Having gained no more control over urine after 6 months, yesterday I began bleeding again, repeating a condition I had previously. I called my new urologist in Dallas, could not see him, but new guy on their block saw me.
Urinalysis showed an infection. He feels the Stricture I had dialated two months ago is back. He indicated the best hope I had left after 6 months and after going back in to remove the stricture again would be artificial sphincter. I'm to go back Monday for probe so he can "look see" to if the stricture is really back. He thinks it is. Of course, he's not my urologist, but the only one I could see yesterday. I have appointment with my real urologist in a couple of weeks.
After that visit yesterday I was so disheartened. I know it's been asked already by kw, but no one has answered as yet to my knowledge. "Has anyone had experience with the artificial sphincter?" I know how it works, but I hate to give up to another surgery and to putting something in my body that's a mechanical device... subject to failure. So... has anybody out there had this device implanted? How long?
Gene
Age: 63
First biopsy 07/05;
Diagnosed: "Suspicious looking cells". Dr. says wait and watch.
Second biopsy: 12/27/06
Diagnosed cancer: 01/24/07
Gleason Grade: 3+3=6
Radical Open Nerve-sparing Prostatetomy: 02-14-07
Cancer confined to prostate
Pathology Stage of cancer: T2c
First Post-Op PSA on 04-18-07: 0.011
Bleeding problem at 6 weeks post surgery...No resolution despite several trips to surgeon, antibiotic treatment.
05/31/07: Cystoscope reveals "stone", due to "Stricture" (narrowing of uretha at prostate removal site).
06/12/07: Procedure to remove stone & dilate uretha at stricture: Successful procedure, but is most likely a temporary fix, and incontinence continues.