has anyone had interstim success with dr whitmore

[wolfaleena]

i am considering the interstim. my doc is dr whitmore. i know that she is a real expert on ic and have been seeing her for 10 years.. she is upbeat and always very optimistic about new treatments etc.. i hold her in high esteem.. but i am very reluctant about this interstim procedure.
however, the life i am living with ic right now is extremely limited. frequency urgency and a lot of retention.. i have to self cath and i am bascially house bound most of the time, sleep deprived and heavily medicated. i know the pain will not be helped with the interstim, she has told me that. i have had piriformis syndrome on both sides and hip and back problems so i am afraid that the implantation of the device will aggravate the piriformis muscle and or hip back. i want to be rid of these terrible symptoms or maybe cut them back some what and be half way normal, but i fear the device will be trouble. i am not ususally a pessimist, but it is kinda of a gut feeling that i have about the whole thing.
i am wondering if anyone has had doc whitmore do their interstim procedure.. just looking for some feedback, etc. thanks all!

[Katherine]

Trust you Gut from there . It is your Body Do What you feel is right for you.
I know several people it help I also know some it did not.
Read and be informed and talk to doctor about fears.
katherine

[wolfaleena]

thanks katherine! i appreciate the objective advice and concern.

[PurpleKitty]

I think trusting your gut instinct is your best option, you know your body better than anyone else. Interstim can be very helpful to some and a nightmare to others so make sure you are very well informed on all of the possible complications and long-term outcomes. I would definitely discuss your back and hip pain with your Dr because normally the battery pack is placed in the piriformis area. There are other options for placement available so be sure to discuss and ask, ask and ask some more. I went into my interstim placement "blind", that was before I found the ICN. If I'd have been better informed I may have choosen a different route than the interstim, hind-site is 20-20 though. Two weeks ago I had my interstim unit removed, one year after placement because of increasing pain in the area around the battery pack and piriformis muscle. Even though the interstim helped somewhat with my bladder symptoms, the pain from the unit was more than I could bear. I opted to have it removed and not revised because after much discussion with my Dr, rep and physical therapist they all felt moving it to the other side would result in the same problem. My pain management Dr was the only one who really pushed for a revision, he wanted to move the battery to my abdomen.

Ultimately the decison is yours, not the Drs or rep. One positive thing about the interstim, there is a trial period and you'll know right away if it helps with your IC sypmtoms. There is no gaurantee it will cont. helping indefinitely, but at least you'll know if it's worth trying permanent placement. As for knowing if the battery pack will cause you problems, there is no way to know that ahead of time. According to my Dr and rep most people never have a problem with it, I'm his first removal. Accoridng to those I've talked to, many have pain in the battery area and several have some discomfort if it is bumped or pressed on.

Like I said, just know what you're getting yourself into. You may have such great IC relief from it that having pain from the battery is worth it and you'll love it!! Or you may get zero reief during your trial and you want to rip it out.

I don't want to bias your opinion one way or another, but pls be sure that you are well informed and feel comfortable with everything.

[wolfaleena]

thanks writing and letting me know your experience. We are all so different and unique~ Testament to our individuality!
When you had your trial, did you get relief right away, and did they have to go near the pirifimoris muscle during the trial or only when they implant the actual battery pack? I am leary that even the trial will aggravate my other existing medical problems. ( i was in a severe car accident two years ago and have so many other things wrong with me!)

[wolfaleena]

another thing i just thought of .. i am very very thin. and i have heard that some very thin folks say that it has bulged out! YIKES

[wolfaleena]

i really sound like i am talking myself right out of it.

[Katherine]

They do bulge on thin people .
Trust your GUT as I said . Do what is right for you and do not let any make that choice for you.
If you feel it is good go for it if you feel it is bad don't .
It is your body
vkge40@tds.net

[patricia1]

I am a little late in replying. Cant help with the doct, but I have had 2 Stims, so I might can offer some advice.

When I first got mine I weighed alot more than I do now. My first one was placed in the hip, and when I lost weight the unit did bulge out and it was right were my pants sit so that did not work so well.

When I had to have a revision it was placed in the bum, so it is not noticeable right now.

For me when I had the trial and woke up for sedation I knew right then a difference, for this first time did not have the I gotta go feeling.

My only advice, research the unit, research the doctor. Make sure she will stand behind you should you have a problem.

Good luck.

[Patrice]

Hi Wolfaleena! I do see Whitmore but don't have an interstim. Actually I see the nurse practitioner. I only ever say Whitmore on my first visit (very rushed but thorough on the morning of September 11th (01) and the next few. I'm very happy with the CRNP but worry about her ever leaving. Is it hard to get repeat appointments with Whitmore? I've been going through a nasty flare and the CRNP was great though.

I will tell you this...one day I was in the waiting room and this very happy lady was leaving and she was telling anyone who would listen about how Whitmore saved her with an interstim...but I heard from someone else through a PM looking for a new uro that she had stopped going to Whitmore because she gave her a hard time about wanting HERS removed. So I'm sure it's as individual as the stories on this board with some happy, some not. If you want to PM me, I can see if I can hook you up with the unhappy person.

Stay cool.