Had my Sigmoid Colon taken out

[sing_to_you]

I had my Sigmoid part of the colon removed 5 months ago because the diverticula was so bad in that area, they also removed quite a bit more colon because I had a lot more than the average person he said, Now when I go it is so much easier for me and I take my Metamucil every single night to help me go, I will not be without it. I also have IBS and 5 weeks into my recovery I went to the bathroom one morning and that is how It came about that I have the IC it started that morning with the Pain being so intence when I emptied my bladder as I went. I Have had the Hydro and 5 DMSO treatments and no luck as of yet to get this under control with the IC, but I'll tell yeah it sure is nice to finally be able to not have the flare ups from the diverticula, and to be able to go the the restroom like a normal person does.
Ya know! I think it is really strange that I have never had a bladder infection in my life and 5 weeks into my recovery from my colon being removed that the I C would happen don't you? I thought I was having complications with the surgery.
sing_to_you :toilet: :headbang: :bonk: :idea:

[Katrina]

My first IC symptoms were after my Pouch surgery.....see I had my entire colong removed...and than later a surgery to turn part of small intestines ito a Pouch to do the colon's job.

Many people say their IC began after a abdominal surgery.

Sorry for your troubles. I am thankful I can use the restroom like a normal person too.

Take Care

[sing_to_you]

That is very interesting, because I have had 2 C sections, and then at 31 years old I had a parcel Hystorectomy and then I had 2 years ago I had another Hystorectomy taking out the remaning tubes and overies, and then last December here my sigmoid colon. So yeah! I have had a bunch of ab surgery done to me and I am 45 years old now. Maybe my Bladder has just had enough!
sing_to_you
Thanks for you kind words to me:kiss:

[ICNDonna]

That's interesting --- I developed IC after what I now know was an unnecessary abdominal hysterectomy --- hubby and I call it the abominable hysto.

Donna

[sing_to_you]

Yeah I found this very interesting to here, I bet a lot of Dr's would too. My Dr. When I asked my him if the surgery could have anything to do with me getting this, because of it hitting me into my 5th week of recovery, he had no answer he said "I really can't say" "I told him well It would be something to keep in mind don't you think." "He said, yes it would." I wonder how many people have had this problem. I think I will cut and past my last post here and post a ? asking people this ?
sing_to_you

[MAMASITA4]

It sure will be nice when some more of the puzzle pieces get put together regarding IC. I had 3 c-sections and an abdominal explatory surgery which ended up as endometriosis. In addition to IC, I also have IBS, Hashimoto Hypothyroidism, Inflammatory Arthritis, Fibromyalgia and high blood pressure.

Finding a common link won't help out my situation, but I think it would make great strides towards understanding in the IC world! Is it heredity? Is it autoimmune? Is it a result after abdominal surgeries? All of the above, some of the above or none of the above? If anyone knows of any organizations that would be interested in my health history in their studies, please let me know!

I feel your pain regarding what connection IC has with other issues....and I do mean "literally".:hmm:

[fireflicker285]

I have only had 2 bladder infections when I was a kid......
I developed the full blown IC after my stones 9 years ago.....Ouch!

[sing_to_you]

I as well have Hypothyroidism, have had it for the last 15 years or more , I also have IBS, also had 2 C sections, I have Diverticula, "that is why my sigmoyd colon had to be removed this last December here" I have Arthritis but it is not real bad. I have had two different hysterectomies one parcel at 31 years old and another at the age of 43 years old. The IC hit me after the colon. pretty interesting how many things we have in commen huh?
sing_to_you

[MAMASITA4]

I too had a hysterectomy last year. I have been put to sleep 3 times within 90 days...had precancerous polyp removed at end of Dec. from colon, gall-bladder was removed in February (due to autoimmune stuff...just quick functioning since it was attacked like my thyroid!) and the hydro/urethral dilation in March. Trying to recover from being put to sleep 3 times in 90 days has been hard enough...but the constant IC pain (the hydro's do not help me...at all!) and the fibromyalgia...not counting the fatigue from the combination of everything. I feel like I'm a zombie and I don't like the feeling that I'm not "in control". I feel like I'm in a Catch 22 situation.

