Advance Sling report

I had my Advance Sling surgery yesterday after a years wait. The procedure was a 2 hour event although operating time was only 1.25 hours. I woke up cold with the shakes but after increasing the pain killer dosage that stopped. Fair amount of pain immediately after surgery and trouble getting in and out of bed but after 12 hours things improved considerably. I began walking 8 hours after the surgery but noticed my right inner thigh was very sore like a bruise, probably from the position during surgery. I was catheterized and a condition of release after an over night stay was that I pee freely, that's the part I failed. Just couldn't do it despite bursting at the seams, my muscles were tight and just wouldn't relax. So in went the catheter and they said come back in a week. Since I'd flown in from out of town they said I could have the catheter removed by my local Uro. I wimpered and the surgeon gave me another chance. I have an appointment tomorrow at 10 am to have the catheter removed to see if I can pee, I'll feel like an idiot if I fail but they were pretty accomodating to give me another chance.

Well, at least I'm pad free! Not quite the way I wanted though. I'm chilling at home tonight with a tender bottom and occasional walking up and down the hallway of my son's place without any painkillers.

An update will follow.

Ron

 

hey Jonathon, I'll take the catheter as a good sign then even though I'm a bit bummed. yes, I'm resting for a day or 2 before doing anything remotely resembling normal. Oddly my surgeon told me walking ( 2 miles)was good and recommended walking as soon as I felt up to it, I'm not so sure, folks here seemed to think thr opposite.

r

You had the AdVance 800 sling right? Take it easy! It takes time for that to knit into your body. You can read the manual.

Don't rush the catheter removal. I had mine removed after 2 days and had to go back to be catheterized the following day because things closed up. It was one of the most frightening and painful experiences I can recall.

Did you look at your incisions yet? Brace yourself buddy. Your **** star modelling career is over.
You will love it when things heal. Keep us, and the guys who will walk behind you, informed.
Good luck,
Jeff

I thought I'd post a progress report for all those that are considering Advance Sling surgery. I had the surgery Tuesday, 4 days ago and today was the first day that I didn't have to take painkillers and actually felt OK aside from the tenderness when seated. I did however spend most of Thursday at the hospital getting re-catheterized and then spent most of Friday in taxi's and planes getting back home, both of these events were the cause of much discomfort. If I were to do it again I'd refrain from flying and travelling for a couple more days.

 I did nothing today and plan on doing the same for a couple more days. The swelling in my scrotum, which was considerable, has also started to diminish but its still numb to the touch around the incision area. I'll post again when the catheter comes out around mid-week.

Ron

One week update...

well it's been a week since my Advance sling surgery and I thought I'd post an update for those contemplating this procedure. I went to my local Uro yesterday to make arrangements to have my catheter taken out mid week and he seemed to feel that it was ready to come out now...so out it came. I managed to void all of 4 drops and 4 hours later was in emerg at the hospital begging to be catheterized again. Finally, got the tube in...how do you spell RELIEF. Anyway while I was lying there smiling with a now empty bladder another patient freaked out and stated screaming "HELP...there going to kill me" this went on for 10 minutes until they segregated her, it was a bit wierd listening to her being rolled down the hallway fading into the distance screaming, "they're going to kill me". When the nurse came back she said " that's how you get a private room in ER".

So, as it stands now I'm still on a catheter and scheduled for a voiding trial next Wed (8 days away), that will make a cumulative 2 weeks on the catheter. I feel good although I'm pretty tender down "there" and sitting is still a challenge as most chairs aren't that conducive to the "derrier disabled", scrotum is still a bit blackish and swollen. I've been on antibiotics for the catheter and am hoping to have the prescription renewed, also still taking stool softeners which are pretty good at doing just what they are supposed to. Had my first coffee in 4 months today and figure I may as well have a couple beers as well since I'm on the tube drain.

I can't believe I'm posting this on the web for all to see however hope those that follow gain some insight. I'll update as things progress.

Ron

 

Hello Ron & Curious George,

I was implanted with an AdVance sling three years ago this month and it continues to work perfectly for me. It ended nine years of pad usage.

Five months prior to the AdVance implant, I was implanted with a Virtue sling. It was a total disaster with pain related injuries from the Virtue mesh still causing significant quality of life issues to date.

