Patient Ambassador – Tricia

Tricia, Urgency Retention Patient

I'm Tricia, a 35-year-old single mother of an amazing twelve-year-old boy. In 2001, I began experiencing urinary retention. I've always had a small bladder, but the problem had gotten much worse. Sometimes I could go normally, but other times I'd have to urinate but be unable to go, even if I ran the water or took a bath to relax.

My doctor had me try a number of drugs to help relax my muscles and let me empty my bladder like a normal person, but they didn't work. Often my bladder would be so full, I would have spasms that were very uncomfortable. I had to have my urethra dilated frequently, in an attempt to make the opening bigger, but the dilations just left me with urinary tract infections, kidney infections and a lot of pain.

All I could do was catheterize myself, which was bad enough at home, but nearly impossible when I was out. I'd have to carry a catheter in my backpack or purse. Imagine trying to insert it in an unsanitary public bathroom! My bladder problems were always on my mind and consequently, I restricted my activities. I wouldn't want to take a chance on watching my son's baseball games or seeing a movie, because I might have to urinate and I knew I may not be able to go. I also began restricting my fluids, which caused other digestive problems.

I couldn't sleep because I felt a need to go and then couldn't — so I'd be forced to cath in the middle of the night, which caused pain, followed by no sleep. My days were filled with frustration and fatigue. I needed something — I even considered a major surgery where I'd have a bag on my side to hold my urine.

Finally, one of my doctors referred me to a urologist who does neurostimulation. In April 2005, we did the trial assessment to see if neurostimulation might be right for me. Once I had neurostimulation, I started going to the bathroom often... without a catheter. I empty completely, I'm sleeping better, and I'm not on any bladder medication.

Now I can take my son to his travel baseball games, go shopping, a movie, or travel on a plane without worrying about whether or not I'll be able to empty my bladder or if I need to get home to self-cath before I am in too much pain.

I see many improvements in the way I live my life. Because I am no longer dependent on self catheterization, I have the freedom to go where I want — when I want — for as long as I want — because I'm not in constant fear of "what if I can't go?" With neurostimulation, my bladder dysfunction doesn't interfere with my life any more.

I want to share the good news – there is HOPE for you with bladder dysfunction — it's called neurostimulation!

To contact Tricia, call 1-800-664-5111, ext 3016

This story recounts the experience of one patient who is receiving neurostimulation for the treatment of urinary retention. 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.

Next: Patient Ambassador — Beckie

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: 7 Oct 2011