New guy with questions

I've been reading the forum off & on for the last few months. Finally registered.

I am having continuing incontinence problems 7 months after RRP. My URO has outlined further procedures if the incontinence doesn't improve. I've read lots about the sling & artificial sphincter but not much about the injections to bulk up the urethra.

Has anyone had success with these? How are they administrated? Do you have to have repeated injections after a certain time to maintain?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

___________________________________________________________
Age 70 when diagnosed (2011)
Prior to 2010 had annual PSA that was in the 1.0 range
Apr 2010 - PSA 2.7 DRE revealed "some thickening". Retest in 6 months
Nov 2010 - PSA 1.9 Wait a year for retest
Nov 2011 - PSA 2.7
Biopsy Dec 2011 - 3 of 12 samples Gleason 7 (3+4) showed 40%, 20% & 30% tissue involvement
1 of 12 samples Gleason 6 (3+3) showed 5% tissue involvement
Had RRP on Feb 13, 2012 (few hospitals in Canada offer Devinci robot. Long waiting lists.
Discharged from hospital Feb 15, 2012. Catheter out Feb 24, 2012
Pathology showed Gleason 7, nothing in the margins and lymph nodes were clear.
Apr 2012 - PSA <0.02
Aug 2012 - PSA <0.02

Hello CopperGuy,

It is my understanding that collagen injections do not have a very good track record and need to be repeated if they are in fact helpful.

If your leakage is light, 1-2 pads per day, a male sling may be a good solution for your incontinence.

You would need a good evaluation by an surgeon/urologist very well experienced with male sling/AUS implants.

Approximately three years ago I was implanted with a Virtue sling manufactured by Coloplast. It was a total nightmare. The long term pain was intolerable and it made my incontinence MUCH worse.

It was partially removes five months later and I was implanted with an AdVance sling by American Medical Systems. The AdVance sling has been fantastic. I am now 100% dry at all times after wearing pads 24/7 for nine years.

My advice to you if you have interest in slings would be to pick your doctor and device very carefully.

Best wishes,

John

I've passed the 5 year mark since my appointment with Mr. da Vinci, and I still wear one light pad ... during the day. It's annoying. The Physicians Assistant in my UROs office thinks I haven't been trying the Kegal exercises well enough ... all this time. I think it's going to be a permanent situation, and I don't like that outlook.