Day 3 Post-Op 1st Stage InterStim Surgery!!

So after delay after delay, I finally had my 1st stage InterStim placed this past Thursday July 9th! I have got to say, how amazing I feel only 3 days into this! I was so nervous and scared because of so many negative stories I had heard about it, but I was desperate for something to fix my retention and urgency/frequency symptoms. So anyways, I had no idea what to expect because of the different stories I had heard. Well I am SO happy I had agreed to do the trial! I am still not completely emptying my bladder on my own, my Urologist said it would take me about 4 days before I could void on my own...well I was able to void on my own the very 1st night!!! However, I have to cath after to completely finish emptying my bladder. I was voiding every 1-2 hours before, I couldn't hold it in for the life of me. I was going even more than once in an hour, now I am gradually working up. I am only getting up once a night, I am holding my urine for 4-6 hours at a time. It is amazing!

The only thing bothering me is that I can't change my dressing, I have to leave it on until July 24th which is when I am having the 2nd stage (or removal) depending on my choice, but because I can't change the dressing, I am SO ITCHY! I have 3 incisions, but I don't know exactly where my incisions are, just under the dressing somewhere and I am afraid to touch the dressing much. I've been taking benadryl to help with the itching.

I have to say, I am much less incapacitating than I thought it was going to be. I have been up moving a little. I went to the pharmacy and grocery store with my mom today. I am staying on top of the pain, I am not waiting until I am in pain, I am just taking the pain medication every 4 hours like I was told. I must say, that's REALLY helping a LOT! But, between the benadryl, and pain medications I am in and out of consciousness/sleep. Today I got up and my mom washed my hair and actually got me feeling a little less "grungy"

The other worst part would most definitely have to be NIGHTTIME! Sleeping!! It is terrible. I can only sleep on one side, I wake up in the middle of the night because my side is in pain from sleeping on it all night, so then I try to move to my stomach. Last night was a rough night, but they kind of come and go---the night before I was okay, but I think the longer I get into this that more difficult the nights are going to be. I just am happy the way things have been going (so far) I have only had to put the device on setting # 4 (at the highest) for the most part I've been leaving it on setting 2-3, but I tried it on 4 today and it feels great, as long as I'm not sleeping/laying down. I'm also finding that standing up and/or walking feels SO much better than sitting down/laying down. I'm getting through it though, and I'm so happy with the way things have been going. Anyways---I posted photos on my blog, if anybody is interested, they're not much just the device and dressings etc...

Well I am going to do more resting (what a surprise!) I just wanted to share this with people who I know are interested in having the InterStim or who have question etc... and if anybody does habe specific questions, just ask me, I am MORE than happy to answer the questions, no matter what! I know how nervous and scared/anxious I was before my surgery, so for those that are in my shoes I know what that feels like and I'd love to be able to help as much as I can!!!

I'll keep everyone updated!!

-Renee-

P.S. The photos are newest to oldest, the top photos are me today July 11th and then yesterday July 10th and the 1st day of my surgery July 9th


SATURDAY JULY 11TH, 2009








FRIDAY JULY 10TH, 2009







THURSDAY JULY 9TH, 2009