Artificial Sphincter Failure

For sure at this time my thoughts are not "peaceful" since I have AUS/penine implant surgery scheduled next week.  Had you previously mentioned on this forum you had this surgery coming up?  I don't remember reading about it.  But I have not been back around for some time so I may have missed it.

The only thing I can add is that when I asked my surgeon about double cuffs, he said he did not do them because it is his feeling that double cuff's cause more problems than solutions.  For one thing, he said that a double cuff does not allow proper blood flow.  But it sounds to me like you have had a problem similar to Jerryv.

After reading Biff's comments and now yours... I am in somewhat of a state of emotional turmoil. 

My prayers are with you Bob.  And for all the members who have a personal relationship with the Lord, please lift me in prayer, too.  I sure do need wisdom from Above.

Gene214

Bob, one other question for you: When you left the hospital with your AUS, and since you did not have a catheter, what method were you given to keep the leaking urine off your incision?  My doctor said in response to that question to him, "You'll use a conveen".  I have not received a clear answer as to what a conveen is... a condoom catheter-like device?  Does it have a leg bag, etc. to catch the urine?  Thanks and likewise my prayers are with you.

Gene214

Bob, Jerryv, KW, Biff, and others very interested in AUS/penile implant:

Last night before I went to bed I read Biff's take on the AUS/Penile implant.  Since I am scheduled for AUS/implant next week, Biff's straight-forward words grabbed my attention. Bob, you grabbed it too!  I immediately began praying for insight as to whether I should cancel or go ahead.  I emailed Biff & gave my cell number, since he provided his email address in his post. Although it took a while to go to sleep, I did and slept good.

Today I went to the hospital to pre-register.  In the next consultation room was a guy who had also had prostate surgery and I overheard him say, "I sure wish they had put my prostate back in after they took the cancer out."  I should have laughed with him, but I was not quite in the laughing mood.  It was all too close to "home."

I chatted with the pre-registering nurse to see if very many get the AUS and pennile implant in this hospital.  She named my doctor and another one as doing lots of them.  Since my doctor's office is less than a block away from the hospital, I high-tailed it over there and asked to see the doctor's head nurse. He was gone to lunch but receptionist said she'd have him call me, which he did before I even got out of the building.  I just leveled with him and told him I was terribly frightened and told him about HW posts.  Said he: "There is a certain amount of risk."  I know.  I know.  But... "You should know that your doctor does about seven AUS's a week and about one penile implant a week.  Out of all he has done, he now has had problems with two.  He is a great surgeon."  Now my hope is not in a man, good doctor or not, but... 

...Somehow, that's all I needed to hear today to give me the green light to go on with my surgery.  Then there was this call from Biff. In spite of Biff's expressions of disappointment last night, he was wonderfully encouraging, sharing how bit by bit things were getting better for him.  He does not come on to HW often, he said, but for some reason felt he should last night.  I really believe the Lord sent him to us...at least to me... So you guys have become a source of good information for those at this site who are struggling with incontinence and impotence.  We need more info from patients who have been there and done that.  Most surgeons have not been the patient.  They know how to do the job but don't know how it feels to be the patient.  But I really do appreciate their skill.

Cowboy Bob, I too know the Lord and am looking to Him.  I know my postings sometime do not reflect that fact and instead give off the sense of panic, but "I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I committed to Him against that day." (2 Tim 1:12)

So to you all, thank you all at HW for your patience and prayers, especially next week when I go under.

Gene214

Hi Cowboy

I will tell what led up to my going to Mayo

Before i had the first surgery i asked the doctor several times to show me a unit and tell me how it worked  This was never done and so when it was activated i had no idea of what to feel for.  I want you to know my doctor is a very nice guy, a guy you would like to have as a close friend.  When this unit was activated i had a scar tissue about 2" long 1" wide and 1/2" thick, very hard.  I thought this was the pump and the doctor said to squeeze on a soft spot.  I could get it to work a little and i said to dr ,it never empties my bladder and he said that's as good as it get.  When this thing started to abcess they took everything out and he said the pump broke.  When i went to Mayo and told this to the doctor he said that was strange since Mayo had been installing these since 1972 and never had a pump break.   6 weeks after this failure another one was installed and after the 6 week waiting period waiting for the activation i was still draining from the scrotom and the doctor said it was urine.  I asked him how that could be and he said he didn't know.  I later found out this was an urethral erosion which could have happened during the operaton.  The doctor gave me some antibiotics and told me to come back in two weeks.  That when i had enough and went to Mayo.  If you want to call Dr Elliott i know he will be happy to talk to any of you.

I am so glad to be with so many believers in Jesus Christ because without Him we are nothing.  We are given good direction from Him and he gives us the ability to make decisions.

So nice to meet all of you and we all pray for each other. I have put Cowboy and Gene on my daily prayer list.

Blessings

Jerryv