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IC, is it just a manifestation of a larger problem?
I am a 42 year old male with IC. I am of the belief that many more men have this disease than is generally recognized. I was diagnosed about four years ago. I have periodic bouts with severe bladder pain and painful urinating. Elmiron has really been a godsend for me. I went a few months without it a couple of years ago, and had a major relapse. I take it every day, and it has really helped me more than anything else.
However, I wanted to share some things with this group and see if anyone has any thoughts or has had similar experiences.
I read Lindsey's post about the yellow bile movements, and her concerns about the medication affecting her liver. I don't recall having this experience, and I've been on the drug for four years. However, I really wasn't looking for it, so I may now do so. I have experience some mild abdominal discomfort, and occasional constipation.
What I really wanted to discuss here is what are the effects on the liver. All the literature I've read merely state that it affects liver function, but not in what way. Also, what, if any, connection IC may have with other diseases.
My interest in this is that in the last week I have developed acute gouty arthritis in my left elbow. The pain and swelling is severe.
I have been reading a lot about gout in the last week, and what I've read causes me some concern. Gout affects mostly men between the ages of 40 and 60 and post-menopausal women. It is caused by a build up of uric acid in the blood. When the level of uric acid goes above about 7 mg/dl and stays there for some undetermined time, crystals of monosodium urate will form in the joints. In response, the white blood cell count elevates as the body trys to fight of the mineral invader. Hence, the pain and joint swelling. Eventually, if not treated, the joint can be destroyed. Although there is a genetic component in some patients, I've yet to find anyone in my family that has ever had it.
Anyway, the interesting thing about this disease is that uric acid is eliminated from the blood via the liver, and expelled from the body via the kidneys.
My question is this: Could the four years I have on elmiron have impaired my liver's ability to eliminate uric acid, and so have caused the gout? Has anyone else had these problems/questions?
Also, I have read some recent literature which suggests that IC may be a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. This is an interesting question, because I have had severe allergies most of my life, and have taken anti-histamines (actifed) for many years. Since recent research has implicated histamine production from mast cells as one possible complication in IC, and that there may, in fact be an as yet unknown bacterial causitive agent, could the IC I have developed be symptomatic of my severe allergies? If a baterial agent is eventually implicated in IC, could this bacterial agent also be a causitive agent in some severe allergies, especially since histamine is implicated in both?
I have thought (contrary to popular and medical opinion) for many years that some allegies could be caused by infectious agents. My wife never ever had allegies until we began having unprotected sex. Now she has allergic symptoms similar to mine, though not as severe. Coincidence? I wonder.
Think about it. Things to ponder late at night, when both elbow and bladder ache.
However, I wanted to share some things with this group and see if anyone has any thoughts or has had similar experiences.
I read Lindsey's post about the yellow bile movements, and her concerns about the medication affecting her liver. I don't recall having this experience, and I've been on the drug for four years. However, I really wasn't looking for it, so I may now do so. I have experience some mild abdominal discomfort, and occasional constipation.
What I really wanted to discuss here is what are the effects on the liver. All the literature I've read merely state that it affects liver function, but not in what way. Also, what, if any, connection IC may have with other diseases.
My interest in this is that in the last week I have developed acute gouty arthritis in my left elbow. The pain and swelling is severe.
I have been reading a lot about gout in the last week, and what I've read causes me some concern. Gout affects mostly men between the ages of 40 and 60 and post-menopausal women. It is caused by a build up of uric acid in the blood. When the level of uric acid goes above about 7 mg/dl and stays there for some undetermined time, crystals of monosodium urate will form in the joints. In response, the white blood cell count elevates as the body trys to fight of the mineral invader. Hence, the pain and joint swelling. Eventually, if not treated, the joint can be destroyed. Although there is a genetic component in some patients, I've yet to find anyone in my family that has ever had it.
Anyway, the interesting thing about this disease is that uric acid is eliminated from the blood via the liver, and expelled from the body via the kidneys.
My question is this: Could the four years I have on elmiron have impaired my liver's ability to eliminate uric acid, and so have caused the gout? Has anyone else had these problems/questions?
Also, I have read some recent literature which suggests that IC may be a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. This is an interesting question, because I have had severe allergies most of my life, and have taken anti-histamines (actifed) for many years. Since recent research has implicated histamine production from mast cells as one possible complication in IC, and that there may, in fact be an as yet unknown bacterial causitive agent, could the IC I have developed be symptomatic of my severe allergies? If a baterial agent is eventually implicated in IC, could this bacterial agent also be a causitive agent in some severe allergies, especially since histamine is implicated in both?
I have thought (contrary to popular and medical opinion) for many years that some allegies could be caused by infectious agents. My wife never ever had allegies until we began having unprotected sex. Now she has allergic symptoms similar to mine, though not as severe. Coincidence? I wonder.
Think about it. Things to ponder late at night, when both elbow and bladder ache.
). For myself, it only makes sense that it's autoimmune related. I read somewhere that (don't remember the percentages) that people with one autoimmune disease quite often have more than one (hey, it's logical).
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