What is Interstitial Cystitis ?

I think it is important to provide information on Interstitial Cystitis since this journey is centered upon documenting attempts to heal.  As with other diseases, this one is difficult to treat, there is no cure, no concrete idea of how it begins and affects both men & women. 

For more information, please visit any of the following links:

Interstitial Cystitis Association

PubMed Health

National Kidney & Urologic DiseasesInformation Clearinghouse (NKUDIC)

One difficult aspect of having this disease is that no one can tell, just by looking at you, that you have IC.  You may look just fine on the outside, putting on that public face we wear, that shows how you really wish you felt.  At first glance, the photos appear to be some kind of strange moon...to put into context, this is the internal surface of the bladder lining.  Here is what is the true picture of IC: