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ProACT vs AUS (Artificial Urinary Sphincter): Which did you choose?

Posted by jimchs @jimchs, Mar 2 11:14am

In 2015 at 55 I had an RP with radiation. Never leaked. 2019 developed a stricture and urologist tried to balloon with cath but, it came back. He advised stricture surgery and, May 2024 had it done. Up until then I had no leakage. Since day of surgery I have 100% leakage. Dr. who did surgery wants to try ProAct which he does exclusively but, second doctor opinion said AUS which, he does exclusively. Since I am a beginning weightlifter I was wondering which can hold back the urine better. I also can find no information on how many surgeries of either any doctor has performed. I would like to find a doctor who has done many of one or, the other. HealthGrade and ZocDoc seem to be no help.

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jimchs | @jimchs | May 10 6:12am

Peter. You are getting ProAct. Where. I can't find anyone I a, comfortable with around NYC,

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1 reply
peterj116 | @peterj116 | May 9 6:06pm
In reply to @oldbell "I had PROACT surgery Feb. 20,2025 and as of today after one adjustment I am down..." + (show)
@oldbell

I had PROACT surgery Feb. 20,2025 and as of today after one adjustment I am down to one pad per 24 hours and used to do at least 4 to6 and walk home with wet pants many times. Today we went to Woodworkers Source and Lowes walking thru both business and no wet pants or change of pad. I am so happy with the outcome. As of 3:00 Pm today I have put in a total of 12,485 steps and in the past I would have had to change pads every two hours or have wet pants. I had to use Tena overnight pads because I had no control over the flow.

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That's awesome.
Hopefully that's me in a month.

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oldbell | @oldbell | May 9 4:57pm

I had PROACT surgery Feb. 20,2025 and as of today after one adjustment I am down to one pad per 24 hours and used to do at least 4 to6 and walk home with wet pants many times. Today we went to Woodworkers Source and Lowes walking thru both business and no wet pants or change of pad. I am so happy with the outcome. As of 3:00 Pm today I have put in a total of 12,485 steps and in the past I would have had to change pads every two hours or have wet pants. I had to use Tena overnight pads because I had no control over the flow.

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2 replies
jeff Marchi | @jeffmarc | May 8 6:51pm
In reply to @jimchs "I thought the AUS would have been more effective for weightlifting but, I guess either way..." + (show)
@jimchs

I thought the AUS would have been more effective for weightlifting but, I guess either way that is a lot of pressure so, I would assume the ProAct would leak also.

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Neither device completely stops leakage. Cut it down a lot, but not completely.

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jimchs | @jimchs | May 8 5:04pm
In reply to @rocket75 "My brother-in-law was a weight lifter. He had and AUS and said it did not work..." + (show)
@rocket75

My brother-in-law was a weight lifter. He had and AUS and said it did not work with weight lifting (for him). He still leaked while lifting. Also, his AUS came apart 15 years after installation and caused massive internal bleeding requiring emergency surgery to remove it and the fragments. That may be unusual, but it did happen, causing his overall good health to deteriorate quickly due to the trauma to his body.

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I thought the AUS would have been more effective for weightlifting but, I guess either way that is a lot of pressure so, I would assume the ProAct would leak also.

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1 reply
RT1975 | @rocket75 | May 8 1:54pm

My brother-in-law was a weight lifter. He had and AUS and said it did not work with weight lifting (for him). He still leaked while lifting. Also, his AUS came apart 15 years after installation and caused massive internal bleeding requiring emergency surgery to remove it and the fragments. That may be unusual, but it did happen, causing his overall good health to deteriorate quickly due to the trauma to his body.

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1 reply
oldbell | @oldbell | Apr 3 5:34pm
In reply to @mrangus "Yep. UTI much more likely. I'm not aware of any studies pro or con, but cranberry..." + (show)
@mrangus

Yep. UTI much more likely. I'm not aware of any studies pro or con, but cranberry juice seems to help. There are cranberry pills available otc. I had 3 UTIs in 2 months and while this is anecdotal at best, since drinking a glass everyday I've not had one for 7 months.

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For 20 years I have worn a pad and it finally got to 6 or more pads a day Tena overnight pads so I chose to have PROACT a week and a half ago just getting over soreness but stopped incontinence about 99% and very happy have not had any UTI"S in 20 plus years.

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1 reply
mrangus | @mrangus | Apr 3 9:35am
In reply to @bwjb "For months I have been going through 6 or more pads per day, including now when..." + (show)
@bwjb

For months I have been going through 6 or more pads per day, including now when I am waiting for my artificial urinary sphincter to be activated. I recently had a urine culture and found out that I have a urinary tract infection even though I don't have any symptoms. Have any other men had UTIs due to incontinence and having moist pads throughout the day?

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Yep. UTI much more likely. I'm not aware of any studies pro or con, but cranberry juice seems to help. There are cranberry pills available otc. I had 3 UTIs in 2 months and while this is anecdotal at best, since drinking a glass everyday I've not had one for 7 months.

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1 reply
jimchs | @jimchs | Apr 2 6:09am
In reply to @oldbell "Mayo clinic hosp. Phoenix, Az." + (show)
@oldbell

Mayo clinic hosp. Phoenix, Az.

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Interesting. That is where I am set up for a third opinion. They called a couple of days ago for me to send my records.

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oldbell | @oldbell | Apr 1 4:10pm
In reply to @jimchs "I have had 2 doctors say ProAct is not something they do. Another said it would..." + (show)
@jimchs

I have had 2 doctors say ProAct is not something they do. Another said it would not be appropriate in my case ? The 4th one who is also the
surgeon who wants to do the PA is also the same one who performed stricture surgery when I developed 100% incontinence. Don't know what to do. Where did you get your PA done ?

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Mayo clinic hosp. Phoenix, Az.

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