Urgent and frequent need to urinate and pelvic/bladder pain are very troubling symptoms that can disrupt many aspects of your life. If you are experiencing symptoms like these, you are probably anxious to get on the road to wellness as soon as possible. This process begins with an accurate diagnosis.
Unfortunately, there is no single test to determine whether or not a person has IC. The healthcare professional must first rule out other conditions (such as a urinary tract infection) that may be causing the symptoms.
No one is to blame, but it is not uncommon for people to suffer with symptoms of interstitial cystitis longer than they may have to. These symptoms, which may be constant or occasional, may include:
- Pelvic or abdominal pain
- Pain during or after sexual intercourse
- Need to urinate frequently during the day, perhaps every hour
- Urge to urinate, even after relieving the bladder
- Waking during sleep to urinate
- Pain a week before menstruation
A delay of years may go by between the time a person first notices symptoms and the actual diagnosis of the condition. We invite you to follow the paths of 2 examples of patients-"Lori" and "Kathy"- and how they approached their illness. These stories help illustrate the positives and negatives of two patient's experience with IC.
Your Medical History
Your healthcare professional will likely begin by asking questions about your medical history. This information may provide important insights into what may be causing your current condition.
Your Current Symptoms
It is also very important for your healthcare professional to have a complete understanding of your current symptoms. Do your best to provide complete answers to questions your healthcare professional asks. It is also a good idea to keep a journal or log your symptoms. This will give you and your healthcare professional a clear picture of exactly what your symptoms are and how often during the day and night you experience them.
Several diagnostic tests may be used to help your healthcare professional identify the exact cause of your symptoms. These tests may include:
Urinalysis and Urine Culture
These tests can detect and identify the most common organisms that infect the urine and that may cause symptoms similar to IC. However, organisms such as Chlamydia cannot be detected with these tests, so a negative culture does not rule out all types of infection. A clean urine sample that is not contaminated by bacteria from the patient's hands, genitals or rectum is obtained by catheterization (the doctor inserts a hollow tube in the bladder) or by the "clean catch" method (the patient washes the genital area before collecting urine "midstream" in a sterile container).
White and red blood cells and bacteria in the urine may indicate an infection of the urinary tract, which can be treated with an antibiotic. If urine is sterile for weeks or months while symptoms persist, your healthcare professional may consider a diagnosis of IC.
Potassium Sensitivity Test
The Potassium Sensitivity Test (PST), also known as the potassium chloride (KCl) instillation test, may detect problems with the bladder's protective lining (epithelium). In this test, water and potassium chloride are placed into the bladder. If the patient feels pain and/or the urge to urinate during the test, it is considered a positive response in patients and IC may be the cause. Most patients with IC respond positively to the PST test; however a small percentage of patients with IC have a negative result, and the reason for this is not known.
Culture of Prostate Secretions
In men, the healthcare professional might obtain prostatic fluid and examine it for signs of an infection, which can then be treated with antibiotics.
Cystoscopy
Cystoscopy is a test that allows the physician, often a urologist, to look at the lining of the bladder using a cystoscope that is inserted into the urethra. Cystoscopy is often performed with local or general anesthesia. This test allows the physician to directly view physical abnormalities on the bladder wall, and aid in the diagnosis of IC.
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| Click here for a text-only transcript of the copy used in the above animation |
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