Here are my blog posts about my interstim. If you have any questions for me please e-mail me at btrbb@gmail.com. I was looking for anyone to give me their experience when I was deciding on whether or not to get InterStim so I want to be there to tell others my story!
InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=129
Day ONE after stage ONE: http://btrbb.com/?p=130
Day TWO after stage ONE: http://btrbb.com/?p=131
The hole in my back and almost fainting: http://btrbb.com/?p=133
My remote after stage 2: http://btrbb.com/?p=134
Day THREE after stage TWO InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=135
Day FIVE after stage TWO InsterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=136
I worked out for 60 minutes thanks to InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=139
Healing nicely after stage TWO InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=144
Working out 16 days after stage TWO InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=147
34 days after stage TWO InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=156
50 days after stage TWO InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=166
Working out after InterStim surgery (YouTube): http://youtu.be/XlnJ-F4PL30
2-years after InterStim: http://btrbb.com/?p=2124
I just added a “working out with InterStim” category on my Healthy Journey blog. The link to that category is here. http://tawnasplan.com/?cat=672
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October 21, 2012 at 12:53 am
I received the Interstim implant on Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. My urologist prescribed me a round of antibiotics and 20 vicodin to take every 6 hours for the pain. I was out of work Mon-Thurs and returned to work on Friday. The first night I was in a lot of pain, as expected. It has been healing nicely. I am still a bit sore, which is normal, as I was told it will be sore for two weeks. The first two days I did not have any urinary relief. I had the same results with the trial interstim, but then I was only urinating 4-5 times per day and 0-1 times per night. I have so far had the same results with the permanent surgery. Before, I was having extreme urgency and multiple accidents per month. I was going to the restroom at least 10 times per day and 3 times per night. I completely stopped going out for drinks with friends on the weekends because I was unable to enjoy myself since I had to take bathroom breaks every 10-15 minutes. I am thrilled that I decided to do the surgery. So far, so good!
October 23, 2012 at 9:03 am
Thanks for sharing your story Tiha. For me it has been a god send. I know I have met some lately that it has not been and my heart aches for them. It is nice to hear some other positive stories too! Good luck on yours too!
October 11, 2012 at 2:45 pm
Hi Tawna,
I have been doing research on the Interstim. I found your website so I thought I’d email you to ask a question because I couldn’t find it in your blog posts. I just had the Interstim Trial procedure today (Thursday) for urinary frequency but I don’t have incontinence or retention. So far, no immediate results. I still have the feeling of needing to urinate all of the time. I have it on the setting my Medtronic rep and the documentation told me to have it on to where I can feel a small amount of stimulation. It’s on 6. I read some of your blog posts about day one and two of your trial and you stated that you didn’t have any relief from your symptoms. There weren’t any other posts after those for your trial phase. How long did it take for you to get any relief? I was thinking that this would start helping pretty immediately. I’m only have the trial phase in until Monday. I get discouraged easily because nothing else has worked for me. My doctor basically
talked me into this because he said I was out of options. Any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated! I hate to bug my Medtronic rep this early in the game.
Thanks,
Paula
October 11, 2012 at 8:53 pm
Paula:
I know I did not write much that week of trial one. I remember it not feeling great to sit so that is probably why.
I do recall that it was about day 4-5 that i found some relief. I did have to call my medtronic rep, a lot. Don’t worry about calling, just do it. That is what they are there for. I did have to adjust a few times to find my relief.
I did not have 100% better. When they say the goal is 50% that is close to what I had…about 50%. For me it was the incontinence that helped the most. I am still leak free so I swear by it.
Now the biggest thing is the head games I would play with myself. I found that I was making myself go a lot more because I was so used to going and having that damn external battery pack made me think about going all the time. I literally had to tell myself I did not have to go and that took a few months to get better.
Now I only frequently go when I drink coffee or soda or a lot of water. Before I had to go whether I drank or not. So that is the hardest thing in my opinion. Thinking yo have to go, so going a lot and then getting frustrated that the InterStim is not working. It does not work for everyone. I know I got lucky. I still “go” more then most people, but my leaking is gone and now that my head does not play so many games with me I do go less.
You can e-mail me too if you want a more personal conversation. My e-mail is on the contact tab. I hope you can find relief too. I know how you feel and it sucks.
Again, don’t feel bad about bugging your rep, bug the crap out of them…you and insurance are paying a pretty penny for the surgery and you deserve to try all the settings. You gotta know before you commit. My doctor told me I could take a second week if I needed too. If I would have not found relief on that 4-5th day I was ready to do a second week no matter how uncomfortable I was. I didn’t not want to give it my “all.”