Interstitial Cystitis - Painful Bladder Syndrome
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder. The normal bladder has a natural lining of mucoid proteins, protecting it from the toxins in the urine. With IC, this protective layer is faulty. When this happens, the toxins in urine penetrate the bladder wall, causing pain when you urinate. IC does not respond to antibiotics because it is not a bacterial infection, such as a typical bladder infection. Some patients suffer from intense pain, while others only experience mild discomfort. IC id not curable, but most patients respond to treatment and lifestyle changes.
Until the mid-1980s, IC was not commonly recognized and often misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection. Today, an estimated 500,000 people are diagnosed with IC, and about 90 percent of them are women. People of any age can be affected with IC, although it is rare in children. About two-thirds of patients are in their 20's, 30's, or 40's.
PBS syndrome is seen in the Poughkeepsie, Fishkill, Kingston and Rhinebeck locations.
Causes
It's not clear what the causes IC. Some theories are:
- Frequent bladder infections
- Allergies
- Certain foods
- Some evidence suggests that IC is caused by the body's own natural defense system turning on itself
- Women with IBS or fibromyalgia are more prone to IC
- Inflammation from another part of the body
- Yet undefined bacteria
- Environment
Symptoms
CI is frequently misdiagnosed as a urinary tract infection, the symptoms of which are similar. Symptoms can include:
- Urgency to urinate
- Painful sexual intercourse
- With women, symptoms increase during menstrual cycle
- Decreased bladder capacity
- Pressure, pain and tenderness around the pelvic area and the perineum (area between the vagina or scrotum and the anus)
- In men, discomfort in the penis and scrotum