AUS as Cure for Moderate Incontinence?

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About a year and a half ago I was diagnosed with prostate cancer so I had it removed.  I was incontinent from the start and got down to about 3-5 pads a day after 6 months.  So at the one year mark I had a Male Sling put in and my incontinence improved to 1-3 pads/day.  Not perfect but better.   So now my decision is to live with where I'm at or have an AUS put in.  I'm 52 so hopefully I have a long life ahead of me and I would like my quality of life to be as high as possible. 

Any thoughts and/or leads on other places to seek advice?

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6 Replies

  • Posted

    I was left highly incontinent after a botched  GreenLight TURP...no cancer was involved.  I was going through 6-10 Depends pull ups per day.  I finally resorted to external condom catheters with a bag, which was better than the Depends, but they present problems of their own.   My incontinence was due to trauma to the external sphincter, so there was a stricture in that area that was so far in that urethroplasty was not a safe option for me at 78.

    I went to a new doctor at a teach hospital who finally got a solution to the stricture, and implanted an AUS.   I am essentially dry now, but I wear a light pad for social situations where a strong cough could cause a tiny bit of leakage.   I had talked to two other men who had AUS implants after prostate cancer surgery.  I keep in touch with them, and they both are very satisfied with the result, as I am.    I will be happy to talk to you via IM, or call you on the phone if you would like to share all the details.  The important thing would be to get a very experienced doctor to do the implant if you go that route.  The one who did mine does about 150 per year.

    • Posted

      Thanks Glenn77.

      From what I've read and been told most everyone is happy they had the surgery and the AUS.

      How long between bathroom trips?  (I'm thinking of attending a football game and it would be nice to not have to go to the bathroom every quarter.)

      I'm meeting with my Dr. next week and leaning towards having the surgery but want to get all of the info I can before then. 

  • Posted

    Scott,

    That depends on your bladder capacity, and how much and what to drink before and during the football game.  I restrict my coffee to a good strong cup in the morning, and then stick to water (mostly) for the rest of the day.  I sometimes have a beer or wine, but not often.  I can go 3 hours or so during the day.  If I'm outside and sweating, maybe longer.  Where will you have your surgery, if I may ask.  (You can PM the reply, if you wish.)

    • Posted

      Thanks for the info and luckily while I live in a smallish town, Pullman, WA, my Urologist, Dr. Keizur, is very good and the local hospital, Pullman Regional, is top notch.  (I explored going to Seattle, it's about a 5 hour drive, and I actually went there for a 2nd opinion when this all started but the services locally are just as good.)

    • Posted

      Believe it or not, I know of Pullman.  My wife and I (and my son too) graduated from the school whereTony Bennett now coaches basketball.  Thank you for "allowing" him to come east. confused

      I don't know what questions you've asked of the doctor who would do your surgery.  The question I recommend is, "how many AUS implants have you done, and how many do you do in a typical year?"  Also, I would ask about what range of outcomes he is getting.  I did not ask that question of the urologist who did my GL procedure, and I sure wish I had.

      There are on-line videos of the AUS surgery if you're not squeamish, and would like to know the details.   Also for future reference, the company that makes the AMS 800 appliance also makes an implant for those who end up with ED.  One of the men I know  has your surgery history, and ended up having both types of implants. 

    • Posted

      We do miss Tony Bennett, he's a great guy/coach and I root for him when Virginia is playing.  We were sad to lose him but understandable.

      Thanks for the advice regarding questions to ask my Dr. and I've seen a couple of this videos, and yes they're a little graphic but pretty educational.

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