Is there a cure for interstitial cystitis?

There is no cure yet for this condition and there is not a specific treatment that works for everyone. People who suffer from IC will need to investigate ways to help them manage the condition.

It can be a lengthy and difficult process finding a diagnosis for IC.

The first step would be that the doctor would take a urine sample to identify whether a bacterial infection is present.

He or She will then look to rule out any other conditions that have similar symptoms to IC, such as cancer, kidney problems, vaginal infections and neurological disorders.

It is a slow process of elimination.

What treatments am I likely to be offered?

Bladder stretching

Stretching the bladder is both a test and the first treatment for IC.

How it is performed:

Under a general anaesthetic, surgeons fill the bladder with fluid and keep it stretched for 5-10 minutes. During this time, they put a small telescope into the bladder to look for redness, swelling and small bleeds – the typical signs of IC.

Stretching the bladder in this way also has the effect of breaking up some of the damaged tissue in the lining and about one in three people find that, after their bladder has settled down, their symptoms are improved. The effect can last for several months and stretching can be repeated if it is found to help.

Relining the bladder

As many people with IC have lost the protective coating in their bladder lining which prevents urine from causing irritation, surgeons may try to replace it. Cystistat is a fluid, which contains sodium hyaluronate – a substance that is an essential component of the protective coating in the bladder. Surgeons inject the fluid directly into the bladder once a week for the first month, then once a month until the symptoms improve. If the treatment helps, it may only be needed once every 6-12 weeks, but not everyone responds, and those whom it does not respond can be found to be as painful if not worse than IC itself.

Oral medication

Aspirin and ibuprofen may be a first line of defence against mild discomfort. Doctors may recommend other drugs to relieve pain. Please remember that aspirin and ibuprofen can corrode the stomach lining and is not recommended if you have stomach ulcers. It is a good idea to eat something first to line the stomach before taking these drugs.

The principal type of oral medication is the heparinoid drug pentosan polysulfate sodium. PPS is chemically similar to the substance that lines the bladder, and it is believed that PPS assists in the repair or restoration of the lining tissues in bladder. Other oral medications that may be used to treat IC along with PPS include antidepressants of tricyclic group. This is not due to a belief that IC is a psychological condition but due to the fact that tricyclic antidepressants can help reduce the hyper-activation of nerves within the bladder wall.

Oral antihistamines may also be prescribed to help reduce allergy symptoms that may be worsening the patient’s interstitial cystitis. Beside this, bladder distension sometimes is used for therapy of interstitial cystitis. Bladder distension helps reduce symptoms in approximately 20-30% of people with problem called interstitial cystitis.

Muscle relaxants such as Oxybutynin, which can calm the contractions of the bladder muscle – also used for an overactive bladder.  Anti-inflammatory such as Diclofenac can reduce the inflammation and antihistamines such as hydroxyzine can be used. Certain anti-depressants can also be used such as Amitriptyline, which have pain relieving qualities. As with all medication always find out what the side effects are and if you are on any other medication would they pose as a conflict whilst taking them.

Electrical Nerve Stimulation

Mild electrical pulses can be used to stimulate the nerves to the bladder—either through the skin or with an implanted device. The method of delivering impulses through the skin is called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). With TENS, mild electric pulses enter the body for minutes to hours, two or more times a day either through wires placed on the lower back or just above the pubic area—between the navel and the pubic hair—or through special devices inserted into the vagina in women or into the rectum in men. Although scientists do not know exactly how TENS relieves pelvic pain, it has been suggested that the electrical pulses may increase blood flow to the bladder, strengthen pelvic muscles that help control the bladder, or trigger the release of substances that block pain.

TENS is relatively inexpensive and allows people with IC to take an active part in treatment. Within some guidelines, the patient decides when, how long, and at what intensity TENS will be used. Improvement is usually apparent in 3 to 4 months.

Diet

No scientific evidence links diet to IC, but many doctors and patients find that alcohol, tomatoes, spices, chocolate, caffeinated and citrus beverages, and high-acid foods may contribute to bladder irritation and inflammation. Some people also note that their symptoms worsen after eating or drinking products containing artificial sweeteners. Eliminating various items from the diet and reintroducing them one at a time may determine which, if any, affect a person’s symptoms. However, maintaining a varied, well-balanced diet is important.

We are working with dieticians to create recipes which may help relieve symptoms.