Do you constantly feel like you need to urinate? Is bladder pain your new norm? If you answered yes to these questions, you may have interstitial cystitis, commonly referred to as painful bladder syndrome. DFW Urology Consultants has expert urologists Dr. Wayne Hey and his son, Dr. Wayne Hey Jr., who treat interstitial cystitis for people in and around Meadowbrook, Dallas-Fort Worth, TX.
Interstitial cystitis affects the bladder, the hollow organ that stores urine. A properly functioning bladder is able to fill up — think of a balloon — and at maximum capacity, it signals that you need to urinate. But with interstitial cystitis, the signal may come too often, and lesser amounts of urine are released when you do urinate.
Interstitial cystitis signs and symptoms include:
In very severe cases, you may feel the need to urinate more than 40 times in one day. You may even feel slight pain, tingling or burning when you urinate. Often these symptoms are similar to a urinary tract infection and can be mistakenly diagnosed without the expertise of board-certified, trained urologists like the Heys.
The doctors will conduct a variety of tests to determine the root cause of your symptoms. These tests or diagnostic tools may include:
The doctors have a variety of other tests in their arsenal and will help you to make a treatment plan once diagnosed.
There isn’t a simple cure or treatment for interstitial cystitis. Often, physical therapy, oral medications, and surgery are used in combination to relieve symptoms.
Physical therapy allows you to strengthen the pelvic muscles. Medication provides pain management, and surgery is used as a last resort. The doctors may also suggest lifestyle changes including your diet, exercise, quitting smoking and reducing stress.
If you are experiencing frequent urges to urinate, treatment from Dr. Hey or Dr. Hey Jr. may provide relief. Call the office or request an appointment online today.
