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.

Medtronic invited this patient to share her story candidly. Not everyone who receives InterStim Therapy will receive the same results as the patient in this story. Talk with your doctor to determine if sacral nerve stimulation is right for you. In addition to risks related to a surgical procedure, complications associated with InterStim Therapy can include pain at the implant sites, new pain, infection, lead (thin wire) movement/migration, device problems, interactions with certain other devices or diagnostic equipment such as MRI, undesirable changes in urinary or bowel function, uncomfortable stimulation (sometimes described as a jolting or shocking feeling), and others. Surgery is required to remove the InterStim Therapy system. Please refer to Important Safety Information. Always discuss the potential risks and benefits of the therapy with your physician. This therapy is not for everyone. A prescription is required.