News & Blog

Month: March 2015

So Many People with IC…So Little Awareness

My name is Sandra, and my IC journey has been a long one. I endured over ten years of doctor after doctor without any diagnosis. Eventually my physical condition got…

Things Can Get Better!

My name is Jann and I am 72. About 25 years ago I began having increased frequency of urination, sometimes as often as every 15 minutes. At this same time,…

Endometriosis Awareness 2015

Interstitial cystitis (IC) and endometriosis have been dubbed the “evil twins.” Like IC, endometriosis affects girls and women. Also like IC, the cause of endometriosis is not known. To raise…

IC Doesn’t Have Control Over My Life

My name is Amanda and I have had interstitial cystitis since I was 16 years old. I remember having a lot of pain in my hips and upper legs which…

St. Patrick’s Day Alternatives

Are you looking to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but your IC won’t tolerate the traditional recipes? You’re in luck! Chef Daniel Norton has created a catalog of recipes specifically designed…

Mast Cells May Not Be The Best Biomarkers for IC

Mast cells are a key component of the human immune system. When large numbers of mast cells are found in the bladder’s muscular layer, known as detrusor muscle, that could…

Loyola Doctors Use Acupuncture to Ease Patient’s Debilitating Pain

ICA’s Pilot Research Program funds research that has real world applications and benefits the IC community. Here’s an example of ICA-funded research in action. Dr. Larissa Bresler’s research into medical…

University of Maryland Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science (M-CERSI) and Innovation Conference on Patient-Focused Drug Development

On March 9, the M-CERSI Conference on Patient-Focused Drug Development, was held in Bethesda, MD. The conference included planning members M-CERSI, Food and Drug Administration, academia, and industry, and was…

New Social Security Ruling for IC

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has replaced its 2002 ruling for establishing interstitial cystitis as a medically determinable impairment (MDI) and determining disability. The new ruling (SSR) takes into consideration…

You Are Not Alone

During my honeymoon in Mexico, the resort town where we were staying was slammed by a massive hurricane. The hotel was badly damaged and completely cut off – no power,…