Patient stories
For bladder and bowel control
You deserve more worry-free days.
Meet patients who have experienced long-lasting relief from bladder and bowel symptoms using the InterStim™ system.
Hear how the InterStim™ system works for people like you.
Bladder control issues are quite common. In fact around 43 million adults in the US meet the criteria for overactive bladder (OAB).1,2,3 However, many people are hesitant to ask for help with their symptoms. In fact, one study shows that 66% of people had never discussed their bladder health with a doctor.4 Fecal incontinence (FI) is also common, with about 21 million adults experiencing FI in the United States.3,5,6
Bladder control patient stories
Sara’s story
“I love to run.…After InterStim™, I can stay at the gym however long I want.”
– Sara H., living with overactive bladder (OAB)
Shamay’s story
“We have been able to go hiking. We have been able to go do things as a family. We have been able to really have a normal life again.”
– Shamay B., living with non-obstructive urinary retention
Tammy’s story
“It was getting to the point that I didn't think I could teach any longer. And now I can.”
– Tammy S., living with overactive bladder (OAB)
Tina’s Story
“I tried about every treatment under the sun. After I got the InterStim™ system, I was dry!”
– Tina, living with OAB
Bowel control patient stories
Kirstie’s story
“My world that started huge – I literally traveled the world – had shrunk to the point of hardly being able to leave my house. And now that world has been given back to me.”
– Kirstie T., living with chronic FI
Contact us
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Medtronic provides this listing to assist indicated patients’ access to care. Medtronic has no vested interest in any specific physicians, nor do we provide any recommendation, assurance, or guarantee with respect to their service. Medtronic does not verify or monitor the license, credentials, accreditations or qualifications of any physician listed in the Physician Finder. 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. The list of physicians provided may not include all of the physicians in your area who are qualified to provide care to you. Medtronic does not charge and physicians do not pay to be included on this list. Some physicians on this list may purchase products from Medtronic or may act as paid consultants to Medtronic.
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.
Defined as a 50% or greater reduction in your troublesome bladder or bowel symptoms.
Reflects OAB patients. The most common device-related adverse events in SNM subjects were undesirable change in stimulation 10.2% (6/59), implant site pain 8.5% (5/59), lead migration/dislodgment 3.4 percent (2/59), and implant site infection 3.4% (2/59). The MID (minimally important difference) is the smallest score change that is perceived beneficial to patients and is often used to determine whether changes in scores are considered clinically significant.
Stewart WF, Van Rooyen JB, Cundiff GW, et al. Prevalence and burden of overactive bladder in the United States. World J Urol. 2003;20(6):327–336.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/Default.aspx. Accessed January 13, 2025.
US Census Bureau 2020. US adult and under-age-18 populations: 2020 census. https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/adult-and-under-the-age-of-18-populations… Accessed January 31, 2025.
Muller N. What Americans understand and how they are affected by bladder control problems: highlights of recent nationwide consumer research. Urologic Nurs. 2005;25(2):109-115.
Whitehead WE, Borrud L, Goode PS, et al. Fecal incontinence in US adults: epidemiology and risk factors. Gastroenterol. 2009;137(2):512-517.
Ditah I, Devaki P, Luma HN et al. Prevalence, trends, and risk factors for fecal incontinence in United States adults, 2005-2010. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2014;12:636-643.
Muller N. Overactive bladder in middle age women: the frustration of baby boomers