What InterStim for bowel control is
The InterStim system is a small implanted stimulator that acts on the sacral nerves, the nerves involved in bowel control. Official Advanced Urology pages describe it as a way to support more typical signaling between the bowel and the brain, with the aim of reducing leakage and urgency. It is one option we offer for chronic fecal incontinence, not a first step, and not a fit for every person who leaks stool.
If bladder leakage or overactive bladder is also part of your week, say so at the visit. The same kind of sacral nerve stimulation is already discussed on our overactive bladder treatment page for urinary symptoms, and we will tell you whether both sides of the problem belong in one plan. For the symptom picture itself, start with our bowel leakage guide.
Conservative care comes first
Before an InterStim trial, we review what you have already tried and what still makes sense to try. That usually includes fiber and other diet changes, bowel retraining, pelvic floor work, and medication. Official materials list those same first-line steps. We will not skip them just because you searched for a procedure, and we will not keep you on a plan that has already clearly failed.
Bring a written list of medicines, fiber products, and pelvic-floor work you have used, plus any prior colonoscopy or imaging. People coming from Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Brookhaven, Dunwoody, Decatur, and nearby intown Atlanta can start at whichever of our two offices is easier to reach.
The test phase, then a decision about a lasting implant
You can try the therapy before deciding on a lasting implant. During the test phase, a temporary wire is placed so a small external stimulator can act on the sacral nerves. You wear that device and keep track of leakage and urgency. The trial typically lasts three to fourteen days. If leakage or urgency improves by about 50 percent or more, a lasting implant may be discussed. If it does not, the temporary wire is removed and we talk about other options rather than moving ahead automatically. Those time and improvement figures are from Advanced Urology's patient education page on fecal incontinence.
Official materials also note risks of the evaluation, including movement of the wire, technical issues with the device, and discomfort during the trial. Your care team will show you how to use the programmer and which activities to limit while the temporary wire is in place. We will go over those points in the room before anything is scheduled.
InterStim Micro and InterStim X, and the fact that it can be reversed
If you and your urologist decide on a lasting implant, official materials describe two systems: InterStim Micro, which is rechargeable, and InterStim X, which is recharge-free. The choice depends on what fits your day-to-day life, and we will walk through that comparison rather than pick one for you in advance on this page. The therapy can be turned off, and the device can be removed later if you choose, which is why it is described as reversible.
Implanting a device carries the usual surgical risks, including swelling, bruising, bleeding, and infection. Official pages also note that some people with an InterStim system may be able to have a full-body MRI under certain conditions; that determination is made for your specific device and situation, and we will not treat it as a blanket rule here.
Where the consult happens, and where we will not invent a procedure site
Both the Sandy Springs and Decatur offices evaluate and treat bowel leakage, including conversations about whether an InterStim trial is a fit. Official Advanced Urology pages describe the implant itself as part of sacral nerve stimulation at the practice's surgery centers in the Atlanta area. They do not name Sandy Springs or Decatur as the campus where that implant is performed. We will tell you which surgery center is planned for your procedure rather than assign it to an office on this page.
A video from Advanced Urology about fecal incontinence
The official practice video below, Leaky Bowel? Regain Control from Fecal Incontinence, is background for a consult. It does not replace an exam or a review of what you have already tried.
Questions about InterStim for bowel control
Who is usually a candidate for this therapy?
Official materials describe it for people with significant, ongoing fecal incontinence who have already tried lifestyle changes and oral medication without enough relief. The test phase is how we see whether stimulation actually changes your leakage or urgency. A conversation at Sandy Springs or Decatur is what tells us whether that trial is a reasonable next step in your case.
How does the test phase work, and how long does it last?
A temporary wire is placed and connected to a small external stimulator you wear while you go about most ordinary activities. The trial typically lasts three to fourteen days, and you keep a record of leakage and urgency. If those symptoms improve by about 50 percent or more, we talk about a lasting implant; if they do not, the wire comes out and we reconsider the plan. The same figures appear on Advanced Urology's patient education page on fecal incontinence.
What is the difference between InterStim Micro and InterStim X?
InterStim Micro is the rechargeable system. InterStim X is the recharge-free system. Official materials present both as options so you can choose what fits your routine. We will go through charging, replacement, and daily use at the visit, rather than bury that comparison in a slogan here.
Is the implant permanent?
A lasting implant is meant to stay in place while it is helping, but the therapy is described as reversible: it can be turned off, and the device can be removed later if you choose. That is a different statement from a promise that bowel control will stay changed for life, and we will not make that promise on this page.
Where would the implant be done if I start in Decatur or Sandy Springs?
Your consult can be at either office. Official pages place the implant at the practice's surgery centers in the Atlanta area and do not name a Sandy Springs or Decatur procedure site, so we will tell you the scheduled center once that day is planned. Your records move with you so you do not have to repeat the history from scratch.
When should I go to an emergency department instead of booking this consult?
New bowel leakage with numbness in the groin or legs, rectal bleeding, black stool, a fever, or a sudden change in control belongs in an emergency department or urgent care, or with 911. For chronic leakage you can plan around, call 678-344-8900 or book a regular visit and we will look at the next opening at Sandy Springs or Decatur.
You can also read Advanced Urology's neuromodulation therapy for fecal control page and its fecal incontinence overview. Related reading on this site: bowel leakage, bladder leakage, and overactive bladder treatment.
What the video covers
On this Sandy Springs page the official video we link is titled #008 - Leaky Bowel? Regain Control from Fecal Incontinence. Topics noted in the public listing include What causes fecal incontinence and; Lifestyle and diet changes that; Diagnostic tests used to evaluate; Overview of treatment options from. Those short phrases come from the public YouTube description; we have not added quotes.