Do you deactivate your AMS 800 at night?

My AMS 800 activated only 3 weeks ago but I discussed this with my doc. He does not ask his patients to de-activate and further more, he and another doctor, who does recomend nightly de-activtion, did a joint study and the conlusion of the study was there was no statistical advantage. He went on further to say that the study did indicate a "tend" that "could" support nightly de-activation as being helpful but my doc does not ask his patients to de-activate, but he does not discourage it either. So, I there!
Now I have my story about nightly de-activation, the first day of my devise being activated I had a buring pain the seemed to be from my urethra where the cuff is. So each night I de-activated and a coulpe of times I went 36 hours de-activated, hoping that a rest would help the burning type of pain I had. No one that I have run across have had a burning pain that was not associated with urination and my doc was mildy concerned and said my response to initial activation was not the usual and I should not feel anything like pain.
Finally about 4 days ago I did not de-activate and I have just left is activated 24hours a day and my pain went away the first day i did that and has not returned. This has me scratching my head wondering why, but mainly I am happy that I can enjoy the devise without worrying about something ominious going on.
To your question, my logic was not suported by my reality and I don't know what I will do in the future. I will probably try nightly de-activation again.
Ron

Hey Guys,
Does this mean that there is a trade-off between urethra life and device life? Do you keep track of the number of activations? Do you need maintenance? Do you limit yourself to 6x per day?

As I get used to my new sling plumbing I understand that mine has a limited life as well. Where's that unobtainium fiber we all need?

It takes me 2 1/2 minutes to pee, but I have been able to knock 20 seconds off the time by using the perineum push technique recommended by my Uro. It's definitely NOT something to be done in a public restroom. From what I understand you guys can just reach down, give the 'wheeze a squeeze' and no one is the wiser. Right?

We will have to compare notes at Cajun Jeff's place.

Jeff

I pretty much have the feeling that I am going to go when I feel I need to go. I probably go about  4 times during the day and at least 3-4 times  in the evening and over night. So total I would guess to be 8-10 tines in a 24 hour period.

If I have to worry about wearing it out.....guess I just don't want to go there.

If it needs to be redone at some point so be it. Otherwise give me some data and marching instructions on how to extend the life.

Am I wrong headed?

 

Ron,

Good advice about learning to deactivate. I doubt if any EMTs or even general practioneers or emergency room interns know how to spin these things.

I read the directions and watched the doc do it. I have just not tried it myself. I have the six month follow up appointment with the doc this week so i will ask her to demonstrate again and practice when i get home.

I think I may post a thread asking if we have anyone on the forum that has had to go through a repair/replacement. I am going to ask my doc how many she has done and recovery time etc.

Carl

Carl, I don't if all the pumps are the same but i was told to just squeeze the bulb once for urination, if fact they repeated that statement several times. Before I got mine implanted, I think I read, several times, that others were giving theirs several pumps? What did they tell you? Mine works good with just one squeeze.
Ron

Guys,
Have any of you measured flow rates as a function of number of pumps? Do you flow faster the more you pump? The engineer in me says the device will last longer if the material is not stressed. Can you aim for a flow that has you finishing up in a minute?
My plumbing has a fixed flow. No matter what I do: stressing, lifting a leg, coughing, blowing out , kegeling, the flow remains the same - a pathetically slow 150 ml/min. Stay above that and you won't be the last one out of the john.
Jeff

I empty quickly either way but yes, I think the flow is faster when completely open. I have not measured it. As an old sales guy as long as she empties fast and I get on to the next thing I am happy......close enough.
Carl

Fog, I have a dream, one day in a field of green clover, my OEM sphincter will work again and I can return (urinate) to my pre implant, er, make that pre RP, humm, make that pre enlarged prostate. Oh well, in that green field my plumbing will work like it did sometime way back. It's just a dream so it does not have to be completely correct, just good.
Yeah, I still doing the kegles too. Meantime I sure do like my AMS 800.
Fog, you didn't answer, on or off at night?
Ron

Welcome Finigan and congrats on getting your AUS. Mine was sized too small at first and required immediate revision, but other than that it does the job. Mine leaks a bit and I must wear a light pad. And also since radiation I leak at night in bed. I guess I was an "in between" size... just like my shirts and shorts. Too loose is annoying but too tight is impossible.

There are several other guys here with the AMS 800. I started a FB group for AUS recipients but so far am the only member... if you're interested. I was unaware that there are other brands of artificial sphincters on the market. Good luck to you!

As far as I know there is no reason to deactivate it at night, unless perhaps the patient sleeps in such a stupor that he may forget to open the cuff before peeing in the middle of the night. Also, I've heard there is one brand of AUS that has a remote control, specifically for this situation where a caregiver may need to operate the cuff.

oldbeek said...
Is the AUS 800 bulb anything like the 700 penile implant bulb? Where is the AUS bulb located?

I don't know what the blow-up pump looks like, but the AUS pump is a little smaller than your little finger and sits in the scrotum, usually on the right side next to the testicle. In my case it has the whole right side to itself.

I still have to wear a pad, generally one or two per day (one in my undies and one in my jammies) because the cuffs are manufactured in certain size increments... 3.5, 4, 4.5... The first one put in me was too small and I couldn't pee, so the next size up was put in, and it is a bit too large and doesn't completely close off the flow. Just my luck I guess.