How to Treat Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic inflammation of the bladder that can cause frequent urination, urgency and pain. The disease is more common in women than men, affecting up to 700,000 people in this nation alone. Physicians often miss the diagnosis, mistaking interstitial cystitis for urinary tract infection. If you believe you are affected by this condition, read on for management tips.

Instructions

• 1

  Tell your doctor about your symptoms. Interstitial cystitis can send you running to the bathroom as many as 60 times per day in extreme cases. You may have pain, especially associated with sexual activity. The condition will not respond to antibiotic therapy.

• 2

  See a urologist for an accurate diagnosis. The doctor should take urine cultures to rule out bacterial infections, and then rule out other possible diseases, including vaginal infections, sexually transmitted diseases, bladder cancer or endometriosis, among others.

• 3

  Make sure the doctor does a cytoscopy, a test that allows him to look at the inside of the bladder and the urethra under anesthesia. The bladder will be distended with liquid and the doctor will look inside with a cytoscope, a lighted instrument. The doctor should look for small hemorrhages of the bladder to properly diagnose the disease.

• 4

  Try different treatments to find relief for the condition. Try Elmiron, an oral medication approved by the FDA specifically for interstitial cystitis. The antidepressant Elavil and anti inflammatory drugs can be helpful, as well as several treatments that are instilled directly into the bladder. External nerve stimulators can help relieve pain.

• 5

  Consider eliminating spicy foods from your diet as well as tobacco, coffee and tea, which can aggravate interstitial cystitis.