Interstim

[trdcam25]

My doctor wants to try the interstim on me .. i afraid of it . i had dmso treatments and that havent worked. I dont know where to goto next.

[ICNJess]

Trdcam,

Welcome :) May I ask what treatments you have tried?

I have the InterStim, and I must say, this is a decision that should be thought of long and hard. You have to ask yourself how you will deal with the situation, if it should arise, that someday the unit might stop working.

Also, please be sure you have tried all of the other traditional treatments first.

My advice would to be talk to people who your doctor has done the InterStim on. Ask for phone numbers of people who it worked for, and for those who had a failure. Weight the pros and the cons, and make sure to think REALLY hard about this. I'm not trying to scare you, but PLEASE do your research.

And know that above all else, the InterStim is NOT intended for pain.

Hugs,
Jess

[ktrncl]

I feel if you have tried all medicines than I would do alot of research and make your decision that you feel comfortable with I have had the permanent implant in yesterday and Im yet to say if it is truely acceptable but, I think its who the doctor is and how experienced in dealing with this situation for me none of the medicines or treatments worked for me this was my last hope. But please do your own research and no one can make this decison but you .

[ktrncl]

yes it was turned on the same day I had it done but ever since I have it done I have been so sick to my stomach this will be the third day and still get sick every time I get up and not to mention I have 3 kids to take care of which the oldest is about 12 and they help out a whole lot but I was wondering if you ever got this sick after the permanent implant with the first surgery I was never this sick. And also the patch they put on my incision is soaked with blood I was wondering if this was normal you cant change the dressing because its in plastic bandage which is protecting it I dont want to be over concerened but this is a little different than the last time . Thank you so much for your concerns ktrncl.

[ICNDonna]

Dusty, It might be helpful to someone considering interstim to know what type of adverse reaction you had --- and how it effects you now.

I absolutely agree that anyone considering this option should see all of the reports, both positive and negative, before making the decision.

Donna

[lindy lou]

Thank you Dusty for sharing your story. I admire your courage in dealing with all that you have and pray that you find some relief and improvement. I have been fighting the idea of an Interstim for a couple of months now. It seems the uro who diagnosed me last summer wrote to his partner who does the implants and had me see him just this week. When I saw uro #1 two weeks earlier, he again mentioned the Interstim because the elmiron hasn't worked after 6 months. When I asked about it being a last resort, he said I should just listen and then decide. I was under the impression that the second uro had more experience dealing with IC so I went along with the idea of seeing the new uro. When he came into the examining room and opened my file, I saw a letter right on top that must have been from uro #1. It seems that it is elmiron or interstim, nothing in-between. Thankfully, I asked about PFD and had an eval on Thursday. I start therapy with an estim unit this week. Hopefully, that will reduce my pain. What is it with these uros, go for the lastest gadget in spite of what's best for the patient? Sorry about the vent.

Linda

[ICNDonna]

Dusty, I'd also like very much to thank you for sharing your story. It is my firm belief that those considering therapies should have access to both the good and the bad.

I know there are some who have been helped substantially by interstim --- but also know of others who have had experiences similar to yours.

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[dyno]

Dusty,
Thank-you so very much for sharing your story. I have never considered Interstim an option for me although it had been mentioned by my uro as an option if other treatments didn't work. I think it is so important to hear stories like yours. As Donna said, it has helped people but it has also hurt people and it is important to hear also.