The Very Same Botox That Works For Wrinkles Can Stop You From Running To The Bathroom Every 15 Minutes Want To Learn More Read On
First, know that its not uncommon to have to urinate more frequently and have leakage issues, particularly as you get older about 16 percent of men and women do. But if youre skipping out on parties, concerts, car trips or otherwise making life choices around having easy access to a bathroom or wearing adult diapers, you should talk to your doctor about treatment options for an overactive bladder.
Mike M. Nguyen, MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical urology at the USC Institute of Urology of Keck Medicine of USC and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital says people generally come to see him when they start noticing a problem or after treatments with their primary care physician dont work.
Many of his patients initially think, Oh, Im just getting old and this is part of it and something I have to live with. But, there are effective treatments that can really improve your quality of life.
Causes And Risk Factors
Chronic incontinence that worsens over time is caused by muscle weakness in the urinary tract, damage, a malfunction in the urinary tract, or a malfunction in the nerves that control urination.
Acute incontinence, however, is temporary. This type may be caused by a urinary tract infection, medication side effect, constipation, bladder stones, or vaginal childbirth.
There are risk factors that may increase ones risk of developing urinary incontinence. These include:
Diagnosis and Treatment
More than half of those experiencing urinary incontinence fail to seek treatment despite that the condition often affects ones daily activities.
A urologist who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of urological conditions will start by reviewing your personal and family medical history followed by a physical exam. To rule out other causes, your doctor may order tests such as a urinalysis, bladder scan or cystoscopy.
If urinary incontinence is diagnosed, your doctor can recommend a treatment plan. In many cases, simple lifestyle changes such as dietary modifications can alleviate symptoms. Other treatment options include:
- Medication
- Artificial Urinary Sphincter
What Can I Expect During The Procedure
This is a minimally-invasive procedure done under sedation in 2 phases approximately two weeks apart a test phase and a final implantation phase. A small incision is made on the lower back, just above the buttock. The electrode is then inserted through the incision.
Dr. Antonini will then check the InterStim handheld remote to make sure that everything is working correctly. Lastly, the incision site is closed up and dressed. After that, the procedure is complete, and Dr. Antonini will discuss post-op care, guidelines, and instructions on how to use the handheld remote.
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The Most Rewarding Part Of His Career
I think we are fulfilling a tremendous need by providing care in an underserved area. Its so rewarding to have a positive impact on the lives of so many women, Dr. Taylor says about his career path.
One of the most important aspects of Dr. Taylors practice is his ability to connect with patients on a personal level.
Dr. Taylor often says, you cant fake empathy. You could be the most talented surgeon in the world, but if you fail to connect with your patients on a personal level, youre missing out on the most rewarding part of a physician-patient relationship.
Are There Any Side Effects
Potential side effects from this treatment include:
There is risk of a urinary tract infection from any procedure on the bladder, including this one.
In less than 5% of procedures, urinary retention can occur. This happens when the bladder is so relaxed that it cant empty. These patients may not be able to fully empty their bladder. In these cases, patients are taught to periodically insert a small catheter to empty their bladder until their bladder function returns.
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What Should You Try Before Considering Botox
Your first step is to try dietary modifications including limiting alcohol and caffeine, which are irritants to the bladder. For some people, that alone is effective. You may also try behavioral training and physical therapy.
If these arent effective, the next step is to start a prescription oral medication. These work for most, but some people either dont want to have to take a pill daily or experience side effects. Its after youve tried these treatments that you may want to consider Botox injections.
Most cases of overactive bladder dont have an obvious underlying cause, though it is more common as you age. Dr. Nguyen explains, One theory is that its due to both an altered sensation in the bladder, its more sensitive, as well as an inherent over activity of the bladder muscles. Its on both sides of the coin in terms of both sensation and also the activity of the muscle itself.
In men, there may also be an obstruction in the prostate, so that may have to be treated as well.
Types Of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is generally categorized as one of four types:
- Stress Urinary Incontinence link to page: A condition common among women that occurs when sudden pressure on the bladder and urethra causes urine to leak. The trademark symptom of SUI is leaking when you are active.
- Overactive Bladder link to page: A group of urinary symptoms of which the most common is the sudden, uncontrolled need or urge to urinate.
- Mixed Incontinence : Just as the name suggests, those with mixed incontinence suffer from both stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder.
- Overflow Incontinence: A condition that occurs when one is unable to completely empty the bladder, causing an overflow which then leaks out unexpectedly.
