Raveen Syan, M.D., is a urologist and Director of Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogynecology at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, part of the University of Miami Health System. For information on urologic treatments and services click here or visit the UHealth Collective:
MEET JULIE ALVAREZ MEDINA:
Julie Alvarez Medina was nervous to leave her home without knowing where the nearest restroom was located.
“I was having a lot of problems with hesitancy and having to go to the bathroom over 16 times a day,” Julie says.
Julie had overactive bladder. She went to see Raveen Syan, M.D., a urologist at the Desai Sethi Urology Institute, part of the University of Miami Health System, who specializes in pelvic floor disorders.
“Overactive bladder is a condition that’s extremely common. It affects about 15% of men and women. It’s really characterized by your symptoms. So going often, going urgently, maybe getting up a lot at night, maybe having leakage. There are three advanced therapies. The most effective is called sacral neuromodulation. It is like a pacemaker for the heart, so it’s like a little wire attached to a battery that sits under the skin,” says Dr. Syan.
The rechargeable battery that’s implanted inside the patient is tiny. The device stimulates the sacral nerve, which sends messages to the brain, improving bladder function.
“When we target this sacral nerve, which is a nerve way down low at the level of the tailbone, and we give stimulation continuously, it significantly improves symptoms of overactive bladder. In fact, 90% of people state that their symptoms are reduced by at least 50%. It actually makes the brain more aware of when a bladder is appropriately full, and you need to pee, versus too empty and you’re just going anyway,” Dr. Syan says.
“After I had it done, I was like, ”I should have done this earlier,” says Julie.
“By having an institute like this, so focused on patient care, patient outcomes. We invest in what we need to do to make sure patients get the best that exists out there and all the options available,” Dr. Syan says.
Julie uses a remote control to adjust the amount of stimulation.
“You just change it to be a little bit higher, or be a little bit lower, depending on how you notice that your symptoms are,” says Julie.
Now she’s back in control of her life!
“It really has been life changing. Dr. Syan, she’s amazing. She’s amazing. She’s absolutely wonderful. I love her so much,” Julie says.
FOCUSING ON YOU
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