Man, it's been a while since I posted here.  I figure I can help and
reassure some people by posting my progress with CP.

First, I have no doubts that I will have CP all my life.  It has
become a part of me.

Next, even a cursory review of the old posts on SMPP will reveal my
history.  I won't rehash all of that and instead will just say that I
had a very, very bad case of CP for a long time.  For nearly two
years, life was literally not worth living.

I had all the things occur to me that you hear about here: lost job,
became reclusive, grew depressed, suffered agonizingly, thougts of
ending it all, etc.  I used to post here with such vitriol, accusing
certain "clinics" of being unethical and unbeneficial.  I look back at
all that now and could care a less.  I still think Mark's website is
the best place to go for info, although I don't check much anymore.
Today I checked it out and it seemed like the server was down or
something.  Perhaps it is now defunct, which would be sad, IMHO.

I can say with 100% certainty that the #1 thing that helped me was
TIME.  My condition now flares up and down, but typically it's ok.
Mind you, I still pee weird and have some annoying pains (freqency,
etc.) and my sex life is strange (PE, etc.), but, other than that, I
can deal.

My life has improved, as well.  Unlike what many have said here, I met
a beautiful woman who will hopefully someday be my wife, and I
couldn't be happier.  Do not listen to the sh.ts on this site who doom
you to a life of lonely agony because it doesn't have to be that way.
My girlfriend knows all about my problem(s).  No, we do not have the
most active sex life, but it's fine, really.  I'm 31 now and over the
whole "gotta f.ck all the time" crap.  Hell, that may have been what
caused this sh.t in the first place.  lol

Here are the things that helped me that I still do till this day, and
probably always will:

1. Sit on a donut cushion.  I can't emphasize this enough.  I have one
for my car, my office and an extra.  They are cheap and I can honestly
say that on more than one occasion my CP has flared up due to sitting
without one.

2. A drainage every now and then.  It doesn't even have to be that
vigorous.  Just be careful that the person doing it is careful.

3. Watch the booze.  Now, I drink.  But, there is no doubt that
anything more than a few beers will aggravate my condition, almost
instantly.  Glad to say, though, that this sometimes does not stop me
from getting sh.t-canned on the weekends.  lol  Each must do his own
cost/benefit analysis.

4. Leave the group once you're ready.  This is important.  My life was
all about CP for so long, it seems.  I haven't posted here regularly
since spring of 2002, and I don't miss it (although I kinda miss some
of the regulars).  Obviously, I'm thrilled not to be dwelling on CP
anymore.

5. Assume you will bet better.  This is tough to do, but, again, I
can't think of anybody being in worse shape than I was for so
long...if I can do it, so can you.

6. Hot baths.  These are good.  Not a cure all, but soothing.

7. Accept it.  I now know this will be a lifelong issue for me.  Over
time this has become easier to accept.

8. Save your $.  Don't blow it on supps, clinics, etc.

9. Count your blessings.  There are people who have much worse issues,
trust me.  A 35 year old colleague of mine just died after a 3 year
bout with ALS.  He left a 30 year old wife with 2 kids.  At least you
still have you life, people!

10. Don't be a hypochondriac.  There was a time when I thought for
sure my CP and so-called CFS was MS.  If you'll read my many posts
you'll see that my prostate, back and hips went out at the same time.
I also had a bad case of mono, too.  I was concerned about my health,
but overly concerned, it turns out.  Obviously, I am human and worry
about such things, but there's a lot of truth to the whole "talking
yourself into it".

11. Take what you read here with a grain of salt.  A lot of horror
stories reach the interent newsgroups.

12. NiceShyMiamiGuy is no dummy.  He uses aliases and has done a lot
of research and plays some crazy game here, but take what he says with
a TON of salt.  He more than likely still takes 3 hour baths dildoing
himself all the while when he's not posting here 50 times per day.

13. Constipation.  Nothing makes my CP worse than constipation.
Sucks.  Keep stool softeners or Metamucil around.  Some of that stuff
causes bad cramping, though (Senakote, i.e.).

That's all I can think of right now.  

In sum, my life is ok and I'm glad I didn't give in to the pain and do
something stupid back in the day.  It seems like decades ago that I
was down-right miserable and so desperate I couldn't f.cking think of
anything else.  My family really helped me out.

I don't know what caused my CP or why, and I've stopped searching for
answers.  My back is a little better, the mononucleosis subsided after
about 6 months or so, and my CP is about 75% better.  Basically, my CP
is to a point where it is merely an annoyance.  I guess I could also
say I have become better at dealing with it and ignoring it somewhat.
Who knows?

Just don't give up.  Like I said, I went to Hell and back and life is
now normal, although nobody's truly is.  I have too many other things
to deal with and enjoy to let it get me down.  I actually played
softball this summer (something I thought I'd never do again) and hit
the ball as hard as I ever have (I was a ballplayer).  No ill effects!
Man, it felt good.

I actually have to pat myself on the back for getting through it.  And
you should pat yourself on the back for what you're going through.

Through my experience in listening to hundreds of people post over the
years, it seems to me that only a few do not get significantly better.
So, the numbers are FOR you that you'll get through it.

I don't foresee me posting here again with any sort of regularity,
unless of course I have a relapse, which is certainly possible, I
guess.  Can't worry about that, though.

Take it easy, everybody, and do the best you can.  I think my story is
the perfect inspiration for any young man who is suddenly facing this
horrifying disease.  My story rights are for sale to the highest
bidder.  Looking for