Funding Research for Chronic Pain Conditions such as Interstitial Cystitis

This is a petition on behalf of millions of people suffering from rare and incurable illnesses (such as Interstitial Cystitis, Fibromyalgia, etc.), to plead with our government to increase medical research funding into Urology and auto-immune disorders specifically, and the many others pain disorders out there generally.

Frequently disabling illnesses such as Interstitial Cystitis have no cure and no universally good treatments available to even help eliminate the pain. We need more research and more education about these puzzling and painful illnesses. Many patients spend years going to many different doctors before they finally find one with any knowledge of our illness. Unfortunately, many Interstitial Cystitis patients have committed suicide to escape the pain. The rest are left to cope with severe, unrelenting pain, and urinary urgency and frequency that sometimes leads patients to have use the restroom 60, or even up to 100 times a day. As of now, there is no end to our suffering.

Economically, fifty percent of Interstitial Cystitis patients are unable to work, and those that are able to, are forced to take jobs below their training and ability because of their disease. With the cost of healthcare for IC patients averaging $170 million per year, and the lost wages of all these patients, it has been calculated that the economic impact of the disease to be as high as $1.7 billion per year.

We urge you to accelerate funding for research on Interstitial Cystitis, as well as other painful and incurable illnesses.

Please leave your name and/or contact info along with a small comment on your regards. We will pass this petition to our congress, senate, and our president. Thank you for your support in trying to help so many people.

Sincerely,
www.icaprilshowers.org