Problem with Bladder or Prostate

[dbstudent]

I entered a problem beforehand on this, but thought a better worded out question would be better. I am a 21 year old male experiencing urinary issues. These symptoms started last month. I went into a pharmacy and thinking it was a UTI, and was prescribed antibiotics for 5 days. The antibiotics did not work, so I went into the primary care physician, took a urine test that came back negative for infection, but was prescribed another round of antibiotics. After a couple days into the antibiotics, my symptoms went away. However, a week later my symptoms came back. I went back into the doctor, and once again my urine test came back negative. I went to see the urologist and still have yet to figure out my problem. They did a urine test, but have yet to see the results. I have an ultrasound scheduled in two weeks if symptoms continue. I want to see if anyone can figure out my problem before then to save money.

FYI, the information I'm about to put out regards some sexual health stuff, just wanted to warn in case anyone was sensitive to this kind of stuff.

My main symptoms have been: frequent urges to urinate, discomfort in the pubic area, occasional discomfort in the penis, and recently having difficulty telling when bladder is full. In the past I have had frequent urination problems, including one night when I had to go almost every 5 minutes, but have not and any of those problems recently.

Some information on what I have been suspecting has caused the problem. I had two times before my symptoms came in where I drank whiskey. I drank a small glass (a little more than a cup) very quickly. A day before my symptoms came back, I had done the same thing. I believe there could be some reaction to the alcohol, but am not sure why it has lasted this long.

Another suspect cause is a prostate issue. I engage frequently in "solo pleasure" (I don't feel comfortable saying the real word), typically once a day. My symptoms had died down last week, but seemed to get worse the day after I pleasured myself twice in one night. I've noticed my urges are much stronger at night, which is when I pleasure myself, so I'm wondering if that is causing an issue. The only thing making me think this is not the issue is because I held off after the symptoms first showed up, but then once I went back to it, they seemed to go away. Another reason I'm thinking the prostate is not likely the issue, is because I have not had any pain in the perineum, ejaculation pain, or weak urine flow.

If anyone could figure this out for me, it would be much appreciated.

[Adamadam99]

Inflammation doesn't always cause pain! And if there are problems with urination, most likely it's the prostate. Try Eronex. If there is inflammation, it clears it up, but in general it also helps with problems with urge to urinate. I feel better, I feel much better!

[AnnieBrooke]

No, I wasn't asking why you drank such a big amount, just reacting to the fact that it was a big amount for whisky. A cup is not a "small glass," and a glass that has the name of a whisky etched on it is not meant to be used as a measuring cup that you fill to the top. I was just hoping that you weren't doing some kind of TikTok challenge like Tide Pods. The amount you drank is a lot, when what you're drinking is hard liquor, it rather than solve problems or ease pain, it's more likely to add problems and create pain. I'd guess it's that bladder irritation thing mentioned in the article. Do tell your urologist (when you get to one) that you feel it was associated with two times you drank a certain amount of whisky, and take the damn glass in with you if you need to, so the doc can judge whether that would be enough to hurt your bladder.

Good luck.

[AnnieBrooke]

Excuse me, but did you say you drank a cup of whiskey quickly? Like, a real cup? (8 fluid ounces, in the United States)? Usually whiskey is served by the jigger (1 1/2 fluid ounce), often mixed with soda or water to keep it from being too strong. When you say "a small glass," you're saying 8 ounces of straight whiskey? Wow, that could irritate a lot of you, not just your kidney (I'm surprised you didn't throw up.) It's kind of hard to relate the results of a sudden onslaught of that much alcohol to only the urinary tract, but sure, it could trigger a kidney reaction. Why did you drink five times the usual amount of whiskey in one sitting? And, why did you do it again? Hasn't anyone told you how much whiskey is usually in a drink?

[dbstudent]

I may have overestimated the amount. the glass was small. I measured it and it was 3 1/2 inches tall and 2 3/4 in wide. A volume calculator said that would be 11.52 fl oz, but I feel like it could be smaller. The glass said "crown" on the bottom (possibly the whiskey brown crown royal), so I think it was a glass for whiskey. I forgot to mention this, but the second time I drank before symptoms started, I drank out of an alcohol flask (couldn't have been more than 8 fl oz). I don't want to go into detail on why I drank. Had some problems I don't really feel like talking about. Stupid decision on my part. Haven't touched alcohol since then.

[AnnieBrooke]

Here is from the website of a treatment center. You aren't someone who has a long-term drinking issue, but you did binge drink if the quantities were as you said, so the reference to this being a possible outcome of binge drinking is worth your attention. My guess is they aren't referring to just a couple of bouts of binge drinking like you did, but it's still worth knowing about the effects of alcohol on the kidney.  

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"Because it’s a diuretic, alcohol forces the kidney to release more sodium into your urine, which fills the bladder up quicker and increases the frequency of urination. People with extra sodium in their urine may take diuretic medications to help get rid of sodium in the body. These medications help remove water from the blood and decrease the amount of fluid flowing through the veins and arteries. So basically, the more alcohol you drink, the more you’ll urinate, not just because it’s a liquid, but also because it’s a diuretic.

"While this may be a mildly inconvenient side effect to casual or irregular drinkers, alcohol can have a much more sinister impact on the bladder in people who binge drink, drink heavily, or abuse alcohol. Additionally, high doses of diuretic medications (in this case, drinking too much alcohol) can lead to dehydration and more concentrated urine, which can be irritating to the bladder.

"As a result, alcohol can cause bladder infection and inflame the lining of the bladder, causing it to swell and stretch. If the bladder swells, it can block flow to the kidneys.

"Overall, some common short- and long-term effects of alcohol on the bladder include:

    Irritation and swelling
    Painful urination
    Difficulty urinating
    Urinating frequently
    Dehydration
    Fluid retention, causing swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
    Confusion
    Fatigue
    Nausea and/or vomiting
    Abdominal pain
    Weakness
    Irregular heartbeat
    Infection

"People who experience bladder-related problems tend to also struggle with kidney problems. Considering how connected these organs are in function, any alcohol-related bladder damage can have a domino effect, starting with the kidneys. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, seek medical attention immediately."