Artificial urinary sphincter

jerryv

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2008

Posts : 52

Posted 3/12/2008 4:06 PM (GMT -6)

I had a AUS installed on February 4,2008 and yesterday i went to the doctor to have it activated.

I was still draining from my scrotum and said i think it all hould be healed before that happened. To my surprize the doctor said the drainage was urine. I asked how that could happen and he said he didn't know. They ran a cisto on me and said the was a small leakage in the urethra wall. This is the second unit i have had because on the first one the pump supposedly broke. I made a mistake to not get specific instructions on the operation of the unit and i never saw one until yesterday. I am disturbed by all of this and i don't really know what to do. Any help by any of you would be appreciated.

Jerryv

cowboy bob

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 116

Posted 3/13/2008 10:15 PM (GMT -6)

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!

cowboy bob

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 116

Posted 3/14/2008 10:13 AM (GMT -6)

You too, Gene! We'll both be in good shape when this is all over..

jerryv

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2008

Posts : 52

Posted 3/15/2008 6:20 PM (GMT -6)

Hi All

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

Veteran Member

Joined : Nov 2006

Posts : 883

Posted 3/16/2008 4:55 PM (GMT -6)

Jerry, I hate to hear another one of us is having long term incontinance problems. I know all the guys here give us their support but only the few of us can truly understand how this problem affects our daily lives and mental state. I hope you find a fix one of these days. I'm watching your journey because I may be right behind you?

Take care and Good Luck

PSA 5.7, Biopsy 3 of 12 positive (up to 75%) all on left side of prostate, Gleason 7

RRP on Oct. 17, 2006 - Nerves on right side saved. All Lab's clear.

Cathiter in for 28 days due to complications in healing. Removed Nov. 9, 2006

First Post op PSA on Dec. 11, 2006 Undetectable 0.00.

ED workable and usable with Viagra.

Feb. 20th, 2007 - Feb. 4th, 2008 Cystoscope, Two Collagen injections,Second Opinion Consultation for Incontinance at OU Medical Center, Bio-Feedback training, Chiropractic, Accupuncture to try to resolve ongoing incontinance (4-6 pads a day) All PSA's 0.00.

Feb. 4th, 2008 - Appointment with Original Dr. to discuss options and recomendation for surgical fix for incontinance.

Feb. 22nd, 2008 - Surgery to install the AMS AdVance Male Sling.

Eagle10

New Member

Joined : Mar 2008

Posts : 15

Posted 3/16/2008 7:44 PM (GMT -6)

Jerry,

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.

Dad:

age: 58- good health overall

PSA- 6

G.score- 3+3

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

Gene214

Regular Member

Joined : Mar 2007

Posts : 422

Posted 3/16/2008 9:08 PM (GMT -6)

Dr. Rucker,

Please continue hanging out! I do not know of another uro who has jumped in on our posts, although there may have been. Some of us are very desperate to get over our incontinence (and impotence) and have had little or no success. Moreover, the lines of communications with our urologists are not always as open as they should be. I feel confident that most on this forum will respect your privacy and will not overburden you for second-hand diagnoses.

As for me, my hopes for successful healing took a great big leap at your responses on this and KW's post. Many of us are so very suspicious of devices being placed in our bodies. After all, we with continuing incontinence are fearful of having other procedures for fear it may only lead to more severe problems. So I see your "hanging out" as keeping hopes for future healing alive. Please stay with us.

Gene

Age: 64

07/05 - Biopsy: Suspicious looking cells. Watchfully wait.

12/27/06 - Biopsy

1/24/07 - Dignosed cancer: Gleason Grade: 3+3=6

02-14-07 Radical Open Nerve-sparing surgery

Pathology Stage of cancer: T2c

4-18-07: First Post-Op psa = 0.011

05/31/07: Cystoscope reveals "Stricture"

06/12/07: Procedure to remove stone & dilate uretha. Successful procedure..

8/31/07: Saw new urologist for check up & 2nd post-op Psa. It was 0.05

8/31/07: First Bio Feedback session.

9/19/07: Finished 4 Bio Feedback sessions. No imporovement with leaking.

