Hi,
Sorry in advance for the lengthy message, but I want to make sure I get all the details in! I am male, 31 years old, 6ft 3", always been very active through football, swimming, running and resistance training. I am a social drinker, non-smoker, non-drug user. Before my recent problems I had generally been in very good health throughout my life, aside from my current symptoms below I have always suffered with chronic sinus congestion and hayfever.
Basically my current symptoms are:
- Pain/irritated/stiffness in sacrum and hip joints. Pain and discomfort is felt deep into the buttocks as well.
- Faint urge to pass stool even when I know I don't need to, pressure sensation on rectum. Passing stool temporarily relieves symptoms.
- Pressure sensation against bladder, urinating seems to temporarily relieve symptoms.
- IBS type symptoms in lower gut - chronic bloating, even when stomach is empty, cramps (rarely), sometimes spasms, no constipation or diarrhea.
- Pain in testicle area, often as a sharp pain when a sudden movement is made. Pain felt in sacral area at same time. During ejaculation I feel irritation in the sacral area and buttocks.
- My lips often have a white coating on them, yeast infection? The doctor says it isn't candida, but is it something similar? Related to digestive problems?
I have been aware of the above symptoms for well over a year now and are worse when I am at work, possibly due to increased stress levels. I work in an office and I find it very difficult to concentrate on anything other than the pain and discomfort! Standing is slightly easier, I am most comfortable when lying down and am completely relaxed. Exercise seems to relieve the symptoms temporarily, and relax the sacral area and hips - especially when swimming.
The doctors say they cannot find anything wrong with me anymore (see below for my recent medical history) but I am in quite a bit of pain and discomfort, its driving me mad and getting me down, it has got to the point where I don't want to socialise because I just feel so uncomfortable and in pain, it is very distressing and embarrassing.
Aside from regularly visiting my GP, GU clinic, and a very unconcerned gastroentologist, I have also been to have acupuncture, seen an osteopath, chiropractor and a massage therapist. The hands on approach has provided temporary relief for a day or so but no-one has got to the root of the problem. I have been told I have a lot of muscle tension in my hip and sacral area, and am doing specific stretches everyday to help with that, along with pelvic floor exercises. I am also waiting to see a rheumotologist.
Is it possible that I have a nerve problem somewhere in the sacral area that are causing the symptoms I currrently have? Or is it something more sinister like a herniated disc or still the reactive arthritis? What action should I take and can it be resolved?! Please can someone advise me on what to do as I am running out of ideas, I don't want to keep living like this!! Thanks.
MEDICAL HISTORY 2006 - PRESENT
At the end of 2006 I visited the doctor and was eventually diagnosed with Reiters syndrome (reactive arthritis). I was experiencing urinary discomfort and high frequency (infection) and painful ejaculation, with low volume, watery semen. I had an inflamed prostate, was constantly tired and had severe conjunctivitis. All of these symptoms occurred within a few months of each other and continued throughout 2007. By the end of the year I was making progress physically but still seemed to be having continuing problems on a milder scale. I also suffered depression after work problems and relationship issues so was put on antidepressants for a few months at the start of 2008. I was mainly taking Doxycycline for the Reiters but I cannot remember the name of any other medications now.
At the start of 2008, I came out of the depression and noticed my lower back area was aching a lot and my bowel movements had also become uncomfortable and was constantly bloated with pale stools. Thinking back I may have had this for longer than I realised but other symptoms seemed to overshadow this. Exercise seemed to relieve the symptoms so I continued exercising to help, but it would always return quickly. I just put it down to the Reiter's syndrome and put up with it as I believed it would clear in time as this is what I had been told.
During my blood tests in 2008 I was told I also have Gilbert's syndrome and was told it is nothing to worry about. But apparently (after my own research) it is a liver disorder, and may contribute towards my ibs symptoms as it affects digestion and lowers immune system, also I seem to feel tired more than I should with spells of lacking concentration, this could also be influenced by Gilberts! This is hereditory so I have always had it but maybe the Reiter's illness
has made it worse? Please someone help!!
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