OVERACTIVE BLADDER IN WOMEN
November is Bladder Awareness Month

There is hope!  Over 33 million Americans deal with Overactive Bladder alone - that's about 1 in every 6 adults.  You don't have to suffer in silence any longer.  Effective In-Office bladder control solutions are available. 

Remember, no matter what the answer is to your bladder control problem – from reducing frequency to eliminating leakage, we have the answer at The Pacific Coast Urology Bladder Control Center.  Do yourself a favor today – TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR BLADDER!  Call us today to schedule a convenient appointment to see Dr. Pugach.  Talk to our experienced nurses for more information.  We’re here to help you!  Call for your confidential appointment: 888-735-4336

What is an overactive bladder?

An overactive bladder is, simply, a bladder that contracts too often.  It affects both men and women and is usually defined as an increase in the number of trips to the bathroom to urinate and/or stronger and more sudden sensations to empty your bladder.  In its most mild form, it can be a minor annoyance.  In it’s worst form, you can experience leakage all day long causing an embarrassing odor and skin rash that can make you avoid social activities and time with friends, a spouse, or other family members.

There are many reasons for overactive bladders, such as bladder infections, back injuries, changes in hormone levels (menopause), neurologic (nerve) conditions, excessive liquid intake, food allergies, side effects of medications you take for other medical conditions and side effects of surgical procedures (like a hysterectomy).

You know the symptoms:  Rate your symptoms!

• Frequent trips to the bathroom
• Sudden urges to urinate
• Unexpected loss of urine that can soil your clothes
• Odor from bladder leakage

But, why continue to suffer in silence from embarrassment and limit the activities you love?

HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT YOUR BLADDER CONCERNS?
Stress Incontinence causes 50% of all female bladder control problems. 

Bladder control problems should not be considered a normal part of getting older. You have a wide range of treatment options. By identifying the precise cause of your bladder problem, Dr. Pugach is able to recommend specific treatments to correct bladder control problems.

So what’s new for women?  It’s Renessa, the new, in-office treatment for bladder control problems.  You know what those problems are – the embarrassing leakage that occurs when coughing, sneezing, playing sports or lifting objects (from groceries to a new grandchild).  The condition is called Stress Incontinence and it’s by far the most common form of a bladder control problem experienced by women.  It can start as early as age 30 and may be related to childbirth, although there are many other factors that allow it to develop. 

You can return to a more active lifestyle and avoid the embarrassment and discomfort of bladder leakage.  Isn’t it time to get relief?   At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center we are ready to help you re-gain control of your life. Give us a call today! 

If you have a question about a service or procedure, please email us or call our office at:
888-735-4336.

If you would like to learn more about incontinence or overactive bladder, read: "Bladder Control - What You Should Know and Why You Should Talk to Your Doctor," by Robert Pugach, MD as printed in Huntington Beach Magazine, Huntington Beach, CA.

At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center we offer the comfort and convenience of in-office testing for overactive bladder problems, so that you can avoid going to a hospital or commercial laboratory and experience the comfort and convenience of our modern offices.  It all begins with an office visit and urodynamics testing which is done in our offices.

Precise Diagnosis of Bladder Control Problems...Urodynamics

Opus is the most advanced urodynamics system in the world today and we are proud to make Opus available to our patients.. Opus allows us to perform urodynamics -  the science of precise diagnosis of bladder control problems to help find the best solution for you.   

Opus has exceeded our expectations – the system is accurate, precise and helps Dr. Pugach determine the cause of bladder control problems with greater skill than ever.  Working along with Opus is our biofeedback program which we can now use with more precision.  Biofeedback is a series of computer based pelvic muscle exercises that can reduce or completely eliminate certain types of incontinence (leakage) or overactive bladder problems.

Treating Bladder Control Problems

We offer a wide range of treatment options, including the latest medications, special computer-assisted bladder training exercises (biofeedback), the new Interstim© bladder therapy and Renessa^®.

• Biofeedback – computer assisted exercises performed in our office intended to strengthen the urethral muscles outside of the bladder to prevent leakage.  It can also enhance your ability to stop a sudden bladder contraction to prevent urine leakage.
   

• Renessa – the newest office procedure to stop leakage in women.  Using a local anesthetic, heat is delivered to the bladder opening to re-form protein bonds to stop or reduce the leakage. (see below)
   

• Urethral slings – a tiny plastic strip is placed around the urethra to reduce or stop leakage when Renessa is not enough. 
   

• Medications – designed to send a signal to your bladder to stop frequent or sudden bladder
  contractions. 
   

• Interstim – a tiny battery that is placed under your skin to send a signal to an overactive bladder so sudden or frequent urges to urinate are stopped.  It is much more effective than medications and the initial testing for Interstim can now be done in 30 minutes in our office! (see below)

We know how much an overactive bladder can affect your daily quality of life, and we are ready to help you find the cause and show you how you can re-gain control of your bladder.  There is no need to suffer any longer!