I have had no luck so far in finding a surgeon qualified to remove the lower mesh arms of the Virtue sling that remain wrapped around my lower pubic ramis bones. This is a source of constant pain, especially when sitting.

The government protected the detainees at Guantanamo Bay from torture due to water boarding but failed to protect me from continuous suffering caused by the Virtue sling, implanted in my body without my consent. Their trauma has ended, mine continues.

To those considering a male sling, do your research, ask a lot of questions, choose a experienced and honest surgeon and the odds should be in your favor.

Best wishes,

John

Post Edited (male_sling_problems) : 12/6/2012 10:10:59 AM (GMT-7)

Today was day 14 with the catheter since my Advance sling surgery and I'm just back from the hospital and my voiding trial. I'm actually sitting here without the catheter and am padless for the first time in 2 1/2 years. The voiding trial was a bit of a disaster for the first hour. They injected 235 ml of water into my bladder at which point my bladder started to spasm, so they stopped, pulled out the catheter and said "now pee in the cup"...nothing...a couple drops and that's it. I drank 1 litre of water and was getting pretty full with no progress when the staff changed shifts and the new nurse brought a blanket and said "lie down under this and relax"

I got several urges to go but everytime I jumped up I couldn't pee. Finally I tried sitting on the end of the bed on the next urge and voila, a steady stream of urine, did between 50 and 100 ml each time I had the urge and it finally added up to 500 ml at which point the Urologist said you're good to go. HALLEIGH LUL YA!!!

Walking down the hall to leave I hit the washroom 3 times with the urge but couldn't go, either standing or sitting. My wife drove me home and I started getting bladder spasms again as I filled up, got home and couldn't pee sitting or standing...sat on the edge of the bed and Voila, no problem.

This sounds a litle wierd but I guess I'm just not able to relax enough in other positions. I thinks it's just a matter of retraining my bladder and learning to relax now. As a side effect, I notice the pain and restricted feeling went away when the catheter was removed, man I feel great to be free of the plumbing.

It's a bit early to say I'm leak free but its looking promising at the moment. I'm overjoyed to be turning a corner and am on my way to pour a scotch (while not wearing a pad). I'll report back in a few days as things settle down.

Ron

There ain't nuthin' like being able to do your own peeing for yourself!

Congrats! Wishing you many dry years.

Jonathan

Jeff, thanks for the tips, yes I'm definitely going to have to relearn some muscle control to get things flowing smoothly. Was up 3 times last night with bladder spasms and the urge however not a lot of liquid in the cup for my efforts 50-150 ml. I get these spasms and urge so run off to drain but get very little. I'm going to have to try to stall the urge and hold till my bladder is full to re-train my system.

The good news is I haven't leaked a drop, wearing a pad for security at night but I think I'll go without tonight. I had a scotch last night and leaked not a drop, that's a great feeling that's been missing for a couple of years. I'm flying to Florida in a week and feel well enough to do so (no luggage) but most of all I look forward to walking the beaches in a bathing suit without having to worry about how far I can go before the pad is full. This could be a real game changer if I can get the control issues worked out....I'm so happy...peeing down the drain! (just don't tell my wife)

