For Claudia (topcop229) -- How'd it go?

[Sarojini]

Hi Claudia,

I know you were scheduled to have your permanent InterStim implant yesterday -- I'm dying to know how it went and if you're doing okay. Let us know....

[SharonA]

Yes, I've been wondering about you, myself. Hope all is well.

[leelee88]

Me to.... Was thinking about her...

[dancemomof2]

Anyone hear from her yet?????

[Sarojini]

Nope, not yet.... hope all is well with her... although I did note her last activity on the boards was 11:14pm last night. Maybe she is just tired and waiting to post her story.

[ICNDonna]

I've been waiting to hear too.

Donna

[tigger_gal]

haven't heard a thing yet. I hope all is ok.

[topcop229]

Hi everyone. I appreciate your concern and care for me. I'm sorry I haven't posted, I've had a lot of mixed feelings about several things going on here on the boards.

Anyway, my surgery went well, I guess, I did opt for the twilight sedation and when I woke up, I was pretty comfortable because the local anesthetic was still in full force. I came home and decided to nap, and I woke up a few hours later in intense pain. The incision site is VERY, VERY sore and I can feel the generator just beneath my skin, which kind of grosses me out! I am hoping that maybe there's just a lot of swelling and it will get better.

I have been alternating pain meds every four hours...thank God Dr. Evans gave me the breakthrough meds or I'd be in real trouble. I got very emotional last night I think just from being really tired and hurting really badly, and of course, my hip and shoulder and back started hurting from the odd ways I have to sit or lie down to avoid pressure on the incision site. Anyway, I cried (more like bawled, really) for several minutes and Lee just held me and hugged me and got me tissue.

I was able to get a bit of rest over night, maybe 4 or 5 hours altogether. Still feeling a lot of pain and very tired. I am also still in a flare, so it's a bit difficult to tell if the stim is working. Well, that's not entirely accurate, I do know it's working because I am getting urges to void which I did not get prior to the stim trial.

One thing that I found out from the rep yesterday that kind of upset me was that if you go somewhere that turns your stim off, it will reset it to default...so you have to go back to the doc to have it reprogrammed. I thought if a store security system turned it off, you just turned it back on, but apparently it can and usually does reset the whole thing. So, I think I will try to remember just to turn it off anytime I go to stores or a place with security sensors. (As long as YOU turn it off and on, the settings will remain intact). Also, for others with interstim, I went to Victoria's Secret and Barnes and Noble on Thursday, and one of the two stores turned off the temporary generator. I didn't realize it until I got home, so I don't know what store it was, but beware of both of them and just turn your stim off before entering either.

Other than that, I am doing okay. We started putting mederma on all of the trial surgery scars to help them fade.

Thanks again for everyone's support and concern. It means so much to me!!

c

[Sarojini]

I am SO glad to hear you are okay!! I'm glad it all went well... I'm sorry you felt so emotional last night, but I think that is probably normal when you're hurting.

I can feel my generator too. BUT, I asked my husband to feel around, and he swears he CAN'T feel it. It may be one of those things where we think it's more obvious than it is, just because it's a modification of our own body. Plus, the swelling underneath will go down and it will settle into place a little more; at least, mine did. You will also build a capsule of fibrous scar tissue around it (underneath the skin) and that will round things out and make it less likely to be felt -- I do warn you that when the internal capsule starts forming, about two weeks later, it will ache some, but it's not too bad. (This is normal; even the Medtronic website mentions this in their InterStim FAQ).

My own trial scars are pretty much completely gone already, and now that my stitches for the implant are out, my larger scar (7 stitch) is healing up. We have decided that it will fade to a faint little line. It is really not bad, even now, while it's still red... honest

As far as stores, I've gone to Walgreens and the grocery store (Harris Teeter) and was fine. I will remember the tip about turning the stimulator off manually before entering unfamiliar stores, now, though -- thanks for the tip!! I was actually going to call Paul the Rep about this issue.

Okay, enough... GO REST and get better.

(Same goes for me; I'm in a massive flare from going back to work just 2 days this week.... ugh.)

[DaniBelle]

Hope it is helping you

Claudia,

I hope you mend quickly and the interstim works really well for you. I dont' quite understand what it is for although I've heard alot about it. Is it implanted mainly to control pain or to cut down on the u/f sensations? How long before you begin feeling results? Anyway, I'm glad you had it done and am praying it is a huge success for you.

Dani

[patricia1]

I am glad all went well yesterday. Unfort. for some depending on the body type and how much fat a person has were the gen. is implant it can still be felt. For me this is one reason I am having mine removed. And there is others. NOT that this will happen, but be aware it can. It just depends.

Rest and take it easy and try not to over-do-it to much.

I hope I did not hurt anyones feelings by saying this, but I just wanted you to know that it is a possiblity..

[SharonA]

Thank you for posting, Claudia to let us know how it went.

One thing I have found to be true about IC (and I bet it is the same with any condition like this) is that my emotions can erupt at any given time over the smallest of things. I think it has something to do with the pain cycle we have. Then you add major surgery to that and of course you are going to be emotional. Surgery is not a small thing.

Rest well, hon. I hope you heal very quickly and that you get great results from the InterStem.

[topcop229]

Thanks everyone for caring and for checking in.

Dani, the interstim is NOT for pain, it is for u/f or retention. In my case, I have severe retention and constipation with no bladder urges until AFTER I either void or cath. So, the interstim has made me now have normal bladder urges, it has helped my retention greatly, and in turn (though this is just an extra benefit, not something that happens for all or even most, so it should not be expected) I have a few less bladder spasms and so a bit less pain. It has also greatly reduced my constipation.

Thank you patricia for the info. I'm sure you didn't hurt anyone's feelings, you are just being helpful!!

[tigger_gal]

hey you, glad to see you posting, so sorry you are in pain.. When you go to your post op appointment have him shut off the magnets, and your problem will be solved.. If you do turn it off and on it can reset the settings..
I hope you start to feel better soon.

[topcop229]

tigger,
Forgive me if this is a silly question, but what do you mean shut off the magnets? My medtronic rep didn't mention anything about that option. He did say that if I turn the stim on or off, the settings won't reset, it's only if something else turns it off that the settings can revert to default.

Thanks for your help!
claudia