Before the trial procedure
- No blood thinners or aspirin-containing medications for 7 days before and 3 days after; Coumadin or Pradaxa stop 5 days before. Always coordinate with your prescribing physician. You may resume 1–3 days after, per your physician.
- A urine culture is required one week before the procedure.
- You'll be prescribed 12 antibiotic pills. Start the morning of the day BEFORE your procedure, then continue every 6 hours until they're gone. If you forget your antibiotics, the procedure is rescheduled.
- Wear comfortable, loose-fitting pants (sweatpants are perfect).
- Have a light meal before the procedure.
- Your follow-up is 6–8 days later with the physician assistant, to remove the leads and review your results.
During the trial: what it feels like
A thin, flexible wire is placed near the sacral nerves through numbed skin and connects to a small stimulator worn at your waistband. Most people describe the sensation as a slight pulling or tingling in the pelvic area — it should never be painful.
Set the stimulation as high as comfortable — never to the point of discomfort — and ideally keep it on 24 hours a day. The wire can shift slightly as you move and heal, changing how the stimulation feels; adjusting the dial is normal. Some people don't feel it continuously — that's okay. The goal is symptom improvement.
Trial-week rules
- No heavy lifting or vigorous exercise; avoid bending at the waist (bend at the knees), excessive twisting, and heavy housework.
- No sexual relations during the trial.
- Keep the dressing dry and in place — no showers or tub soaking; sponge baths are the safe way to stay clean. Reinforce the dressing with tape if needed, but don't change it.
- Turn the stimulator off and unplug it before driving.
- When moving to and from bed, couch, or car, avoid sliding across surfaces.
- If the green light stops flashing, turn the dial off, wait 5 seconds, and turn it back on; if it still won't flash — or the yellow BAT light shows — replace the 9-volt battery.