Jane H.
Urgency-frequency

About 3 and a half years ago, when I was 57, I noticed that I was going more frequently, feeling greater urgency, and getting up more at night. I mentioned the symptoms to my doctor. He basically said that after having three children, urinary difficulties were to be expected. That really shut me down and made me feel hopeless. I had the misconception that only women in their 70s or 80s had bladder problems. I thought I was too young. If I was having these symptoms so early, I'd just have to live with it.

I went into denial and tried to minimize the impact. If I leaked, I told myself it was only bad because of the cold weather or I made some other justification. But the symptoms gradually worsened. I was always tired from getting up several times at night. Since my doctor had implied nothing could be done, I tried not to think about it. Then I received a postcard inviting me to an educational seminar about women with overactive bladder. The light bulb went on. I realized it was me they were talking about.

I got that postcard, so I was lucky. Unfortunately, the therapy isn't well-known, so I was skeptical at first. Some of my professional colleagues had heard of the therapy, but they didn't know if was FDA approved for certain bladder problems and had been around for years.

At the seminar, several urologists who specialize in women's urology described women with symptoms similar to mine. It was so reassuring to hear professionals describing what I was feeling.

I made an appointment with a doctor I met at the seminar. She did a number of tests and concluded that I had a neurological insufficiency. In other words, the nerves that govern urination weren't functioning properly. I wasn't aware of the role nerves play in bladder function. You mostly hear about low bladder capacity or weak pelvic floor muscles. Once I understood it was a neurological problem, a neurological solution like electrical nerve stimulation made sense to me.

Initially, I didn't understand which nerves were being stimulated. My doctors explained that the sacral nerves that govern urination are stimulated, not my spinal cord. They also explained how they isolate the proper nerve, and that explanation was reassuring.

Read the next part of Jane's story - Step 1: InterStim Therapy trial assessment

Next: Step 1: InterStim Therapy Trial Assessment - Stories of Control

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.