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What was your recovery like for Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS)?

Prostate Cancer | Last Active: Nov 4 3:12pm | Replies (33)
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Profile picture for denkea @denkea

79 y.o.
I had AUS implant two days ago and would like to hear from others what you experienced immediately after surgery when discharged.

Also How long did you have before you didn't need a scrotum supporter (Jock Strap)?

I have:
Perineal discomfort.
Swollen testicles
Abdominal bloating
When urinating half way done I have to push to void completely.

They sent me home with Celebrex/Bactrim and Gabapentin. One day on the Gabapentin and then off immediately. It made me spacey and unstable. I wouldn't have passed a field sobriety test and I don't drink and didn't want to have a fall risk.

I'd love to hear others immediate after surgery effects from others.
TIA

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Replies to "79 y.o. I had AUS implant two days ago and would like to hear from others..."
jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | Nov 3 10:46am

I wonder if your experience with gabapentin was caused by it, or another drug or drug combo

Both my wife and I have been on gabapentin for years. We both take a wide variety of other drugs.

I take 600mg 3 times a day. Never been spacey from it.

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peterj116 | @peterj116 | Nov 3 12:20pm

At 2 days post-op, everything will be uncomfortable.
Things should *start* to settle down after around 2 weeks.
In some ways, recovery from the AUS surgery was almost as bad as the prostatectomy - for a while.

The device is activated in 6 weeks, but until then, it's swelling, lots of bruising & discomfort.
Horrible, but it's worth it in the end.
I went back to the surgeon after 2 weeks - even though he didn't want to see me until 6 weeks - because I was concerned about mainly the healing of the incisions.
Particularly the perineum one - it looked lumpy & gnarly. It didn't look like it was healing properly at all.
But I eventually got in to see him & he had a look & said it was fine.
Turns out he was right. By the 6 week activation mark, the lumpy incision had calmed down & healed nicely.

So I know what you mean. It looks & feels like it won't heal properly or the discomfort will never end.
But by activation time, it'll all be fine.
Been there.... done that... in June.

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Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Nov 4 3:12pm

@denkea, I moved your question about what to expect after surgery for AUS to this similar discusson:
- What was your recovery like for Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS)? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/recovery-timeline-following-aus/

See all here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/prostate-cancer/

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