Personal Stories

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.

Cheryl's story

Living With Urgency-Frequency

Cheryl, age 58, was in her mid-fifties when she noticed she had to go to the bathroom more often and was experiencing some leaking. She talked to her family practice doctor about it, who said, "This is just something that happens when women get older. You'll get used to it." Cheryl says, "I didn't buy that, since I'm only in my fifties, but I was too embarrassed to talk to anybody about my problem."

For the next year, Cheryl "just tried to live with it." She had been an OR nurse for nearly 20 years. But having to go to the bathroom every 30 minutes made it difficult for her to be in surgery. Because of leaking, she used four to five pads per day and worried about pad odor. Sometimes she couldn't empty her bladder completely, which led to infections. At night she would get up five to six times so she wouldn't wet the bed, and she worried about having relations with her husband. Cheryl says, "I was always tired and not able to be the wife I wanted to be."

Then a new doctor began using the surgical facilities where Cheryl worked. This doctor worked with patients that had urinary urgency and frequency. Cheryl observed the doctor perform sacral neuromodulation surgeries, and she noted that the patients seemed to do well. So Cheryl talked to the doctor about her own urgency-frequency. The doctor put her through all the tests and had her try a few medications before suggesting Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy. However, many of the doctor's patients were elderly women, and Cheryl thought, "But I'm not old." So Cheryl got a second opinion from another urologist who also concluded that Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy could be a good option for her.

But Cheryl didn't feel ready for Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy. She tried five or six medications, but the results were short-lived. One day Cheryl ran into a Medtronic representative at work and told him her story. She broke down in tears and said, "I can't live like this, but I feel like I'm not old enough to need sacral neuromodulation." He told her about a 32-year-old patient who had excellent results. Cheryl told him, "Sign me up."

How Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy helped Cheryl

In December 2007, Cheryl had an evaluation, which went well and she had the system implanted a month later. Cheryl was "elated" with the results. "I'm not 100% improved, but darn close," she says. Now she only gets up once at night, and during the day she goes several times, instead of every half hour. When she's really tired or stressed she might have a small leak every 3 or 4 days. But she no longer has to worry about odor or drinking fluids. "It's amazing," she says.

Finding bathrooms and worrying about her bladder is no longer a focus for Cheryl. She can shop without worrying when she'll need to use the bathroom. The Therapy has given me more freedom," Cheryl says. "I'm very comfortable. When patients ask me about the Therapy, I tell them it's made such a positive difference in my life."

Results vary; not every response is the same. Talk to your doctor to determine if Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy 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.

Jayne's story

Living with urgency-frequency

I can't tell you how many times doctors have told me, "It's all right, Honey" or "It happens when you get older. What do you expect?" But having to urinate 47 times in a 12-hour period is not all right. And there's more to life than touring every public bathroom in San Luis Obispo.

My name is Jayne. In 1997, when I was 53 years old, I began experiencing urinary frequency and urgency. On a typical day I averaged 47 trips to the bathroom between 7 am and 7 pm. I made a point not to count how many times I got up at night — knowing would just make me feel worse.

I tried many medications, but nothing helped. I carried pads and a change of clothes wherever I went. Eventually I couldn't go out. The only good thing about being home all the time was it gave me time to finish my rabbinical studies. Finally in 1999, I spoke with a woman who also had bladder control problems, and recommended I visit her doctor.

How Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy helped Jayne

This doctor had just learned about the Therapy and after assessing my condition, she suggested I try it. Within 20 minutes of starting the evaluation, I knew something was different. That one-week test felt like pure heaven. I could hardly bear for it to be taken out while I waited for the implant surgery.

The Therapy is life-altering. Now I go 6 or 7 times during the day and I sleep through the night. It's wonderful to be with my children and grandchildren and be part of their lives. I can go shopping with them and attend games where my granddaughter is cheerleading. In my work as a rabbi, I see a lot of hospice patients — something I never could have done before. I feel more confident because I no longer worry about leaking or smelling like urine. The Therapy has been life-changing for me — it's amazing. I would definitely advise others to try it.

Results vary; not every response is the same. Talk to your doctor to determine if Medtronic Bladder Control Therapy 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.

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.