IC Disease

In order to make a diagnosis of IC Disease, a urologist has to rule out certain health conditions and illnesses.  Some of the tests that are done to do this include:

• Taking urine cultures to determine if bacteria is present and if a bladder infection or UTI is the cause of the symptoms.
• Ruling out other illnesses that have similar symptoms - bladder cancer, vaginal infections, STDs, endometriosis, neurological disorders, kidney problems, and tuberculosis.

If all of the above are ruled out, a urologist will next perform a cystocopy under general anesthesia.  The cystocopy with hydrodistention is necessary in order to make a proper diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis.  This is the only way that the hallmark features of IC can be found - the pinpoint hemorrhages on the bladder wall.  A biopsy is taken as well to rule out bladder cancer.

Getting a diagnosis for IC Disease may take a patient years.  It can be very frustrating living with such a debilitating illness and to not have a doctor, or several doctors, believe that you are truly ill. 

If you feel that you may have symptoms of IC Disease, my first recommendation would be trying to get in with your local urologist instead of going to a family doctor.  Urologists are more likely to figure out you have IC than a regular family practitioner. 

From an emotional health standpoint, you must realize that if you feel that you are truly ill and something is not right, than you probably are.  You must trust your body and if something has changed, if you find that you are displaying the classic symptoms get checked out immediately. 

Many of the symptoms of IC Disease do mimic that of a bladder infection and that is not something you want to mess with either, so always get checked regardless. 

Tomorrow’s post will discuss how IC is diagnosed and what illnesses are ruled out first.

In Part 1, I talked about how symptoms of IC Disease can differ among patients and how they can vary daily for each individual.  Today I will point out what the actual symptoms of IC Disease include.  Some or all of these symptoms may be present.

Frequency
Urinary frequency is considered going to the bathroom more than 8 times per day. In those with severe IC Disease, they may urinate up to 60 times a day. For a lot of IC patients, their frequency increases at night. Frequency may be the only symptom for some patients in the beginning of their illness.

Pain
The pain associated with IC Disease can be felt in the lower abdomen, vaginal area or urethral area. Some patients complain of back pain also or side pain. When my IC started I had severe pain in my lower back and in my left side. Women will often complain of pain during and/or after sexual intercourse. Men who have IC disease testicular, scrotal and/or perineal pain, and painful ejaculation.

Urgency
The patient will have a sensation of having to urinate immediately, which may also be accompanied by pain, pressure or spasms.

Miscellaneous Symptoms
Some other symptoms that may be common among IC patients include:

• Migraines
• Muscle and joint pain
• Allergies
• Gastrointestional problems

The symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis can vary from person to person, like the symptoms do with many chronic illnesses.  The symptoms can also change over time.  What is typically seen in people with IC is that the symptoms will be more severe in the beginning of the illness and tend to decrease over time.

The IC symptoms can also be inconsistent. For example, one day an IC patient may have severe pressure in their lower abdomen but minimal pain. The next day they can have severe pain with minimal pressure, then have severe pain and pressure.

On Monday’s post, Part 2: Interstitial Symptoms, I will go into detail on the symptoms specific to the illness.

I am going to try and keep the posts on this blog short so that readers don’t lose interest.  So if posts are broken up into different parts (Part 1, Part 2, etc.) that is why.  This illness can be very complex and trying to read long, detailed posts can be boring and mind-numbing sometimes. 

If there is ever anything you read and you feel that I have missed in my posts, please comment and let me know. I have had this illness for a long time so for me, it is just normal, everyday life. But to someone who is reading about it there is a lot more to it than that.

So expect shorter posts with in depth information but broken up into different days.

IC Disease, or Interstitial Cystitis, is a disease where there is severe inflammation to the bladder wall.  Interstitial Cystitis is chronic and there is currently no cure and the cause is unknown.

Symptoms include:

• Need to urinate frequently - more than 8 times per day.  Some people with IC may urinate up to 60 times a day (every 10 - 15 minutes).
• Pain and pressure in the lower abdomen
• Pain and burning with urinating
• Pain and pressure in the vaginal area

A diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis is made after all other illnesses dealing with the bladder have been eliminated, specifically infections and cancer.  A cystoscopic examination of the bladder under anesthesia is usually performed in order to see if one of the hallmark features of IC is present - pinpoint hemorrhages (glomerulations) on the bladder wall and/or Hunner’s Ulcers.

IC patients are typically placed into one of two categories. The great majority of patients are diagnosed with “early non-ulcerative” IC, as identified by the presence of glomerulations during cystoscopy. An estimated 5% to 10% of IC patients are believed to have the second, more severe, “classic ulcerative” IC, as demonstrated by the presence of Hunner’s Ulcers and glomerulations during cystoscopy. These patients may also have reduced bladder capacities and stiffened bladder walls.

IC Disease, or Interstitial Cystitis, is a chronic bladder disease that affects many women and men but it is an illness you don’t hear a lot about. 

The goal of the IC Disease blog is to provide information, support and tools to living, coping and treating this devastating illness. 

I am not a doctor or nurse - I’m an IC patient.  Always talk to your doctor before trying any treatments or medications that you have read about online or elsewhere. 

I hope to educate and enlighten the public about this illness and how severe it really is for those of us who are suffering daily.

If you stop by and like what you read here, please leave me a comment!