Any Updated View on the use Cystoscopy/Hydro for IC

[HelpADude]

Reading (1/4 through) AHIP, it seems there are some study to bring question into the use of Cysto/Hydro as a Diagnostic tool for IC. However, I also see this that suggest Cysto/Hydro is useful as a tool.

Dr. Mishra's paper was accepted by the AUA for presentation. However, Dr. Mishra was unable to attend the Meeting.
This three-year study set out to see if glomerulations, the pinpoint hemorrhages that are considered the hallmark of IC, are uniquely present in IC patients. One hundred patients were included in the study --- sixty IC patients, twenty-nine patients with other diseases of the genitourinary system, and eleven with non-genitourinary system diseases. Of the sixty IC patients, thirty had glomerulations involving more than seventy-five percent of the bladder, and thirty had few or no glomerulations. The other forty patients without IC showed no glomerulations, and did not develop glomerulations, even upon second distention. Dr. Mishra concludes that glomerulations are the hallmark of IC, and that although there may be some IC patients who have the symptoms of IC, but do not have glomerulations, it is difficult to find glomerulations in populations other than that of IC patients.

So, what's the latest research out there?

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When I asked my urologist, he seems to hold the opinion that a lot people get told that they got IC and it is used by some doctor as a "wastebasket" diagnosis. Reading some of the stories on the web seems to support his contention. I see people with all kind of symptoms get the IC label. Just makes me wonder...

[webslave]

This study shows that glomerulations are very common in men with IC.

But why get caught up in this issue? Glomerulations are merely a sign that the nerve endings in the bladder are causing mast cells activity --> histamine release --> capillary permeability --> glomerulations .

The medical minutiae of this condition are not important to you as a patient. A diagnosis of IC vs a diagnosis of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not make a great deal of difference to your treatment.

[HelpADude]

Good point.

I have a friend that had IC for over 5 years. He's done with seeing doctors and just "handling it" on his own. I will try to convince him to try Quercetin.

btw. he's a classic Type-A.

[HelpADude]

A diagnosis of IC vs a diagnosis of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome does not make a great deal of difference to your treatment.

Well, I hate to beat this to the death. But I find very few if any "success" stories for people with the "classic IC symptoms", which I see as:

- Immediate (2-3 hour) reaction to bad "food", like coffee, diet soda, etc.
- "Bladder" pain/burning only and no other chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms.
- moderate increase in urinary frequency (30 to 50% more than normal)

This has been asked in another thread as well, that if anyone has success with using the Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol in treating the above symptoms. The lack of response is discomforting.

What would one suggest if you have the above symptom.

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Note, the above is not MY symptom but a friend's symptom, he's in his late 30s, had IC for over 5 years.

[Sleeper Service]

I would try the IC diet and elimination diets to identify the bad foods and stay off them. In addition there are drugs such as Elavil and antihistamines which may help.

IC is notorious for relapse and remission though and if you're careful the remissions can be very long term indeed.

[Richie]

http://nutraconsults.com/The%20IC%20Diet.pdf