by Lisa Nelson

Created on: June 16, 2009   Last Updated: June 20, 2009

A life with Interstitial Cystitis, is a life of challenges, and learning to deal, with chronic pain. There is no known cure for this disease, although there are many who are trying to find a cure. I have dealt with this disease in my own life now for approximately the past 3 years. Possibly for many years before that, as I did not know, until I was diagnosed, what was causing the bladder, and pelvic type pain I was experiencing. Up until then, I'd just gone to my PCP, and hadn't investigated further to find the real cause of my recurring Urinary Tract Infections. It was only when I'd probed deeper, and asked my PCP, about the possibility of going to a Urologist, that I'd began finding some answers.

The Urologist began with a Cystoscopy in the hospital. It was there, he found the bladder to be covered w/ the blood spots that show a person has IC. Ninety percent of IC patients present with these (pinpoint) hemorrhages. Five to ten percent of IC patients have the ulcerative form of the disease and have the Hunner's patches or ulcers. There is frequency of urination, urgency, and the spasms. The pain is constant, and so, the real challenge of dealing with IC, is dealing with the constant pain. It is not really continual, but more spasmodic in nature. There are continual flare ups that are common with this disease. The flare ups, can last a short time, or a longer time. In my case, they are everyday occurrences, but for some, they are only once in a while. Some, can make changes in their diet, and find real times of relief. For me, I've not been able to do that. I've noticed some foods do indeed cause more spasms, than others, but, I seem to suffer spasms, no matter what I really eat, or avoid. In most cases, avoiding, spicy foods, sauces, chocolates, and many fruits and vegetables, you can lessen the severity of the spasms, by watching what you eat.

The spasms are very painful, and another side effect, is the constant blood in the urine. (Some people do not suffer from this occurrence as much either, but again, I do). The Specialist said, that I do indeed, have a more severe case of IC. Until a cure is found, the frequency of urination, the spasms, and the ulcerations, will only continue to worsen. Pictures from the cystoscope revealed my bladder to be covered a great deal with these ulcerations. The doctor has even prescribed histamines to help with removing histamine from the foods, I am eating. There is also a drug called Elmiron specifically for IC

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