Today I had the pleasure of chatting with Penny Allen, Medical Writer for the
Interstitial Cystitis Association.
Ms. Allen interviewed me about bladder instillations and self-catheterization after reading on my blog that I do this at home to treat my interstitial cystitis.
I was diagnosed with
interstitial cystitis by my pelvic pain specialist after having a
cystoscopy and hydrodistention while under general anesthesia. (I had one previous
cystoscopy and hydrodistention while awake. I don't recommend this)!
For my IC diagnosis, my doctor performed the
cystoscopy and hydrodistention while I was under anesthesia for a laparoscopy to remove endometriosis.
After my diagnosis, my doctor prescribed a combination of an oral medication and bladder instillations. The bladder instillations are a method of putting medications into the bladder by self-catheterizing. My doctor's office taught me how to self-catheterize and this is something I do at home.
When my doctor first brought up the idea of self-catheterizing at home, I was a bit taken aback. I couldn't imagine doing it myself versus going in to the doctor's office to have it done.
As my doctor's office pointed out, if I learned how to administer these medications at home I wouldn't need to drive in to their office, pay a co pay for
each bladder instillation, or conform to the doctor's office hours. I could do the bladder instillations at home when I needed them (following the doctor's directions on frequency of bladder instillations, of course). Doing them at home would be more convenient and less expensive. I wouldn't need to "commute" 45 minutes each way to the doctor's office to get the bladder instillations.
Ms. Allen is writing an article about bladder instillations and self-catheterization for the
Interstitial Cystitis Association newsletter.
When I was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis, I learned of the Interstitial Cystitis Association through my doctor. I joined the ICA and received informative newsletters about IC. I found these newsletters very helpful.
Ms. Allen interviewed me because she wanted my input about the process of self-catheterizing to administer bladder instillations and the results I have had from bladder instillations to treat interstitial cystitis. I explained that I used to have
SEVERE urgency and frequency.
Prior to diagnosis and treatment for IC, I was used to trekking to the bathroom about every 15 minutes during my periods and the remainder of the month I was going about once an hour.
Since taking the oral medication combined with the self-administered bladder instillations, my frequency has decreased to about once an hour during periods and once every 3 hours at other times in my cycle. That's quite an improvement!!
Many IC patients may not be aware of this treatment option. Others may be fearful of self-catheterizing. I have to say that once I got used to doing bladder instillations (which wasn't as difficult as one might think), I appreciated the convenience of doing them at home.
Hopefully, spreading the word about this helpful treatment option can help other IC patients.
After 12 years seeing 2 urologists and having 3 cystoscopy procedures come up negative, I was finally properly diagnosed by my pelvic pain specialist on the 4th cystoscopy. I am grateful for the relief my IC treatment has provided.
For a blog about interstital cystitis, see
IC Disease:
Life with Interstitial Cystitis, Vulvodynia, Incontinence, & Other Bladder ConditionsFor more information about interstitial cystitis, contact the
Interstitial Cystitis Association. I found becoming a member of ICA helpful and informative.
It was a pleasure to speak with Ms. Allen of
Interstitial Cystitis Association today about bladder instillations. My regimen for treating IC (bladder instillations plus an oral medication) has significantly decreased my urgency, frequency and pain issues and has improved my quality of life. For IC flare-ups, I can increase the frequency of my bladder instillations as per my doctor's orders.
For more information about interstitial cystitis, please refer to previous articles I have written about IC. The link listed below will refer you to
NUMEROUS posts about interstitial cystitis.
Related link:Wednesday, October 22, 2008 Endometriosis Blog: More Information About Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Week
This article was posted by Jeanne via "Jeanne's Endo Blog" at www.endendoat.blogspot.com.
