I recently found this list thru a web search, trying to find something that
would point me towards a diagnosis and (hopefully) a treatment.

My primary symptom is a burning sensation on the skin of my {*filter*} and
shaft of my {*filter*}.  this is usually accompanied by deeper pain (i.e., in
the tissue below the skin), which could best be described as an "ache."
The burning is always present at "I know it's there" level  and  frequently
escalates to the point that it's difficult to work or concentrate.   the
skin looks pretty much normal, although there  appears to be increased or
darker vascularization under the skin in my scrotal sack.

the irritation/inflammation is aggravated by sweating and exposure to
urine.  i used to have a few drops that wouldn't shake out after urination,
but nowadays, i am getting a large amount of urine (well, it seems like a
large amount, given the circumstances, but it's probably about 1/2 a
teaspoon) that comes out about 1 or 2 minutes after i've left the bathroom.
  this spot of urine on my underwear will really get the whole syndrome
going!

these symptoms  began about one year ago, fairly suddenly, over the course
of a few days.   initially, the skin pain was accompanied by an intense
burning during urination (i don't have this much anymore), and after a few
weeks i got up the nerve and went to my g.p. doctor for treatment of what i
feared was an STD.  he diagnosed jock itch and didn't think the burning
urination was gonorrhea, since i didn't have any other signs, but he
prescribed a week of antibiotics anyway, and a prescription anti-fungal.
the antifungal seemed like it helped a little, but after a while i was back
to being severely inflammed, so i tried some OTC antifungals, and then back
to the GP for more diagnosis (negative for fungal infection), and a
prescription for another anti-fungal and for a hydrocortisone, in case what
i had was inverse psoriasis.

after that failed, i went to a dermatogist, who has tried a variety of
cortisone and antifungal creams, alone and in combination, and more
recently Zonalon, a topical antihistamine.  None of these skin preparations
have really helped my condition, although some initially seemed like they
made me a little more comfortable.

after reading the FAQs on prostatitis, i got the idea that my pain symptoms
could be related to excess akalinity in my urine and groin sweat due to
prostate blockage.  i read some things about pain syndromes in the {*filter*}
and testes with prostatitis, and i want to make clear that, while i do have
some tissue pain, to me it feels like it starts on the surface and then
moves deeper.  my urinary symptoms definitely seem consistent with
descriptions i have read here, and, although currently my {*filter*} appears
normal, several months ago, it was yellowish and had an off-odor.

assuming that there is at least a possibility that my symptoms are related
to prostatitis, i would guess my next step would be to see a urologist for
an exam and diagnosis.  from reading this newgroup, i get the idea that
many "conventional"   urologists are not familiar with the more effective
treatments (e.g., massage, herbs).   if it turns out that i need tx, i
would prefer to find a urologist who is up on the state of the art;
however, in reading this newsgroup it was not clear to me whether i risk
mis-diagnosis if i just pick a urologist at random from the phone book.

thanks in advance for your advice.

jason marks

Where do you live?  We have a few doctors who are worth trying but not many.  
If you live in So. Cal, OH, NJ, PA, or near NYC we may have someone near you
we can recommend.  I just talked to a guy in the Tampa-St. Pete area who wrote
to all 70 uros in his area who were in his HMO and asked them if they were
willing to do prostate massage.  Actually got back a lot of positive replies.
You may have to do something similar.  Or even bite the bullet and go outside
of your health insurance.  (Talk to them first.  Sometimes they will actually
authorize it if you explain that you can't get proper treatment anywhere
else.)

Actually they are familiar with them but consider massage as outdated and
herbs as worthless.  They will usually give you the three bottle test and if
nothing grows they tell you it's in your head or maybe they will give you a
prescription for Cipro and if that doesn't work tell you it's in your head.  
Strangely enough the older docs are better.  They remember when massage was
the only thing they could do that helped so are more willing to try it and
antibiotics at the same time.  The young ones seem to have been taught that if
antibiotics don't cure it then the patient is just being difficult.

It's certainly worth trying some vitamin C (1000mg morning and night & make
sure you drink lots of water) to see if that helps your burning and skin
irritation.  If it makes it worse then try an antiacid like TUMS because it
appears that some people actually have acidic discharges.

