|
Interstitial Cystitis
Q: I was reading your article in the newspaper about interstitial cystitis
and am thinking that is what I have. I have been getting urinary tract infections
since I was 17 years old. I am now 22 and I get them at a rate of about 6 a
year, sometimes more. Even when I am "cured" by medicine I still have
lingering pain and symptoms. My pelvic pain is so bad sometimes I can't walk
and overall having one makes it hard for me to function at all. Sometimes when
I am sure that I have one and my initial urine sample comes back positive, after
it is sent to the lab for a culture it comes back as actually being negative.
Sometimes I even feel like I get one seconds after finishing a cup of coffee.
In order for it not to hurt all the time I have to drink 100 ounces of water
a day. I have seen a couple of urologists and regularly see a gynecologist to
rule out any other possibility.
I was just wondering if you could give me any more information on this topic
that I could relay back to my doctors, since it seems that the dozen or so I
have gone to with this condition can never give me a reason for them. And could
you please tell me the medication that has been approved for this condition.
Thank you so much.
| |
 |
| |
Dr. Donnica: I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. You're right--it
sounds as though you might have interstitial cystitis, or IC. First, stop
the coffee. Even for those without a bladder problem, caffeine is a direct bladder
irritant. Next, you can read up on IC at the Interstitial
Cystitis Association website. Please make another appointment with a
urologist and ask straight out: "Do you think I have interstitial cystitis?"
There is one FDA-approved medication for this condition called Elmiron; if your
doctor thinks you have IC, you can ask if s/he thinks this medication might help
you.
With best regards,
Donnica L. Moore, MD
President, DrDonnica.com
Created: 10/12/2002 - Donnica Moore, M.D.
|
All the content contained herein is copyrighted pursuant to federal law. Duplication or use without
the express written permission of DrDonnica.com subjects the violator to both civil & criminal penalties.
Copyright © 2006 DrDonnica.com. All rights reserved. |
|
Home
| Today on DrDonnica.com
| Meet Dr. Donnica
| TV Appearances
| Clinical Trials
Diseases & Conditions
| Decisionnaires
| Celebrity Speak Out
| Guest Experts
| Women's Health Champions
FAQs
| Women’s Health Resources
| Archive
| Books & Tapes
| Site Certification
| Advanced Search
Mission
| What’s New?
| Press Room
| Privacy Policy
| Sponsors
| Partners
| Contact Us
|
|
