InterStim Therapy Volunteer: Cheryl

Cheryl was in her mid-50s when she noticed she had to go to the bathroom more often and was experiencing some leaking. She talked to her family practice doctor about it, who said, "This is just something that happens when women get older. You'll get used to it." Cheryl says, "I didn't buy that, since I'm only in my 50s, but I was too embarrassed to talk to anybody about my problem."

For the next year, Cheryl "just tried to live with it." She had been an OR nurse for nearly 20 years. But having to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes made it difficult for her to be in surgery. Because of leaking, she used 4 to 5 pads per day and worried about pad odor. Sometimes she couldn't empty her bladder completely, which led to infections. At night she would get up 5 to 6 times so she wouldn't wet the bed, and she worried about having relations with her husband. Cheryl says, "I was always tired and not able to be the wife I wanted to be."

Then a new doctor began using the surgical facilities where Cheryl worked. This doctor worked with patients that had urinary urgency and frequency. Cheryl observed the doctor perform InterStim Therapy surgeries, and she noted that the patients seemed to do well. So Cheryl talked to the doctor about her own urgency-frequency. The doctor put her through all the tests and had her try a few medications before suggesting InterStim Therapy for bladder control. However, many of the doctor's patients were elderly women, and Cheryl thought, "But I'm not old." So Cheryl got a second opinion from another urologist who also concluded that InterStim Therapy could be a good option for her.

But Cheryl didn't feel ready for InterStim Therapy. She tried 5 or 6 medications, but the results were short-lived. One day Cheryl ran into a Medtronic representative at work and told him her story. She broke down in tears and said, "I can't live like this, but I feel like I'm not old enough to need InterStim Therapy." He told her about a 32-year-old patient who had excellent results. Cheryl told him, "Sign me up."

In December 2007, Cheryl had a trial assessment, which went well and she had the InterStim Therapy device implanted a month later. Cheryl was "elated" with the results. "I'm not 100% improved, but darn close," she says. Now she only gets up once at night, and during the day she goes several times, instead of every half hour. When she's really tired or stressed she might have a small leak every 3 or 4 days. But she no longer has to worry about odor or drinking fluids. "It's amazing," she says.

Finding bathrooms and worrying about her bladder is no longer a focus for Cheryl. She can shop or drive without worrying when she'll need to use the bathroom. "InterStim Therapy has given me more freedom," Cheryl says. "I'm very comfortable. When patients ask me about InterStim Therapy, I tell them it's made such a positive difference in my life."

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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.

Please note: InterStim Therapy volunteer program is not intended to offer medical advice, counseling or product-related technical support. For medical questions, please talk with your doctor. If you have a Medtronic product and need technical support, please call 1-800-510-6735. Your discussion with an InterStim Therapy volunteer is meant to be a one-on-one conversation with an actual InterStim Therapy patient. The InterStim Therapy volunteers are instructed not to disclose any information about you to Medtronic or anyone else, but Medtronic cannot guarantee this will not happen. Therefore, please do not share any personal information about yourself with the volunteer unless you wish to do so. Medtronic will not participate in or monitor your conversation with a volunteer. The volunteers are not employees of Medtronic, and Medtronic does not control what they may say to you. For these reasons, Medtronic is not responsible for any statements the volunteers make. Medtronic encourages you to carefully review the information about InterStim Therapy on this website, and to discuss this therapy with your doctor. Medtronic reserves the right to end the InterStim Therapy volunteers program at any time, or to change volunteers from time to time.