InterStim Therapy Volunteer: Melissa

I remember standing in Wal-Mart with a cart full of stuff and realizing I had to go. I had only walked a few steps toward the bathroom, when I had an accident. I was so embarrassed. I left the store crying.

My name is Melissa, and I'm a mother and a manager at a medical equipment company. I'd had bladder and kidney infections for years – since my hysterectomy when I was 25 years old. Then in September 2006, my frequency and urgency got worse.

I had accidents so often I was afraid to go anywhere. I couldn't go to my 9-year-old son's school events or soccer matches. I had to go to the bathroom at least 20 times per day and I got up 3 to 5 times at night. I was exhausted.

Fortunately, I was able to work from home a lot of the time, but I frequently had to drive 3 to 4 hours for business. Four-hour trips turned into 5-and-a-half-hour trips, because I needed to stop so often. I was so depressed. I was only 30 years old. I just wanted to do all the things everyone else does. One day my son came home from school and said during chapel he'd asked the other kids to pray for me. I realized my problems were affecting him, too. Something had to give.

My doctor had mentioned InterStim Therapy early on, but first he wanted me to try medication. I tried five different drugs, but they didn't help very much. Next I underwent urodynamic testing, and it was clear I was a good candidate for InterStim Therapy. I researched it and thought hard about it, but ultimately decided I had to try it, especially since I could try it out first.

In March 2007, I had the test. Within 48 hours, I could tell it was working. A week later I had the implant surgery, and I have been doing great ever since, although I did have my settings adjusted in May. I only go a few times a day and I rarely get up at night. InterStim Therapy really changed me. The biggest thing is that during the summer, I can take my son to the pool and go roller-skating with him. My family lives an hour and 10 minutes away and now it's no big deal to drive there for a visit. Best of all, my son has really noticed the difference. His mommy is back to normal.

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Next: Cheryl’s Story

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.