Subject: alt.support.prostate.prostatitis FAQ 4/5
Supersedes: <medicine/prostatitis-faq/part4_818363045@rtfm.mit.edu>
Date: 6 Jan 1996 23:45:55 GMT
References: <medicine/prostatitis-faq/part1_820971430@rtfm.mit.edu>
X-Last-Updated: 1995/09/05

Posting-Frequency: monthly

10.  What can be done to alleviate symptoms?

When prostatitis is not cured, several things can be done to help
alleviate symptoms.  Not all of them work for everyone, and the
best techniques for you must be found through trial and error.

10A.  Dietary changes.  Caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and/or
acidic foods may irritate the prostate, and most doctors recommend
either eliminating them or using them very lightly.  Some doctors
recommend the Gillespie diet used in cases of interstitial
cystitis, which avoids acidic foods such as citrus fruits and
tomatoes.  (See the book, _Living with Cystitis_, by Dr. Lauren
Gillespie.)

10B.  Frequent ejaculation.  Frequent ejaculation (2-3 times
per week) is recommended in many sources, particularly when using
antibiotics.

10C.  Hot sitz baths.  Hot sitz baths, in which the perineum
is bathed in a pan of very hot water for at least 20 minutes, seem
to reduce pain in many cases.

10D.  Analgesics.  Over-the-counter analgesics (aspirin,
Tylenol, Nuprin, Aleve, etc.) may help control pain.

10E.  Stress reduction.  Symptoms can worsen because of
psychological stress, and changing your situation to avoid stress,
meditation or biofeedback techniques have helped some men.

10F.  Acupuncture.  Lotone@aol.com and J.Bernardes@wlv.ac.uk have
found some relief through acupuncture.

10G.  Antidepressants.  Prescription antidepressants, taken daily
at a level lower than that normally prescribed for real cases of
depression, have also helped in some cases.

10H.  Anti-anxiety medications.  Some doctors will prescribe
anti-anxiety medications, such as Valium, Xanax or Klonopin.  These
sometimes help to reduce symptoms, perhaps by treating the urinary
sphincter hyperreflexia and pelvic floor spasm that accompanies
prostatitis.

10I.  Cold compresses.  The most successful technique for the
writer of this FAQ has been using a very cold Ace compress for 25
minutes each evening.

11.  Why is this newsgroup necessary?

Compared with prostate cancer, prostatitis has had little attention
from researchers.  It is not life-threatening, and it is difficult
to treat.  Most urologists are unwilling to put much effort into
determining its causes and providing treatment. We hope to use this
forum to push for further research on prostatitis, with a view to
finding cures by the year 2000.

Many men are embarrassed by the problems caused by prostatitis, and
put off seeing doctors or discussing the problems with friends and
family.  This newsgroup is a place where we can exchange
information and help make each other's lives a little easier.

12.  How can we work towards a cure?

In May, 1995, members of this newsgroup founded The Prostatitis
Foundation.  The Prostatitis Foundation hopes to:
     provide statistics on prostatitis to agencies and doctors,
     do research and provide funds for research into diagnosis and
          treatment,
     develop a patient registry, and
     distribute literature and information about the disease.

The Prostatitis Foundation
680 S. Federal St., Suite 601
Chicago, IL 60605

Illinois State President - DadOfSix@aol.com
Wisconsin President - Maverick@msn.fullfeed.com
Artist and Production Manager - ken@ideasmith.com
Keeper of FAQ - JohnnK@aol.com
Scientific advisor:

Brad Hennenfent, MD, FACEP
680 S. Federal St., Suite 601
Chicago, IL 60605
Telephone: (312) 554-0629
Fax: (312) 786-9437
Email: BCapstone@aol.com

The group has received advice and encouragement from many medical
people, including:

Leroy M. Nyberg, Jr. PhD, MD
Director, Urology Programs NIH/NIDDK/KUH
Natcher Bldg., Room 6AS.13G
45 CENTER DR MSC 6600
Bethesda, MS 20892-6600
Telephone: (301) 594-7717
Fax: (301) 480-3510
Email: leroyn@dvsgate.niddk.nih.gov

Ophth1@aol.com (Wisconsin)

David Bell, MD
Bellurol@ac.dal.ca (Canada)

Dr. Klaus Beschmann (male infertility)
Breitensteinweg 44
D-64372 Ober-Ramstadt
Germany
Phone/fax/data: +49-6154-52782

Burton Andersen (white cell and antibiotic penetration expertise)
Chief, Infectious Disease
909 CSB (M/C 787)
840 S. Wood St.
Chicago, IL 60612-7323

We have also made contact the with following organizations and
their officers:

Claude Gerard
Founder and President
American Prostate Society
1340 Charwood Rd., Ste. F
Hanover, MD 21076
Telephone:  (410) 859-3735
Fax:  (410) 850-0818

Thomas Bruckman
Executive Director
American Foundation for Urologic Disease
300 W. Pratt St., Ste. 401
Baltimore, MD 21201
Telephone: (410) 727-2908
Fax: (410) 528-0550

John Koch  (Internet: KOCH@macc.wisc.edu ; Bitnet: KOCH@wiscmacc)
Reference Librarian/Documents Coordinator
Steenbock Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin
550 Babcock Dr.
Madison, WI 53706-1293
Phone: (608)263-3899    Fax: (608) 263-3221


