Can someone help me about life after AUS 800 implant?

Posted by rodneyverrill @rodneyverrill, May 8 4:42pm

This is my first question/post so please excuse me as I a new at this. I am 58 and have had an RP in October of 2023. My prostate was 155 grams and since the procedure I have been left essentially incontinent using 7-9 large pads a day. Although this has been difficult, I feel fortunate my psa has fallen to .008, a number my doctor tells me is considered undetected.
I have tried PT with very little results, my surgeon recommended an AUS, so this coming Monday I will have surgery to have this installed. I have read many of the posts within the prostate cancer section, but I am still curious about discomfort after the 5-6 week healing process and "regular activity like swimming, golf, and more strenuous activities like mowing and lifting firewood. I am of course second guessing my decision but would be appreciative of any feedback any of you have.

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@grandpun

All above comments are excellent and most valuable.
I guess I'm blessed by being the poster child (at 77 YO) for AMS 800 success. I waited about 15 months post RP for the install. The operation itself took a long time; some 4 hours. But it was all well worth it.
I had it activated by a quick office visit and those 15 months of 6 to 8 or 9 big pads a day were over.
At first I was very cautious still using the big pad for a couple days but only needed one because I didn't leak and it just got funky down there. Then down to a medium pad per day. So within a week or so and ever since I just use a thin pad. It's mostly for that 'last drop' that most "normal" guys have or the rare leakage. Now I'm at 9-months post install of the AMS 800 and all is well.
The only current downside is that I still need to drop my pants to get both hands working. One to activate (usually a couple or 3 or 4 squeezes) and the other to aim. No big deal. I use the accessible stall in public restrooms for convenience and space. The regular stalls are ok as well.
Depending on my fluid intake I usually go about 2-hours between voiding. If I sweat a lot or don't drink much or am driving I can go up to 4-ish hours non-stop.
When I get a signal/urge I know I have about 15-minutes to 1/2 hour to get to a bathroom.
YES, I had to learn how to use it. How hard to squeeze (a little hard, not painful at all), how long it takes to close again (not long), which hand to use on what LOL.
Yes, I'm super lucky and I think blessed to have an excellent doc and his team. BTW, it turned out my doc is a regional expert in gender affirming surgery. So he really knows the area he's working in. That had to be a plus for me.
NO problems with the incision, no discomfort post op, I don't bike but never felt pain sitting down or lifting (I was very careful at first).
I am blessed and know to be super grateful for it.
And, YES, life is so much better again.
Go for it and find the most talented doc you can. (More BTW, he was suggested by my RP surgeon.)

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Thank you so much for taking the time to provide so much valuable information. I feel much better after hearing all of the positive feedback all have had. The detail of your experience has been very settling for me.
Take care

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@budisnothome

All will be ok. I took my body about 1 month for everything new inside to find it's new home. Things will move and that is ok. The unit should be activated around 4 weeks. You will still leak until it is turned on. Then you will need to play with the pump to get the feel of it. Mine let's me pee as soon as I squeeze the pump even a little. Not very often do I need to squeeze a 2nd or 3rd time. When done wait a minute or so for the dribbles to stop. Radiation killed my bladder. Very small in size and volume so I can go often. It will be a learing curve but for me and 3 years with a catheter it is SO nice. Good luck and really listen to doc and almost do nothing for couple of weeks. Incision can tear open . I did to much bending and woops. But it did heal in a couple of weeks. Life will be better.

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Thank you for responding so quickly. Up to this point I have had no one to communicate with concerning my experiences. I've looked a lot on the web and found very little. All of this has been very settling for me.
Thank you so much

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@rodneyverrill

Thank you for responding so quickly. Up to this point I have had no one to communicate with concerning my experiences. I've looked a lot on the web and found very little. All of this has been very settling for me.
Thank you so much

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It was kinda scary with my first one. 2nd one works great. You will enjoy the freedom you will have. Please do nothing for 2 weeks. There is a lot to heal. Good luck. Where are you having aus done? Close to home? I had a comfy cushion for the car ride.

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@budisnothome

It was kinda scary with my first one. 2nd one works great. You will enjoy the freedom you will have. Please do nothing for 2 weeks. There is a lot to heal. Good luck. Where are you having aus done? Close to home? I had a comfy cushion for the car ride.

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I live in Maine, so having the procedure done in the southern part of the state about 2 hours away from home. I’m hoping the recovery is better than the RP.