Ron

 First the bad news It’s been exactly 3 weeks since my Advance sling surgery so time for an update. My catheter was removed 7 days ago and it’s been a bit of a struggle since. I began getting bladder spasms that basically crippled me for 5 days, they would come every 1/2 hour or so in the mornings and become more frequent as the day progressed. I'm still unable to pee normally while standing or sitting on the toilet however I can produce a weak stream by putting a bit of pressure on my perineum area while standing or by bending over and bending my knees, like hovering over the toilet. I prefer the hover method as my perineum is still tender. I haven't been able to get a response from the surgeon as to this issue yet, I live 1000 miles away. The local Uro refuses to give me drugs that will relieve spasms because he feels it may lead to retention. I've been up 3-4 times per night because when my bladder spasms I leak while lying down. Two days ago I was having a pretty good day with fewer and less intense spasms so I had a beer with a friend...big mistake, spasms hit me every 15 minutes and I was trying to pee to relieve them but only getting 25-50 ml per session. The next day things were 180 degrees, very few spasms however I'm afraid my bladder volume is shrinking since I typically only void 50 -100 ml at a time. NOW THE GOOD NEWS… Yesterday I flew to Florida, 3 flights, 12 hours of travel and not a single spasm. I did however try to match my water intake with what I felt my body was consuming so not a lot produced in the way of urine. It was actually the best day I've had since surgery. I felt pretty strong but am still tender in the perineum. I was carrying 10 pounds of back pack and a small bag and had no difficulty with this light load. I'm hoping for a solid night’s sleep after 4 days of terrible sleeps due to spasms. 3 weeks plus a day… A REVELATION, after a long travelling day with no spasms I woke after a full night’s sleep and only 1 interruption for a pee break, I woke with the urge to pee but held it for an hour, finally voided with no spasms and it felt like I had normal sphincter control and release. Had a cup of coffee (my first in a month) and 2 large glasses of water and held off voiding as long as I could. When I did go I had an over whelming urge, pulled the undies down and found I was already going even though I was clenching. I experimented and found that when I clamped down “kegel like” I passed urine and when I stopped the stream stopped. This was the FIRST time since sling surgery that I have been able to pass urine standing in a normal pee position with no external pressure on the perineum…a ureaka moment! I began kegeling and found that on each contraction I could void, prior to the sling kegeling would stop the flow. In private discussions with “Worried Guy”, Jeff had alert ed me to this phenomenon so I wasn’t completed taken by surprise but it did take me some time to figure out the muscle control patterns and it’s a very weak and intermittent stream. I’m hoping this is the turnaround day from which everything forward improves. My feeling on these events is that possibly I was taking it a bit too easy after the sling surgery and all the packing, getting the house ready for a 2 month absence and travelling exercise of the past few days has moved things along to the next level. I’m over the moon with these events and for the first time in 3 weeks I feel like the sling surgery may not have been a huge mistake, also… I AM DRY!     :)     

Today’s the 6 week mark following my Advance sling surgery so a report is due. Most people on this forum have stated that their doctors say to take it easy for 6 weeks after sling surgery then resume normal activities, my surgeon recommended 4 weeks.  I went with caution until week 5 and then began returning to normal activities. I am totally dry and have not worn a pad even as a precaution for the past 3 weeks, although I do still have some urgency when I get close to the toilet to void. I still have trouble peeing, I can feel my bladder contract and sphincter release but urine just won’t pass by the sling unless I place a bit of pressure on my perineum area. I can accomplish this in 3 ways:-sit on the edge of the bed or a chair and pee in a cup (not preferred)                                                                

  -bend over and “hover” over the toilet                                                                                                                      

 --stand as normal and use a couple fingers to put a bit of upward pressure on the perineum area (preferred method)

Not sure just what’s happening but I can only assume that the sling is a bit too tight. I’m supposed to here from my surgeon tomorrow and he is suggesting we meet in mid Jan. to discuss, I’d perefer to wait until my scheduled appointment in March.

At the moment I still have some pain at the incision site on the perineum, not sure why, the incision seems to have healed well  but it feels tight or stretched sometimes,  hopefully that will resolve itself with time. I have actually stopped thinking about leakage which up until sling surgery was a constant worry and occupied my mind through every day over the past 2 1/2 years. If I had to choose between leakage and my current situation it would be an easy decision…I’d take my present condition, even with the voiding problems.  I have resumed kayaking with no difficulty although I’m careful not to squat too much as I enter and exit the hull and I’ve also resumed riding my road bike. I bought a highly modified saddle that has the shape of a U, there’s no horn and nothing to put pressure on the perineum so it doesn’t affect the surgical area at all. Cycling does however irritate the incision in the perineum, I think this may be a factor related to the bike shorts and chafing from leg movement. I’m only doing short 20 km rides until I figure out why the incision site gets irritated. I also walk a couple miles daily just to keep moving.

 As previously discussed in earlier posts I did have pretty severe and painful bladder spasms, was on a catheter  for 2 weeks post surgery and had some real trouble voiding… these have sorted themselves out with time and healing.  Overall I’m happy with my present condition...oh ya...did I mention I was dry, I'm talking dry as a desert at noonday sun! 

If you have any questions about upcoming sling surgery that you may be scheduled for I'd be happy to answer them.

Ron