AUS surgery

Thinking about having AUS surgery, have been leaking for 4 years. I use 5 to 7 pads a day. Any comments
will be greatly appreciated.

Post Edited (echotango) : 2/25/2018 3:36:06 PM (GMT-7)

I have an AUS. Neither the surgery nor the recovery was particularly bad. I had a hernia fixed at the same time and between the two of them I missed about a week's work.

My AUS is helpful but also a bit disappointing. Prior to having it installed I was going through five or six Depends pull-ups a day. I was hoping for dry but that didn't happen. I now go through three Guards pads (the ones that stick inside your tighty-whiteys). Still, it is a big improvement. I can fit enough pads for a day in my pants pockets.

What sort of questions can I answer for you, ET?

I had the AMS800 implanted last May. I had done considerable research, attended a presentation at a local support group and spoke with a manufacturers rep. At the time I was near fully incontinent during the day, but slept okay with just a dry washcloth between my legs (I still do that today). During the day I used condom caths and a leg bag as absorbency products like depends did not hold enough fluid. Once a week I would use belted shields for a day to allow my skin to recover.

The need for the AUS was so that I could hold enough urine to proceed with adjuvant radiation following my prostatectomy. I was informed of the need for ART soon after the RP surgery. That surgery went just fine BTW, probably the best surgery I've ever had (that would be out of a dozen or so).

Because I had done so much research I had a list of questions for the surgeon. He assured me that it was a simple 45 minute procedure, and that there would be no catheter afterwards. When asked, he admitted that there was a possibility of the device not fitting properly and that they sometimes required revision surgery. It all sounded pretty good, and I even scheduled a trip for the day after the scheduled activation of the device six weeks later.

The surgery did not go well. I was eventually sent home with a Foley catheter, which was replaced twice over the following weeks. Finally he did a cystocscopy and sent me straight to the hospital for emergency surgery. Since the revision surgery I have had terrible sciatica in my left leg. My trip had to be cancelled and my radiation postponed. That 45 minute procedure took a couple of months out of my life.

But overall, life with the AUS is far better than without it. As others have mentioned earlier, it is not 100% water tight. In fact I've heard it said that tight is too tight and leads to earlier replacement. The device does need replacement about every seven years due to erosion of the urethra, not necessarily mechanical failure.

I wear one light pad per day for the occasional drip. In fact, it is more difficult to find light pads than it is the heavier ones. I've learned a few tricks along the way. And I sleep with that washcloth between my legs. We bought some yellow ones everyone knows to not use them to wash their face.

It was during the early period when I was facing that decision to get the AUS after physical therapy had failed and I knew that I had to do something to get on with the radiation. That is when I joined this message board, HW. I came from another board where no one knew anything about AUS's and in fact was more of a chummy "congratulations" only type of board. I was a bit disappointed that there is no lymphoma forum here, but there is one for depression. I'm not sure how long I'll be hanging around here though.

Good luck with your decision. It is not an easy one.

Hi Peter
Thanks for your input, have you went back to do anything to fix the leaking. I’m having the surgery on
April 10th, looks like most guys are happy with their AUS. If I have any questions, I’ll contact you. As time
Gets near surgery, I’ll have a ton of questions .

E.T.