Getting Started with ELITONE
Where to Place the GelPad
DAILY LOG: This daily log is a printable sheet to help you keep track of your treatments, leaks and pads used. It is encouraging to track your progress!
Am I positioning the GelPads correctly?
We encourage you to try the GelPad in different positions (try an inch forward or an inch backwards) to find the spot most effective for you. Many women feel better contractions when the GelPad is fairly low on the pubic bone (for the original ELITONE). A good starting place is when the apex of the hole (top center opening) is right around the clitoris (just an anatomical landmark) so that the blue conductive areas are around and above the urethra. For the ELITONE URGE, the placement does not matter as much because it goes deeper to the muscles and nerves surrounding the bladder.
What level do I need to go to?
Everyone’s body reacts differently to the stimulus. We do encourage you to start at a comfortable level. That being said, for the device to be effective you should try to push yourself to the highest possible level you can tolerate. It should “almost” be uncomfortable, but not quite. There are 35 levels (within the 7 lights). We recommend a goal of getting to the 4th light or more. (We have seen women say the device didn’t work for them, only to find out they were only on the 2nd light…) See below Q&A for more tips.
Should I be doing Kegels with the device on (for original ELITONE device)?
Some women are busy and just want to put it on and go. Others say the device helps them remember to do contractions and use the timing as a guide. Some literature shows that doing active Kegels with a device is beneficial.
Why doesn’t the battery keep its charge longer?
The battery naturally drains when sitting unused. Using the device at higher intensities, body type, and amount of time not used places a role in battery drainage. The small battery is a tradeoff for being so tiny and light. We suggest that you charge the device the night before so it is ready when you want it. If you are in a rush and you see a blinking red light, you do not need to wait to charge the battery the entire way, just the minimum (perhaps 5-10 minutes) to get a green light for 1 use.
How long before I notice a difference?
How quickly you see results depends on the severity of your leaks beforehand, body type, consistency of use, as well as the intensity level you treat on. Keep in mind, some women in our studies did not see any improvement in the first 4 weeks (and almost felt like they were getting worse) before they got better.
What does maintenance look like?
After the initial treatment (which can last up to 12 weeks), some women may:
- do Kegel exercises correctly and they are strong enough to maintain muscle tone through Kegels (ELITONE).
- do a few sessions every few months,
- some (typically the older women), may want to do a session(s) every other week or every week more consistently.
This is highly variable, as everyone has different muscle tone, response to treatment and started with varying degrees of severity.
Troubleshoot (ELITONE): I am not feeling a strong contraction, what are some other tips?
Everyone’s body is different. Typically you start to feel pulses on the surface, then as you increase intensity you will start to feel the contractions inside (a tightening). Muscle tightening does not need to feel deep. Stimulation around the urethra is still beneficial, and women in the clinical studies have improved their incontinence without feeling typical contractions. However, we suggest some other tips:
- Trying different GelPad placements for the best contraction for your body (see placement FAQ).
- The placement may require shaving to get good skin contact.
- Try sitting down, as it presses the GelPad closer to the muscle.
- If the skin is too dry, less current is transmitted, so try leaving the GelPad on for 20 minutes and then turning the device on.
- Try going up higher in intensity. You may feel you cannot go higher because of sensations on the skin. After 3-5 minutes of the treatment, the skin may get a little numb, in which you could probably turn up the intensity. We would actually recommend turning it as high as you go, so that it is almost painful, then backing off one level.
- Another user suggested this tip: essentially making the GelPad shorter by shifting the GelPad down a bit in front and forward a bit in the back, making the overall pad shorter. This may leave the middle section a little loose. Experiment with what position works best for you.
If you are doing all those things (with a new GelPad) and you are maxing out (at the highest level and not feeling anything), then this device may not be strong enough for you. If within 60 days then we can refund the device. You may also call us to troubleshoot.
Troubleshoot: I can’t get my device to go past first few bars
While not connected to GelPad, can you click the + button quickly and go past the 3rd bar?
If the answer is yes, then there are two common mistakes people do:
1) they often press the – button with the other fingers while the + button is pressed with the thumb, which just makes the controller go up and down or not move. So make sure your other fingers are nowhere near the – button.
2) they often go too slowly, which puts it in active mode, then if they press it again it puts it in pause (blinking orange light), then another press activates it again but one step lower! So the end result is not moving. So if you do put it in pause then just make sure to go up during the 6 seconds it waits. After about 5-6 seconds it will activate again after a level change.
Troubleshoot: My device does not fully charge, or it stops short.
When fully charged, the green battery outline stops blinking (but the battery symbol does not fill in- it’s just an outline).
If the orange squiggly light starts blinking quickly then you put it in pause mode, and yes it will turn off automatically within 30 seconds of pause (just click a button to take it out of pause). If the orange line stays on for 6 seconds and then off for 6 seconds, that is the normal treatment and will run for 20 minutes.
ELITONE URGE: How do I know its working?
Since ELITONE URGE does not contract the pelvic floor muscles, you may feel uncertain as to how high to go. You will feel the pulses, and the higher the intensity, likely the deeper the current will reach the bladder muscles and nerves. As with our clinical study participants, you be the judge of “as high as possible, while staying comfortable” and then trust that the current will do its work behind the scenes.
Also, we recommend keeping track with a daily log of your leaks and intensity to see the progress.
