September is Interstitial Cystitis Month. It is important to 180 Medical to provide support and education to our customers with Interstitial Cystitis.
What is Interstitial Cystitis?
Interstitial cystitis is a chronic condition, also called Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS), which most commonly affects women.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) causes the walls of your bladder become irritated and inflamed. The symptoms include discomfort, pressure, tenderness or intense pain in the bladder and pelvis. Interstitial Cystitis can also cause urgency and frequency of urination. People with severe cases of IC/PBS can urinate up to 60 times per day. Interstitial Cystitis varies on the intensity of symptoms and can go into remission.
While they are not entirely sure what causes Interstitial Cystitis, scientists believe IC/PBS may be a more general condition that causes inflammation in various organs and
parts of the body.
Treatment Options for Interstitial Cystitis
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for pain relief
- Tricyclic antidepressants, which may relax your bladder and block pain
- Pentosan (Elmiron), the only oral drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration specifically for Interstitial Cystitis. It may restore the inner surface of the bladder.
- Nerve Stimulation, Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, TENS, which uses electrical pulses to possibly reduce frequency of urination
- Bladder distension, the stretching of the bladder with gas or water can sometimes reduce symptoms
- Instilling medication into the bladder, such as: Dimethyl Sulfoxide
- Surgery
- Intermittent Catheterization
For more information, visit the Interstitial Cystitis Association.
