Hello,
Today I turn 22 years old, yet I've never had a more disturbing, unpleasant birthday to date.
I'll start with the past:
During the past
few years, I experienced an uncomfortable burning sensation at the tip of my penis after urinating from time to time. During the first two years, it was a rare occasion- I would estimate only about once a month. I dismissed it as side effects from a "less than nutritious" college student diet.
However, around
Jan-Feb of 2008, the symptoms became more noticeable. I started to notice more frequency in the burning sensations. In many cases, after urinating, my entire penis would have a burning pressure for several minutes (sometimes even hours), causing an awkward sensation that I still needed to urinate...even though there was nothing left to empty.
Around this time, I also noticed many occasions in which I would be required to exert a great deal of pressure just to start a urine stream. Maintaining the stream was also somewhat difficult at times, and the flow itself would sometimes separate in different directions.
Of course, once again, stupid ol' me assumed it was due to a poor diet so I never saw the doctor. I figured it was due to McDonalds/Taco Bell every other day, combined with my failure to remember to drink water each day.
During the past 4-5 weeks, I noticed that the same symptoms described above, except they have grown far worse. The pressure and burning is there each and every day, and now I feel a nasty burning within my penis and abdominal area for
several hours each time after I urinate. On some days, it never goes away.
Two weeks ago I started being more conscientious about my poor diet, and began drinking more water and eating healthy foods. Yet, the problems and irritations persisted. It was time to see the doctor....
Last Saturday (Nov 8, 2008), I went to see my family doctor. I explained the symptoms and he prescribed Ciprofloxacn, 500 mg tablets to be taken twice daily. I was given 14 pills for a 7 day period. Unfortunately, it's been 5 days now, and I have not noticed any relief or improvement. If anything, the lingering burning pain may have become stronger.
QUESTIONS:
1. I'm the kind of guy that enjoys independent research, and after reading several articles online, I'm wondering if I could have Cystitis or some kidney infection? Would the anti-biotic Cipro fail to clear these problems up?
2. Should I call my doctor and arrange an appointment with him ASAP and explain that the Cipro appears to have failed?
Additional Information:
This is not related to an STD; I am certain of that.
I do not have diabetes.
Thank you in advance for your help, everyone.
I am really looking forward to finding the solution to this problem, as it's been haunting me for months.
Saving 
