Has anyone had the Miniarc procedure?

[Roxie2007]

HI All,
I'm having a new procedure next month called the Miniarc, it's a bladder sling procedure.
I had a bladder sling surgery in 2001 that didn't work but my Urologist says he's confident that this new and improved sling procedure will work for me. Has anyone had that procedure, it's for incontinance??

[dg2901]

Are you maybe referring to the Monarc procedure? If so, I had it done back in March 2004.

Diana
**I just googled "Miniarc" and it seems it is in fact a new addition to the Monarc type slings. It states its even less invasive than the Monarc procedure (which I found to be a very easy recovery); says it only requires a single incision as opposed to the 3 with the Monarc.

[Roxie2007]

HI Diana,
Yes you are right, it's the new improved sling procedure. My dr. said he keeps thinking that this company can't come out with a better model and then they do. So I hope he's right and that this one works for me.
Did your procedure work for you? Thanks for writing!

[dg2901]

Roxie---yeah, the sling has worked wonderfully from the get-go.
LIke I mentioned, I found it to be a very easy recovery, very little discomfort, if any. With the Monarc procedure, the Dr goes through a small vaginal incision--for some reason it took that incision a while to heal with Dr intervention. Other than that, it was smooth sailing.

Hopefully you'll be able to report back to us how easy this procedure went for you.
I'm wishing you an uneventful surgery and recovery!
Diana :)

[Roxie2007]

Thanks Diana! I hope so too. I'm tired of having surgeries that doesn't work for me. I'll let ya know how this one goes, it's scheduled for Dec. 18th.

[Berkshire Road]

Good luck, Roxie, I really hope this works out for you.

[Bessie]

Roxie,
I hope this works for you and I will keep you in my prayers :pray:
I know you have been through a lot lately and please know that we
are all pulling for you. Let us know how you are doing and have a Happy Thanksgiving :)
Love,
Laura

[Roxie2007]

Thank you both for the good thoughts. I'll let you know how I'm doing. Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

[Angeline D]

Hi Roxie,
I am really keen to hear how the new Miniarc sling procedure went. I have asked my doc (in Australia) to have the procedure, but it is not available here until Mar 2008.
I was booked in to have a TVT O on Thursday 27th December, so have deferred until Easter, as the Miniarc sounds way less invasive. However, because it is so new, there are not many out there who can give us a review.

If you haven't had the op yet, good luck and if you are recovering, may it be a bit success.

Have a very Happy Christmas.

kind regards, Angeline

[leelee88]

Roxie, Just wanted to chime in and say I hope everything goes well for you with this surgery...:pray:

[ICNDonna]

I don't know what my procedure was called, but it was done vaginally and the sling attached to bone. Recovery was smooth.

Donna

[Roxie2007]

HI Angeline........and all,
I had my Mini Arc procedure on Tues at 7:30am and was home in my own bed by 10:30am that morning! It all went well and my dr. was very happy with the results as I am! I can't lift for 4 weeks and bending is a bit painful and I have to sit down very carefully......but all's going really well.
My dr. said I have a 1" cut in my vagina so I have a little drainage from that but it's not painful.
I hope you are able to get the surgery done in March and it works as well for you!
I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and glorious New Year!!

[Angeline D]

Hi Roxie,
Thank you for replying to my post. So glad to hear everything went well. Take care of yourself during your recovery period.

The procedure is so new in Australia, that the company is donating the device and wants a company representative on hand to watch my doc do the procedure (his first real live patient), he said he has only done it in a workshop environment (I guess he means animals or cadavers). Don't know if the device is normally hugely expensive?? I just need to pay for the doc's fees plus hospital, anaesthetist etc.

kind regards,
Angeline

[Angeline D]

Hi there Roxie,
Just logging in to see how you are going. You must be glad you are nearing the four weeks of "doing nothing"!

Hope your procedure is still working well.

I am still scheduled for Thursday before Good Friday, for my op. I think I'll be the first case in Australia, so my gyno says he will probably keep the video of my op on file to show future patients (at least they won't see my face!).

