Sacral Nerve Stimulation

OK, so had my TAH in 09. Evidently some of the nerves in my bladder were messed up and now I'm having both stress and urge incontinence. The stress I can handle, the urge not so much. Not fun to wake up several times during the night to run to the bathroom only to have peed by the time I got there.

I am seeing a uro-gynecologist. I first tried Vesicare. Nothing.
Then Enablex and an estrogen cream. Nothing. Now I'm trying Gelnique, so far -- nothing. Am also battling the side effects of these meds---CONSTIPATION. Don't even get me started on that.

The doctor is giving me free samples of these meds, so no worries there.

He suggested pelvic floor PT. After finding out what is was (basically it's you in stirrups with a mirror and a bladder therapist doing exercises together), and I stopped laughing, I declined. I am not one to be consistent with exercise and PT...especially when it involves me in stirrups and a mirror. And I would have to do them for the rest of my life. I know I wouldn't.

My next stop is Sacral Nerve Stimulation. They do a trial first...stick wires into your back to your bladder. The wires are attached to a transmitter that you wear on your waistband. You can control the nerve impulses to your bladder. You keep a "bladder diary" and if successful....you get the device implanted into your skin on your back. Sounds wonderful, eh? Downside is, that if it works, it has to be redone every 5-7 years as the battery wears down. And you can't have an MRI with the implant inside you.
I understand it's pricey. I have yet to see if my insurance covers it. I'm willing to try it.

Anyone out there have any experience with Sacral Nerve Stimulation????
What do you ladies think?

I'm getting very depressed. I find myself withdrawing more and more. I tried drinking less, but that ends in dehydration. lol Help

Hi!
I was on here looking up information on here about something else and I saw your post. I have had chronic pelvic pain and Interstitial Cystitis for around 17 years. It was to a point about 6-7 years ago I was peeing 20+ times a day and leaking and all sorts of other related annoying issues. I tried different pills at the time too.
I went through physical therapy, it was awesome. I had a very good therapist. She did internal manual stimulation, bio-feedback and adjustments on my out of aligned hips. It was worth it. I also did at home bladder instillations and I went on a food elimination diet of things that can irritate the bladder. One of my biggest ones for me are vitamin C and most of the B's and artificial sweeteners. I recently did another round of physical therapy with a different woman and she was okay, but she was nowhere near as thorough as the first one I saw. If you do change your mind about PT, the physical therapist can order an internal vaginal stimulator that works similar to something like a TENS unit for inside the vagina and similar to the Interstim. And there is no surgery, you just have to take the time to do it.
Things did get better but I was still having pelvic pain, leaking and peeing way too much. My doctor implanted the stimulator after I had a successful trial and things improved dramatically! Move on up a couple years after that I had gastric bypass and I lost a lot of weight and the placement of the wires shifted so I had to get the wires redone. For me it was a pretty easy surgery. I am looking to have to get them replaced soon again. Since I had my hysterectomy things have changed. I am not sure if the nerves are different or what. And I lost more weight too. I have been putting it off. But when that sucker works and when you get the right settings adjusted it does a great job. I hardly ever leak anymore, only when I do a lot of jumping stuff when I exercise. And I pee a normal amount of times in the day and I never get up at night.

There is a trial period before you get the actual implant done and that will be what shows the doctor if you are a good canidate for the implant. The wires don't actually go in or on your bladder. Or at least mine don't. They work with the nerves in your pelvic floor and lower back.
I hope you can find a good solution that helps.
Oh! And my husband thinks it is great to tell people he is married to a cyborg.

I have had an interstim in for Pudendal Nerve damage and interstitial cystitis and I have had wonderful luck. It has helped so much with the pain and feeling of urgency. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I was almost suicidal before I got it done. When I turn it down too much, I can then feel the throbbing/spasms in my vaginal area and bladder and then I am really glad I have the interstim in to help me. If your insurance covers it, it is great..It cost over $100,000 and when the battery dies, they have to put in a whole new device..Can last between 2-5 years usually. I might be a different case since they have my electrodes on my pudendal nerve instead of sacral nerve, but it has really worked for me.