[tillysav]

I had a hysterectomy in January '02 and then was diagnosed with IC in December '03. Hmmmmm?

[fireflicker285]

I have always had quite severe environmental allergies to dust, dander, trees, everything!!! You name it. Luckily not food though....that I know of but as we know that can be debateable. But not "classic" food allergies.

Smells, perfumes, dyes, some makeups......
Some days my eyes just "sting" so bad.........

Not to go on, but I always wondered how much my "allergies" have to do with my IC. Obviously they are interconnected.

Thankfully Atarax is helping me.....I think I must be one big "mast cell"! lol.

Hummmnnnn.:rolleyes:

[MAMASITA4]

OK...maybe we are all on to something here...I guess the question is....which came first, the chicken or the egg??!!:confused: I also have had weird allergic reactions and food intolerances that seem to keep cropping up more and more as time goes on. Never had problem with morphine before...now I do. About died (literally) from tequila. Never had problems with tequila before. Just found out along with the IBS and the removal of the gall bladder, my body is not digesting sucrose and fructose. I don't need a dietician anymore...I need Einstein to figure out exactly WHAT it is I CAN eat! Let's see....special diet for high cholesterol/high blood pressure, special diet for IC, special diet for IBS, special diet for fructose/sucrose maldigestion....hmmm..compare all these special diets and there's nothing left!

[gypsyjoy]

I had a hypteretomy ( leaving my lovely little overies). The surgery was done vaginally. Bladder was also put back in it's proper place (no longer hanging around my knees). I had IC symptoms before this but thought it was becauce my bladder had prolapsed.
I have had IBS since the late 70's.
I have diverticular disease. This has put me in the hospital 4 time in a little over a year.
Also had my gall bladder removes when I was 20 hmm that was 30 years ago. Big ugly scar on that one.
I am having surgery June 7 2004 at 11:30 am for sigmoid resection and to have both overies removed, they have fast growing cysts on both of them...............Ain't life grand!
And lets not forget the wonderful IC that no one has figured out YET. And I do mine yet I know there is hope and I'm going to find it. I really love my PA she fixed my antidepressants and I am feeling sooooo much more like myself! I am still in pain but even the new pain meds are making life a little more bearable.

Sorry if I am rattling on but I am feeling pretty good for a change:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :bouncy:
By the way this is a very interesting thread.

JOY

[MAMASITA4]

Good luck on your surgery Joy! In addition to my normal meds for all of my ailments (5 of which all say "may cause drowsiness or dizziness) my uro started me on Elavil (which is in addition to the depression medication which I started on 9 yrs ago!). Glad to know that you're feeling better right now. With all my meds and 4 children and a husband, this board has kept my sanity...My ovaries were left after my hysterectomy last year. Had so many different opinions regarding leaving the ovaries, but the OB said there was so much negative info on hormone replacement and with all my other problems, he would rather me leave them in as long as possible. So....they are still there. Glad to know that the worst damage I can do being on all these meds is misspelling on my posts! That's why I have been here all day (of course in between my bathroom breaks!) And I agree w/you...this thread is very interesting!

[darlene]

Could the common element be a catheter used during surgery? Maybe it caused some damage that triggered the IC.

[Annie2]

This is a VERY interesting thread. I had to have a hysterectomy (old shriveled up ovaries and tubes remain) when I was 40. I had a couple of D&Cs before that. Hysterectomy was done vaginally, no problems and rapid recovery. I didn't develope IC until 15 years later. Very early menopause...began at 35. Was on hormone replacement therapy for years....quit 18 months before developing IC. Estrogren does play a large role in maintaining bladder and urethral health and I do associate decline in estrogen to developing IC.

There are other factors I also associate with developing IC. No problems when younger but, starting at age 22, I had UTIs every 3 or 4 years thereafter. Never had recurrent UTIs (one right after the other) and always had several years between infections. When they did occur, however, they were severe infections with gross hematuria. They always cleared up immediately after beginning ABs.

