I need help losing weight in my newbladder area. Can anyone give suggestions on how?

[Kara]

I weigh 114 pounds and I'm not even five feet tall. I've gained so much weight in my abdomen from my bladder removal. I am wondering how to lose this weight? Is it safe for bladder removal patients to do sit ups and crunches at home? Will it hurt my new bladder? Has anyone successfully lost weight with their "IC Tummies"???

I am so depressed I can't stand it!

Kara In NY banghead banghead banghead

[scootermom]

Kara-sorry you are depressed about your weight, although 114 sounds pretty good to me! (although I am 5.6'' so I can't even remember being 114, lol. Anyway, I don't have much advice for you since I haven't gone through bladder removal but I would caution you to double check with your dr. before doing any abdominal exercises after surgery. I know my PT is really picky about the types of abdominal exercises I can do and I haven't had any surgery.

What type of weight gain is it- is it fat or maybe more fluids? I am just curious...

Sara

[Judith]

Kara, I too gained weight after I had my ileal conduit converted to my continent ostomy. I am just barely 5'1" and weigh about 110, so I understand perfectly how you are feeling! I feel like an elephant, but I am trying to lose the weight. I also think you need to check with your surgeon about what he feels would be safe exercises to do. Because I have had my abdomen opened up 7 times there is no way I could ever get it flat again, not that it ever was,lol. When they did my surgeries they cut through all those muscles so they are totally shot. I also had two children which didn't help matters. You may be able to get it in better shape, but I would stay away from things like lifting weights, as it will put too much of a strain and may possibly cause a hernia, though I am not a doctor so, don't do any type of exercise program without checking first! Judith bunny

[sue041]

Kara, A friend just sent me this diet plan name it is to be ok for people with IC. Check it out. It is called med a fact diet. I am not sure what this all is made up of. I have to call and get some infor myself. Take care and good luck to you. Sue

[julesb44]

Hi Kara,
I weight lots more than you! I don't think you are overweight! Actually, I have lost some since my bladder removal. My tummy was very swollen all the time from ic and dmso treatments. It has gone down a lot already. Last week I started We
ightwatchers to try to get rid of more. I asked my surgeon about crunches and stuff and he said it was fine after about 3 months. I've been doing them with no problem. I do lots of stretches too and exercise with a big ball. Now I'm able to walk too. I couldn't do that much because of pain before surgery. I think it just takes time Kara. I'm like Judith though, my stomach will never be flat again. I'm just relieved to have some of the swollenness gone.
Good luck!
Take care, Julie grouphug

[hoping4acure]

lauren, I am curious also. I think that is a good question......

[vm]

No, everyone with IC does NOT have to have their bladders removed. :) There are some people, a small percentage, who have exhausted every treatment known to man over the years to relieve their pain and other bladder symptoms and nothing has worked. Some of those people do opt to have their bladders removed. But it is definitely not something that happens to most people with IC.

[ICNDonna]

Kim is right. It is extremely rare for an IC patient to need bladder removal. I have had diagnosed IC for thirty years now and my IC is about the same as at diagnosis.

Donna

[terrie123]

I had my bladder removed and an Indiana pouch done last year. I Jazzercise 5 days a week and do crunches all of the time. I think I am in better shape now than before my surgery and even before the disease. Check with your doctor all mine told me after surgery was to wait 4 weeks before I do crunches.
Terrie

[DebbieD]

My Bladder Has been removed for 20 Years Now. I hace had Three Revisions done Plus My Right Kidney removed cause of IC.Each person is Different. I now have "Short Bowel Sydrome" Cause they used so much of my Bowel that now I am Having to deal with Dirrhea all the Time. My Last revision was in 1999. That is when they used my Transverse Colon. . So now everytime I eat It just right on Through. But each person is Different. In My Case It was really Bad. :mad:

But Looking Back at all the Trouble I had I rather have my Ostomy then to go through what I had to go through. :bonk: :headbang:


Be Glad to help if I can.
ldurham@comcast.net

DebbieD

[Judith56]

I had my bladder removed because my bladder had so much scar tissue that I had bands of fiber growing in it that could not be removed. My bladder had shrunk to a capacity of 30 cc's. I was told when they took it out that it was no longer a bladder, just scar tissue. I was also incontinent and not even aware i was wetting my poants until I noticed the wet feeling! My symptoms were more around those factors, frequency, I did have urethral pain, but it was the other symptoms that led up to the surgery. I had it done over 18 years ago, long before Elmiron was available, the IC diet was not around nor were lots of the other options now used today. Like Debbie said everyone is different and it is the minority that need to have the surgery. Judith

[minnie_min99]

hi girls,
Im a new user to this and I see that every one on this site is almost all using elmiron. What exactly does this drug do and why is it such in high use. I am currently on long acting detrol. 4 mg a day.
Thanks for the info.

[Portia17]

Elmiron is used to coat the bladder lining in the bladder that has been damaged from i.c.
Sometimes i can take up to 9 months to work
It is also supposed to help with the i.c. pain

As for myself, I can't wait that long so I take the elmiron and take percocet from my pain mgmt doctor

[minnie_min99]

thank you portia,
I just havent heard of it and my doctor hasnt mentionned any other treatment so far because the detrol seems to work for me; anyhoo, thank you

[Kathi]

Kara so glad to hear from you again! So sorry you've gained some weight, I have to lose about 40!!!! lbs. *sigh* The doc would be the best person to ask about exercise & what you can do. Spot weight loss is so hard to do. Hope the new bladder is working well & you are happy & living a "normal" life. Hugs, Kathi