Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis ("IC") is a chronic urinary bladder disease sometimes referred to as Painful Bladder Syndrome ("PBS"). Symptoms can vary from person to person and may include one or more of the following: bladder pressure, bladder pain, urinary frequency and pelvic pain. The pain and discomfort may range from mild burning to severe pain. While both men and women can get IC/PBS it tends to be far more common in women. In the U.S., some 3 to 6 percent women (about 3 to 8 million women total) have IC symptoms. That fact was a highlighted story at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).http://www.urologychannel.com/interstitialcystitis/index.shtml

Symptoms of IC include a combination of uncomfortable bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes general pelvic pain. Some people say it is like having a chronic urinary tract infection. The pain can range from mild burning to severe pain, and the severity of symptoms can fluctuate from hour to hour and day to day. Diet can also affect symptoms and many people adopt a special diet to avoid trigger foods that irritate their bladder.http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/interstitial-cystitis.cfm

In order to diagnose Interstitial Cystitis, doctors may opt to perform one of several different common tests. Before any tests are conducted, doctors may request that you keep a "bladder journal" or diary to record bladder pain and activity as a means to a diagnosis. The following tests are conducted not only to possibly diagnose IC, but to also eliminate the possibility of other conditions and diseases:

Potassium Sensitivity Test -

Involves instilling the bladder with two different solutions—water and potassium chloride—one at a time. Patients are asked to rate on a scale of 0 to 5 the pain and urgency you feel after each solution is instilled. If you feel noticeably more pain or urgency with the potassium solution than with the water, your doctor may diagnose interstitial cystitis. People with normal bladders can't tell the difference between the two solutions.

Cystoscopy -

Involves an examination of your bladder through a thin tube with a tiny camera (cystoscope) inserted through the urethra. Often used to rule out other potential causes of bladder pain. May also involve taking a biopsy.

Pelvic Exam and Urine Test -

IC is often a diagnosis of exclusion. A complete pelvic exam is necessary to help rule other possible causes.http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/interstitial-cystitis/DS00497/DSECTION=tests-and-diagnosis

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.