1. < Prostate Cancer

Urethral Sling for Minor Stress Incontinence

Posted by johari @johari, Feb 22 3:21pm

Hi all,
I have seen discussions around the Artificial Urinary Sphincter on this forum, but I am curious if anyone has experience with the "sling" to treat minor stress incontinence? I had a prostatectomy 3 years ago, and still suffer minor stress incontinence, but generally get by with one light pad / day. Some days are better than others, and I feel sometimes I could go without, but I am quite active, and so it is generally offering extra assurance as well as protection so I don't have to worry. I had sort of resigned myself to the fact that I would be a "one light pad / day guy" for the rest of my life, but when my urologist suggested referring me to another Dr to discuss surgery (AUS or Sling), it got me thinking. Research and discussions around the AUS I have come across seem to suggest this is done for guys with a higher degree of incontinence than I am currently dealing with, and at the end of the day, many still seem to be wearing a daily light pad. The idea of manually manipulating a valve in my scrotum everytime I need to release urine is not very appealing to me either. So I am thinking maybe the urethral sling is better, and could actually eliminate my need for any pad at all going forward (given the low degree of incontinence I am currently dealing with). And because I am so active in the gym, would a sling be affected by my level of activity (would it move out of position, for example, because of all the squats and other lower body exercises I do?).
Curious for any feedback! Cheers

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Prostate Cancer Support Group.

jasonfarmer | @jasonfarmer | Mar 3 11:02am
In reply to @tomf "I had my surgery 13 months ago and I've been reading these posts for a year..." + (show)
@tomf

I had my surgery 13 months ago and I've been reading these posts for a year now. I can assure you, there is no one answer to what your future holds. Healing is going to take several weeks but your body will recover. Will you have ED? Yup, be prepared for needing medical help for getting erections. It might be pills, a VED device or injections (or some combination). But it will work if you give it a chance. Will you experience incontinence? Yup. But here is where the answers swing wildly. Some guys swear they are dry as soon as the catheter comes out. Some say it takes weeks; others months. I am finally "dry" after 13 months. Why the quotation marks? Because almost everyone who says they are dry, still puts a pad in their underwear for that occasional leak / potential embarrassment. I am like that. I still haven't conquered golf and pickleball days either. Stress leaking is worse during those activities. Why did it take 13 months for me? No one has had an answer. I did kegels faithfully but eventual exasperation got the best of me and and I went to pelvic floor therapy which is far superior to just doing kegels. The PT got me to my current condition and I assume I will be doing all these exercises at home daily for the rest of my life to be as dry as possible. I went through lots of days when I was sure I would have to get some artificial help with the incontinence (AUS or sling) but I am glad I didn't do that. I finally feel I have recovered to the point where I am at a place where I can take this for the rest of my days. Good luck and keep us posted about your recovery.

Jump to this post

Tom, I to got to the point of scheduling a pt appointment being @ 9 months after surgery and still using 1 light pad. I hope this will also help me as it did you.

REPLY
mgmathisusa | @mgmathisusa | Mar 3 2:20pm
In reply to @tomf "I had my surgery 13 months ago and I've been reading these posts for a year..." + (show)
@tomf

I had my surgery 13 months ago and I've been reading these posts for a year now. I can assure you, there is no one answer to what your future holds. Healing is going to take several weeks but your body will recover. Will you have ED? Yup, be prepared for needing medical help for getting erections. It might be pills, a VED device or injections (or some combination). But it will work if you give it a chance. Will you experience incontinence? Yup. But here is where the answers swing wildly. Some guys swear they are dry as soon as the catheter comes out. Some say it takes weeks; others months. I am finally "dry" after 13 months. Why the quotation marks? Because almost everyone who says they are dry, still puts a pad in their underwear for that occasional leak / potential embarrassment. I am like that. I still haven't conquered golf and pickleball days either. Stress leaking is worse during those activities. Why did it take 13 months for me? No one has had an answer. I did kegels faithfully but eventual exasperation got the best of me and and I went to pelvic floor therapy which is far superior to just doing kegels. The PT got me to my current condition and I assume I will be doing all these exercises at home daily for the rest of my life to be as dry as possible. I went through lots of days when I was sure I would have to get some artificial help with the incontinence (AUS or sling) but I am glad I didn't do that. I finally feel I have recovered to the point where I am at a place where I can take this for the rest of my days. Good luck and keep us posted about your recovery.

Jump to this post

Thanks a million! How one little PSA number (4) ends up changing your world! Thank god for a wonderful wife to share this adventure.

REPLY
1 reply
jasonfarmer | @jasonfarmer | Mar 4 4:28pm
In reply to @mgmathisusa "Thanks a million! How one little PSA number (4) ends up changing your world! Thank god..." + (show)
@mgmathisusa

Thanks a million! How one little PSA number (4) ends up changing your world! Thank god for a wonderful wife to share this adventure.

Jump to this post

A great wife is a great blessing. I agree without my wife I don’t know how I would have made it.

REPLY
Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 9 5:21pm
In reply to @mgmathisusa "I’m a week out of surgery. Catheter comes out in 3 days. What should I expect..." + (show)
@mgmathisusa

I’m a week out of surgery. Catheter comes out in 3 days. What should I expect and prepare?

Jump to this post

@mgmathisusa, how did it go with getting catheter out? For future members looking for what to expect, what tips would you offer? What do you wish you had known?

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.