AdVance sling 31 May 2011

Gentlemen,

I has now been 3 weeks out from my advance sling implant and I believe things are gradually getting better as far as my leakage is concerned. I have been out driving for short distances and taking short walks with minimal to no leakage. At the end of the day the pad I wear for security purposes has very little spotting stains and is not wet at all.

I have also started a new regime of kegel exercises this week and hope these will also help to achieve total dryness.

If this minimal to no leakage stays or does get progressivly better over time as it has been, then the sling will have been well worth the mild setback.

I'm still taking it easy as per doctors orders with minimal lifting, not squatting and moving in and out of chairs and autos slowly like its my first day until the sling meshes with my body tissue. 

Hopefully when the 6 week period rolls around I'll be much better and will be able to do more.  As far as the incision goes that is slowly getting less sensitive but hard chairs are still out for any length of time. I'll keep you all posted.

Bill

Hey Jazzman, not only did I weigh my pads everyday, recording the net weight, I plotted the data using SAS in a LOESS weighted average curve! How's THAT for geek?!

Gentlemen,

It will be 8 weeks on 12 Mar 2012 since my advance sling implant.  I have been given the blessing of my surgeon to resume all normal activities. I still find myself trying not to overexert myself thinking there will be more healing that will take place. But all in all I feel great and I'm getting around like normal again, I still have some feeling of tightness where the sling resides but it is not painful or sore and tightness is what I want. I have started many activities with hardly any leakage at all.  At the end of the day I have some residual stains on my pad, but nothing like I was experiencing before the sling surgery. If it keeps going at this rate I'm sure to be dry by summer as I will start the kegels again starting on Monday and hope for the best. After I started leaking 8 days after the implant I thought the worst but I can't believe how my leakage seems to be coming to an end (I hope and pray this is true) around the 6 1/2 week mark. To the guy's contemplating this implant I have to say the first 6 weeks is tough not being able to do much except relax and heal so the sling doesn't come loose. If I can do it anybody can as I'm one hyper individual. I just had to set my mind to the end result being good and it is turning out that way now to being good. My first 2 weeks were hard as my every move was cautious and I was somewhat sore but not in pain sore. I never used any pain medication because it was not bad at all.  So you guys that are worried about it,,don't just go for it with a reliable surgeon and you will be thankful you did.  So good luck to all and I keep you posted on my jouney a few more weeks down the road.

Bill

Hi guys, I am about 4 weeks post surgery and have been dry since the surgery. Returned to work this week w/o a problem. MD told me not to do anything heavy for 6 weeks and I plan to abide my these instructions. I was wondering how soon after surgery did you get active, like playing golf. I am deathly afraid of undoing the good job done so far.

Pete

More than three years ago I consented to being implanted with a minimally invasive "two armed" well established male sling that had been in use for approximately three years with an 85% probability of ending my one pad a day pad usage.

During the first month following surgery, I was horrified to learn that I had been implanted with a Virtue male sling by Coloplast.

This four-armed contraption had been "launched" for marketing in the USA only six weeks earlier.

I also learned that Coloplast had recently initiated one of several long term FDA Clinical Trials, for their device, to learn if it was effective, safe and could be tolerated in a live human body.

Note: these trials are currently ongoing and are now known as the Virtue European Study.

The Virtue sling was a total disaster for me. It made my incontinence MUCH worse and caused intolerable pain that continues to this day.

During December 2009, a reconstruction specialist removed the center mesh "platform" of the Virtue sling. The "mesh arms" could not be removed" and continue to cause continuous pain which is intensified when sitting.

Following partial explantation of the Virtue sling, I was implanted with an AdVance sling. The AdVance sling has been fabulous. I have been 100% dry since the AdVance sling implant which ended nine (9) years of pad usage.

For those considering male sling surgery, I suggest you thoroughly research the history of male incontinence implant devices and make certain your surgeon has a history of successes regarding the device of your choice. Do not be afraid to ask specific questions and hope your doctor is truthful in his answers.

Best wishes,

John

I certainly agree with everything Jazzman1 says above. There are certainly no guarantees of a dry outcome with any implant for incontinence. There are no assurances of what to expect over time.

Also, one can anticipate a certain amount of pain (discomfort) following a sling implant which should diminish and then disappear over time.

In addition to choosing the best device for you incontinence, the experiences and skill of your surgeon will most likely have a huge impact on the outcome of your implant surgery.

I worry that posting my journey with slings, both good and bad, may discourage some from going forward with this life changing surgery. I hope that is never the case.

I post here because I sincerely believe that men considering surgery for incontinence should have as much information as possible to consider before making this important and sometimes wrenching decision.

Best wishes,

John

Further to my post of 27 Oct. I have since seen a pain management specialist about the ongoing pain following the Advance sling op. He has diagnosed a bruised pudendal nerve most likely done during the op in August. He said damaged nerves can takes a long time to heal. The pain gets much worse if I sit for a long time, and increases in the afternoon.

I'm about to have a second sling implanted - studies have shown this is often a very successful solution if the first implant fails. I sure hope so!!