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Keen - 04 Oct 2006 08:34 GMT

My name is Eugene and I'm a 29 year old male. Still a virgin (I know
some will frown) and never had any history of sexual diseases. I do
however have depression linked with anxiety and was treated for it
during the past 3 years. (Currently taking Escitalopram (lexapro) 15mg
and Valium 10mg at nite to sleep)

This whole ordeal has been going on for so long I dont even know where
to start. I had two anal polyps removed in Dec '05. (After the op I
did notice my bladder was sensitive, but thought it was due to the
anesthesia and the operation) They turned out to be inflammatory
polyps and the doctor assured me that they were not malignant in any
way. He said I should come back in six weeks for a colonoscopy just to
make sure everything is ok in my colon. I was healing great for that
six weeks and went in for the colonoscopy. The problem is that during
that six weeks before the scope I was very anxious and I was convinced
that I had colon cancer or that they were going to find more polyps.
This resulted in several trips to the ER for a spastic colon that had
to be treated. Needless to say, when the doc did my colonoscopy and
said all was ok, I was very relieved.

Then the problems started. Two days after my scope, I started getting
muscle twitches and burning sensations overy my body. A few days later
I got severe muscle pains. My joints also started to hurt, (esp my
hands) and I got "electric" shock like sensations in different parts of
my body. I went to my GP with this and he said we should not take any
chances and did a whole range of tests on me (Full blood count, ESR,
C-reactive proteine,Thyroid, Diabetes, Muscle enzyme, Vit B12, Iron,
Kidneys function, EKG,Epstein barr virus, Brucella virus, HIV,
Cytomagella, Paul Bunnel test) He even sent me for a brain CT scan.
My symptoms got worse and almost all my joints were hurting and muslces
too. I started getting headaches and eye pain. All my tests came back
normal and my GP was stumped. He had no idea as to what could be
wrong. So he referred me to a specialist physician for his opinion.
The SP looked at my tests and did a full physical and said that he
suspects I suffered from trauma/stress. He did refer me to a
Neurologist for the pins/needles feelings I got in my hands and feet.
The Neurologist did tests and concurred that this was most probably
related to anxiety. Needless to say at this stage I was getting really
worried and even had to take a month's leave from work just to keep my
sanity. My GP sent my back to my Psychiatrist and the Pdoc upped my
lexapro and gave me some valium to relax.

My symptoms started improving a bit and I got back to work at least
coping. Then I started getting testicle pain (right one) and went to
my GP. He referred my to a Urologist. They Uro did an ultrasound of
the testicles, bladder and kidneys as well as a urine flow test and
urine analysis. He also did a rectal exam. He said this was most
probably a infection in my epididimus and gave my ciprofloxacin to take
for 14 days. It did clear up a bit and I actually started feeling
better. (muscle and joint pain even got better). About a week or two
after the cipro treatment I got rectal pain again (I thought this might
be polyps coming back). So I went to my GP...he did a rectal exam and
a rectal scope and said he could not find anything wrong (no tears,
tumors, polyps). He said it was probably a fungal infection/proctitis
and gave me some suppositories and cream. It didn't work. The
testicle pain came back, but not as bad as the first time and then went
away again.

Rectal pain stayed there and I thought it would be best to see a gastro
doc. He didn't even to a rectal exam. Just pressed on my abdomen and
said I had an obvious case of IBS and Proctalgia Fugax. Rectal pain
didn't get better and I started taking sleeping tablets just to sleep.
The rectal pain continued and I started getting the testicle pain
again. This time accompanied by penis pain and bladder pain..It also
burned when I urinated. I got another prescription of antibiotics and
cortisone tablets. This took the pain away immediately and I was
feeling great for about a month. Got an attack of shingles (which the
doctor suspects was due to the cortisone). Got acyclovir for that and
it resolved itself. Then I started getting skin burning sensations all
over my body. Almost like someone was throwing hot water over me. Doc
suspected inflammation/interaction of medication and gave me some
shots....got better and it is gone now. Muscle and joint pain also
went away for about two months! But my bladder/rectal and testicle
pain still remains. I went back to my urologist and he did the same
exam as the first time and said it was prostatitis ad gave me
antibiotics AGAIN. Got a little better, but not much. Now it's back
again. Together with the muslce and joint pain. I also notice
tenderness under my armpits although there is not swelling of any
nodes. I'm starting to get lower abdominal pain too (intermittently).
I really don't know what to do anymore. I went to so many doctors and
got so many different treatments that did not seem to help much. At
one stage I thought I might be dying of cancer. I'm really depressed
and cannot see any reason for going on like this. I'm even thinking
about suicide. Really guys, I'm desparate...I don't know what to do
anymore. (Luckily I'm on a medical aid which is excellent and I didn't
have to pay a cent out of my own pocket. And I can choose my doctors).