Other less common types of urinary incontinence include urge, functional, reflex and anatomical.
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Dr Taylor Is The Nations #1 Provider Of Interstim Therapy
Our number one focus is to help women like you find relief from bladder and bowel control problems. We dont treat men, we dont treat cancer, and we dont deliver babies.
Dr. Taylor focuses on the treatment of bladder and bowel control with InterStim® Therapy. After 20+ years of treating female bladder problems, Dr. Taylor has now treated over 25,000 women, performed over 2,500 Sacral Nerve Stimulation Procedures, and is the #1 provider of this therapy in the entire world.
Schedule a consult with Dr. Taylor today to learn more about how InterStim® Therapy can help you.
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What Happens During The Treatment
Dr. Nguyen first uses a numbing agent on the bladder before inserting a camera into your bladder. He then uses a camera to guide the needle placement and injects small amounts of Botox in a pattern of about 20 locations throughout the bladder. It is usually done in the office as a 30-minute procedure under local anesthesia, though if you would prefer full anesthesia, it can also be performed in an operating room.
Restore Control Regain Your Life
Imagine living life to the fullest again enjoying things you thought were no longer possible like taking your grandkids to the park, eating out with friends, sitting through a movie, or just enjoying a good nights sleep again.
You no longer have to be a prisoner to fear, anxiety, or embarrassment. You no longer have to live with these life-controlling symptoms, and best of all, your world wont revolve around the bathroom anymore.
Id love to help you find relief!
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Fecal Incontinence Symptoms Causes And Treatment
About 25% of the women we see for bladder control problems also suffer from bowel control problems.
Some of them have accidents because they cant make it in time, and some because they dont even know they had to go. An inability to control your bowels can lead to embarrassment, depression, and a lower quality of life.
Fecal incontinence is the inability to control bowel movements, resulting in an involuntary bowel movement. Fecal incontinence can range from a small leakage to a complete loss of bowel control. This condition can be embarrassing and, unfortunately, many women suffer in silence and are reluctant to share their medical concerns even with their own physician.
This condition is actually more common than you might think, affecting about 1 in 12 people in the United States.
Are There Other Treatments For Overactive Bladder That Doesnt Respond To Medications
There are two other treatments, both with benefits and drawbacks:
If you suffer from overactive bladder, make an appointment with a urologist. To learn more about the USC Institute of Urology, visit
To speak with someone at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, call .
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It Isnt Marketed Directly To Consumers
Medtronic, one of the largest and most highly-respected medical device companies in the world, is the manufacturer of InterStim®. You might be familiar with their heart pacemakers, ventilators, or other devices, but just like with pacemakers, you dont see direct to consumer advertising as you may see with medications.
Medtronic typically relies on physicians, rather than TV commercials, to educate patients on appropriate therapy options. This isnt an uncommon practice for manufacturers of medical devices, and its ultimately up to your physician to let you know about this treatment option.
Treatment Option Superior To Overactive Bladder Medications
If so, you are not alone, and you may be suffering from overactive bladder. Our practice is the #1 global provider of InterStim®, an FDA approved procedure that has been proven in clinical trials to be superior to overactive bladder medications. No one in the world has treated more patients with InterStim® therapy.
Our entire practice is focused on one thing: helping women find relief from their bladder and bowel control problems. We dont treat men, we dont treat cancer, and we dont deliver babies. What we do is help women gain control of their lives.
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Frequently Treated By Dr Taylor
Based on treatment records, we have identified the following as areas of care that Dr. Taylortreats more often than their peers. If you are unsure whether Dr. Taylor treats other conditions,please contact the office at.
Gynecologic Conditions
Dr. Taylor is experienced in the area of Gynecologic Conditions. See the graph below to learn more about his experience.
Based on claims data for 23 conditions and procedures
Check Dr. Taylor’s experience treating your condition or procedure
Dr. Taylor’s conditions and procedures:
- Abnormal Uterine Bleeding
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Dr. Taylor accepts
Dr. Taylor accepts the following insurance:
- Aetna
- CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield
- HealthyBlue 2.0
- First Health
- First Health PPO
- Humana
How Does It Work
Botox, yes, the same botulinum toxin that is injected into your forehead to smooth out wrinkles, is also FDA approved to treat overactive bladder, specifically for whats called urgency incontinence, which is when you cant control the urine. What Botox essentially does is partially paralyze and calm the bladder muscles. Doctors think it may also calm sensation in the bladder as well.
