Personal stories
#WorldContinenceWeek
Kelly's Story
An extrovert and a performer, Kelly was living a life of compromises and concessions as a result of her bowel control problem. Her condition progressed to full-out accidents with no warning. With Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy (Sacral Neuromodulation), Kelly is able to fully embrace the activities she loves.
This patient testimonial relates an account of an individual’s response to the treatment. The account is genuine, typical and documented. However, the individual’s response does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. The response other persons have to the treatment could be different. Responses to the treatment discussed can and do vary and are specific to the individual patient. Please consult your healthcare professional for a full list of benefits, indications, precautions, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to the therapy or products discussed.
Living with bowel control issues means living a life of compromises and concessions. That’s a tough road for an extrovert and performer like me. Instead of running marathons, I ran in the woods to hide my accidents. Instead of swimming with my three kids, I sat on the shore. Instead of stepping on a stage, I stayed in the audience.
My problems began two years after the birth of my third child. At first I just had more urgency, where I had to get to the bathroom and could hardly hold it. My condition progressed quickly to full-out accidents with no warning. Eventually I experienced up to five accidents a week. Fearful and embarrassed, I avoided going out in public, but on the days I had to leave home, my temporary solutions were to pack extra clothes and underwear or to avoid eating. Three times I was hospitalized for malnutrition.
A series of tests revealed that my sphincter muscle was barely working. Surgery to sew it up was unsuccessful due to buildup of scar tissue. Doctors prescribed Kegel exercises to strengthen my muscle, but those failed as well.
I didn’t like the feeling of being held back, of not having any control. I began to think my situation was hopeless until my doctor brought up the idea of participating in a trial for Neuromodulation Therapy. I was willing to give it a try, and take a shot at reclaiming the life I once had.
The evaluation
The procedure was handled by my doctor, and took place in a hospital. I was nervous about the procedure and having leads placed in my body, but my doctor explained the device, the therapy—everything—to me, so I had no confusion.
The therapy brought me relief. The moment the system was turned on I began to regain control. I felt like a new person. For the first time in more than a year, it seemed possible that I could get back to living life out loud, instead of constantly holding myself back.
That didn’t mean the evaluation period was a breeze, though. Dealing with wires and the external stimulator was a nuisance. I wore unattractive, baggy clothes to leave room for all the stuff sticking out of my lower back. Bathing was also not possible; I had to take frontal sponge baths.
Despite my frustrations, I knew I wanted long-term therapy right away—so much so that I was impatient. I wanted to skip the trial altogether and get right to the long-term therapy. I didn’t want to wait any longer for the life I envisioned myself living.
Nevertheless, I still harbored some doubts leading up to the procedure. My friends and my husband—whom I’ve always spoken with openly about my condition—were skeptical, and I felt slightly uncomfortable with the idea of having a foreign object in my body. But with such a low quality of life, I was willing to try something new, even if the treatment seemed unconventional.
Going on to the long-term Neuromodulation System
My initial experience with the long-term System was complicated. Shortly after the procedure, my incision site developed an infection. Then, shortly after my health problems subsided, there were some temporary technical problems with the system.
But soon enough everything started to click: the therapy began working, and I began to feel like the person I was before my bowel control problems.
I’m happy to say my life is now predictable – in the best sense of the word. I now have ample warning to get to the bathroom, and my bowel movements have returned to normal. Accidents are a thing of the past, and I don’t even think about them anymore. I’m living life out loud again.
Life with Medtronic bowel control therapy
Thanks to the Neuromodulation System, I’ve been able to fully embrace the activities I love. Summer vacations are filled with fun and spontaneity now, and the kids have a mom willing to splash around in the water with them. I’ve become a more engaged friend, who’s no longer timid about meeting my gals out on the town.
My husband and I have also drawn closer as a couple. I’ve begun running with him, and together we’ve begun to produce a musical show for our church. Stepping on a stage was a no-go before, but now I perform in front of a large audience once a year.
If you’re considering Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy, my advice is: don’t hold back. While it’s difficult to get past the stigma of bowel incontinence, you need to be honest about your condition with your friends and family so you can rely on their support.
Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy has allowed me to reclaim my confidence, and has enriched my life. I’m able to be who I used to be and who I’m supposed to be.
Mitzi's Story
Mitzi always regarded her chaotic lifestyle, with multiple visits to the restroom, as normal, even as a child. After her "big episode," Mitzi knew she had to do something different for her bowel control problem.
This patient testimonial relates an account of an individual’s response to the treatment. The account is genuine, typical and documented. However, the individual’s response does not provide any indication, guide, warranty or guarantee as to the response other persons may have to the treatment. The response other persons have to the treatment could be different. Responses to the treatment discussed can and do vary and are specific to the individual patient. Please consult your healthcare professional for a full list of benefits, indications, precautions, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to the therapy or products discussed.
Bowel control problems never stopped me from living a rich, full life. I still managed to do all the things I wanted to do—but the path was always circuitous, and always involved multiple visits to the restroom. My life seemed full but I didn’t realize what I was missing.
Eating out with my husband meant I’d visit the restroom before we left our house, upon our arrival at the restaurant, during our meal, before our departure, and when we returned home. I went shopping only after memorizing the location of every ladies’ room in every mall and grocery store in my town.
I’d always regarded this chaotic lifestyle as normal, having lived it from the time I was a child. A difficult pregnancy exacerbated my condition. Surgery and medications helped me regain some control, but they never eliminated the constant “urge” feeling and occasional accidents.
My “big episode”—the accident that brought everything into focus—happened 6 years ago. After 17 years as a stay-at-home mother, I attended a licensing course to pursue a full-time career as an assessor.
During the 4-hour final exam, my test mates and I were forbidden from leaving the classroom. I wondered what was going to happen, but forced myself to think positively.
I told myself I would be fine – but I wasn’t. Turns out, during all my thinking and concentration, I had bowel evacuation.
When I turned in my exam, the proctor wanted to chat with me, not knowing my predicament. I politely excused myself and ran out. In the ladies room I broke down in tears.
The next day I met with a specialist who referred me to a colleague.
That doctor got me involved with the evaluation for Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy, which he thought may work for me.
The evaluation
During the brief procedure, I was implanted with leads that were connected to an external stimulator.
Immediately I felt a difference. The normal, natural abdominal feeling of needing to use the bathroom – and experiencing gas – became brand new to me. I soon began to understand the difference of when I needed to go, and when I didn’t.
And, for the first time in many years, I slept for 7 hours without interruption. What a gift!
During the 2-week evaluation period I wore stretch pants. My stimulator, which I liked to call my “garage door opener,” would fall off my belt. I started wearing a small waist pack which kept it in place.
For me, there was no decision to be made about whether to pursue long-term Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy. The answer was always yes! I’m not afraid of surgery, and I was eager to keep my new life—especially when I realized how much my life had degraded over the past years. I guess for the longest time I hadn’t allowed myself to realize how big the problem was. I was too busy getting on with my life.
Going on to long-term therapy
The day of the implant, I arrived bright and early at the hospital. The nurse prepped me, and my doctor explained the procedure and the Neuromodulation System to me. The surgery itself took less than an hour. I experienced no pain after the surgery, except for the normal discomfort that comes with surgery.
I used pain meds during the first day, but after that I used Tylenol.
After a couple weeks I developed an infection in my incision site. I was petrified that I would lose the therapy for good—for me, that would have been the worse possible thing to have happen. Antibiotics took care of the infection.
Having the device implanted is a much different experience than just having it outside of your body. When it was outside of my body, I was always thinking about it, always checking it, fiddling with it.
Now that it’s inside of me, I don’t even think about it.
Life with Medtronic bowel control therapy
My wonderful, loving husband has been supportive all along, and my 85-year-old parents are thrilled for me. My friends – even one who’s a registered nurse – never realized the extent of my problem because I kept many of the details to myself.
With Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy, I’m now free to take long walks with my dog and my husband. We usually walk around the lake and back to our home, which is about a 4-mile trek.
If you’re trying to decide if you should try Medtronic Bowel Control Therapy, I would tell you not to wait.
A long time ago I hedged my bets that technology would catch up with my condition. It finally did! Thanks to the Neuromodulation System, I am now a participant of life, rather than a viewer.
Medical disclaimer
Information contained herein is not medical advice and should not be used as an alternative to speaking with your doctor. Discuss indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, adverse events and any further information with your health care professional.