IC patients should keep track of their diagnostic tests, treatments and physician appointments so that they can discuss their medical history with new physicians. There’s nothing worse than being asked "what tests did you have?" or "what treatments did you try?" only to respond "I don’t know." Yes, you might have had a bladder instillation [...]
IC patients often experience their most uncomfortable symptoms at night when distractions are fewer and they notice their bladder symptoms more. They may feel a constant need to urinate or an uncomfortable sensation of bladder fullness that is very difficult to ignore. Getting up once or twice a night might be manageable but having more [...]
Patients with more severe IC who are unable to work may apply for disability benefits. There are several different disability programs available depending upon your state. State disability is usually short term disability with the goal of helping you return to work. Federal disability programs, such as SSA or SSI, require that you be unable [...]
Surgical treatment is RARELY used for the treatment of interstitial cystitis and only AFTER a patient has tried and failed ALL of the easier therapies, including oral medications, bladder instillations, some experimental therapies (i.e. botox), physical therapy and perhaps even alternative or complementary strategies (i.e. acupuncture, etc.). Several surgical options are available. Patients with severe [...]
Does your IC flare when you’re having bowel discomfort? In the September 2008 article, Pepperoni Pizza: How the bowel Can Trigger Bladder Pain, researchers found that when the bowel becomes irritated, the bladder shows signs of irritation as well. IC and IBS are well-known related conditions though researchers are still struggling to figure out the [...]
IC Awareness Daily Fact #12 - Approximately 5% of IC patients have Hunner’s Ulcers. These larger, bleeding wounds in the bladder can be very painful. Treatment of these ulcers usually involves laser therapy, fulguration (heat) and/or the injection of a steroid, triamcinolone, into the center of the ulcer. A new therapy, LiRIS, would found to [...]
