Hi, I have interstitial cystitis and had at first a urinary diversion (urostomy) surgery in 2005 that was converted to a neobladder in 2007. I do NOT recommend surgery for IC. I was told in 1993 that I had IC because of a biopsy that showed a lot of mast cells and ulcers. I tried all the treatments many times and kept having more pain and worse symptoms. Since my surgeries though I have incontinence during the day and night, have to self-catheterize 12-15 times a day, still have worse pain, have had bowel obstructions from scar tissue, GI hemorrhaging requiring blood transfusions, reflux to kidney and get kidney infections about once a month which are often resistant to antibiotics requiring iv ertapenim antibiotic in hospital. For IC I only can recommend gentle stretching or yoga for pelvic pain, meditation, and eating a balanced healthy diet and minimizing stress when possible. Don’t let anyone tell you it is incurable or you will get worse. There are advances in medicine all the time and surgery is permanent.