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If you frequently have pain or discomfort in your bladder and seem to need to go to the toilet more often than other people do, you may have interstitial cystitis, also known as “painful bladder syndrome”.
Not all cystitis is caused by bacterial infection. “Common” cystitis otherwise known, as “urinary tract infection” is a well-known temporary condition, caused by bacteria and is usually treated with antibiotics. Interstitial cystitis on the other hand is usually a chronic condition.
Interstitial Cystitis often feels as though a person has a urinary tract infection, however when tests are done there is no sign of any bacteria. This is because interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammation of the bladder wall, characterized by urinary frequency, urgency and pain. This pain can range from mild to incapacitating.
If you often think that you have a urinary tract infection, only to be told by your doctor that there is no sign of bacteria this may be another indication that you have I.C. Interstitial cystitis does not respond to antibiotic treatment.
Interstitial cystitis is not yet an explicitly defined medical diagnosis with a clearly understood cause. However it is important to realize that it is not a psychosomatic disorder. It is a physical problem and not an indication of any form of emotional issues or poor mental health. The pain a person with I.C. feels is very real. This pain is sometimes a dull aching pain in the bladder and at other times it is a sharp shooting pain that makes the patient feel they must urinate immediately or they will be in even more pain. The pain may be felt in the lower abdominal area, the bladder, urethra or vagina. Many patients experience pain during sexual intercourse.
Interstitial cystitis appears to have an unexplained connection with some other chronic pain syndromes. Many IC patients are also diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Vulvodynia, Systemic Candida, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome among other conditions. Recent research reflects that these conditions may have some connection to each other although some patients complain only of I.C. symptoms.
The effect of IC on a patient’s life is enormous and should not be underestimated by relatives of the patients or by doctors. The embarrassment, inconvenience and pain of interstitial cystitis can make the patient feel helpless and can possibly cause depression. Interstitial cystitis affects both a person’s occupational functioning, personal relationships and sexual functioning.
Women with interstitial cystitis sometimes have pain during intercourse and need to let go of guilt about feeling that they are not pleasing their partners often enough. The couple should explore other forms of sexual pleasure at times of pain. Men with interstitial cystitis sometimes suffer testicular, scrotal or perineal pain.
Interstitial cystitis is more common in women than men.
Pregnant women need not be concerned that their IC will hurt their unborn child in any way. Some women find that their IC goes into remission when they are pregnant, while others find that they suffer a lot of discomfort during the second and third trimester due to the pressure of a baby lying on an inflamed bladders. These women find that their symptoms worsen after delivery of the baby. Common pregnancy complaints of urinary frequency, and constipation can be more difficult for pregnant IC patients. Increased frequency is normal, especially in the first and third trimesters
Traditional medical diagnosis of IC requires that an urologist rule out any other conditions that may have symptoms similar to IC such as endometriosis or bladder cancer.
Next a cystoscopy must be performed. Water is inserted through a cystoscope into the bladder until it is full. As the water fills the bladder, it stretches the bladder wall, enabling the physician to view the entire bladder wall. This helps the urologist establish a definitive diagnosis of IC.
Although there is as yet, no standard cure for IC, there are a variety of treatment options that can help reduce the suffering of patients with this condition.
Oral drugs are used to treat some patients with I.C. One of these is a drug called “Elmiron”, the first oral drug ever developed for IC. Unfortunately this drug has only be found to help 38% of patients who have tried it.
Anti-inflammatory agents, antispasmodics, antihistamines, muscle relaxants and tricyclic antidepressants. are some of the other oral drugs used to relive symptoms. Antidepressants help reduce pain and may also help patients deal with the psychological stress that accompanies living with chronic pain. Aspirin and ibuprofen may be a first line of defense against mild discomfort. Doctors may recommend other drugs to relieve pain.
Another form of treatment is bladder distention. Many patients have noted an improvement in symptoms after a bladder distention done to diagnose IC. Researchers are not sure why distention helps, but some believe that it may increase capacity and interfere with pain signals transmitted by nerves in the bladder.
Another medical treatment is bladder instillation, also called a bladder wash or bath. In this treatment the bladder is filled with a solution called dimethyl sulfoxide that is held for varying periods of time, averaging 10 to 15 minutes, before being emptied. Treatments are given every week for 6 to 8 weeks.
Alternative treatments for interstitial cystitis include life style changes such as exercise, cessation of smoking and drinking, a better diet and stress reduction.
Stress does not cause IC but symptoms are often worse at times of stress so stress reduction techniques may be helpful. The pain, embarrassment and inconvenience of interstitial cystitis can also cause a lot of stress for patients, making their IC worse and perpetuating a vicious cycle.
Gentle stretching exercises, low impact exercise, and pelvic floor exercises are sometimes recommended.
If a patient has found adequate pain relief they may be able to use bladder-training techniques to reduce frequency. Bladders training means that patients decide to pass urine only at designated times and use distraction techniques to help them keep to their schedule.
Many patients with interstitial cystitis have found that tomatoes, spices, chocolate, citrus and caffienated beverages, products containing artificial sweeteners, and high-acid foods may contribute to bladder inflammation so gradually eliminating these products from ones diet may help reduce suffering.
Herbs such as raspberry leaf, marshmallow root, licorice root, and peppermint made into teas can help soothe the bladder and reduce pain.
Surgery is only considered in the most extreme cases. There are serious risks involved and after surgery some patients still feel pain, frequency and urgency.
The following is a list of recent books about IC that you may be able to buy from your bookseller.
Interstitial Cystitis -- Grannum R. Sant(Editor)
To Wake in Tears : Understanding Interstitial Cystitis
by Catherine M. Simone (November 1998)
Along the Healing Path : Recovering from Interstitial Cystitis
A Taste of the Good Life : A Cookbook for an Interstitial Cystitis Diet -- Beverley Laumann
The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide : Your Guide to the Latest Treatment Options and Coping Strategies -- Robert M. Moldwin
Overcoming Bladder Disorders: Compassionate, Authoritative Medical and self-help Solutions for Incontinence, Cystitis, Interstitial Cystitis, Prosta
by Rebecca Chalker
Interstitial Cystitis
by Philip M. Hanno, David R. Staskin
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