Finding a Doctor

Many Interstitial Cystitis patients suffer for months, even years, before finally finding a physician who can diagnose and treat this disease. Despite the fact that IC is not extremely uncommon, most people don't realize that the problem exists. Many doctors still are not aware of this condition, or they don't consider it to be a true physical problem. Because of the lack of information available to our doctors, patients are finding it difficult to locate physicians who are willing and able to treat them.

Sadly, many patients have little choice when it comes to choosing a doctor. In many areas, there are few physicians who treat IC (in some places, none at all.) I suffered for 4 years before finding a urologist who could make an accurate diagnosis. Since then, I have met dozens of other patients who have gone through the same thing. I am lucky enough to have found a terrific doctor. He happens to be the only urologist in my area who seems to be familiar with IC, and some of his patients travel hundreds of miles to be seen by him. Why aren't more urologists treating IC patients? The demand for treatment is growing, so why aren't more physicians willing to fill this need? With the constant rise in the number of confirmed IC cases, it is crucial that more physicians become involved with treating this condition.

If you have IC (or even suspect that you might), it is important to find a urologist who is knowledgeable about the condition, and who is able to treat you effectively. There are several websites that can help you locate a urologist in your area.

For lists of physicians who currently treat IC patients, visit the IC Network's Physician Listings at http://ichelp.org or the Interstitial Cystitis Association's Physician Registry at http://www.sonic.net/jill/icnet/md/docto....

The NIDDK IC Research Centers web site provides a list of clinics in the US who accept some IC patients for research studies. If you are interested in participating, or need more information, visit their web site: http://www.sonic.net/jill/icnet/md/niddk....

The American Medical Association's Doctor Finder is a terrific way to find a doctor in your area. You can search by name or by specialty. Enter the city and state that you wish to search, and the specialty (urology). You will be provided with a list of physicians located in the city you specify. You can check out a doctor by choosing to search by name. Enter the name, and you can find out the location of his/her office, phone number, and a little about the doctor's education:

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