Elizabeth Egan: A Trailblazer

Ignoring a problem won’t make it go away
Ten years ago, Elizabeth Egan’s family doctor told her she should do something about her bladder control problem. To Elizabeth, losing urine was mostly an annoyance — something she would cope with rather than seek medical attention. She knew she would lose urine during strenuous physical activity or if she ignored an urge and did not get to a bathroom in time. For years she dealt with her situation by carrying pads in her pocket. “I was getting very adept at not having an accident instead of seeking a solution.” However, as she was to realize later, “It took away the joy of living.”

Then, Elizabeth had two very embarrassing accidents that changed her life. The first was when her son-in-law picked her up at the airport. Walking through the airport, she thought she should use the bathroom, but didn’t, and ended up in a situation she had been so careful to avoid in the past. “I suddenly realized I was losing everything. I was completely wet,” she recalls. The second time occurred when she stood up at a book reading and was wet. “In these two instances, I wasn’t even aware that I was urinating.”

Her first attempt to seek treatment was not a good experience. She met with a urologist who turned out to be very insensitive to her feelings. In addition, the fact that he was a male physician made the experience even more uncomfortable. “It’s an embarrassing situation and something women do not talk about.”

Taking control of her life
Undaunted, Elizabeth decided to give it another try after hearing about the Urogynecology & Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery Center at Loyola University Health System. Elizabeth’s cousin recommended them, stating, “There’s no mincing words — if they can’t help you, they’ll tell you.” A second recommendation from her regular gynecologist — and the fact that the physicians at Loyola specialize in urogynecology — settled it.

The specialists at the Urogynecology Center made it clear that there were options available for Elizabeth. Whether the testing revealed Elizabeth’s treatment would include surgery, pills or exercise, “they said we’d go on until [we found a solution], and I was thrilled.” Ultimately, it was decided that Elizabeth definitely needed surgery to help reposition the base of the bladder. However, even this path required a choice — either the Burch or the sling procedure. Both were minimally invasive procedures that have quick recovery times.

During the Burch Procedure, the urethra and the wall of the bladder are pulled back into position and stitched to a tendon attached to the pubic bone. This helps the bladder remain stable during activities that might cause leakage, such as coughing or sneezing.
The sling procedure forms a sling with the patient’s own tissue or a synthetic tissue-like material. The sling is used to lift up and support the urethra, like a hammock, to prevent urine leakage.

Blazing trails for others
“I ended up receiving the sling procedure,” Elizabeth recalls. At the time, this was a relatively new procedure that seemed well suited for her situation. Loyola’s commitment to treating the entire patient — mind, body and spirit — was also well suited for Elizabeth. It was clear from her first visit that there was a totally different treatment approach from that of the previous urologist. Elizabeth recalls, “I like that I was an adult dealing with adults.”

Her life is completely different now. “Now, nothing happens when I sneeze or cough,” says Elizabeth. Would she do it again? “Definitely, yes!” Happy that she finally got the treatment that she needed, Elizabeth doesn’t want other women to make the same mistakes she did — being too embarrassed about losing urine to get help. “I can’t believe I fell into that trap… my ignorance was what stopped me.”

Three years ago, there wasn’t a lot of information on the surgical procedure that Elizabeth selected. She was truly a trailblazer, and now she’s telling everyone about the treatment and have even spoken to her senior aerobics class: “I knew how long it took me to realize I needed treatment, and if anything that I did could help another woman get there faster, that’s all the pay I ever wanted.”