As solution to your bladder control problem has never been closer!!  Why wait? If you have a question about a service or procedure, please email us or call our office at (888) 735-4336.

Interstim^® Therapy by Medtronic (Sacral Nerve Stimulation) for Urinary Control

For years, patients and physicians have been frustrated when dealing with the effects of an overactive bladder that cannot be controlled with medication or other treatments.  Now there is a remarkable treatment available that is changing the lives of people who suffer from an overactive bladder.

Medical researchers have known for over 30 years that the sacral nerves control all the function of the pelvis and its organs. electrical impulses travel from the brain tot he organs and muscles in the pelvis via the sacral nerves. These impulses are responsible for urinary elimination and other functions.  But how are electrical impulses disrupted? There are a number of common reasons including, bladder infections, childbirth, hysterectomies, bowel and bladder surgeries and other pelvic events that can be an insult to sacral nerves. The symptoms may include urinary frequency, urge incontinence, urinary retention, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, pelvic pain and other ailments.

There is no longer any need to suffer in silence and have your bladder control problem disrupt your life. Now, there is a procedure that can put an end to your overactive bladder problem.  It was developed by a company that is a leading manufacturer of  cardiac (heart) pacemakers.  The concept is simple: to send electrical impulses to the bladder to stop it from contracting too often and uncontrollably.  The technology is remarkable – whenever your bladder tries to contract too often or without control, the device sends a signal to the bladder muscle to relax.  You won’t even know when it’s working – it’s painless!

The Interstim^® Therapy device is small, the size of a silver dollar, only a little bit thicker and is implanted under your skin. The technology is similar to cardiac pacemakers and has been proven safe during the last 15 years of use. InterStim^® is non-destructive with minimal risk and the treatment is reversible should you deicide not to continue with the therapy. Dr. Robert Pugach is a leader in this method to correct bladder control problems and can demonstrate dramatic results!

Not convinced?  Visit www.InterStimAmbassadors.com to talk to an Interstim patient (patient ambassador program).

Note: InterStim Therapy does not treat stress incontinence

Renessa^®
A Non-Surgical Incontinence Solution

Here is another first! Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center is excited to be the first in our area to offer Renessa^®, the new, in-office treatment for Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) or more commonly known as overactive bladder) for women.  The Renessa^® treatment uses a small probe that Dr. Pugach passes through your urethra. There are no incisions, bandages or dressings required. Recovery is rapid and comfortable.

The Renessa^® procedure uses radiofrequency energy (RF) to generate controlled heat at low temperatures in tissue targets within the lower urinary tract. The heat denatures collagen in the tissue at multiple small treatment sites. Upon healing, the treated tissue is firmer, increasing resistance to involuntary leakage at times of heightened intra-abdominal pressure, such as laughing, coughing or during exercise, thereby reducing or eliminating stress urinary incontinence.

The Renessa treatment requires only about 30-45 minutes, after which you can safely resume virtually all activities the same or next day! Your limitations, if any, will be discussed with you by Dr. Robert Pugach. 

A SINGLE Renessa treatment can reduce or eliminate stress urinary incontinence episodes within 60-90 days.

Benefits of the Renessa^® treatment include:

•  Non-surgical, in-office procedure (30 to 45 minutes)

•  Single treatment

•  No incisions, bandages, or dressings

•  Excellent safety profile, well tolerated

•  Can be performed using local anesthesia, plus oral sedation

•  Rapid recovery with minimal limitations

Safe and Effective

The Renessa^® treatment is an FDA cleared non-surgical treatment for SUI. A single Renessa treatment can reduce or eliminate SUI episodes within 6o-90 days.

"In a U.S. Clinical Trial, 76% of women continue to experience a reduction in daily incontinence episodes 12 months following the Renessa treatment, 68% of women used fewer pads each day, and 58% of women used zero pads." Information courtesy of Renessa. (www.novasysmedical.com)
 

Comment from Dr. Pugach:

We’re especially excited about the new, 30 minute, in-office Renessa procedure.  It’s remarkable. 

How effective is Renessa?  This single, 30 minute office treatment results in a 76% reduction in leakage episodes.  Amazingly, 58% of women report being able to eliminate pad use.  That’s remarkable, especially when you contrast that with the more invasive surgical techniques of the past. 

At Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center, we have patients who have suffered from overactive bladders for years who have this procedure and regain control of their bladders and their lives almost instantly!  Imagine being able to go about your normal daily activities once again, without worrying about embarrassing episodes of bladder leakage!

If you have been frustrated with the available treatments you have tried, give us a call at Pacific Coast Urology Medical Center.  We are here to help you.  We can send you more information and schedule a convenient appointment for you.  Why wait? If you have a question about a service or procedure, please email us or call our office at (888) 735-4336.