The condition affects 500,000 people in the UK and they are told there’s no cure for the condition and they are forced to accept it as a part of their lives. Patients are often in a gruelling journey of GPs as well as gynaecologists, urologists and doctors without much results. Patients feel that the conventional treatment is merely symptoms-based and not able to tackle the root of the problem. extremely debilitating condition.
What’s Interstitial Cystitis (IC)?
Interstitial cystitis is an extremely painful and stressful condition, which is defined by chronic urge to urinate (feeling the urge to urinate right away) and the frequency (frequent urine leaks) as well as pelvic pain. The signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis could differ between individuals and even change over time in the same person. Many sufferers have to live their in a bladder-centric lifestyle due to the discomfort they experience. The word “cystitis” is a reference to inflammation in the bladder. Contrary to bacterial cystitis which is caused by an infection of the bladder, there is no infectious organism that has been found in patients who suffer from interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis is identified when symptoms are present but without any evidence of a different source of the symptoms.
Around 90 percent of those suffering from interstitial cystitis have females as their primary caregiver. the typical age at which they begin to develop is 40, however, all ages can be affected. While interstitial cystitis hasn’t been identified as a hereditary condition numerous cases have occurred within certain families, leading to more research to determine if there is a genetic connection.
Interstitial cystitis sufferers have a higher risk to suffer from frequently recurring urinary tract infections as well as to have undergone previous Gynaecological surgeries than women with interstitial cystitis. Certain chronic diseases are reported to occur more often in those who suffer from interstitial cystitis, than in the general population.
Systemic lupus and erythematosus (Lupus and SLE)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Allergies
Endometriosis
Vulvodynia (chronic discomfort in the vulvar region)
Fibromyalgia
Interstitial cystitis can be classified into two types, ulcerative and non-ulcerative, based on whether or not there are ulcers within the bladder the lining. Star-shaped ulcerations within the walls of the bladder have been also known by the name Hunner’s ulcers. The ulcerative (classic kind) in interstitial cystitis can be present within less than 10 percent of cases. It is a result of scarring and stiffening of bladder wall can be the result of chronic inflammation, which can lead to a decline the bladder’s capacity. A few areas of bleeding could be observed on the bladder’s walls.
What are the causes of interstitial cystitis?
The orthodox medical community is not sure who knows the exact cause of interstitial cystitis. However, because the symptoms can be varied and varied, many researchers believe it’s a variety of diseases rather than a particular disease. A particular area of study has been focusing on the layer that covers the bladder’s lining known as the glycocalyx. It is composed of primarily substances known as mucins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This layer typically protects the bladder’s wall from the harmful consequences of urine. Researchers have discovered that the protective layer in the bladder can be “leaky” in approximately 70 percent of patients suffering from interstitial cystitis. It is believed that this could allow the urine-borne substances to get through the bladder wall, where they can trigger cystitis in the interstitial space.
Potassium is one of the substances which could be responsible for an injury to the bladder’s wall. Researchers have identified a substance called antiproliferative factor (APF) which is believed to hinder the normal development of the cells that comprise the bladder’s lining. APF has been found mostly in urine of those suffering from interstitial cystitis. Researchers are currently working to determine the possible role of APF in the development of interstitial cystitis.
Other theories regarding the cause of interstitial cystitis is that it’s a manifestation of autoimmune disorder , or an unidentified pathogen may be responsible for damages to bladder and concomitant symptoms.
Our method is to look at every piece of the health puzzle to see the bigger picture. We take care of all the underlying issues with our treatment for interstitial cystitis.
What are the symptoms and signs for interstitial cystitis?
The signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis can vary from person to person but they do share some features with the symptoms of urinary tract infections. It is characterized by:
Increased bladder capacity
Urination is a must often throughout the day and at night
The sensation of pain, pressure and tenderness in the bladder pelvis, as well as the perineum (the space between the vagina and the anus or scrotum and the anus) that may intensify when the bladder is filled and decrease when it is empty
Painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia)
Pain or discomfort in the scrotum and penis
In the majority of women, symptoms typically worsen during the time when they experience their menstrual cycle. Stress can also exacerbate symptoms. The symptoms typically have an onset that is slow, and frequency of urinary discharge is the most frequently reported sign. As interstitial cystitis develops over time and periodic periods of discomfort (flares) as well as remissions are common. It can be mild or severe enough to become severe. It is possible for symptoms to vary throughout the day.
How can interstitial cystitis be diagnosed?
Because the signs of interstitial cystitis resemble to the symptoms of other disorders of the urinary system , and since there is no specific method to determine if you have interstitial cystitis, doctors need to rule out other conditions prior to making a diagnosis of the cystitis. Some of the conditions that must be avoided are vaginal or urinary tract infections and bladder cancer. inflammation or infections caused by abdominal radiation, eosinophilic as well as tuberculous cystitis endometriosis, neurological diseases and sexually transmitted disorders as well as urinary tract infections that contain tiny amounts of bacteria and, for males, chronic bacterial and non-bacterial prostatitis. Tests that can help diagnose other ailments include urinalysis, cystoscopy, urine culture and biopsy of the bladder’s wall and, for males the examination of the prostatic secretions.
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