My Secret - Fear of Embarassment

Thirty-five-year-old Jody first noticed her leakage problem after giving birth to her second child two years ago. In her words, she was carrying diapers for her newborn and for herself as well.

Moreover, she had no one to talk to. Her girlfriends could relate to stresses of balancing a demanding job, raising a young family and maintaining a marriage - but living with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is not a popular topic for "girl talk." Jody did not share her "secret" with friends for fear of embarrassment.

Jody's condition pervaded every aspect of her active life. She seemed to leak all the time whether while running on her treadmill, walking during lunch with co-workers or even if she sneezed in a meeting. Jody was constantly self-conscious and began to keep an extra pair of clothes on hand at all times in case of emergency.

The breaking point for Jody came while playing with her pre-teen daughter on the boardwalk. She emerged from the "haunted house" only to realize she had soaked through her clothes; she had to rush to a nearby store to buy new ones. The humiliation on her daughter's face said it all, and Jody vowed to find help.

Jody had sought different medical opinions and even endured two failed attempts to "tack" her bladder without success. Researching information on the Internet, she learned about GYNECARE TVT, a minimally invasive treatment for SUI, and contacted Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, an urogynecologist at Washington Hospital Center, to learn more.

Dr. Iglesia explained that the GYNECARE TVT treatment would restore her body's ability to control urine loss by placing a "sling" or a mesh tape beneath the urethra. The tape supports the urethra during sudden movements such as coughing, laughing or exercise.

Not long ago, Jody had the procedure using TVT and returned home the same day. She couldn't believe such a simple procedure could have such a huge impact on her life.

The treatment has changed Jody's life in every way. She is back to her active self, balancing the demands of family, work and life - without SUI. Today she enjoys spending time on the beach, playing with her kids, and taking long walks. She is also looking forward to buying a new treadmill to replace the one she threw out when she had SUI!

Jody says that taking the time to talk to a doctor and undergo the treatment was the best decision she has made.

As with any surgical procedure, surgery for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) may present risks. Individual patient results may vary and are not indicative of all outcomes. Patients should consult their physicians to find out if this procedure is appropriate for their condition.

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