Connect
Considering an Artificial Urinary Sphincter (AUS): Need advice
I had a prostatectomy in 2013, followed by radiation in 2013 and more radiation in 2024. My leaking has continued to worsen. My new urologist recommended that I consider an artificial urinary sphincter. He says he’s performed “a lot” of them. By chance, he was a resident 3 years ago, assisting one of my previous urologists. He completed a fellowship last year and is now back at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He’s taken over my care from my previous urologist who retired last year.
My questions: I know would want a surgeon who has done a lot of them successfully. How should I investigate? If my doctor says he has done a lot, should I believe him? What is a lot? If he says he’s had a good success rate, should I believe him? What is a good success rate? I doubt he’s going to give me his client list. All I know to do is to ask around, see if anyone has had AUS, find out who they went to, and ask what their experience was. I can do that here in this forum, but does that mean I’d need to travel to another city? Thanks.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.
Connect
@jeffmarc I've been on pads now almost four years, so it is all I know. What would you say was your biggest adjustment in learning to use it?
@hughtur I'v been considering one for awhile. What would you say was your largest adjustment in learning how to use it? If you're like me, you were on pads for awhile....big change I would think.
@lagnafinc
there’s really not much involved in learning to use it. You just press the bulb in the scrotum
to pee.
My biggest adjustment was being able to wear any kind of pants I want instead of just black ones.
Not having to worry about putting a pad in my underwear, a real adjustment. Not having to worry about having to check and see if it was wet.’
No more worrying about having to change the pad, and it not being convenient.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@hughtur when was it implanted? Thanks.
Thanks for the reply...all positive things
It took a while, but I'm happy with my AUS.
No real issue getting used to it. I read how you use one hand to steady the device & the other to press the pump.
Never did that. I pull the device to one side with 3 fingers & press the pump with the other 2.
As long as your dexterity is ok, it should be fine.
Recovery from the actual surgery was no fun, but worth it in the end. Life-changer.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jeffmarc
" "My biggest adjustment was being able to wear any kind of pants I want instead of just black ones." "
You must have been looking in my closet. 😉 Same thing with me. Had mine installed in Nov 25. A life changer for sure.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction@jeffmarc If I may, let me ask my "adjustment" question in a different way. If you were like I am now, leaking all day every day with your bladder never full; then with your AUS activated you went from an uncontrolled situation to a controlled one where a full bladder is possible. Were you immediately able to "hold" for several hours, or did you have to gradually work up to that? I'm guessing that with an AUS, the physical sensation of an urge to pee is there, but now you have a valve and can just "hold it" for some indeterminate period depending on comfort level if you choose. So what was your comfort level right afterwards, and how did it progress? Thx...
@lagnafinc
Yes, you are immediately able to hold for several hours with the AUS.
I would wake up in the morning, And you know how full your bladder is in the morning, And I would read the news for an hour, not worrying about it. Yes, I felt full. I felt like I needed to pee, but no urgency to Do it immediately. And I knew I would not leak.
I immediately had relief and was able to go the whole night. During the day I would wait until I really felt I had to go. Of course, sometimes you don’t wait that long, If you’re going out, you pee before you leave.