October 31 is National Interstitial Cystitis (IC) Awa...(our hope thatNational IC Awareness Day w...),Health

IC can be tricky to diagnose because symptoms are easily mistaken for other urologic and gynecologic disorders, such as endometriosis, recurrent urinary tract infections and overactive bladder. As a result, it can take years and numerous visits to multiple healthcare professionals to achieve a correct diagnosis. In the survey, more than half of the respondents (58 percent) said their IC diagnosis took a year or more. More than half (56 percent) also said they had seen three or more healthcare professionals before their diagnosis.

IC Patient Ruthann Auten knows first-hand the frustration of a delayed diagnosis. "I was frustrated and upset by the frequent pain I experienced in my pelvis, and didn't feel well enough to participate in a lot of the activities I used to enjoy," says Ruthann. "It was hard to stay positive during the time it took to diagnose my pain as IC. I felt overwhelmed trying to manage the chronic pain, while finding a doctor who would correctly diagnose me."

There are new resources available on AllAboutIC.com to help people like Ruthann. IC sufferers can see the "Unmasking the Many Faces of IC" collage, read their inspiring testimonials and find an IC specialist in their area. A link to a new patient brochure offers information on the condition and tips to help manage symptoms.

"In addition to suffering from painful physical symptoms, people with IC often experience psychological and social problems. It is sad, but not surprising, to hear that one third of the IC patients in our survey said it had been suggested to them that their condition may be psychological, and one fifth said they had been directed to seek psychological help," says Wysocki. "This survey underscores the need for greater educatio
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