why won't it go away?

[ReneeWest]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this question... let me know if it should be somewhere else.
My (wise) 15 year old son said to me the other day, "If an ulcer in your mouth goes away, and an ulcer in your stomach goes away... why won't an ulcer in your bladder go away?" I could not give him an answer.
What is the answer? Why does this disease stay with us? If we quit irritating it (following a strict diet), why does it only take one bite of something "bad", or a day of stress, or a bad menstrual period, etc... to send us into crazy flares? are our bladders not equipped with self-healing properties like the rest of our body is? We heal from so many things automatically... what's up with the bladder?
Thanks for any imput!
renee

[ICNDonna]

I very much wish I knew.

Donna

[Mothergoose]

My understanding is IC make the linning of your bladder or the gag layer shed off and it is not replaced. It acts as a protective layer, so acidic things don't come incontact with the layer below the gag layer.

With the gag layer gone then everything acidy comes in contact with the layer below and can cause pain, or spasams which it turn cause the other symptoms.

As far as ulcers go, on in your stomach only goes through the protective layer where it is, the rest of the stomach still has it's protection. Also they know what bacteria causes the ulcer in the stomach and how to kill that bacteria.

Not everyone with IC even has ulcers, it si more so this layer being missing. Also there are treatments for the ulcers in the bladder if you do have them that can be tried to heal them.

This is a simplified version of y understnding of IC.

MG

[kadi]

One theory is that our bodies produce a high amount of APF - Anti Proliferative Factor,
which prevents bladder cells from reconstructing as fast as other people's. It's still theory though. Doctors aren't sure if this is what causes IC or if the amount of APF is another symptom of the disease.

[ReneeWest]

both very interesting thoughtful responses. Thank you! I have been diagnosed with the hunners ulcers so I know that's at least one direct source of my pain.

MG, what kind of treatments are there for treating/healing the ulcers in the bladder? My Uro has mentioned Elmiron, which I understand is supposed to rebuild that lining, right? But, only for as long as you take it, right? I've read a little about long-term antibiotic treatment, like one would take for stomach ulcers... but it looks like the jury is still out on that one as it relates to IC. I'm curious about other treatments...
thanks again,
renee

[darlene]

It doesn't go away, because the cause, which is still unknown, doesn't go away. I hope it turns out that APF is the cause , because there has been real progress in finding drugs to neutralize it. Darlene IC since 1969 If it could heal on its own, that should have been plenty of time for healing to take place. It hasn't!

[Mothergoose]

I am not sure how they treat the hummers ulcers but I pretty sure I read or heard treatments for from one of Jills posts or videos, I am sure if search around onthis site you will find them.

I am not too sure if Elmiron is thought to help rebuild the gag layer or not, I am not too sure what is actually thought to do.

I just know it disagreed with me to the point of after 3 months of taking it my Dr. flattly told me to stop, it just made me so sick, but I was determined to take it as I wanted the help it could give.

Ask in another thread again and someone will know or search posts for Elmiron.

MG