Getting ahead of Internal of Internal Cystitis and Back To Normality

Interstitial cystitis, or IC, can be difficult to diagnose and even harder to treat. Also called painful bladder syndrome, it can mimic other health problems, such as kidney stones or bladder infection. Your doctor may need to rule out other causes before diagnosing you with IC and take your medical and family history as well as perform a physical exam.

The kidneys filter waste products and create urine, which is passed into the urinary bladder. The urinary bladder can usually hold between two and four cups of urine at a time, but when you have IC, you may have frequent, painful urges to go. While the average person voids between six and eight times a day, someone with IC may go up to 40 to 60 times a day.

Symptoms can vary from person to person, and they may come and go. However, the condition is considered chronic, and most people will suffer a relapse.

Common symptoms include:

▪   Painful pressure

▪   Pain in the lower tummy, pelvic area or urethra

▪   Pain in the vagina or vulva in women

▪   Pain in the penis, scrotum or testicles in men

▪   Feeling the urge to urinate nearly constantly

▪   Intercourse pain

▪   Burning pain with urination

▪   A dull ache, a stinging sensation or burning pain

An inflamed bladder is a universal symptom, and up to 10 percent of sufferers will develop bladder ulcers. Your doctor may recommend more than one method of testing to rule out more serious problems and distinguish between IC and a normal bladder. The cause of IC is not fully understood but may be related to immune system attacks on the urinary tract and abnormal nerve stimulation or response.

Sufferers are about 90% women, and symptoms often first appear in the 40s. Lifestyle changes can be helpful. Common triggers include menstrual periods, stress, chocolate, tomatoes and citrus fruits. Limit your intake of foods and drinks that could worsen your symptoms, and practice relaxation techniques such as meditation to relieve stress. If you smoke, quit smoking, and limit your intake of alcoholic or caffeinated beverages. Low-impact exercise such as walking or stretching can be quite helpful for some patients. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy to help relax your pelvic muscles for bladder retraining so that you can hold more urine. Anti-inflammatories or other medications may be prescribed.