Unexpected Remission Details

I wasn't going to post this yet. I was going to wait a bit longer to see how things continued to progress, since I've gotten my hopes up before. But I just saw a post from someone 2 hours ago inquiring about euthanasia and I figured might as well.

My post history is hidden because I'm a teacher and some of my students in the past have found my account. If you're curious about my history with IC you can cross reference my username in posts history to see all the details, which I'll try briefly to relate here now.

I began suffering when I was about 10 years old with urgency, bladder weakness and chronic pain, but because (of reasons) I didn't want a male urologist, I never saw a specialist and wasn't diagnosed until I was in Uni around 20 years old. I had a hydro-distension, diagnosed during the procedure, and went into total remission for like 15 years. Symptoms came roaring back about 3 years ago and I found the one and only specialist in my city after some effort. Despite his warnings I went ahead with another hydro-distension and predictably it didn't work, but they imaged the many hunners ulcers within my bladder, which while symptomatic of IC are not always seen. We spent thousands and thousands and months undergoing weekly installations which also didn't work. I changed my diet, lifestyle, depressed and taking pills to try and alleviate it, pelvic floor exercises in vain, pain all day every day for almost 2 years. Started Lactoferin like a year ago and found some relief. Chronic milder symptoms but flaring regularly especially during sex and my period. I also have IBS so the combined symptoms have made life pretty unbearable.

Now for the TMI and lead-up to the "cure" or remission. About 4 years ago I developed my first hemorrhoids, which suck, but pretty common anyway. Fast forward to a year ago, and the pain pooing becomes unbearable. Agony that lasts forever after every bowel movement. Now I'm in constant agony everywhere from the IC and from my butt. Went to specialists throughout those years and nothing showed up. But finally February 2026 we went again to another specialist who took a look and told me not only did I have hemorrhoids, but many fissures as well. I cried a lot cause what the fuck. She booked me in for surgery and the next morning I had a bed.

A day later was the surgery. It was supposed to take 1 hour but took three. Now, I don't speak fluently the language of the country in which I live so I had to depend greatly on my husband and phone to translate, but apparently in the course of the surgery the surgeon discovered that my anus was "too tight" and she made several cuts and sutures to "loosen" things. This was a surprise but I didn't question it. I know I got issues down there so it just figures, and I was at the best hospital in the region. I spent 4 days in hospital on morphine recovering with 20+ stitches as one does from this kind of surgery. I fully expected to be flaring horribly from all the irritation.

Instead what I've found was total and complete relief.

I have no more pain at all. No more flares. No more sensitivities to food or sex or my period. Nothing. No background soreness or stinging, tenderness or lingering uncomfortable sensations of any kind. I'm effectively in remission again.

I say remission because we all know at this point there is no promise of a cure. But I've given a lot of thought to why this surgery seems to have helped me. I doubt it could have been the repair of the fissures and hemorrhoids alone. My IBS is almost completely managed now. I'm no longer constipated and rarely get diarrhea. Every morning when I have a moment I have a very pleasant and easy poop with zero pain. Is it possible that the surgery on my anus helped? Is it possible that pelvic issues alone caused the hunners ulcers which were relieved in "loosening" my anus? Why was it so tight to begin with? I have several theories for that, none of which I want to discuss here unless anyone wants to know. Pro-tip: Talk to your girlfriends and find out what's normal and what's not.

In any case, since the surgery February 2026 I've been free of IC. As free as I was when I had my first hydro-distension. I eat and drink and play and fuck and do whatever I want and I feel amazing. Sometimes I think I'm in a dream. I spent the last two years staring out the window on my way to work dreaming about what a pain free life would feel like, like I didn't just live the last 15 years of my life chronic pain free. It's funny how when you have chronic pain it's easy to forget what it's like not to have pain.

I don't know how this might help people, but this was the last thing I expected, and I haven't seen a story like mine on here yet, so I thought I'd share. To Wreckedbladder, I know you want to be free. I don't fault you for that. And I won't tell you to hold on for the sake of holding on or the vague hope of a cure. I just want you to know it might be possible.