Posted 1/24/2023 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
Tico14, I’m 70, a runner and swimmer, and had my AUS installed about 3-1/2 years ago. I was going though 5-6 heavy pads/day prior to that. There is no issue with having it concerning running. It is very small and light and, with some exceptions, I don’t notice when I run. I run 4-5 days per week, about 5-7 miles or so each run. I am not fast but I can cover the distance, usually an 11:30 pace overall and that’s using run/walk.
That said, when I got back to running after the AUS installation, about 2-1/2 months after, there was a bit of discomfort as it took a while for full healing to take effect. On occasion I would feel a tug or pull in the perineum but adjusting my compression shorts took care of that. The other issue is that the incision for the saline balloon/bulb is right at the belt line and I could feel that for quite a while. These were minor and didn’t impact my activities.
As for running between RALP and the AUS, I ran a lot. I did the Pittsburgh Half Marathon a few weeks before the AUS installed. When running I wore a heavy duty pad as I had less chaffing issues with those than the full diaper/shorts solutions. I also noticed that I tended to produce less urine when I ran and if I emptied out before a run I wouldn’t fill the pad. I will admit that on a few occasions I got rid of the pad and just ran. I do lots of solo trail runs and the wetness tended to evaporate. Wear black, not gray.
As Duck2 mentions, it’s not 100%. For the first 2-1/2 years it nearly was but now I will leak a little if there is abdominal stress (cough, sneeze, heavy lifting) or if I sit on something that put pressure on the perineum and distorts the cuff. Bicycling is a problem and I had to switch to a very wide seat that is tilted forward. I motorcycle, a lot, long day rides and cross country trips and I put an AirHawk seat cover on my stock seat which helped the butt and reduced hard pressure on the cuff. I do stand up on the pegs at railroad crossings. (I ride a 2021 Yamaha FJR.)
The bottom line is that the AUS has not impacted my activities at all and if it failed I would would have it repaired/replaced with no question. Oh, and I still do Kegels as I feel they still help with the stress incontinence. I do sets when I’m at the gym and do a set every time I am stopped at a red light.
I kept a journal where I tracked the experience of getting the AUS and the recovery period. You can read it here:
http://www.codecooker.com/projects_misc/aus/AUS_Report_2019.pdf