Ambassador – Mark

My symptoms began in 1993, and it felt like I had a bad bladder infection. There were times when I was literally going every 15 to 30 minutes during the day, and at times, I had the urge to go every five minutes. My friends and I used to joke about how I could write a guide to area restrooms, since I knew where all of them were. However, often when I got to the bathroom, I’d have trouble starting. Plus, I got up 4 to 5 times at night, so I was always exhausted.
One particularly bad period was from 2000 to 2003. I never slept more than 20-minute intervals, but I still had to get up for work the next day. Plus, for part of that time, I was training at the police academy, where we were required to do two-mile runs. Even walking any distance was difficult for me. All my time away from work was devoted to helping me prepare for the next day. Going out and having fun were out of the question, because of my exhaustion and frequent bathroom breaks. So if my wife wanted to see a movie, we waited for the DVD. I used to love going for a long ride on my motorcycle, but that became impossible, too.
Between 1993 and 2006, I saw 13 to14 different doctors looking for answers. Many of them thought I had a prostate problem, so I was given a lot of prostate treatments that didn’t really help. I also tried over-the-counter and natural remedies. They helped a little, but nothing gave me lasting relief.
I work in corrections at a youth camp and most people consider me to be a pretty calm guy, but I was nearly at the end of my rope because of these bladder problems. Finally, my family doctor referred me to a urologist at the University of Southern Florida. He mentioned neurostimulation briefly when we first met, but then suggested several other treatments, which we tried with limited success. Finally, I walked into my appointment and said, “Either cure me or kill me, but you’ve got to do something for me—I can’t stand this.” He wasn’t sure neurostimulation would work for me, but he gave me the DVD and explained the risks.
In May 2008 I had the trial assessment for about a week and I really had good results. I hated not being able to take a shower during the assessment, but I figured that was the least of my problems, and it’s temporary. I was implanted with neurostimulation in June 2008 and I’ve been doing great. Now I go every hour and a half during the day and I can sleep four to five hour stretches at night. Plus I have no problem starting.
My wife and I recently went out to dinner 25 miles away and the car trip wasn’t an issue. I’ve been able to take my motorcycle out for 50-mile rides again. At work, I’m no longer looking for the next bathroom. Neurostimulation has made me hopeful about life.

TO CONTACT MARK, 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. Medtronic invited him to share his 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.

Next: Ambassador — Tanya

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