PreOp

January 28, 2010 changed my life. I received phase one of the InterStim.

Woke up, showered really well, took off my jewelry, dried my hair, put on my jammies and went to the Surgery Center. Might as well go comfortable and come home, hopefully that same way.

Arrived at the Surgery Center to alot of pre-op paperwork and a pleasent receptionist. They don't want you to wear make up, lotions, or perfume, so I felt very comfortable sitting there with the paperwork and the woman working had no make up on either. And, not to mention, they had my favorite News Channel on the the tv in the waiting area, so that was cool.

Was quickly called back and the pre-op, or intake nurse asked me a bunch of more questions and gave me a gown, slipper socks, and a head bonnet to put on. She took me to my bed where an IV was started.

I have to give this Surgery Center HUGE kudos for the way they did the IV. First they injected a light pain killer and then the IV. We all know that starting an IV can hurt, but they went the extra mile and it didn't.

I saw the Medtronic Rep come in and look around. I said, "I know you're here for me!" We had a great conversation and he showed me what the gadget looked like that I would be adjusting for the next couple of weeks and explained about the procedure.

My Dr. was late and while waiting for him, I had to pee SIX times. Talk about an over active bladder! The nurse was really nice though, escorting me each time, with an IV bag AND an antibiotic bag going in my veins.

Pre-op was very comfortable and I was totally at ease. Even watched some tv before going in for the procedure.

The gift of a few words

Just received my LOA papers from my Uro. At the end of the paper he wrote, "She will be a better employee after the InterStim procedures." I truly appreciated those extra few words that meant alot to me.

I will work tomorrow and undergo the first part of the procedure on the 21st. I pray it changes my life for the good. I have great hope!

Hoping for my miracle!

Having the first part of the InterStim procedure on the 21st. The journey truly begins. I beg of God that this helps me to have a more normal life.

I will never be fully normal because I'm ill....but to be able to sleep at night would be a miracle!

Suffering

After working all week, I came home last night and had to go to bed by 6:30 p.m. Why? Because of complete exaustion. That's what happens when you have Interstitial Cystitis. You never get proper sleep for the relentless bathroom trips. I lay down at 6:30 p.m. I was in the bathroom at 8:15 p.m. again at 9:30 p.m. again at 11:00 p.m. again at 1:30 a.m. again at 3:00 a.m. again at 4:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 a.m. I almost fell down at 4:30 a.m. from the exaustion and from slipping on a bathroom rug and I lost control of my bladder. I feel like my nights are filled with sleep walking to the bathroom and often not even making it for the loss of control. The urgency is excruciating. I cannot wait for the InterStim and pray that I have the procedure done very soon.

Today I have to vent

I don't often complain about how I'm feeling. But today I am. I haven't slept in three nights and am suffering so bad. Every time I lay down to rest, I have an uncontrollable urge to pee within five minutes. I've slept no more than 40 minutes at a time for three nights now and I can't tough this out much longer. I see the Uro on Tuesday and I pray to God that it's to get this InterStim going. I will gladly take it over this suffering any day.

I want people to realize that those of us with Interstitial Cystitis and other Bladder related diseases suffer terribly. Please be kind to them. They truly need it.

Never Give Up

But my experience is that people who have been through painful, difficult times are filled with compassion.

Amy Grant

The Way Out

Looking back upon this old photograph of me, I look like any little child. Dressed in my Christmas best and standing along side of my big sister, no one would ever suspect the things we endured throughout our brief childhoods. My sister and I were the step children. (There were four younger ones born to my mother and step dad) Our father died when I was just six months old, at the hand of a drunk driver...himself. Not only did he die as a result of his drinking, he took along with him a woman in the oncoming vehicle that he hit. Apparently my mother felt the need to marry quickly afterwards and she did, thus leading my sister and I into a life of complete misery. It's tough to say this, but my step dad looked upon my sister as his own personal 'play thing'. I need not go into more. She was fifteen years old when she decided she had had enough of it and she went to school, telling the authorities what he was doing. Needless to say she never came home that day. None of us knew why she never got on the school bus to come home, but were soon to find out as yet again, my step dad was arrested for abuse against a child of the worst kind imaginable.

There was alot of turmoil in the house, more so than usual after my sister left home. She was described by both my mother and step dad as a runaway. The work load on all of us around the farm only got worse, as the Judge decided to send my step dad home on probation instead of sending him to prision. After all, there were five more children (left there to abuse, in my opinion) who needed to be fed, a 110 acre farm that needed to be worked, and a job in the auto plant that could not be lost. Child molestation was quick to take a back burner back then. He was sent home on probation and we were sent back to the fields to be his slaves.

It was a month later almost to the day that my sister left, that I also left...never to look back. I was only fourteen years old.