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  • #1

    Interstim II

    Has anyone had the Interstim II implanted? I had the original Interstim implanted and removed (for various reasons) and heard about Interstim II which is supposed to be smaller and lighter. One of the things I did not like about the original was being able to feel it so easily by hand or leaning against a counter and feeling it inside of me. I was hoping if this one was smaller and lighter, perhaps you don't notice it as much. I was also curious in general of success or differences from the original.


    Thanks!

    Dana
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Dana,

    Sarojini (Jen) will be having Interstim II put in this Friday, and if I'm successful with the trial, I will have it done in a couple weeks. From what our doc has told us, it's about the size of a poker chip (a real vegas chip, not the little plastic ones you can get in a "poker set" for your house) and it has a shorter battery life than the big one. That's the one drawback. BUT, it's so much smaller that especially thinner people can get it and not notice it or have it seen poking out. My doc also said something about the magnets in it, it either has less than the original or none, I can't remember, but his point was there was less of a chance that you will set off store alarms coming in or out. You still can't have MRI done and still shouldn't go through things like airport security.

    Hope this helps some. Keep an eye out for Jen's diary, she is going to continue it once she gets the implant and I am going to do one of my own during my trial since I have different symptoms than her.

    Good luck!
    Claudia

    ~Claudia

    "A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others."
    ~ The Wizard of Oz

    "If I ever go looking for my heart's desire again, I won't look any further than my own
    back yard. Because if it isn't there, I never really lost it to begin with!" ~ Dorothy

    Comment

    • #3
      Thanks Claudia. Good luck with your trial (and hopefully) implant!

      Dana

      Comment

      • #4
        Thanks for informing me about the advantages of interstim 2. I mentioned to the Dr.office, who said I had done my homework, and yes it would be interstim 2. Sue

        Comment

        • #5
          Hi Dana,

          It been a long time not chatting with you !!

          Well as you know I have the " so call old InterStim " but due to the battery stop working I am going to have the "new one" done in April or May..
          As to the battery life line being shorter I am going to talk to my doctor about maybe having the "old one" put back in as I got almost eight years out of my battery ..
          I never had that problem with my pace maker hitting anything and also I have loss 25 lbs. lately and just notice that it is a bit out but it does not bother me at all..

          As for these girls reporting of setting off alarms in stores , I have had my almost "eight years" and had it happen one and that is due to the alarm system being out dated..
          So as for the airport security ,I did not bother going through it at all, I knew I would have to have a body check any how !!

          I hope you are doing well Dana !!!

          Cheers, Debbie
          Thinking positive has got me through to another day!!

          Comment

          • #6
            Hi. I had the InterStim II implanted on February 16th, and I love it.

            As for your questions about feeling it, yes, you can feel it slightly if you press on the area, but not a lot. Mostly, it just seems as if that area of your lower back/upper butt is "harder" than the other side. My husband tried feeling around and swears he cannot feel it at all, so it's possible it's just a sensation that is magnified for the person with the implant... you know, we're more familiar with our bodies.

            As for leaning against things, I don't do it too much, but when I have, I haven't felt anything. However, my implant is in a really good place, so it doesn't really touch anything I lean against.

            It IS much smaller than the old one. You might ask your doctor about it, and also discuss these issues you have with him. It's possible he can implant your new one in a slightly different place so it is more comfortable for you. Describe to him an area where you think it might be more comfortable and see what he says.

            Good luck
            ****
            Jen

            *Diagnosed with severe IC in 2004
            *Also diagnosed with PFD, fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, IBS, migraines, allergies/asthma, dermatographism
            *Kept trying a million different treatments for all these things until I found what works, and I am doing okay these days with the help of a cocktail of medications and the InterStim, which was first placed in 2007. [I have had 2 revisions - one in 2010 when my battery died and had to be replaced, and one complete replacement (lead and generator) in 2012 after a fall on my stairs caused my lead to move.]
            *Current meds include Atarax (50mg at night), Lyrica (150mg twice a day), Xanax (0.5mg at night and as needed), Zanaflex (4mg at night), hydrocodone (10/325, every 6 hours as needed), Advair, Nasonex, Singulair (10mg at night), oral contraceptives, home instills containing Elmiron and Marcaine (as often as I need to do them).

            **I am not a medical authority nor do I offer definitive medical advice. I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.

            Comment

            • #7
              Jen is the interstim help you at all?

              Deborah Bush
              I have IC, the IBS, Heartburn, High bloodpressure,thyrod problems, depression and clorties pain.

              Comment

              • #8
                Yes -- I was urinating 25-30 times a day prior to the implant, and now I go between 6-12 times a day. AND, I don't have a constant sensation of having to go anymore :woohoo: It has done wonders for my frequency/urgency.

                As for pain, well, it hasn't eliminated it and I still need medication for that ... but I do notice that I've had maybe a 25% improvement in pain levels. Hey, any improvement is a great thing. I'll take it!

                I am definitely glad I had the Interstim surgery done.
                ****
                Jen

                *Diagnosed with severe IC in 2004
                *Also diagnosed with PFD, fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, IBS, migraines, allergies/asthma, dermatographism
                *Kept trying a million different treatments for all these things until I found what works, and I am doing okay these days with the help of a cocktail of medications and the InterStim, which was first placed in 2007. [I have had 2 revisions - one in 2010 when my battery died and had to be replaced, and one complete replacement (lead and generator) in 2012 after a fall on my stairs caused my lead to move.]
                *Current meds include Atarax (50mg at night), Lyrica (150mg twice a day), Xanax (0.5mg at night and as needed), Zanaflex (4mg at night), hydrocodone (10/325, every 6 hours as needed), Advair, Nasonex, Singulair (10mg at night), oral contraceptives, home instills containing Elmiron and Marcaine (as often as I need to do them).

