So you’ve started wondering if you’re suffering from interstitial cystitis. You might ask yourself, what exactly are the signs and symptoms of interstitial cystitis and how can I identify them?
Identifying interstitial cystitis symptoms can be a difficult topic for two reasons. One, symptoms often involve parts of our bodies we rather not have to discuss in detail, especially in public. And two, symptoms vary so wildly it can be difficult to accurately and consistently diagnose each varying symptom as being specifically related to IC and not something else (like a bladder infection). This makes interstitial cystitis diagnosis difficult but not impossible.
Interstitial cystitis symptoms deviate greatly from one person to another yet exhibit some similarities with those of a urinary tract infection.
In short, the bladder wall becomes inflamed, ulcerated, as well as scarred, inducing common, painful urination. Hematuria (blood in the urine) may occur. Patients can wake up two or more times per night to urinate.