I am 28 years old and have had bilteral epididymitis for 18 months during this time I have had Doxycycline (three times) Trimethoprim (three times) and some other anti-b's. I have had varying levels of success with these drugs without resolving the problem - at worst I am badly swollen on both sides with pain in the testes and bladder area, at best I am in no pain but with a small lump on the epididymus (both sides). I have also had several urine tests which are ok, a testes/kidney/bladder scan which was normal and a sperm test (bacteria)which was ok. My girlfriend and I have been to the STD clinic and are both clear. Currently, I am half way through a 4 week course of flomax. I find Ibuprofen relieves the pain - although at the moment the pain is not bad....touch wood!!

In addition I have urinary symptoms where I often leave a big wet patch on my boxer shorts regradless of how much I shake - this gets wose when the epididymitis is bad. I also get red blotches on the end of the penis this is treated with a steroid cream i got from the specialist and I am told is an unrelated condition.

My question is - am I going to have to live with this problem for ever? or is there anybody out there whose been in the same position and recovered.