The condition affects 500,000 people in the UK who are told that there’s no cure and they are forced to endure it. Patients often go in a gruelling journey of GPs or gynaecologists, as well as urologists without much successes. They believe that the standard treatment is merely unhelpful and does not address the root cause of this extremely debilitating condition.
What is Interstitial Cystitis (IC)?
Interstitial cystitis is an extremely difficult and stressful condition which is defined by chronic urge to urinate (feeling the urge to urinate instantly) and the frequency (frequent urinary frequency) and pelvic discomfort. The signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis could differ among people and even change over time in the same person. Many sufferers have to live their in a bladder-centric lifestyle due to the uncomfortable symptoms. The phrase “cystitis” is a reference to inflammation that occurs in the bladder. Contrary to bacterial cystitis that is caused by an infection of the bladder, there is no infectious organism that has been detected in individuals who suffer from interstitial cystitis. Interstitial cystitis can be diagnosed when symptoms manifest without any evidence of another reason for the symptoms.
Around 90 percent of those suffering from interstitial cystitis have female relatives and the median age at diagnosis is 40, however anyone of any age could be affected. Although it has not been deemed to be a hereditary disorder numerous cases have been reported within certain families, triggering more research into the possibility of a genetic link.
Women suffering from interstitial cystitis tend to have suffered from regular urinary tract infections as well as to have undergone surgical procedures for gynaecology than women who do not have interstitial cystitis. Certain chronic diseases have been identified as occurring more frequently in women with interstitial cystitis compared to the general population.
Systemic lupus and erythematosus (Lupus also known as SLE)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Allergies
Endometriosis
Vulvodynia (chronic discomfort in the vulvar region)
Fibromyalgia
Interstitial cystitis can be classified into two forms: non-ulcerative and ulcerative, dependent upon the existence or absence of the ulcers within the bladder’s the lining. Star-shaped, swollen ulcerations on the wall of your bladder are referred to for Hunner’s oesophagitis. The ulcerative (classic kind) in interstitial cystitis can be present within less than 10 percent of cases. The stiffening and scarring of the bladder wall can occur due to the chronic inflammation that can cause a decrease the bladder’s capacity. A few areas of bleeding could be noticed on the bladder’s wall.
What causes interstitial cystitis?
The orthodox medical community is not sure who is aware of the exact cause of interstitial cystitis. However, because the symptoms vary the majority of researchers believe it is a range of conditions rather than a particular disease. A particular area of study is centered around the layer of skin that protects the bladder’s lining known as the glycocalyx. It is comprised of mostly mucins and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This layer typically protects the bladder’s wall from the toxic consequences of urine. Researchers have discovered that the protective layer in your bladder appears to be “leaky” in approximately 70 percent of patients with interstitial cystitis. There is a possibility that this might allow certain urine substances to flow through the bladder wall, where they could trigger interstitial cystitis.
Potassium is a chemical which could be responsible for an injury to the bladder’s wall. Researchers have identified a substance known as antiproliferative factors (APF) that is believed to hinder the normal development of the cells that form the bladder’s lining. APF is found most often in urine of patients suffering from interstitial cystitis. The research is in progress to understand the possible role of APF in the development of interstitial cystitis.
Other theories regarding the cause of interstitial cystitis include that it’s a manifestation of an autoimmune disorder, or that infection by an unknown organism could be causing an injury to the bladder as well as the associated symptoms.
Our method focuses on all the pieces of the patient’s health puzzle to see the bigger picture. We take care of all the underlying problems in our treatment for interstitial cystitis.