We can help you manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
What is interstitial cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic condition where the bladder lining
becomes inflamed or irritated, leading to scarring and stiffening of the
bladder. When you have IC, your bladder can’t hold as much urine
as it did in the past.
You may also hear IC be referred to as painful bladder syndrome, or frequency-urgency-dysuria syndrome. It most commonly affects women, but men and children can also have IC.
What are the symptoms of IC?
Top symptoms include:
Frequent urination
Urgency
Feelings of pressure, soreness, or pain around the bladder, pelvis, and
the area between the anus and the vagina
Pain during sex
Dysuria
For women, symptoms may get worse around their period. Stress can also
exacerbate symptoms.
Is there a diagnostic test for IC?
There is no single test to determine whether you have IC, and your doctor
may need to run a variety of tests including urine tests, imaging tests,
cystoscopy and a biopsy in order to make a diagnosis.
What causes IC?
Experts don’t know for sure what causes IC. There’s no cure
for IC, and it can be hard to treat. Most treatments are focused on easing symptoms.
Many people with IC find that eating certain foods can make their symptoms
worse. These foods include:
Citrus fruits
Tomatoes
Chocolate
Potassium-rich foods
Alcohol
Caffeinated drinks
Spicy foods
Some carbonated drinks
Treating interstitial cystitis
The exact cause of interstitial cystitis is not clear. Currently, there’s
no cure for this condition, but there are several treatments that can
help with symptoms. Often, treatment involves more than one therapy. And
it may take some time to find the best approach for symptom relief.
Here are some of the treatment options for interstitial cystitis:
Bladder instillation therapy: This therapy involves a provider adding solution directly into the bladder.
It helps reduce inflammation and pain. The solution often includes lidocaine,
heparin, and sodium bicarbonate.
Oral medicines: Some medicines you take by mouth can help with interstitial cystitis
pain. Examples include pentosan polysulfate sodium (Elmiron), amitriptyline,
or antihistamines. These drugs can reduce inflammation and pain and help
relax the bladder.
Bladder distension: During this procedure, the bladder gets filled with water to stretch
and expand it. The goal is to increase how much the bladder can hold and
decrease frequent urination.
Physical therapy: Pelvic floor physical therapy involves exercises that strengthen pelvic
floor muscles. It can help with interstitial cystitis by reducing muscle
tension and pain in the pelvis.
Nerve stimulation: Nerve stimulation may help manage symptoms. Examples include transcutaneous
electric nerve stimulation (TENS) or sacral neuromodulation.
Diet changes: For some people with interstitial cystitis, certain foods or drinks trigger
symptoms. It can be helpful to keep track of what you consume and remove
something from your diet if needed. Common trigger foods and drinks include:
Citrus fruits
Tomatoes
Chocolate
Foods rich in potassium
Alcohol
Drinks with caffeine
Spicy foods
Some carbonated drinks
Stress management: Stress can make interstitial cystitis symptoms worse. Finding ways to
manage stress can help, such as meditation, deep breathing exercises,
or cognitive behavioral therapy.
Surgery: For severe cases of interstitial cystitis, your provider may recommend
surgery to remove all or part of the bladder.
Check out the
IC Help Association for support group options and resources to learning how to live with IC.
With interstitial cystitis, it’s important to work closely with
your provider to find the best treatment plan for you. Our
urology team at West Jefferson Medical Center is ready to help.
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