“I wasn’t able to leave the house. It was difficult to do so before.”
This was Claudia Delgado’s reality just a few months ago: confined to her home, unable to visit family and friends, unable to live the life she truly wanted out of fear of having an accident.
Claudia has been a Pullman resident for nearly 50 years, working for the City of Pullman and Washington State University, volunteering her time at her church, and forming precious bonds with her local community. Her reality shifted once she started having frequent accidents outside of her home, shame and embarrassment enshrouding her sunny disposition like a dark cloud.
It wasn’t until she received a referral to Pullman Regional’s Urology Center that she would find a possible solution to her problem. Upon meeting Dr. Walker, he immediately stood out to her as someone who was professional, thorough, and compassionate. After discussing her condition and trying different treatment options, Dr. Walker recommended Axonics™ Sacral Neuromodulation, or SNM–a clinically proven solution for patients with overactive bladder, urinary urge incontinence, urinary retention, and fecal incontinence.
“Sacral neuromodulation has been used for about 30 years, and it’s often life-changing for patients,” says Dr. Walker, a board-certified urologist with more than 30 years of experience. “Urinary leakage is a significant health and social problem. It will often impact the ability to interact with others due to concerns of strong urine odor, and many patients lose the ability to live their lives normally.”
“I’ve suffered with this problem for so long, I was willing to try anything,” Claudia discloses when asked how she felt about the procedure. Based on her past experiences at Pullman Regional Hospital, she was confident that her procedure would be done skillfully and the hospital staff would take great care of her. “I’ve never had a bad experience at Pullman Regional,” she says, having previously been in one of the hospital’s operating rooms for her hysterectomy.
Claudia shares that both Dr. Walker and Axonics went above and beyond to make sure every piece was in place for her to have the procedure. They gave her frequent updates on the approval status from her health insurance and made sure all of her questions were answered. “I didn’t have to do anything,” she amused.
When the time for her procedure finally came, Claudia wasn’t afraid. She remembers the surgery team being knowledgeable, comprehensive, and efficient, making sure she was relaxed each step of the way. “They weren’t just trying to get me in and get me out; they made sure that I was comfortable, and I was, every minute I was there,” she recalls.
After the quick procedure and three weeks of recovery, Claudia felt a sunbeam of new-found confidence wash over her. “Before the implant placement, I would have accidents, and that scared me,” she says. “I was confined to the house before surgery, but not anymore.”
Since her surgery, Claudia has shared her story with many of her friends without shame or embarrassment. She believes that Pullman has a large population who could benefit from the same treatment she received. She was also relieved that she didn’t have to travel to a larger city for such a life-changing procedure and conveys that she wants anyone reading this story who suffers from the same condition to know that Pullman has the technology to improve their lives.
Claudia once again thanks Palouse Urology and Dr. Walker for the care and attention given to her condition. “It’s been such a relief,” she says. “I feel like I’ve gone back twenty years in time, and more like myself than ever before.”
If you or someone you know suffers from urinary or fecal incontinence, ask your physician or advanced practice clinician for a referral to Palouse Urology to learn if sacral neuromodulation could be right for you.