Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis, sometimes called Painful Bladder Syndrome, or hypersensitive bladder, is a condition in which a person experiences frequent, severe pain associated with their urinary functions. There are an estimated 1.3 million people in the United States with the symptoms of IC.

A person with interstitial cystitis can experience pain with urination (called dysuria) , pressure in the pelvic area, and frequent urination, sometimes occurring as often as every ten minutes.  Many people also report pain in relation to sexual intercourse, and the need to get up many times during the night to urinate.  The symptoms of IC can vary from person to person. One person may experience mild discomfort and irregular trips to the bathroom, and other people may experience extreme pain and discomfort with simple every day tasks such as driving, and as many as 60 trips to the bathroom daily.

The majority of people diagnosed with interstitial cystitis are women, although it’s not uncommon to find in men as well. Most women don’t get diagnosed with IC until they are experiencing menopause, but many experts say that women can show symptoms in their early twenties.

Those with IC are commonly misdiagnosed as having a bacterial bladder infection since many of the symptoms mimic those of infections. The antibiotics used to treat these bladder infections are useless for IC.

IC is a condition that is prone to ‘flares’. Patients may experience symptoms for several weeks and then the symptoms may disappear for just as long. Some people report only have flares once or twice a year, and others experience it much more often.

Many people with IC will also have other medical conditions. It’s common to see Irritable Bowel Syndrome and fibromyalgia in patients diagnosed with IC.

Although the causes of IC are still unknown, there are some theories behind the cause.  Some researchers think that autoimmune issue’s may be the primary culprit for IC. The symptoms are generally present more often when a person has another autoimmune disease. The way it seems to affect the body also leads researchers to think this.

Another train of thought is that IC is caused by allergies. Researchers have found a link between food allergies and interstitial cystitis. Some patients have reported symptom relief by seeking treatment for the allergies. This is still being researched and people with IC shouldn’t expect allergy treatment to cure the problem, but it’s a good non invasive option.

Some people are able to find relief by watching their diets. Caffeine and other simulants seem to worsen the symptoms for many people.  People who change their diets and eat healthy foods will sometimes see a decline in their symptoms.

There are several methods for diagnosing interstitial cystitis. The most common is to run tests to rule out other possible problems. In men a culture of prostrate secretions may help, but this isn’t a common practice. Some other diagnostic procedures, such as a cystoscopic exam can also help.

While interstitial cystitis is a painful condition, it can be treated and quality of life regained.