I have no known environmental allergies but they do run rampant in other members of my family. I do have strong food allergies. These began in my late teens and I seemed to have to add another food to my allergy list every couple of years. The first reaction I developed was to fresh peaches. Added later were bananas, pineapple, pears, TOMATOES, tropical fruits, shrimp and almonds I didn't dare eat any of these foods RAW but had absolutely no problems if they were well cooked (so tomato sauces, fruit pies...etc were fine for me - no reactions). Heat broke down the substances in these foods that my body couldn't handle. Now, since developing IC, I am extremely diet sensitive and don't DARE stray from the list. I haven't found anything yet that is on the no-no list my bladder will tolerate. Was I unknowingly sensitizing my bladder by eating these cooked foods that I thought I could handle?

So, for me, I find several contributing factors to developing IC; decrease in estrogen, UTIs and food allergies. Well, add another factor to that.......a problem with anxiety disorder and stress beginning in my early 40s after I was just about through menopause. I don't really associate my hysterectomy directly to all this because it was performed 15 years before my IC began. Hormone imbalance was more of a factor than surgery, I believe.

Annie

[blueblondie1121]

DARLENE, YOU COULD BE RIGHT. EVERY TIME I HAD A BADY I COULD NOT PEE. SO THEY HAD TO EMPLTY MY BLADDER FOR ME. I ALSO HAVE IBS, ARTHRITIS, LUPUS,FIBRO TO NAME A FEW. ALONG WITH ALLERGIES. THEIR HAS TO BE A COMMON ANSWER TO THIS IC PUZZEL. WE ALL SEEN TO HAVE THE SAME THINGS GOING ON. I HAVE HEARD IT COULD BE A PH INBALANCE IN OUR BODYS. WHEN IT'S OVER WE ALL WILL BE DOCS. LOL! BLUEBLONDIE1121:butterfly

[Pristine]

I had 4 abdominal surgeries and a Lap type gall bladder removal surgery before developing any symptoms of IC. My hysterectomy came after i had developed IC. I never had any food allergies or stomach problems (other than my bad gall bladder) before my hysterectomy. But since my hysterectomy my life as i knew it ended. I developed IBS, Celiac and also intolerance to some dairy foods as well as having bouts of extreme swelling in my upper abdomen to the point i looked like a 9 month pregnant woman. Without my Protonix i will still bloat to extreme widths even if my stomach is empty. I had none of this before my hysterectomy. No signs or symptoms.

[blueblondie1121]

pristine, it sounds like you got the ic belly. when your ic is in a flare your belly does swell a lot.i see you live in ga. i just moved to sc. i love it here.i did not like ga. too much smog,crime. i love seeing the mountains closeby. also lot more help here. i filed for ssdi about 5 months now.still waiting.i do here it does not take as long as ga.most people in ga have to wait 3 years.if you are new to the site?you can get a lot of support,information. keep your chin up. someday i hope they will find a answer for us. blondieblondie1121:butterfly

[Pristine]

Awww thanks (blue) I'm not quite new here. I just don't come very regulary here any more but i have received lots of wonderful advice here over the past year or so. I've only been diagnosed with IC for 15 months and have done really well actually. The belly has been the biggest bother with me since my diagnosis. Diet controls 90 % of my IC discomfort and I've been on Amitriptylin for over 7 years which has been a God send and i'm on elmiron. I have versed on hand but hardly ever take it unless i'm a dimwit and eat something totally wrong. My Dr. offered me pain meds after my only hydro but i refused them. I had no pain to mention with that procedure. Bladder retraining saved my life and brought me a quality i didnt have for a long time, taking me from 80 times per day going potty to only 6 times per day. I'm on my 15th month of bladder retraining and still holding strong. I have a wonderful Uro too and that helps. I'm originally from Myrtle Beach, S.C speaking of South Carolina. Hubby is from Georgia. :) but we live way down South away from the Atlanta crime.
Pristine

[Julie Smith]

I've also had abdominal surgery 3x bf being diagnosed w/ ic. this is too common w/ us. also has diverticuli.



JOY....pls. let us know how you are recovering from your surgery, we're all here for you 24/7 and love you.

take good care of yourself, Julie:kiss: :love: