Chronic Pain Today

The symptoms and signs of interstitial cystitis are varied and not every IC patient will have all of them. It is a difficult illness to pinpoint and this is meant only as a guideline to some of the symptoms that the interstitial cystitis patient may have.

1. Pelvic and perineal pain and pressure.
2. Urinary frequency: over 8 times/day; average is 16 times/day; can be up to 60 times/day.
3. Nocturia (excess urination at night).
4. Urinary urgency: urge not relieved by voiding.
5. Over 9 months of symptoms.
6. Dyspareunia (painful ).
7. Hematuria (blood in urine).
8. Symptoms worsen during menstruation.
9. Diminished bladder capacity.
10. and scrotum pain and pressure.
11. Dysuria (pain on urination).
12. UTI (Urinary tract infection) symptoms that do not improve upon antibiotic treatment.

50% of IC patients will have pain while riding in a car or with any prolonged sitting function; 63% are unable to work full time. Perhaps the most staggering statistic of IC is that interstitial cystitis patients are 3-4 times more likely to commit suicide than those who do not have the illness and that they rank below kidney dialysis patients in quality of life. So please, if you have any of the above mentioned signs or symptoms, get to an urologist. This diagnosis takes approximately 7 years to receive, usually through trial and many errors. Get checked, get tested, and get back on tract with your life.