Am I a Candidate for Medtronic InterStim Therapy?

If you've tried other treatment options and still suffer from bladder control issues, it might be time to consider InterStim Therapy.

InterStim Therapy may be an option for you if:

• you have overactive bladder (urge incontinence, urgency-frequency) or urinary retention (InterStim Therapy does not treat stress incontinence)

AND

• you have tried other treatments like fluid and diet modifications, physical therapy and medications

AND

• you have not had success with, or could not tolerate, these treatments.

Talk with your doctor about whether you're a candidate for InterStim Therapy. Or, find a doctor in your area who offers InterStim Therapy.

Are My Symptoms 'Bad Enough' to Need Treatment?

If your bladder control problem has become bothersome and is keeping you from doing the things you want to do, your symptoms really are “bad enough” for you to seek an effective treatment.

• Are you always tired because you get up several times a night to go to the bathroom?
• When you're shopping or dining out, are you always concerned about where the nearest bathroom is?
• Do you turn down invitations from out-of-town friends and family because your symptoms make travel difficult, or because you're afraid of wetting the bed?

Only you can determine how bothersome your symptoms are, and how much they interfere with the life you want to live. For a better sense of how much your bladder control problem is affecting your life, rate your symptoms.

You deserve to have your old life back. You owe it to yourself to find out about all the options available to you, and to weigh the pros and cons of each with an open mind.

Are My Symptoms 'Bad Enough' for InterStim Therapy?

If you've not had success with common treatments for bladder control problems, talk with your doctor about whether InterStim Therapy is right for you.

Some women are skeptical about the idea of using a medical device to treat bladder control problems. But similar pacemaker-like devices have been used for years to treat many other conditions, from heart problems to chronic pain and Parkinson's disease. For the right candidate, InterStim Therapy can improve quality of life, much like medical devices such as a knee or hip replacement can.

Other women are apprehensive about InterStim Therapy when they hear it involves a surgical procedure. But it's important to understand that the InterStim Therapy procedure is minimally invasive and done on outpatient basis. You usually don't have to stay overnight in the hospital, you don't need general anesthesia, and recovery time is minimal.

Next: Am I Seeing the Right Doctor?