                **I am not a medical authority nor do I offer definitive medical advice. I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Jen I am happy it help you!!!! Deborah Bush
                  I have IC, the IBS, Heartburn, High bloodpressure,thyrod problems, depression and clorties pain.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Interstim ll

                    Dana, I had the new interstim implanted in Nov, and yes it is alot smaller. However, I have been off work since Jan 31st, seems I cannot get my symptoms under control even with the new device. It worked for a couple of months, but then nothing works. I had a hydro 2/22 and still unable to get pain under control.
                    I am at the point that I am checking into Disability. I am a RN at a very busy Hospital, U of M, of Michigan. I am suppost to return wk of 3/26, but I have been up most of the night with pain and cannot for the life of me see returning.
                    I cannot plan for the future, just day to day. I am taking so many meds that I feel nausea most of the time and out of it as well. Sure it takes the edge of the pain, but I cannot work medicated!!!

                    Diana
                    Diana

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      I was just wondering, with the interstim, are they still able to use defribbilators if the heart should have problems? The only reason I ask is because I have a girlfriend who has a gastric pace maker for her stomach which sounds very similar to the interstim except the interstim works with the bladder and she cannot have any MRIs anymore either and cannot be defibrillated if anything should happen to her heart. I guess it could be dangerous or something. Do all states offer the interstim or do this kind of surgery or does one usually have to travel to have it done?
                      Jen

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Diane I am sorry yours has not worked right. But on the other hand alot of patient who get the InterStim (even the newer ones) dont get pain relief from them. I have had 2 and with either I have never gotten any pain relief. I still take my pain meds daily. Also there are some that have had pain relief, but I think it is due to the kind of pain they have, say bladder fill pain and so forth.

                        Jen. I have never heard about the difib. And not sure about the states. But you do have to find a Doctor experienced in it. In the town I live there is no one, but I go to the nearest city which is about a hour north and of all the uros in the town there are 2 that have experience. The rest are down south. Experience is a key with this device.
                        God grant me the serinity to withstand the days ahead!!!

                        My myspace link...
                        www.myspace.com/patricia_luvs_matt

                        Patricia

                        In Memory of My Father (Lawerence) 1/25/2007

                        Procedures:
                        Interstim Sept 2001
                        1st InterStim Removal May 2005
                        2nd Interstim Implanted May 2005
                        2nd InterStim Removed March 2007
                        Hysterectomy 1999
                        Tubes Tied 1997
                        C-Section 1996

                        Me and my kids


                        Taylor (my daughter) Me and my daughter My son Cody and Taylor

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Defibrillation should either not be done or be done by someone qualified -- however, there are "non-shocky" ways to get the heart going again (drugs, etc) that ER personnel can use, so you shouldn't panic. Just make certain someone can tell the ER people or paramedics you have the Interstim. Some people even wear MedicAlert bracelets in case.

                          As for MRI's -- they can be okay in certain cases if you turn your stim off; you can get a head MRI, or a knee MRI sometimes if the doctor knows about your implant. However, you cannot have one if the area to be imaged is in the vicinity of the implant.
                          ****
                          Jen

                          *Diagnosed with severe IC in 2004
                          *Also diagnosed with PFD, fibromyalgia, chronic myofascial pain, IBS, migraines, allergies/asthma, dermatographism
                          *Kept trying a million different treatments for all these things until I found what works, and I am doing okay these days with the help of a cocktail of medications and the InterStim, which was first placed in 2007. [I have had 2 revisions - one in 2010 when my battery died and had to be replaced, and one complete replacement (lead and generator) in 2012 after a fall on my stairs caused my lead to move.]
                          *Current meds include Atarax (50mg at night), Lyrica (150mg twice a day), Xanax (0.5mg at night and as needed), Zanaflex (4mg at night), hydrocodone (10/325, every 6 hours as needed), Advair, Nasonex, Singulair (10mg at night), oral contraceptives, home instills containing Elmiron and Marcaine (as often as I need to do them).

                          **I am not a medical authority nor do I offer definitive medical advice. I strongly encourage you to discuss your medical treatment with your personal medical care provider. Only they can, and should, give medical recommendations to you.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            IS the Interstim II the same as the first procedure...I had my battery replaced last month and he put a new battery unit in that is much smaller about half the size of the 1st one I had in..He put it farther in on my butt so when I try to feel it I can't even tell it is there...Much nicer than before cause before I could feel it and it bulged out kinda

                            Jennifer
                            Interstitial Cystitis(Interstim Therapy)
                            IBS
                            Fibromyalgia
                            Pseudotumor cerebri
                            Type 2 Diabetes

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Jen, So glad the interstim II is going well so far. Only 4 more days to my trial. The more I learn about interstim I become more confident this will be a good decision for my life. Appreciate your intake, if all goes well, the interstim II will be my choice. I am interested to know more about bi-polar disorder, as my daughter is living with this, over 10 years now. It is very hard to comunicate as most times she doesn't feel like converstions, and she lives 3 hrs. difference in time than me. Continue success and hope for comfort with your new interstim, especially like the deeper location. Sue

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