Ambassador – Lee

Lee, Urgency-Frequency and Urge Incontinence Patient

“For me, that day in October 2006 when I was implanted with neurostimulation was an amazing day.”

I’m 57 years old, but ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had to go more often than everyone else. I wet the bed for years and I’m told my mother used to carry a potty chair in the car for me. I outgrew the bedwetting, but even as a teenager, I still had accidents. When I was growing up and still having problems with my bladder as a young woman, doctors didn’t really investigate the causes like they do now.

I’ve had every test and treatment in the book, but none of them helped. The various medications I tried left me too out of it. I’ve been an ultrasound technician for 36 years, and I help with cardiac stress tests, so I need to be clearheaded at work.

Before I had neurostimulation, whenever I drank anything, I was in the bathroom one hour after drinking. If I had anything to drink after 6 or 7 p.m., I would have to get up several times a night to go to the bathroom. I tried not to let my bladder problems slow me down. I work 10-12 hours per day and I keep active away from work. I was a professional dancer for years and I taught aerobics. I love boating, kayaking, and running. However, I always wore pads and carried a change of clothes. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times my bladder problems put me in extremely embarrassing situations.

So when I first learned about neurostimulation, I was eager to try it. I know a lot about pacemakers because of my work, so I understood how it functioned. In late October 2006, my doctor did the trial assessment. We tested it for a week, but I could tell right away it was working. I had the implant a week later. After being implanted with neurostimulation, my frequency dropped to five times during the day. Now I don’t have to get up at night unless I’ve done something like drink a lot of iced tea or water.

I’m not 100 percent improved—more like 90 percent, but I can’t say enough good things about neurostimulation—it’s really done a lot for me. People sometimes ask me if I can feel it or if it hurts and I tell them, ‘I can’t even tell it’s there.’ Sometimes I turn up the stimulation temporarily just to be sure it’s “ON.”

In February 2008, I had to have the system replaced, because I fell while I was starting our boat’s motor and I hit my back pretty hard. I’m extremely happy with the new system. I’m still very active. I ran a 5K race not long ago and I still go kayaking. I’m just so much happier with neurostimulation. I don’t have to deal with pads or medications anymore. It’s a wonderful thing. I feel very confident in the morning and all day long.

TO CONTACT LEE, CALL 1-800-664-5111, EXT 3016

This story recounts the experience of one patient who is receiving neurostimulation for the treatment of urinary urgency-frequency and urge incontinence. 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.

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.

Last updated: 26 Oct 2011