PLEASE HELP!

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I.P. Freely - 04 Oct 2006 19:05 GMT

SNIP

> I'm even thinking about suicide. Really guys, I'm desparate...
> I don't know what to do anymore.
> PLEASE HELP!

I just KNEW you'd end up asking us for money, but since you didn't, here
goes, even though this is not a prostate cancer issue.

I'm an engineer, not a medical type, so my medical advice is worth no
more than it costs you. But considering how well the medical profession
has served you so far, what have you got to lose in trying outside help?

I'd suggest a five-pronged approach:

1. Research unusual, often-misdiagnosed diseases. Doctors do and should
concentrate first on horses when presented with hoof beats, and look for
zebras only as a last resort. Your GP (s/he sounds GOOD!) even looked
for unicorns and maybe a mutant Pegasus, but maybe you have a centaur
running amok in your body. If only one person in ten million gets some
particular rare disease, that means there are 30 cases of it running
around the U.S. alone, many of them undiagnosed. I'd start with
autoimmune diseases, especially those which focus on the nervous system,
including the spine and brain.

2. Research your doctors' present prime suspect, hypochondria. Nothing
slays phobias like recognition of and knowledge about them, followed by
focused professional treatment if appropriate. I like snakes because
I've studied them; spiders scare the hell out of me because I have not.

3. Find a physical activity you love and get with it. Exercise,
endorphines, and distraction -- aided by a good dose of obsession -- go
a long ways towards mitigating many ailments. As long as I know it won't
exacerbate a known, diagnosed medical ailment such as an injury, nothing
helps me ignore physical pain and/or mental anguish like one of my
thrill sports. Even a simple rousing game of volleyball helps, but
flying across wild terrain at terrifying speeds on some toy or another
relieves almost ANY physical or mental threat by displacing them from
our consciousness. Bonuses include weight control, cardiovascular
conditioning, strong muscles and bones, and a big smile that doesn't go
away for hours or even days. I doubt I'll ever regret timing my cancer
surgery and avoiding hormone therapy altogether to avoid interference
with my sports.

4. Find an altruistic endeavor that overwhelms you. Besides proved
medical benefits if they're genuinely altruistic, they can make us care
much less about our own problems. Go find some kids or old folks or
animals to save. I plan to immerse myself in animal care in the time I
have available between robust vitality and physical incapacity.

5. Suicide hot lines.

I'll probably commit suicide some day, but it will be because of what my
doctors and I *DO* know, not what we DON'T know. If and when one of my
cancers returns and its metastases lead to intractable pain leading
certainly and irreversibly to mental incapacity throughout a protracted
death, I have an obligation to spare my great wife from that. If the
courts won't let the medical profession take care of it peacefully and
neatly when there are are no alternatives left, I'll just have to take
care of business sooner, while I still have the physical and mental
capacity to do so. I'm already offering my encouragement and active
support to congressmen and respectable groups who favor legislation in
favor of assisted suicide.

And, fer goodness' sake, Eugene, before taking any drastic and permanent
solution, GET LAID by some girl or guy you like. I don't regret -- much
-- having "saved myself" until I was in love and it really meant
something, but I was at least happy and optimistic about it. I think I'd
have changed that tune if I'd thought I hadn't much time left, but maybe
not, given that I'll still not cheat on my wife of 37 years no matter
how much time my cancers leave me.

Bottom line: get off yer aching duff, get even more active and involved
(we can see that you've already researched a lot of potential threats)
in analyzing, treating, and displacing your ailments, and save more
drastic actions for that time when there really ARE no better solutions.
Judging by your well-informed, highly articulate, objective post,
you're a LONG ways from that irrational place.

I.P. Freely . . . but it beats NOT peeing.

Reply to this Message

Derek F - 11 Oct 2006 00:57 GMT

> SNIP
> > I'm even thinking about suicide. Really guys, I'm desparate...
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I just KNEW you'd end up asking us for money, but since you didn't, here
> goes, even though this is not a prostate cancer issue.

> And, fer goodness' sake, Eugene, before taking any drastic and permanent
> solution, GET LAID by some girl or guy you like. I don't regret -- much --
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> that I'll still not cheat on my wife of 37 years no matter how much time
> my cancers leave me.

I think that your advice to Eugene is spot on, GET LAID not once but often.
I am sure that Sigmund Freud would have given the same advice. His opening
sentence mentioning his virginity I think says it all.
Derek.

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