Ron (non-doc)

Date:    Sun, 6 Apr 1997 15:50:56 -0400

Subject: Am I in the Right Place?

I recently found this list thru a web search, trying to find something that
would point me towards a diagnosis and (hopefully) a treatment.

My primary symptom is a burning sensation on the skin of my {*filter*} and
shaft of my {*filter*}.  this is usually accompanied by deeper pain (i.e., in
the tissue below the skin), which could best be described as an "ache."
The burning is always present at "I know it's there" level  and  frequently
escalates to the point that it's difficult to work or concentrate.   the
skin looks pretty much normal, although there  appears to be increased or
darker vascularization under the skin in my scrotal sack.

the irritation/inflammation is aggravated by sweating and exposure to
urine.  i used to have a few drops that wouldn't shake out after urination,
but nowadays, i am getting a large amount of urine (well, it seems like a
large amount, given the circumstances, but it's probably about 1/2 a
teaspoon) that comes out about 1 or 2 minutes after i've left the bathroom.
  this spot of urine on my underwear will really get the whole syndrome
going!

these symptoms  began about one year ago, fairly suddenly, over the course
of a few days.   initially, the skin pain was accompanied by an intense
burning during urination (i don't have this much anymore), and after a few
weeks i got up the nerve and went to my g.p. doctor for treatment of what i
feared was an STD.  he diagnosed jock itch and didn't think the burning
urination was gonorrhea, since i didn't have any other signs, but he
prescribed a week of antibiotics anyway, and a prescription anti-fungal.
the antifungal seemed like it helped a little, but after a while i was back
to being severely inflammed, so i tried some OTC antifungals, and then back
to the GP for more diagnosis (negative for fungal infection), and a
prescription for another anti-fungal and for a hydrocortisone, in case what
i had was inverse psoriasis.

after that failed, i went to a dermatogist, who has tried a variety of
cortisone and antifungal creams, alone and in combination, and more
recently Zonalon, a topical antihistamine.  None of these skin preparations
have really helped my condition, although some initially seemed like they
made me a little more comfortable.

after reading the FAQs on prostatitis, i got the idea that my pain symptoms
could be related to excess akalinity in my urine and groin sweat due to
prostate blockage.  i read some things about pain syndromes in the {*filter*}
and testes with prostatitis, and i want to make clear that, while i do have
some tissue pain, to me it feels like it starts on the surface and then
moves deeper.  my urinary symptoms definitely seem consistent with
descriptions i have read here, and, although currently my {*filter*} appears
normal, several months ago, it was yellowish and had an off-odor.

assuming that there is at least a possibility that my symptoms are related
to prostatitis, i would guess my next step would be to see a urologist for
an exam and diagnosis.  from reading this newgroup, i get the idea that
many "conventional"   urologists are not familiar with the more effective
treatments (e.g., massage, herbs).   if it turns out that i need tx, i
would prefer to find a urologist who is up on the state of the art;
however, in reading this newsgroup it was not clear to me whether i risk
mis-diagnosis if i just pick a urologist at random from the phone book.

thanks in advance for your advice.

jason marks

Dear Mark,
Your primary symptom is a burning sensation on the skin of your {*filter*} and
shaft of your {*filter*} (accomp. by deeper pain), yet you wrote the the skin
looks pretty much normal, there appears to be increased or darker
vascularization under the skin

You consulted two doctors and I presumed that both of them diagnosed a
fungal infection and treated as such. The antifungal medications given both
{*filter*}and local should be given for at least 2-3 weeks and should be no
problem.

However you also described deeper problems, diagnosed as not gonorrhea, but
you were given antibiotics anyway.

Several months ago, your {*filter*} was yellowish and had an off-odor,
indicating a {*filter*} infection or seminal vesibulitis but you did not
mentioned if it was treated or not.

Before you consult another doctor, I would suggest that you visit my web
page which might answer most of your questions, and then you may E-mail me
back.

Antonio Novak Feliciano, M.D., F.P.C.S.

http://www.***.com/ ~ino
http://www.***.com/ ~ino/novak.htm