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Show Interstitial Cystitis support group plans information meeting A support group has been formed to fight bladder disease "interstitial cystitis." A meeting will be held at the LDS Hospital Hospit-al Education Center on May 7 from 3-5 p.m. Keynote speakers will be Dr. Paula Harbison, director, ICA and Russ Hibbert from Research Industries. Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a chronic inflammation of the bladder blad-der wall which causes the formation of scar tissue. This causes the bladder to stiffen and contract, reducing its capacity from approximately 12 oz. to as little as two or three ounces. The decrease in capacity and consequent increase in pressure cause persistent acute pain and the constant urgent need to urinate. Victims of IC often are forced to urinate up to 60 times a day. This makes sleep difficult and day-to-day life next to impossible. impos-sible. The symptoms of IC are extremely debilitating. Many sufferers suffer-ers are confined to their homes, unable to hold jobs because of severe pain. A recent study conducted in the United States revealed that IC victims are four times more likely to have contemplated suicide than the general population. Fifty percent cannot hold full-time jobs and 27 percent have separated from the spouse because of the disease. IC patients also ranked their quality of life below that of kidney-dialysis patients. Many IC sufferers are forced to go from doctor to doctor trying to find an explanation for and relief from a life of pain, as many doctors are unfamiliar with this disease. Some research projects have been undertaken, although little progress has been made. As a result, IC remains a poorly understood, frequently ignored, misdiagnosed disease which continues to painfully afflict the lives of thousands of people everywhere. For more information call Jean Perry, 292-6055; Paula Rauzi, 479-9128 or Nancy Taylor, 756-8072. |
