Medically known as interstitial cystitis (IC), more common terms include painful bladder syndrome, bladder pain syndrome and hypersensitive bladder syndrome. While it can be a debilitating and sometimes chronic, bladder disorder causes remain mostly unknown.
Symptoms include pain; pressure or discomfort thought to be related to the bladder and is often associated with a frequent and urgent need to urinate. It is much more common for women (80-90%) than men (10-20%) to have painful bladder syndrome.
Treatment
NEIU is extremely flexible in treatment options, both to provide advanced services and to add to the comfort level of our patients. We want to make sure you are involved in these choices regarding your health.
Urodynamics
This is a study your NEIU physician might conduct to assess how the bladder and urethra are performing their functions of storing and eliminating urine. Our goal is to understand and explain conditions such as:
- Incontinence
- Frequent urination
- Problems from trying to start a urine stream
- Pain when urinating
- Sudden and strong urges to urinate
- Reoccurring urinary tract infections
- Problems with emptying the bladder completely
What Happens During Urodynamic Testing?
A catheter will be placed into your urethra to test how much urine is left in the bladder after you have urinated. Sterile water is then placed in your bladder via the catheter. We will take measurements of how much fluid capacity your bladder can hold and how your bladder behaves at various levels of “fullness”. We will ask you to tell us when you have the first urge to urinate, as well as when you have a strong urge to urinate, and when your bladder feels really full to the point you would stop whatever you were doing and rush to the bathroom.
During the testing you will be asked to cough or bear down to see how your bladder functions and if doing this causes urine leakage. Try not to be embarrassed if you leak urine during the testing. Our goal is to know if you are leaking urine at home, and so we want you to leak during the testing in order to document the conditions, which may be causing your bladder to leak.
Cystoscopy
A powerful tool used by NEIU physicians is advanced cystoscopy. This thin, lighted instrument allows your physicians to see inside the bladder and urethra. This procedure is used to diagnosis and treat:
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinary tract infections
- Blockages
Tiny surgical instruments can be inserted into the scope so your physician can do procedures and facilitate testing. It is possible to remove small bladder stones and some small growths with cystoscopy, which may reduce the need for more extensive surgery.
Cystoscopy also allows your physician to remove tissue samples for lab testing, evaluate problems in the urinary tract, remove foreign objects and even place stents to help urine flow from the kidneys and into the bladder. Rest assured, Dr. Singh and her staff will include you in understanding and implementing a care plan that is designed for your personal needs.