I said the pain all started 6 months before brachy so that didn't cause the pain in the first place but probably worsened it.

I saw a chap on tv late last night with testicle pain, he had an infection which was seen on an ultrasound then they tested his semen to work out what infection it was. I'm wondering whether to ask for this test.

Edited by member 22 Feb 2016 at 09:59 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 14 Mar 2016 at 15:56

Hello all. I thought I'd give an update. The antibiotics cleared all symptoms up.

Seems to be what keeps happening, then a few months later it comes back.

We saw the consultant today. He just said each time the symptoms return to go on a months antibiotics. He said it sounds like prostatitis. He said nothing else can be done. I asked if there is a way to find out the exact cause and he said no. I said I didn't think it was good that he has been on antibiotics for about 8 months in total and was told that if they work then it's good and to continue doing the same.

So I found it quite unhelpful really. He said come back in one years time. But I suppose if the consultant is not worried then we shouldn't be.

User

Posted 14 Mar 2016 at 20:45

Some infections can be very antibiotic resistant and sometimes require alternative and long courses to completely clear up. Just bad luck.

Barry

User

Posted 16 Mar 2016 at 12:20

Yes, thanks. I'm sure you're right. He's only had the same antibiotic. It clears it but after a months course it comes back a month or so later. So I guess it's not clearing it right up. If he's still on antibiotics on and off over the next year until his next appointment I'll ask about a different kind.

Edited by member 16 Mar 2016 at 12:22 | Reason: Not specified

User

Posted 23 May 2016 at 21:15

I had to look this conversation up to see when I posted it so I can find when the last infection was. So about 3 months ago. Now similar symptoms back. Other half said he's had pain inside when peeing and a dull ache for several days but ignored it. Tonight he said it burns inside and it feels like he has pins and needles in his seat bones, hips and bones at the tops of his legs. We are assuming it's the prostate infection back. He has a slight temperature and feels shivery. He slept for an hour after dinner but now gone back out on the farm to feed the cattle.

I wish there was a solution to this. It's all very frustrating!

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