Why don't people believe in IC?

[fje90]

I don't understand why some people believe IC does not exist, that it's all in your head, etc. I personally have not come across this, but I've heard so many stories I just though I would ask. Does anyone know?

[tbokay]

I think it may be due to their lack of education and knowledge about this horrible disease .. and like others have said that since this isn't something they can physically see then they assume there is nothing wrong with us. One of those "see it to believe it" syndromes.

[Trishann]

I believe Tara is right on target about why people don't believe.

[tigger_gal]

I alos think that they can't see anything wrong so they don't eel as tho ou look sick so you can't be.. looks can be decieving can't they.. too bad that IC is so hard or many people to talk abot.. if it was out there like, cancer, aids, the common cold and whatever, we would be more reconized as having a disease. too many people think IC is an inection.

[zfairy]

I don't understand why some people believe IC does not exist, that it's all in your head, etc. I personally have not come across this, but I've heard so many stories I just though I would ask. Does anyone know?







I believe that since it is so new that many people have not even heard of this painful and earitating disabling condition. After all in 1985 they were so baffled about it they were giving woman hsytrocomys. ALL that for the bladder! Even in my small town YES i AM ONE of those people that have had that it is all in my had. Well let me tll you hat said to them, DO YOU THINK THAT I LIKE BEING IN BED AN PE ALL THE TIME AS WELL AS HAVE ALL THIS PAIN WHEN I PEE . OR EVEN THE FACT THAT I HAVE TO WEAR DEPENDS HELLO I AM 25 YEARS OLD AND NOT READY TO BE PHYSICALLY NOT ABLE TO ACT LIKE IT. SHOOT I HAVE TO HAVE MY BABY BROTHER COM PICK ME UP FOR A FAMILY PORTIAT. HOW DOES THAT MAKE ME FEEL!!!!!!!!!!!!:toilet:

[PlainJane]

When you ask "Why don't people believe in IC?" by 'people' do you mean doctors or the general public?

I think they don't understand how a bladder can ruin someone's life. There are so many reasons why people don't believe in IC. Mostly though if I think about it too long it makes my head hurt. Suffice it to say I have dealt with a lot of doctors and people who just don't 'get it'.

I think part of it is too the "you don't look sick" thing. I have been told several times that I was not sick, look how healthy you look. The logic totally fails me. What is someone with bladder incontinence, frequency, and urgency SUPPOSED TO look like!? Are we supposed to have two heads? Then will we be taken seriously?? :loco: :loco: :loco:

[Sarojini]

I am sure it is the "don't look sick" thing; plus, in the 1800s, there were reports of IC like symptoms and urologists back then said that it was "little old ladies who say they have to pee all of the time and simply want attention... a hysterical, psychological ailment." That thinking is still, while absolutely untrue, snaking through the urologic community... what we need to do is get the word out there that this is NOT TRUE AT ALL and that IC is a real disease!!!

[tigger_gal]

I believe that since it is so new that many people have not even heard of this painful and earitating disabling condition. After all in 1985 they were so baffled about it they were giving woman hsytrocomys.

My mom has had IC for 35 years, so its not that it is new, its that they have no clue what the cause is, or how to treat it.. My moms sister and I and 2 cousins have IC.. it is really a mind boggling disease.. Many people do not know that IC is an old disease.

[creatingkarma]

I agree, it's because IC cannot be seen from the outside. It's the same with all the "invisible" disorders such as IBS, Fibromyalgia, etc. A lot of people just flat out don't believe until they're in the same situation. I used to have a friend who would try to talk me out of being depressed even though I'm bi-polar. She would say things like "just snap out of it." She didn't understand that you just can't snap out of something like that until she became clinically depressed. Now I don't get those comments from her anymore. Even when others do believe that you have a disease, it's still difficult to get them to understand the disease & the toll that it takes on you. It's just too hard for them to imagine, unless they've been there themselves, which is why this message board is soo important for us. We can talk to others who understand here.

[Lisalady]

..Much of the time, people are only concerned with that that affects them. I don't believe that everyone is this way, but it tends to be human nature.

[~*~Christine~*~]

It's a bit of what everyone already posted:
*It is not visible on the outside
*It does not kill you, per say....
*People can't understand how the bladder can cause so much pain because most people only feel discomfort when their bladder is full or during a UTI, which is minimal in comparison to even mild IC.
*People are very immature about the "exit" areas of the body. Any disease that affects the bowel and bladder is seen as "yucky". It took YEARS just to get people mildly comfortable with the idea of getting a colonoscopy for colon cancer!
*People expect you to just “deal with it” or/and “ignore it” since it “can’t hurt you”, you know, like a “real” disease
*No very well known famous person has gotten, or at least spoken out about IC and the lack of awareness about the disease in general