Interstim implanted!

Friday I had my Interstim put in! I was so excited. It was a very nerve racking day though. I got there at 8:30 and went to the registration/lab area. During registration they say "Ok, that will be $1496.15." Um....yeah somehow they neglected to tell me that part before hand. I about broke down and started crying. Actually, I did cry a little. I knew that I would be paying for this, but I was told it was AFTER the surgery was done.

So, after explaining I did not have that amt, she then asked for half. Yeah, we are in the poor house, living paycheck to paycheck. And you expect me to pull $700 from my butt? I explained all I could afford was $100. They kept trying to talk me into paying more but I just cant. It was so frustrating. I truly thought that they would cancel my surgery. Luckily they took the $100 and now I am stuck having to pay $100 each month for the next year or so. Ugh, dont know how I am going to get that but God will make a way. In the mean time, we will be eating lots of cereals and mac n cheese.

Then, we got to go to a private room and begin the wait. It took FOREVER! The surgery was supposed to be at 11 but my urologist didnt come at 11. They finally take me to the pre-op area and the Med-Tronic rep came. She showed me how to work the remote, answered my questions, all that good stuff.

The anesthesiologist came and asked me a million questions. So I ask where my doc is and come to find out that the surgery had been rescheduled for 12 and no one had told me. Yeah, its only 1 hour, but take into consideration that I hadnt eaten since 8 the night before. I was freaking hungry. I was nervous, and just wanted to be done.

Finally dr comes and the next thing I remember is waking up in post-op. I was in horrible pain. They gave me some pain meds (dont know what) and then i started itching horribly. All over I couldnt get the itching to quit. They gave me benedryl and it didnt really help. My back broke out in a horrid rash. It was just miserable.

Then I finally went back to my private room. Got to leave. So, we decided to get some food. I was starving. We went and ate some amazing Japanese food. While there I realize that I am not feeling the Interstim where I should be. Instead, I am feeliing it in my leg and it is starting to get very uncomfortable. So, I thought I would wait it out and hope it would fix on its own.

Eventually I call my Medtronic rep. She meets me up at the hospital and I am thinking OMG I am going to have to have surgery again. But thankfully that wasnt the case. She just plugged up a machine and touched it to my back.

She explained how all the nerves are bundled together. The nerve that the Interstim hits (the sacral) is in the middle. So, the device may move around a bit and cause it to hit another nerve. With her special machine she is able to move the part of the device that hits the nerve. So she did and it helped.

But that night it went back into my leg. She is out of town so I am having the stimulater sending signals to my left leg. It is very uncomfortable. I have been able to use the restroom though so that is a good thing. Just wish it would come off my leg. I can only get comfortable in certain positions. Have to keep my left leg straight. Have to sleep on my right side. But I am peeing free! No more tubes! It is an amazing feeling!