Hi everyone,

I am currently taking all three of the above supplements in desperate hope
for some relief from prostatitis/BPH.  I had a TURP over two months ago (and
have never recovered), and now I am ten times worse, and the doctors can not
help me.  I am in serious constant pain, and quite knowledgeable in the
fields of medicine and prescription drugs, so no lectures please on getting
second opinions and taking various pain pills and anti-depressants that have
an off label use for neuropathy.  I have  been to over 75 doctors in my life
and have nothing to show for it.  I also have other medical problems
including upper GI, sarcoidosis and a T-4 cell deficiency (non-HIV, cause
unknown).

I have studied the above supplements at length and am currently (just
started yesterday) taking 500 mg of beta sitosterol (that's for the beta
portion of the pill), 1000 mg of bee pollen (don't know how much is actual
pollen), and 1000 mg of quercetin (actual) - all split into equal bi-daily
doses.

I would like to know if that may pose any safety issues regarding side
effects (especially due to any additive effects - e.g. taking two different
anti-inflammatories and antioxidants, etc.).  I have read that too much
quercetin may have an opposite effect on inflammation, and may even cause
cancer, even though it is purported to be a preventative for certain types
of cancer (i.e. the door swings both ways).  I assume this would only apply
if
you were taking large doses (way more than what I am taking).  Do you
concur.

There is a nationally renown urologist who has printed some journals touting
Cernilton (extract of bee pollen) and quercetin as showing promise for
chronic non bacterial prostatitis, and there have been studies indicating
that beta sitosterol may have a role in decreasing the production of DHT,
which is partly responsible for enlargement of the prostate gland.

So here I am writing this in pain, basically asking for your comments on any
safety issues you may know of for the above supplements.  I have been to an
inordinate amount of sites and naturally the sellers of products will not
say anything bad (e.g. "no known side effects").  But then when you go to
other sites by doing different search criteria, you read about how quercetin
(in particular) may not be so harmless.

I welcome your comments on all three supplements (both taking them alone, or
all together at once like I am).  I am sick now (malaise with nausea), and
was sick before I started taking them, so I wouldn't know if the pills are
causing additional nausea.  I know the malaise and nausea is from the
prostatitis, but if you tell a uro that they will tell you maybe you have a
virus - right.  Just for your info I was on antibiotics (various) for the
better part of five months (before and after my surgery) and they did not
help.  My last visit to the uro (I went back 3 times after the surgery), he
said to stop them and just wait for the surgery to heal.  I got a second
opinion from a uro in another town and he said to wait also (never even
examined me), but it has been over two months now and the pain is getting
worse if anything.  The uro will probably drop me on my upcoming visit, and
all six of the uros where I live are in one office, so I will be out of
luck.

I had a Pelvic catscan and it was normal.  I can't handle the prep for a
colonoscopy right now but if the pain and discomfort in my rectum, groin and
pelvic floor (which I know is from the prostate surgery) gets any worse I
will have to get one anyway, to rule out any colon/rectal problems.  Sorry
this is so long, and for getting carried away at the end.

Pete