{"id":9455,"date":"2019-08-18T14:27:30","date_gmt":"2019-08-18T14:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=9455"},"modified":"2021-06-22T14:36:25","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T14:36:25","slug":"15-common-symptoms-of-interstitial-cystitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/15-common-symptoms-of-interstitial-cystitis\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Common Symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Cystitis may sound fancy, but it\u2019s actually just the term that doctors use when they\u2019re talking about a bladder that\u2019s suffering from inflammation. In most cases, you\u2019ll find that this inflammation is the body\u2019s natural response to the presence of invasive pathogens. This can sometimes be a virus or even a fungus, but in the vast majority of incidences, it\u2019s a bacterial infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When cystitis is caused by bacteria then it will be referred to as a urinary tract infection and can be rather annoying to deal with. The constant pain also makes this condition far harder to handle. Doctors have always said that many conditions aren\u2019t a bother at all, but that their symptoms are what causes the real issue. That\u2019s certainly true in this case, so, without any further adieu, here are eight common symptoms of interstitial cystitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Pain in your pelvis or between the vagina and anus in women<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pelvic pain<\/a> is very hard to deal with. While one might be able to self-sooth in cases of chest pain or shoulder pain by rubbing the area, this isn\u2019t an option with pelvic pain. While one could attempt to, it would be met with stigma and disdain. When interstitial cystitis occurs in men, the pain will often manifest around the pelvis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In contrast, women who suffer from the condition will find that the pain will affect the region between their anus and vagina. This can make it very difficult to sit in a chair without increasing the level of pain experienced. Some doctors have even posed the theory that interstitial cystitis may be more severe in women \u2014 at least with regards to the pain level \u2014 due to the location of the affected area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Pain between the scrotum and anus in men (perineum)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the pelvis<\/a>, men may also notice the pain manifesting in the area between their anus and scrotum. This area is directly below the bladder, explaining why the pain develops in roughly the same region despite men and women having different genitalia. There have also been theories suggesting that the tissue of this area possesses specific hormones that are more receptive to the pain caused by interstitial cystitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, the theory is yet to be tested by a full scientific study and thus isn\u2019t recognized as credible until such a study occurs. This area is often referred to as the perineum by doctors. Patients with interstitial cystitis often have to rely on medications to relieve the pain in this area. The long-term use of medications may also have other adverse effects on their bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Chronic pelvic pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the worst things about interstitial cystitis is the fact that it\u2019s a chronic condition. If it were acute and only lasted a few days then it would be more bearable. Most patients who suffer from interstitial cystitis have said that they\u2019d be fine with a pain level ten times more than what they currently experience provided that it would go away after a certain period of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In cases of interstitial cystitis and other chronic conditions, it\u2019s often not the pain itself that bothers the patient but rather the long-term disability that it brings with it. Doctors have been hard at work to find a cure for interstitial cystitis and other chronic inflammatory conditions. One potential treatment lies with cannabidiol due to the fact that it holds anti-inflammatory<\/a> properties that may be able to reduce the pain felt by interstitial cystitis patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. A persistent, urgent need to urinate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Frequent urination can be caused by many conditions such as diabetes, urinary tract infections, and even interstitial cystitis. The difference here is that, unlike with other conditions, the urge to urinate doesn\u2019t go away even after peeing. You might feel short relief after voiding your bladder <\/a>but the urge to urinate will likely return soon after even if you haven\u2019t drunk any water after relieving yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many patients with interstitial cystitis have said that they would often feel the urge to pee even when they were physically unable to as their bladder was empty. Of course, there are certain medications that can help with this symptom but the excessive use of it can lead to kidney problems and other complications. It\u2019s important that you don\u2019t cause new issues while treating existing ones otherwise you may never escape the cycle of suffering brought on by these conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Frequent urination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the constant need to urinate, you\u2019ll also find that you will have the physical capacity to urinate that far exceeds that of the average human being. This can pose a high risk of dehydration <\/a>to patients who are suffering from interstitial cystitis. This is why doctors often recommend that patients who are dealing with the disease drink lots of fluids to offset the amount of liquid that their body loses due to the excessively frequent urination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinking a lot of water may also help alleviate the other symptoms associated with interstitial cystitides such as pelvic pain and the items listed in the below sections. In fact, even urinary tract infections have less of an impact on your body if you ensure that you\u2019re getting sufficient fluids on a daily basis. When you consider the fact that the majority of our body is comprised of water, it\u2019s not surprising that we need a lot of it to survive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Pain or discomfort while the bladder fills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who suffer from interstitial cystitis may experience varying levels of either discomfort <\/a>or pain whenever their bladder fills up. This means that patients who have the condition will likely have to urinate very often just to prevent the pain that would otherwise manifest. This can be a difficult symptom to counteract seeing as patients with interstitial cystitis actually need to take in a lot of water to alleviate their other symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That being said, doctors recommend that patients suffering from the condition urinate right after drinking water so that their bladder remains empty but they still get the hydration that they need to stave off the other adverse effects. When you need more water and less water at the same time, it becomes a matter of timing and placement to get the best outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Pain during sexual intercourse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This symptom is often described as the most disruptive one by patients who suffer from interstitial cystitis. While the pelvic pain<\/a> and frequent urination can be a daily nuisance, the inability to enjoy sexual relations is the symptom that can lead to long-term problems such as failed relationships and even divorces. The infidelity rate amongst couples who are dealing with interstitial cystitis is also higher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Studies have shown that humans, at their base, still crave reproduction and thus will seek other mates if their current partner isn\u2019t able to satisfy their libido. There are some pharmaceuticals that can alleviate the pain during these intimate times, but they are often costly and come with side effects of their own. Doctors have been looking for a way to treat this symptom for quite some time but are yet to find a viable option due to the complexity of the human bladder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Reduced bladder capacity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Patients who suffer from interstitial cystitis will notice a reduction in their bladder capacity. While this might not seem like too big of a deal, it can actually make it a lot harder to lead a normal life. You might think that this reduction is the result of the bladder <\/a>shrinking, but that\u2019s actually not the case at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, interstitial cystitis will lead to the bladder wall becoming stiffer. As it stiffens, it will lose its elasticity \u2014 the ability to stretch \u2014 and thus won\u2019t be able to hold as much urine as it was once able to. This means that even small volumes of liquid could give you the urge to pee. Furthermore, if you don\u2019t pee for even a relatively short period of time then the bladder will fill up rapidly and cause severe pain to your pelvic area. The stiffening causes more problems than you\u2019d think.
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