9/26/07 - Started injections

10/27-07 - Began using clamp at uro's encouragement.

02/01/08 - Still leaking & cannot contain urine in bladder except when sitting or laying down. Can hold it for about one minute before drip, drip, drip.

02/28/08 - 3rd Post-Op Psa= 0.05. Thank you Lord. Still leaking. Discussed

AUS & Male Sling. Uro does no slings. I am investigating options.

jerryv

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2008

Posts : 52

Posted 3/17/2008 2:20 PM (GMT -6)

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

cowboy bob

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 116

Posted 3/17/2008 11:03 PM (GMT -6)

Sarasotaurologist- Thank you for jumping in! I had my prostate removed last June, and since then I have been wearing six to eight pads per day. I am getting an AMS 800 installed the middle of April. When I tell people about this they seem to say, "so sorry," but I couldn't be more excited. I am feeling like Christmas is coming as I am so anxious to be dry again. By the way, I am getting "double cuffed." Am I wrong to be very happy about this? The only odd thing is, I have yet to read about someone getting one of these and turning out in great shape. Actually, I've hardly seen any reports at all, positive or negative. Maybe when a guy gets fixed he sees no need to continue putting posts on this forum, and he just disappears!

jerryv

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2008

Posts : 52

Posted 3/27/2008 8:58 AM (GMT -6)

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

cowboy bob

Regular Member

Joined : Sep 2007

Posts : 116

Posted 3/27/2008 11:43 AM (GMT -6)

Good luck, Jerry! You will be fine, but I'm sorry you've had to endure all of this.

cowboybob

Tony Crispino

Veteran Member

Joined : Dec 2006

Posts : 8128

Posted 3/27/2008 12:27 PM (GMT -6)

Jerry,
You post is heartbreaking, but we continue to support you in every way possible. Mayo is one of the finest establishments world wide and I believe that you are in good hands. You do not bore us. So many have had the same continance issues that your post is invaluable. Stay well and heal that infection so that they can get it righted. I remain hopeful for you and will continue you lending thoughts and prayer for you. God Bless you, and get well.

Tony

Age 45 (44 when Dx)

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

Veteran Member

Joined : Nov 2006

Posts : 883

Posted 3/27/2008 9:11 PM (GMT -6)

JerryV, I would be very interested in knowing the Dr. you are seeing at Mayo. I think I will eventually have to go the AUS route. If / When I do I will go anywhere to have it done by the most experienced Doctor I can find.

I will keep an eye out for your post. Good Luck
KW

PSA 5.7, Biopsy 3 of 12 positive (up to 75%) all on left side of prostate, Gleason 7

RRP on Oct. 17, 2006 - Nerves on right side saved. All Lab's clear.

Cathiter in for 28 days due to complications in healing. Removed Nov. 9, 2006

First Post op PSA on Dec. 11, 2006 Undetectable 0.00.

ED workable and usable with Viagra.

Feb. 4th, 2008 - Appointment with Original Dr. to discuss options and recomendation for surgical fix for incontinance.

Feb. 22nd, 2008 - Surgery to install the AMS AdVance Male Sling.

jerryv

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2008

Posts : 52

Posted 3/28/2008 10:42 AM (GMT -6)

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

Veteran Member

Joined : Nov 2006

Posts : 883

Posted 3/28/2008 9:47 PM (GMT -6)

Jerry, Thanks! I will keep watching how you progress. Please keep us informed.

KW

PSA 5.7, Biopsy 3 of 12 positive (up to 75%) all on left side of prostate, Gleason 7

RRP on Oct. 17, 2006 - Nerves on right side saved. All Lab's clear.

Cathiter in for 28 days due to complications in healing. Removed Nov. 9, 2006

First Post op PSA on Dec. 11, 2006 Undetectable 0.00.

ED workable and usable with Viagra.

Feb. 4th, 2008 - Appointment with Original Dr. to discuss options and recomendation for surgical fix for incontinance.

Feb. 22nd, 2008 - Surgery to install the AMS AdVance Male Sling.

March 27th, 2008 - Sling not working, Little or no improvement. Will probably try Collagen injections one more time around the first of May. If no improvement after that will start looking for a AUS Doctor.

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