Vicki Peterson likes to keep it moving. At her home in McGregor, she fills her days with walks, time with family and friends, and a calendar packed with the things she loves. But for two years, urge urinary incontinence began to shrink her world in ways she couldn’t ignore.
More and more, her day revolved around one thing: finding the nearest bathroom. Nights meant waking up every few hours. At first, she chalked it up to menopause. With the support of her primary care team at the McGregor clinic, Vicki tried every conservative treatment option available.
But instead of improving, her symptoms worsened. The urgency became constant. Even standing up too quickly could trigger an accident. Spontaneous plans felt out of reach, and life was no longer about doing what she loved, it was about managing what she couldn’t control.
Vicki knew it was time for a different approach. She met Riverwood’s urology team and learned about a new option: the Altaviva™ implant. Smaller than a stick of gum and placed near the ankle, the device uses undetectable electrical impulses to restore communication between the bladder and brain. Nervous but ready for change, she decided to go for it.
On procedure day, her care team kept things calm and comfortable. One of Vicki’s nurses, Michelle Switzer, held her hand the whole time, a kindness that Vicki will always be grateful for. After it was all said and done, Vicki says the most painful part of the process was the quick pinch of the numbing shot.
Since then, everything has changed. Vicki is back to living her life freely—moving through her days with confidence instead of caution.
At her most recent follow-up appointment, Peterson shared some advice: “If you’re on the fence about Altaviva™, do it. It’ll change your life.”
Learn more about how Riverwood can help, visit our Urology page
To schedule an appointment, call us at t 218-927-5566.