Burst sewage pipe?

So, about 8 or 10 months ago, I woke up with this really weird pain in my penis. It started out as this stinging sensation right after I peed—sometimes before, sometimes after—and then the pain would just migrate. One minute it’s at the base, then it moves up to the tip, then back down to the base... it felt like it was wandering around in there. On top of that, the tip would get all red and irritated. It would clear up for a day or two, then boom, right back again. So, I went to see my doctor. He prescribed one round of antibiotics. Nothing happened. He tried another round. Still nothing. I did a urine analysis, and everything came back totally fine. Then I went further and did a urethral swab for Chlamydia and other bacteria, plus a semen analysis. Everything looked normal, except they found *Staphylococcus epidermidis* in the sample, but only at a level of 10^3—so honestly, it’s possible it wasn't even an infection and just some skin bacteria got into the 😁 collection cup during the process. I finished the antibiotics, and when I re-tested the semen 10 days later, the Staph was gone. I felt a little better—the redness finally cleared up—but the actual pain didn't go away. It’s still this nagging ache that shifts between the base, the middle, and the tip. Sometimes it hits before I pee, sometimes after... it just keeps coming and going.
I also saw a urologist who checked my prostate through both a digital exam and an ultrasound, and everything there looked perfect. But now, the stinging at the tip of the urethra is getting worse, and I’m having to pee much more frequently. I want to go back for another checkup, but I’m honestly stuck—I don't even know what kind of specific testing I should be asking for at this point?
If anyone here has dealt with something similar or has any advice on what my next move should be, please let me know.
I’m starting to feel pretty lost with this, and it’s honestly becoming a real nuisance in my daily life.
🙏

Urinary tract infections can be absolute nightmares—they're incredibly stubborn because those little microorganisms love to nest deep inside you, making them nearly impossible to shake...
You really need to get a urethral swab done...
The goal is to hit the culprit with a targeted antibiotic...
I used to deal with constant flare-ups myself, but thank God that's finally behind me. You just have to be careful about staying warm—don't let yourself get chilled, watch your weight, dress properly during the winter months, stuff like that...

Well, that's actually the whole point—I went ahead and got a biopsy done, and they didn't find anything at all.

I've actually had swabs done three times now!

Alexander Hall43 said:Well, that's actually the whole point—I went ahead and got a biopsy done, and they didn't find anything at all.

It might be worth running another test, honestly. You should probably try a different clinic or maybe even a different specialist, because human error happens all the time, and there’s almost certainly an underlying cause for what you're feeling.

It looks like I’m going to have to run all those searches from scratch again👎
So, dustyowl29—what took you so long to find something after three tries?

This is the fourth time I’ve dealt with Group B Strep.
I’ve cycled through three different antibiotics and nothing works. 😢
The thing is, I don't even feel sick or have any symptoms.
But I'm done with the pills. Since it's strep, I'm basically resistant to half the stuff out there anyway.
That's all there is to it.

They honestly won't find a thing because they just pump you full of antibiotics and rush you straight into getting a swab or a culture test.
And obviously, that antibiotic makes you feel just decent enough that all your tests come back looking totally normal.
That’s why my advice is to wait at least ten days after you finish that course of antibiotics before you even think about doing any testing.

It took them six whole months to finally pin down an E. coli infection in my mom for that exact same reason!🙄

That’s so true. In my case, the doctor just started me on antibiotics right away without much thought—no swab or culture test first—but there was a seven-day gap between finishing the meds and finally getting tested.

Cranberry juice is actually pretty effective. Maybe it won't cure you outright, but it definitely helps.
Not just any kind, though—you need the 100% pure stuff. You can find it at places like Walgreens, usually in those liter cartons for about $10, and even Ocean Spray is decent enough.

I’ve heard people say cranberry juice can do wonders for you, though I haven't actually given it a shot yet. If I were to go all in and drink about a quart $10-a every day—just thinking out loud here—that would put me at roughly $300-a per month. Honestly, I don't think it's a huge deal for my health, but... who knows? It might actually work.

When I'm hurting, I'll knock back two or three liters over a couple of days, then maybe just a glass a day after that. Pago is basically 100% proof too, and it's cheaper. A standard pour is about $5.00.

I suppose you could always just opt for cranberry supplements instead; you can find them in capsule form $39 containing about 60 capsules per bottle... specifically that Cranberry Power from Nature Made

How many of those capsules am I supposed to take each day?

Alexander Hall43 said:How many of those capsules am I supposed to take each day?

Just one capsule—that’s what I do, anyway—but honestly, when you actually go out and buy this stuff, just talk to the pharmacist and get some real advice.
I tried the tea version too, but I had to order that from overseas, and man, it was actually pretty solid.

Well, I’ve been dealing with an E. coli issue myself, so I recently picked up some cranberry capsules fortified with PACs—proanthocyanidins. It’s one of those supplements designed to prevent bacteria from adhering to the bladder wall, which I suppose is its primary function... though, if I recall correctly, it might be one of the only supplements specifically formulated that way.

So, I actually picked up those cranberry capsules just yesterday, and honestly, I’m already feeling a bit better today! They really seem to work—I couldn't find the Twinlab ones I was looking for, so I just grabbed some Biofarm instead.
Since the cranberry is helping, does that mean I definitely have a bacterial infection? Or maybe something else? How can I actually figure out what's going on? Is it possible I'm dealing with some kind of inflammation without it being an actual UTI?🤷🤷

@Roger Garcia9, if you really want to get ahead of this, I’d suggest the same heavy-duty antibiotic regimen I had to go through...
I'm talking doxycycline—both shots and pills—paired with some cranberry supplements.
The thing about UTIs is that you have to knock them out completely within a two-week window—otherwise, they turn chronic within about a month, and then you're looking at a real nightmare to fix.
Good luck..

Alright, man, give me some advice here. What should I even do?
How am I supposed to handle these infections when it takes at least a month to fully clear up—even after you've gone through all the sprays and treatments within those first two weeks?

I actually asked a buddy about this back in '94 when it first hit me..
Look, we live in a country where it's usually better to just pay up and get an answer immediately—though, obviously, not everyone has that kind of cash lying around..