Artificial urinary sphincter

Gene, I concur with your first comment. As I think you know, I'm getting my AUS installed on   April 16 and then having it activated the end of May, just about 4 days before my wife and I go on vacation.  I am sure hoping it goes well. We have already cancelled two vacations in the past year due to my leakage. I want a dry vacation!

This is Jerryv again.  I went to my doctor on Tuesday 03-11-2008 amd was to have my AUS activated.  My wound of the surgery was still draining and i did not want him to activate it,  He examined me and said the leakage was urine and i asked how that could be and he said he did not know.  He prerscibed more antibiotics and said to see him in two weeks.  That left me as flat as a pancake.  I wanted to go to Mayo clinic but i thought i would need a doctors recommendation.  I talked to my son and he got me a number to call to talk to Mayo.  I have an appintment at Mayo clinic in Rochester Mn on March 21 and maybe i can get some straight answers as to what is going on.  When i get back i will post to let you know the results.

Jerrv

   what was your psa and your gleason score? My dad is going though this and i am wanting to compare. THe AUS seems like a great form of treatment.

age: 58- good health overall

PSA- 6

G.score- 3+3

Doctor told him that surgry was best. Date not set yet.

This is to Eagle 10

Hi to all of you.  I am 89 years young and i am very active and keep busy .  I work with a friend of mine doing woodturning.  I have been doing woodturning for about 40 years and i still enjoy it.  We are now making very decorative segmented bowls and we learn something new ech day.  Woodturners burn their mistakes and you know what doctors do with theirs.  Back to the psa and i would have to  go back quite a ways.  about 14 years ago on a regular check with my primary doctor he discovered a rough spot on my prostate and even though my psa was 2.6 he said i should have it checked.  I did and it was cancerous and i opted for the seed implant.  That all went well until about two years ago i got up in the middle of the night to pee and i couldn't.  I went to the emergency room for a catheter and later saw the doctor who performed the implant.  They gave me every kind if pill made and nothing worked.  This lasted about two months and then he suggested the blue laser treatment.  I think thats what it is called.  The nurses called it the blue light special.  That did not work and after about six weeks i went another urologist recommended to me.  He checked me over you know the cisto and all that good stuff and then tried some other pills.  After going to him for two months he retired and all his patient transferred to a urological group.  The first urologist i had there put me on pill for about a month and when i went back he checked and said i should take these pills and see him in four months.  I went home and decided i had enough of that crap and so i go to one of the other urologists in the group.  Thats who i have now and i have told the story about the rest of the treatment i have had from him.  I was able to get and appoint ment at Mayo and i know i will get some straight answers.

If i had know in the beginning i would have asked a lot more questins. 

It would be very helpful  if the doctor from Florida would give all of us a list of questions to ask before we have this proceedure done.

I'll ba at Mayo on Friday March 21 and i will report when i get home

Thanks for your patience

I have returned from Mayo Clinic in Rochester Mn. and was glad i went to get to see what the problem really is.  I arrived at the clinic at 8 AM on the 21st of March and was assigned a doctor.  I met with him for a while to explain what had been going on.  He explained   that he was the garbage man and was assigned to patients who have severe problems.  After an examination and cystoscope it was decided thet my body was full of infection and the would have to take out the sphincter and flush the area.  This turned out to be a emegency plan because about 9PM they started operating and i got back to my room at midnight.

I am now home and go to the hospital  in my area for I/V antibiotics and this must continue for three weeks and then back to Mayo for examination and hope i am on the right track.  I have a catheter and have to keep that in for two months and then back to Mayo for a checkup.

The doctor i had did just about everything that could go wrong and had i stayed with him iwould have been dead in two months.  With the first aus after it failed   he said it was because the pump broke.  Mayo has been installing AUS since 1972 and have never had a pump break.  I never saw the broken pump so i really don't know. The next AUS was installed after the removal of the the first one.  That was on Feb 4 and at Mayo they said there should should not be another installed until after six months.

I could go on and on about this but i don't want to continue to bore you.

If any of you want any further info please contact me.

gpv2590@sbcglobal.net

Thanks for all your prayers.

Blessingd

Jerryv

Pre-op PSA was 19.8

Surgery on Feb 16, 2007

Post-Op Pathology: Gleason 4+3=7, positive margins, Stage pT3b (Stage III)

HT began in May, '07 with Lupron and Casodex 50mg

IMRT radiation for 38 Treatments ending August 3, '07

Current PSA (1/08): <0.1

I will continue HT until May '09. 

Years in Remission (3/23/07): 1

Visit my Journey at:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/tonycrispino

STAY POSITIVE!

Prostate Cancer Forum Moderator

Hi KW

The people at Mayo have installed AUS since 1972 and the doctor i am seeing installs 100 of these units every 14 months.  Thats a lot of experience and in your interview you find that out quickly.

There are two doctors i have seen and they are very knowlegible.The first one is Doctor Shawn Michael McGee and the other is Dr. Daniel Steven Elliot.  Dr. Elliot's  medical secretary number is (507)284-3983.  These two guys are wonderful and they let you and everyone with  you know about you situation.  Before the operation someone will come to you and those with you telling you that you will be told the progress of the operation.  Your people know what is going on all the time.

When you leave the hospital you are given  a list of information and instructions along with phone numbers for any further information you might need.  A wonderful feeling knowing there is someont to talk to if needed.

DON'T go thru all the pain i did for 6 months.  Go to the best and you will nwver regret it.

I get stronger and have less pain each day and i will continue to keep you all informed of my progress.

Keep praying for me

Thanks to all of you.

Jerryv