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Health Alert: Bionic Bladder Control
Urologist Dr. Ken Peters says urge incontinence is a common condition that affects about 17 million Americans, “More people who have urge incontinence have much less quality of life because they cannot control it.”
That uncontrollable urge to go to the bathroom can sometimes be helped by staying away from caffeine. Drugs may also help a select few, but many won’t tolerate the side effects.
Now, Dr. Peters says, they may not need to, “We are actually in the midst of a major research study on a new therapy called the Bion, which is a very tiny device.”
The size of a matchstick, the Bion device is implanted in an area where it stimulates nerves that go to the bladder, “It sends a signal back up to the brain and tells everything to kind of function more normally.”
The Bion is similar to a common device known as “Interstim,” which acts like a pacemaker for the bladder, but the Bion is much smaller and requires a simpler surgery, “We consider it a success of 50 percent improvement in symptoms, but I think we have some patients who definitely get more than that 50 percent.”
Fay says it changed her life, “I don’t have to think about the bathroom situation anymore. I can just go ahead and do what I want to do and not think, ‘Well, am I going to be by a restroom?'”
She has to recharge the battery daily but says it’s a price she’s willing to pay.
For more information contact Brian Taylor at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, at 551-1077.
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About Dr Taylor: Gynecologist In Harrison Arkansas
Dr. Chris Taylor has been taking care of womens healthcare needs for over twenty years. Over the years, Dr. Taylor has recognized the need in the community for someone to specialize in the treatment of female bladder and bowel control issues.
Despite practicing in a small community, it has always been important that his patients have access to the same advanced therapies commonly found in large metropolitan areas. Now focusing his practice on incontinence treatment, he helps women with bladder and bowel control problems using an FDA approved therapy called InterStim®.
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Dr Taylor: Specializing In Incontinence
Do bladder or bowel control problems keep you from going places or doing things that you like?
Are you always looking for a bathroom?
Do you have to go too often during the day or wake up multiple times at night? Do you get a sudden or strong urge to urinate then rush to get there, or even worse, not make it in time?
What Is Interstim Sacral Nerve Modulation
InterStim sacral nerve modulation is a therapy treatment that can resolve the symptoms associated with fecal and urinary incontinence in women. InterStim is an implantable device that sends mild electrical pulses to the sacral nerves. The sacral nerves, or sacral plexus, control the muscles related to urinary and rectal function. This therapy is necessary when the brain and sacral nerves do not adequately communicate, causing bladder and bowel accidents.
InterStim therapy can be used to treat:
- Urge incontinence, a loss of urine when you feel a strong need to go to the bathroom
- Urinary retention , the inability to empty your bladder without the use of a catheter
- Urinary urgency and frequency
- Fecal incontinence, the inability to control bowel movements, causing stool to leak unexpectedly from your rectum.
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Your Doctor Might Not Offer It
If youre seeking treatment for bladder issues through your primary care doctor, their options are limited to more conservative therapies like medications. Because your primary care provider doesnt offer advanced therapies, they might not be familiar with InterStim® as a treatment option.
While most urologists and gynecologists do treat overactive bladder, many OBGYNs focus on delivering babies, routine exams, and other gynecological surgeries, while many urologists treat men and focus on cancers, stones, and other common urological concerns. Because bladder control may not be their primary focus, some specialists might not take the time to have an in-depth discussion about InterStim®.
Signs Your Child May Have Bladder Dysfunction
Once your child has been successfully potty-trained taking care of business should get easier but what if the accidents keep happening?
When a child over the age of four has frequent daytime urinary accidents, and there doesnt appear to be an underlying medical cause, he/she may be diagnosed with voiding dysfunction. Voiding dysfunction is very common, and can be used to describe problems with either holding urine in, difficulty emptying the bladder or urinary incontinence.
No one knows what causes voiding dysfunction, but the condition can impact children physically, socially and psychologically. Left untreated, some types of voiding dysfunction can cause permanent kidney damage over the long run. Luckily, there are several types of treatments that can help children successfully regain control of their bladder. Here are a few signs that your child may have voiding dysfunction:
Feels an urgent need to go without a full bladder. Children with overactive bladder may sense the urge to use the bathroom every hour or more. Most children with OAB will have urinary incontinence and some may develop urinary tract infections sometimes these OAB symptoms will continue even in the absence of urinary infection. Some children may try to hold it by crossing their legs or using other physical maneuvers. OAB is treated with behavioral therapy to retrain the bladder through scheduled potty times but sometimes also requires medications that reduce the urge to urinate.
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