Ellen G.
Urgency-frequency

The day of my trial assessment, I was a little anxious, but also hopeful that this could be the answer I was desperate for. My doctor explained everything thoroughly so I knew what to expect and had no surprises.

I had been concerned about how I would manage with the external stimulator and the wires during the trial assessment. But it turned out to be no problem. The wires were taped down so they didn't catch on anything, and the stimulator was just a little thing like a pager on my waistband. I could wear loose clothing to hide the box. In fact, I even dressed for a job interview.

For the trial assessment, my doctor placed a wire on both the right and the left sides to test two different sacral nerves.* I started with stimulation on the left side, and nothing happened for 3 days. But when I switched to the right side, I noticed a difference right away. I was so excited, I couldn't quite believe it.

The first day, the urgency and frequency subsided. I was only getting up twice a night, which was a miracle. That's when it really hit me that this was going to work for me. I woke up and said, "Oh my gosh, this really does work!"

Once I had some results, I didn't hesitate to go on to long-term therapy. That's the beauty of InterStim Therapy – you don't go on to step 2 unless you pass step 1. I was really glad to have a chance to see that it would work.

Read the next part of Ellen's story – Step 2: Long-term InterStim Therapy

Next: Loraine's Story

*The sacral nerves were not stimulated simultaneously.

This story recounts the experience of one patient who is receiving InterStim Therapy. Medtronic invited her to share her story candidly. Please bear in mind that the experiences are specific to this particular person. Results vary; not every response is the same. Talk to your doctor to determine if neurostimulation is right for you. In addition to risks related to a medical procedure, complications from this therapy can include pain, infection, sensation of electrical shock, device problems, undesirable change in voiding function, and lead migration, among others. This story reflects one person's experience. Not every person will receive the same results. See Important Safety Information for possible adverse events. This therapy is not for everyone. Please consult your doctor. A prescription is required.