AUS Revision, Anyone?

Has anyone, who has an artificial urinary sphincter (AMS 800), had a revision?  I MAY need need one and I'm looking for input from someone who has had a revision.  Mine is now 4 years old.  My Inflatable Penile Prostheses is still working great, but the sphincter is beginning to give me some concern.

Gene214

Well, it's not a serious issue, but...  I seem to be involuntarily releasing a little more often when I sit wrong (allowing a little pressure underneath where the device is implanted).

 

Ok, I had better clarify why I even asked the question about revision.  In Dallas, the doctor who did my implant was/is an experienced reconstruction uro & instructor @ UTSouthwestern, having gained much experience in Afghanistan/Iraq, putting soldiers back together.  My device is still working after four years, & I don't think I could ever go back to where I was before he "fixed" me with the 800 AUS (& 700 IPP).  I also had absolutely no control except at night.  When I stood up, it all came pouring out and leaking all day long... into 8, 10, 12 pads per day.  I had tried all the things possible, after my radical prostatectomy (by a smarty, know-it-all surgeon, who didn't know diddly).  I went for 18 months post-surgery with no relief or erection.  Cutting this story short, after the AMS 800 & 700, I have my life back.  But I get terribly frustrated by that involuntary releasing of the AUS after I "mis-sit", which is often.  I had 39 radiation treatments just a few months ago, & I think it affected my urethrea where the cuff is.  So at the end of the day, my one-per-day panti-liner is a little more full than it used to be.  So I'm thinking, "Should I talk to uro about a revision?"  I know the answer is "no".  But I feel that under "obamacare" (after it's fully implemented), and at my age (69), I'll not have a chance with Medicare & suplemental.  Or maybe, just to shorten this whole thing, I'm just worrying too much.  Come to think of it, I am worryingl too much & even with more leaking than I likle, it's still 199 % bettr than before. Gene214

P. S. To all of you with no urine control & having tried everything else to regain continence, get the AMS 800 &, if needed, like I did, get the AMS 700 too.  If that sounds like a commercial, maybe it is.  It's my testimonial.  I just like being normal again (including making love again with my sweet wife).

 

I have to watch where and how I sit. I found out if using some of the lift equipment at Y, my bulb hits perfectly and fountain is seen. I just hit it wrong last Thursday nite cleaning the car and flows great - couldn't stop the darn thing.

The first time it happened a Honda CRX front seat got me and rather embarrasing until it stopped - just arrived at restaurant so hit rest room and TP'd underwear heavily.

I think all who have it agree, there can be occasional problems but the 8-10 pads without is small price to pay.

Hi Guys,
I have not been on HW for a while. I am now two years with my AUS. I do get the occasional leak if I sit wrong but can't really put a finger on how it happens. I still wear a panty liner to catch residual stress leaks or dribbles because I don't have patience to wait after going for the cuff to close. So even though I can't claim to be 100% dry it is 99% better.
I have no idea how long this thing will last. They told me 5-10 years. I get the urge to pee about every two or three hours, even at night. It's always been that since RP so my AUS gets a good deal of use. Not sure how that will affect life. My doc said use it as often as you need and don't worry about it. I know some say to deactivate at night. Mine has never been deactivated. Doc said there is no data to say that would extend life.
It would be good to hear from some long time users but they all seem to go silent after getting AUS.

Neo, Dr. Boone, he did my AUS too. I really liked him. He and another doctor, I think at Johns Hopkins did a small study on weather there was any advantage to deactivate at night. They published a paper that conculded that there was no advantage. His group that he followed did not deactivate and the other doctor's group did. I wouldn't be surprised that there was a gentlemenly wager involved as well.
However, that said, I do deactivate about once a week just to stay in practice. I really don't trust that hopsital personel would do it right should the need arise. I don't even think that just any uro would know what to do as well.

When deactivating, I follow the AMS instuctions, that is squeeze the pump bulb several times till it is completely flat, then wait 30 seconds and then press the little lock button. When I press it I don't get a pop or click but it always locks like it is suposed to. The first time I tried I did not follow the instructions and squeezed the lock button too soon and there was not enought fluid in the bulb to unlock, bit of a panic. When that happens AMS has a proceedure but that is not as easy as it might be, but if you wait a full thirty seconds enough fuild will have refilled the bulb so that there will be no problem.
so, that is why I keep up my own ablity to operate this feature and I really doubt if that will happen with some other medical personel who is not very familiar with these. But even if they screw it up it can be reactivated.
Oh, if you do this deactivation correctly, all you have to do to reactivate is squeeze the bulb once till you feel a little pop and it is done.

Since day one, my AUS has been activated only once & that was by the uro who implanted a device used to guide the radiation beam.  My original doc said not to worry about deactivating, although I have concerns about never havingl tried it.