UCPPS - Prostatitis, Interstitial Cystitis Forum

I haven't been on the forum in a while and it's due mostly to the fact that I've finally been experiencing extended periods without any symptoms!! My protocol:

1) Physical Therapy - I've been going once every 2 weeks for internal work. This has really helped!

2) Elavil - I started taking 10mg and worked my way up to 25mg before I go to bed. I sleep great because of it and am able to function normally during the day.

3) Alfuzosin - This alphablocker really helps with bladder issues.

Overall, while I still have periods where it creeps back I feel like I'm starting to finally get control over my CPPS. I try not to get stressed or sit for too long. For those of you who have nearly lost hope, please don't give up until you've tried many of these techniques. I thought my life was over when I first got this 2 years ago but things finally feel like they're going on the up. STAY POSITIVE!!!

p.s. this forum has been a life saver!!!!

This is great news! I hope you keep improving! We'll move your post to success stories after giving others a chance to comment on it.

Great. Hope the improvement continues...

I don't want to be discouraging, but I did want to point out that I had almost total relief of symptoms while on the same dosage of Elavil for a period of a month, but when my body adjusted to the Elavil, the symptoms returned. I thought I would offer it just as a caution. I find that when my expectations are raised really high for a recovery, I fall a lot harder when the pendulum swings back to pain. I do hope you continue to feel great![/i]

Thanks for the support guys. Timberdoodle, that isn't what I wanted to hear!! What did you do, increase the dosage? Did you just give up and stop using it? Have you migrated to other drugs instead?

Even if it does come back though - it hasn't fully left - at least I know that the right combination of factors can defeat if not minimize the painful symptoms. This is a tremendous step above feeling shamed and hopeless.

JAF; I did try to up the dosage to 50 mg of Elavil, but I got really bad heartburn (one of the side effects), and it really didn't have the same impact as it did early on, so I gave up. I am going to be talking to my uro tomorrow about some other medications--maybe ultram? Take care--hope you stay pain free...

Remeron is a good Elavil alternative.

What is the contact info for the PT in Toronto?

The PT I visit is in West Seneca, NY. Her name is Nicole Fernandez and she is at Southtowns Physical Therapy. It's only a 2 hour drive from Toronto.