And psycho-babble is less than useless for what is a very real physical ailment. Many internists, rheumatologists, and even many urologists, are unaware of or don't believe in Interstitial Cystitis. Unfortunately, this is a disease where the patient must often take the initiative to research and document their symptoms, request referrals to a specialist in Interstitial Cystitis, and often ask for specific procedures to be done to garner the proper diagnosis and treatment. Both men and women can experience pain and difficulty with urination caused by common conditions, as well as more serious problems. Follow this chart for more information about these symptoms and their care.
Some patients find relief through the bladder distention done during cytoscopy.
DMSO instillations are considered to be a very safe, inexpensive, and highly effective treatment. The DMSO is put into the bladder by catheter, and then held for 20 minutes. Relief from symptoms is often total by the end of the sessions. In the event of relapse, more treatments can be done at any time. Side effects may include a slight garlicky body odor during treatment in some patients.