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Recovery timeline following AUS
Prostate Cancer | Last Active: 22 hours ago | Replies (23)Comment receiving replies
Thanks for your messages. My AUS is scheduled for Monday 2/9. At the pre-surgical appointment, the surgeon was saying the catheter gets removed the next day. He also said that the AUS wouldn't be activated for 6 weeks, so I have 6 more weeks of Depends and incontinence pads inside them. The written instructions said to wear a "scrotal support" (which the nurse clarified was just referring to an athletic supporter), so I guess that will go under the Depends and pad. One of the things I meant to ask was whether they would use skin glue on the perineal incision or whether there would be surgical dressings that will have to get changed. I had read that doctors sometimes modify the approach and where they place the cuff if a man has had prior radiation (like I had nearly 20 years ago). But after the doctor finished the cystoscopy I was happy to hear him say that he would use the standard perineal approach and place the cuff in the usual position on the "bulbar" section of the urethra. I am curious. I understand that doctors consider the AUS a success if a man needs only one pad per day after surgery. I am curious whether this is constant slow drip or just stress incontinence like a squirt upon standing up, etc.. Thanks again.
Replies to "Thanks for your messages. My AUS is scheduled for Monday 2/9. At the pre-surgical appointment, the..."
Responding to a couple of @peterj116 questions:
I had glue for the incision in the crouch. It was a little scratchy, but each trip to the shower slowly wash it off.
Going on 3 years and about one pad per day, any leakage is usually when my bladder is somewhat full and, while sitting in a chair, lean over to tie a shoe. The device is designed to retain a certain fluid pressure and that squeezing action exceeds that design. That's a good thing to avoid urine backups or damaging the bladder, etc. The technical mathematics of you body's natural system and the AUS device can be found in the manufacturer's literature.
I hops this helps and puts you more at ease.
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My expectation is that the device isn't activated for 6 weeks, to give the area time to heal.
Until then, we continue with pads as usual & incontinence is pretty much the same (possibly less, if swelling affect the urethra's ability to release urine).
After the 6 weeks, it's back to the urologist to activate the device & teach us how to use it.
From what I've read, one just-in-case thin pad per day is considered success & will be the new norm.
The currently-annoying leakage when standing up etc should be a rarity.
AUS-wearers will be probably be here to chime in soon, because - as always - we're not robots & everyone's experience will be different.