Not All IC Patients are Created Equal

It's hard for non IC patients to understand what it is like to have IC because not all IC patients are created equal.  All IC patients have bladder inflammation not cause by an infection, but all the other aspects and symptoms can vary.  Some IC patients may pee three times per hour (this may seem like a lot to a non IC patient), but other IC patients may pee up to 16 times per hour in small amounts (this is not an exaggeration, some patients go through this).

A lot of IC patients may experience pelvic pain which makes sex difficult or impossible.  Other IC patients may have sex just fine most of the time.  Some IC patients hurt the most when the have to pee, while other other patients hurt the most as  they are peeing. 

The IC diet is another mystery of the IC world.  All IC patients are encouraged to go on a low acid diet, but how strict one has to be on this diet depends on the person.  Some patients must follow the diet to a tee day in and out or they will go into an IC flare. Other patients may be able to eat a lot of "normal" foods, but have one or two trigger foods that they must avoid or their bladder will flare.  If you know someone with IC you may be shocked to see them munching on a piece of pizza since tomato sauce is a big no-no for many ICers.  Your friend may feel just fine eating pizza, but go through hell if they go anywhere near a cup of coffee.  A lot of IC diet changes come through trial and error.  Caffeine and liquor should be avoided or limited to IC patients in general since these things can be harmful to even a healthy non-IC ridden bladder.

Treatment for IC also varies.  Some patients will respond well to Elmiron, the only official IC medication.  Elmiron does not work on all patients and others may need to try a combination of low grad anti-depressants, bladder installations and prescription pain killers. 

IC patients also go through flare phases.  Some people may flare constantly to the point where they seem crippled, where other patients may seem perfectly fine one day and be in intense pain the next.  It is perfectly normal to have good and bad days when you have a chronic condition.  Many non-chronic pain patients do not understand how a friend can be out leading a normal life one day and curled up in bed in pain the next.  Just because your friend's symptoms are not constant doesn't mean that they are faking or exaggerating.  Not all IC patients are created equal.