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@grandpun

All above comments are excellent and most valuable.
I guess I'm blessed by being the poster child (at 77 YO) for AMS 800 success. I waited about 15 months post RP for the install. The operation itself took a long time; some 4 hours. But it was all well worth it.
I had it activated by a quick office visit and those 15 months of 6 to 8 or 9 big pads a day were over.
At first I was very cautious still using the big pad for a couple days but only needed one because I didn't leak and it just got funky down there. Then down to a medium pad per day. So within a week or so and ever since I just use a thin pad. It's mostly for that 'last drop' that most "normal" guys have or the rare leakage. Now I'm at 9-months post install of the AMS 800 and all is well.
The only current downside is that I still need to drop my pants to get both hands working. One to activate (usually a couple or 3 or 4 squeezes) and the other to aim. No big deal. I use the accessible stall in public restrooms for convenience and space. The regular stalls are ok as well.
Depending on my fluid intake I usually go about 2-hours between voiding. If I sweat a lot or don't drink much or am driving I can go up to 4-ish hours non-stop.
When I get a signal/urge I know I have about 15-minutes to 1/2 hour to get to a bathroom.
YES, I had to learn how to use it. How hard to squeeze (a little hard, not painful at all), how long it takes to close again (not long), which hand to use on what LOL.
Yes, I'm super lucky and I think blessed to have an excellent doc and his team. BTW, it turned out my doc is a regional expert in gender affirming surgery. So he really knows the area he's working in. That had to be a plus for me.
NO problems with the incision, no discomfort post op, I don't bike but never felt pain sitting down or lifting (I was very careful at first).
I am blessed and know to be super grateful for it.
And, YES, life is so much better again.
Go for it and find the most talented doc you can. (More BTW, he was suggested by my RP surgeon.)

Jump to this post

So far, so good after Monday's surgery. Minor discomfort and lots of swelling.
A quick follow up question, Will the activation pump settle in after a period of time and generally stay in place after a period of time or will it be necessary to "search" for it each time.
I see why the activation is delayed, with the swellling and tubes/pump.
Thank you

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Sounds like you're on a great track!!! So glad it went well.
Mine is no problem to find each and every time. I don't know if it's attached or not - I suspect not since sometimes it can be like squeezing a greasy bean and squirt away from the pressure of my fingers. NBD, just needs a careful approach.
Be patient and hope for the very best.
Hope the blessings keep coming for you.

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@rodneyverrill

So far, so good after Monday's surgery. Minor discomfort and lots of swelling.
A quick follow up question, Will the activation pump settle in after a period of time and generally stay in place after a period of time or will it be necessary to "search" for it each time.
I see why the activation is delayed, with the swellling and tubes/pump.
Thank you

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Good morning. It took my body about 1 month before everything settled into its new home. My first AUS , the surgeon did not leave a lot of extra tubing. I had to pull and search for it. It did fail and had to be removed. I found a different surgeon who specializes in radiation caused problems. He left a lot of tubing on my second AUS. It is easy to grab. You will get better at one handed squeezing. Mine doesn't take much to get it flowing and very seldom do I need to do another squeeze. Everything will move around as you move around but will settle in and you will hardly notice it. Yay for a great surgery. Be careful lifting and sitting on hard surfaces. I tore my incision twice but did not take long to heal up. I can feel my cuff between my legs. Take it slow for a while. Good luck.

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I’m curious if there are any issues with this procedure after two rounds of radiation… rad onc says it is not a good idea because of tissue damage…any thoughts?

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FWIW I didn't have any radiation, just RALP. I tried to get continent for almost 1.5-years with very little to no luck. So I had way plenty of time to heal from the RALP. Also, I waited 3 of the 4-weeks the doc specified before install plus 2-weeks of vacation I had booked before activation. So total of 5 (long) weeks to let the AUS heal in place.
But everything went so well and it only took a few tries to get a good, basic routine to 'pee like a man' (mostly) and eventually out of caution only use a thin pad just in case.
Besides a good surgeon, patience is your best medical friend.
Sounds like you're doing quite well. Just relax, heal, chill and let us know how it goes from here on.
Praying for your greater enjoyment of a relatively normal life.

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@budisnothome

It was kinda scary with my first one. 2nd one works great. You will enjoy the freedom you will have. Please do nothing for 2 weeks. There is a lot to heal. Good luck. Where are you having aus done? Close to home? I had a comfy cushion for the car ride.

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I am now 3 weeks out of surgery. Pain is mostly gone but I can definitely feel a dull tension where the device is implanted. Does the tenderness subside after a period of time?

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