| Interstitial Cystitis: There is a Reason They Call it | ||||
Because she appears healthy, Rhonda’s family and friends often forget that she is sick and expect her to do everything a healthy person might. Rhonda has suffered from interstitial cystitis (IC, also known as painful bladder syndrome or PBS) for most of her life. A chronic, painful inflammatory condition of the bladder with no known cause or cure, IC, unlike “common” cystitis (a urinary tract infection) is not caused by bacteria and does not respond to conventional antibiotic therapy. The symptoms of IC may include urinating more often than normal and persistent urinary urgency. Other symptoms may include muscle and joint pain, migraines and pain associated with sexual intercourse. An accurate diagnosis of IC can be elusive. A study by the Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA) has found that many patients visit up to five doctors before receiving a final diagnosis. Diagnosing IC can be tricky since its symptoms may be similar to other disorders of the urinary system. The most effective method of diagnosing IC after ruling out other conditions is through the use of a cytoscope to look into the bladder under general anesthesia. In Rhonda’s case, her pain dissipated somewhat throughout her youth but returned with a vengeance when she was in college. By the time she was diagnosed with IC years later, she had been treated at least 15 times for what was thought to be urinary tract infections.
Doctors are unsure about the causes of IC, but many researchers believe that it is caused by a defect in the bladder lining that allows irritating substances in the urine to penetrate the bladder wall. This causes an inflammation in the bladder that leads to pain and urinary difficulties. Unfortunately, at this time there is no cure for IC, nor is there a treatment that is successful in treating all patients. Therapies have been effective in relieving symptoms for some patients. Talk to your doctor about what might work best for you. Diet changes and reducing stress have been shown to help alleviate some symptoms of IC. While each patient will be affected differently by foods, most find that citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate and coffee should be avoided. Others notice alcoholic and carbonated beverages as well as spicy foods will irritate their bladder. The best way to find out what foods are irritating your bladder is to try an elimination diet. This is done by eliminating all foods that could irritate your bladder. After a week or so of elimination try, eating one of the foods listed above. If the food does not bother your bladder after 24 hours, it is probably safe and can be added back to your regular diet. The next day, add a second food and follow the same instructions. Follow this process until you have identified which foods are safe to eat and which are best to avoid. Information about interstitial cystitis can be found on www.UrologyHealth.org. Detailed information about IC symptoms, treatments and food lists are also available from the Interstitial Cystitis Association at www.ichelp.org or by calling their toll-free telephone number, 1-800-HELP-ICA. |