Hope the New Year started well for you, and best wishes for a very Healthy, Happy and Wellness year ahead.

kindest regards,
Angeline

[Roxie2007]

HI Angeline,
Well I don't have good news about the Mini Arc......It worked great for 2 1/2 weeks......then I started having some pain and then I started leaking........I've been to my dr. and he did a urine test and I had a little bladder infection. He was hoping that after the infection was gone I'd go back to no leaking.....but I now am infection free but am still leaking. It's not as bad as prior to the surgery and I am able to go more easily than before the surgery. My dr. wants me to wait 3 months and see how things go....then said if I want we can do the surgery again....that's not what I wanted to have to do AGAIN! He said possibly the little gizmo came loose on one side or the other.
Let me know how things go for you.......I wish you the BEST!

[Angeline D]

Hi Roxie,
Just wondering how you are going?
Well it's nearly Easter, and I am scheduled to have my miniarc on Thursday 20th March.
The stress incontinence has not been bad at all today, so I'm thinking, may be I won't have it done. Then I know that when I have my bad days, I'll probably wished I'd had it done.
Is your doctor still keen to give it another go with the miniarc? I have been keeping an eye out for any other feedback from patients who have had the procedure.
Hope everything else is going fine for you.
kind regards, Angeline

[Roxie2007]

Hi Angeline!
Wow time is really flying in 2008!
I see my Urologist next week. He thinks the right "hook" that holds the Mini Arc in place went into a nerve and that's why I'm having pain. I think next week he'll finally say I need to have it removed. I'm not sure he'll install another or a different type of sling procedure....but I'm ready for something to be done very soon!
I'm sure you'll do fine with the surgery. Most people do. But since I have Neuropathy (nerve damage) I think the hook being in a nerve is very painful for me...probably more so than the average person without nerve damage.
Let me know how you do! Best Wishes!

[Angeline D]

Hi Roxie,
Do hope you and your family, had a nice Easter break. Have you been back to the doctor for your assessment yet?

Well, I had my surgery on Thursday 20th and came home the next day which was Good Friday. Have not had any pain and am taking things easy for the next week or two. I guess I will not know how successful the gadget is until after six weeks' time, when I can exert some pressure/stress.

Look forward to hearing how you are going.

sincerely,
Angeline

[Roxie2007]

HI Angeline!
Yes we did have a nice Easter and it was also my birthday last Sat. so we celebrated it all together.
Well funny you should write today because tomorrow I'm having bladder surgery, AGAIN :( I've continued to have pain on the right side of the bladder area so tomorrow my surgeon is going to go in and try to move the right hook of the Mini Arc. He's hoping that by moving it then it won't be into the nerve that it must be into now. Also he's going to inject my urethra with a bulking substance to help with the incontinence.....all this is SUCH a pain! I'm tired of surgeries!
I hope your surgery went ok.......just don't do any bending during your recouping time! Let me know how things go.......Take care!

[Angeline D]

Hi Roxie,
How are you going? Was just wondering how your procedure to fix the miniarc and collagen treatment went?

I am still going well, just have to remember not to get too carried away (with tasks) before my six weeks are up.

Hope you are having success with latest visit to the doc.

kind regards,
Angeline

[Roxie2007]

HI Angeline!
Well the procedure I had a week and a half ago wasn't successful. I'm still having pain and I'm still leaking.....in spite of the urethra injections. I see my surgeon this Thurs. so going to see what he suggests next.....I'm really tired of surgeries and recoup time!!
I'm glad you are doing well. I think most people do well after the surgery....I was just one of the unlucky ones... :( Best wishes........

[Angeline D]

Hi Roxie,
Just wondered how you are going and what has been happening with your treatment?

I had my six weekly check up yesterday, and all seems to be going well.

Hope you are doing well, and that whatever the doctors recommend is working well for you.

kindest regards,
Angeline

[Roxie2007]

Hi Angeline!
It sounds like you are doing great since your surgery! I on the other hand am not doing well. I've had 3 surgeries and still having pain. My surgeon just sent me to a gyno-uro surgeon at UT in Houston for a 2nd opinion. This new surgeon wants her own set of tests (of course) so I'm scheduling them now.....one being that nasty uro-diagnostic test :(
It's always good to hear from you........Take care........Roxie