A better test to help with “IC” patients would be using advanced testing for viruses and bacteria. Standard urine cultures only pick up 40% of infections. Giving “IC” patients any of the “painful bladder” meds is like giving an endometriosis patient birth control. It’s a bandaid that doesn’t help them long term. Good doctors find the cause of the bladder symptoms, not diagnose this mystery illness and throw meds at them.
A better test to help with “IC” patients would be using advanced testing for viruses and bacteria. Standard urine cultures only pick up 40% of infections. Giving “IC” patients any of the “painful bladder” meds is like giving an endometriosis patient birth control. It’s a bandaid that doesn’t help them long term. Good doctors find the cause of the bladder symptoms, not diagnose this mystery illness and throw meds at them.