I’ve Lived Free of OAB Symptoms for Five Years—Here’s How
Dear Class of 1961,
As we approach our 65th reunion, I’ve been reflecting not only on our shared memories but on the reality many of us quietly manage as we grow older. I’ll start this candidly: I have an overactive bladder (OAB).
Saying that out loud didn’t come easily at first. OAB can be isolating—sudden urgency, planning life around restrooms, and the quiet embarrassment that often keeps us from talking about it at all. What I’ve learned, however, is that simply acknowledging it is often the most effective way to start an honest and supportive conversation. When we talk openly, we discover how many of us are dealing with the same thing.
Five years ago, I controlled my own OAB symptoms, and they have remained well-managed ever since. I want to be clear about what I am—and am not—saying. I am not a physician, and I don’t claim to have all the answers. What I do have is personal experience, persistence, and a great deal of careful study.
For three years, I successfully used PTNS (Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation), followed by two years using TTNS (Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation)—a total of five years of consistent symptom relief. The stimulation is electrical. The word “electrical” can sound intimidating, but in practice, these therapies are straightforward, conservative, and far less dramatic than the term suggests. They work by gently stimulating a nerve pathway already known to influence bladder function.
Over the past two years, I’ve read extensively and communicated directly with five urologists, as well as organizations including the AMA, the University of Michigan, Columbia University, two insurance companies, and the NIH. My academic background is in engineering and business (BA, BSEE, MBA, all from Columbia), and I’ve approached this the way I approach any complex problem: by asking questions, reviewing evidence, and listening carefully to experts.
One thing that continues to surprise me is that TTNS—despite being proven, accessible, and comparatively inexpensive—is still not widely prescribed in the U.S. I wrote the policy brief that appears on OABTherapy101.org that clearly lays out both the evidence and the opportunity. It summarizes my experience and describes the steps needed to make American OAB care equal to the OAB therapy already practiced outside the U.S. for well over 10 years.
By sharing my story, I do not intend to tell anyone what to do, but to encourage informed conversations. If you’re dealing with OAB, I encourage you to talk with your doctor, read about TTNS therapy outside the U.S., and consider, then potentially try, TTNS if you decide it makes sense for you. Speaking up—first with ourselves, and with trusted professionals—can be a powerful first step.
As we celebrate this milestone reunion, I hope we can support one another not only by remembering the past, but by helping each other live more fully in the present. I look forward to reconnecting and continuing these important conversations together.
With warmest regards,
Louis “Bernie” Muench, 248 563-6453, lbmuench@gmail.com