Anyone have IC then Hysterectomy? Need help!

[TiffanyK]

I'm probably going to be getting a hysterctomy in the very near future due to fibroids that are causing a lot of pain and bleeding. It will be a combo vaginal/laproscopic removal. My only hesitation is I don't want to make my IC worse. Has anyone here had IC first and then a hysterectomy, and if so, what did it do to your IC? Thanks!

[may21]

Tiffany, I saw your post and wanted to let you know that I had a total hysterectomy with bladder taping (TVT) in April 2006 and I feel much much better now. The first few months were sorta rocky, but after trial and error, I found that Premarin 1.25mg tablets once daily and Premarin vaginal cream is the best combination. I tried Climara patch and Enjuvia. I read a post on this site that Premarin vaginal cream helped one lady's IC symptoms. I had constant horrible burning of my urethra, bladder pain, stabbing pain and burning around my vagina and even down my legs, a feeling of constant irritation and dryness, redness and swelling. I personally feel the combination of cream and pills has worked wonders. I switched to only using baby soap to wash with, unscented detergent and fabric softener for my underwear and most of all, I used a sprayer in the bathtub to make sure all of the soap is rinsed away. It took a long time to figure out what worked and what didn't, and I still have some occasional burning and pain, but NOTHING like I had before. I wish you the best in your upcoming surgery. Let us know how you are feeling. Hugs to you, Kristi

[Billsbaby]

i have a question,do you have to get a hysterectomy just to get rid of your fibroids, or is that what you have personally decided?i was only wondering because i had a very large fibroid that was causing the same problems as you,and my gyn was able to remove it laparascopicaly,he said just a few years ago my fibroid would have been too large to remove this way,but they have been able to recently do this without having to do a full blown hysterectomy.i found this was very much less invasive, and my recovery time was 1 to 2 weeks, instead of 6 weeks.i will tell you, iam sooo much better since it has been removed.good luck to you.

[Janie Miranda]

ladies, can you tell me where you fibroids are located? I have one the size of a baseball that is apparently sitting right on top of my uterus. From looking at anatomy book it doesn't seem like this would be causing me any bladder problems but one doctor suggested that the sheer weight of the thing could be causing some. Anyway, my doctors have not pushed me to have it removed or to get a hysterectomy but I've often wondered if removing it would make me back to normal.

[dancemomof2]

YEs there is another option, it is called a myomectomy. IT is jsut the removeal of the fibroid, kinda like scooping it out. Here is a link. I have IC before my hysterectomy due to fibroids and out of control bleeding and a tilted uterus on my bladder, I really don't see things any better or worse with IC just the female issues it took care of.

http://www.myomectomy.net/

[sami4]

Remember if you keep your ovaries and have had a lot of hormonal problems, the hyster will not stop your hormonal symptoms. You will not have a period, but with ovaries they will still be stimulated.
To keep ovaries or not is a personal decision, but one poster not too long ago was complaining about her rocky hormones and thought the hyster would clear all that up--it didnt because she kept her ovaries and was not menopausal.
Fibroids can be almost anywhere in the uterus, including the cervix. cervical fibroids are not real common, but do occur. Subserous fibroids grow on the oter wall of the uterus and commonly cause the uterus to grow and become irregular in size and shape. Submucosal fibroids develop inside the uterine cavity and cause severe abdominal cramping. Major bleeding problems are associated with this type of fibroid. Intramural fibroids grow in the uterine wall and grow either out or in and cause the same symptoms as the other two. Pedunculated fibrids are attached to a stalk and can twist and cause a lot of sharp pains. Also one can have some of each, or only one kind. Uterine polyps also cause a lot of bleeding and dripping and are a common cause of post menopausal bleeding.
I have a ton of fibroids of all kinds along with the polyps. Mine are numerous, but the largest is only 2 cm, but they will drip and they caused me horrendous menstrual periods at one time.
Sammi

[TiffanyK]

I have several fibroids inside and outside of my uterus, so I think a hysterectomy will be the best choice in terms of the fibroids. I'm just nervous how it will effect my IC.

[TiffanyK]

If it's truly that big I would sure think it would be causing you problems! I'd get a second or third opinion from another doctor(s)!

[sami4]

I have asked both a laproscopic surgeon and two Uro's the same question about IC and a hyster. The surgeon said laproscopic hyster is the least likely to traumatize bladder nerves and she said the people who have IC have not thought it had an effect on the IC except when ovaries are removed and then they did not have ovarian symptoms such as PMS, mood changes . If ovaries are left they are still stimulated monthly even though you dont bleed.
The Uro's both said they didnt see a connection (uro's are kind of dense though**.
My own opinion is that it depends on the method of the hyster, the skill of the surgeon. I think it is the nerve trauma from surgery that causes the problems and if you have a good surgeon, as little cutting as possible such as a laproscope, it probably has a neutral effect on your IC. Some ICers say their IC started after a hyster or other abdominal surgery. So, I guess its kind of a crap shoot how it effects you.
SAmmi

[gidgit]

I had a complete hysto a year ago. And well....my flares are more frequent now than ever. My Doctor told me this may happen, but I am going nuts, don't know which was worse: the heavy bleeding and searing pain or the searing pain mius the beeding.

gidgit

[CarolinTexas]

I had a hysterectomy in December. I had IC before the hyst. The first three weeks after the hyst I was in remission.(???) Ate some Italian food and it all came right back.

So to answer your question, it hasn't made any difference to my IC, however it's lovely not having my ovaries throb out of my body.

I had: endo, adhesions, cysts and pelvic congestion

[tigger_gal]

I had mine in Nov of 2005. I had all but the cervix removed. I had lots of fibroids and cysts. as for my bladder it took alot of pressure off of it. I flared for a while, and I didn't know half the time if it was bladder pain or surgery pain.
We all are very different when it comes to IC.

[ihurttoo]

I had a total abdominal hysterectomy in Oct 2005 due to severe endometriosis and adhesions. They also removed my ovaries and cervix. For me, it didnt change the IC pain, but it did lessen my overall pelvic pain. Prior to my hyster, I would go to the Dr and he'd want me to point out where it hurt specifically. But between the IC, IBS, endo, adhesions, and fibromylagia, I hurt EVERYWHERE in my pelvic area, and couldnt distinguish one flare from another. Now I can, which helps since I treat the pain of IC one way, and the pain of fibro and IBS differently. It also helps me not having the hormonal fluctuations, since my ovaries are gone too.

If you havent seen it yet, there is a great site with lots of information about hysterectomies. It is www.hystersisters.com The women there are great. They have a wealth of information there!

I hope this helps!

Hugs,
Amy