On Healthy Living

If you are saying to yourself, “Huh? What in the world is that?” then I’m glad you’re here reading this! Interstitial Cystitis is a chronic bladder disease that can be very disabling. Interstitial Cystitis mostly affects women and there is no cure.

Interstitial Cystitis feels like a bladder infection, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, but there is no bacteria present in the urine. Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis, or IC Disease, include frequent urination (up to 60 times per day), burning upon urination, severe lower abdomen pain and pressure, pressure and pain in the vaginal area, and in some cases even vaginal bleeding.

Interstitial Cystitis is diagnosed through a cysctocopy. This is a same-day surgery procedure that is done under anesthesia. The urologist will go through the vagina to the bladder, inflate the bladder with water, then drain the bladder completely. During this process, the doctor looks for ulcers or hemorrhages in the bladder. If they are present, and the other symptoms of IC are present, a diagnosis is made.

Treating IC can be complicated because everyone does not respond the same to treatments. IC varies in severity, so it can be a trying time finding the right treatment that works. Some patients never get any relief.

The medications usually prescribed to treat IC include anti-depressants, muscle relaxants, pain medication and Elmiron. Elmiron is the only FDA approved medication used to treat IC Disease. Elmiron works by helping to build the protective layer back in the bladder that is missing in IC patients.

ff wrote this on April 10th, 2008 and filed it under Healthy Living, Women's Health |