It's been now a year since I had my AMS800 implanted (surgery was done September 21st 2011), so I'd like to share with you sort of a condensed (not that condensed sometimes) view on my experience...
Something I probably forgot to mention: I have never turned the thing off, it's on 24/7. I was afraid of these spasms too. What I noticed is that the amount of spasms is much smaller now (one or two...
Glad I can help, thanks. When I first started my research on the AMS one of the "easiest" (for the doctors I suppose) solutions for small bladder capacity was the neobladder, but it's also one that...
This time of 2-3 hours seems to be compatible with what I had from the days where my bladder had a smaller capacity. I used to go to the bathroom in intervals of 3 hours the most (with a relatively...
1 month is a bit too early to notice any real improvements, things will get better every week. I was quite worried in my first weeks that there were some leaks (small drips, actually) that later on I...
OK, so here goes an update... It's been nearly 8 months since my activation. Things are going quite nicely. There were a few incidents only of leakage (no disasters though), only due to my own lack...
I just came back from an appointment today (exactly 2 months and a half after activation), and everything is as fine as it can be, I have to return only in 3 months. I will keep taking some light...
One trick I need to learn yet is how to activate it with one hand. It's very very tricky mostly after a couple beers (I don't have a good balance myself even without the beers...), and using both...
2 months and a few days after the activation, all I have to say is that this is perfect. All the leaks (2 or 3) were caused by distraction. Of course some sneezing causes a bit of a problem but way...
2-3 hours is a very good time frame for me as well during the day. If you don't get bothered to go there every 2 hours and pump it, it's perfect. If I have to do something stressful even if in a...
I think there isn't a mandatory time when you must urinate, my doctor never told me so. If I go there every 2-3 hours it's less "risky" so to speak but I can go all night without urinating, sometimes...
Think of the AMS and the ZSI as a "cap" or a "corket" - it blocks the urine from leaking like the natural sphincter should do. If by using your mind you mean controlling the muscles and sphincter...
Yes it's normal (never did catheterization), but if I didn't pay attention some urine used to remain in the bladder and by pure laziness I didn't empty it all the time - this was before the AMS. Now...
I just "tested" it some minutes ago and it didn't leak, just a drop - and I wasn't wearing a pad or even underwear - so it might be related to the car indeed, I read a lot of stories about car seats...
A quick update: today the first serious accident happened. A very strong leak, coming out of a car. Soaked pad (and pants...), and at home there were still 200ml left in the bladder (my doctor asked...
A week after the activation, I must say that it's really impressive. Yes, there were some leaks, but no disasters (aka wet pants). It's very manageable, once you know how and why these minor leaks...
Another detail I noticed today: there isn't a leaking "pattern", like "if I raise my left arm, it leaks" or something identifiable as a reason to leak (yet, or I haven't figured it in my case). I did...
The morning after... and it does work! Woke up dry, with a very light urge, went there and while standing just one small drip escaped. 95% satisfaction? I think so....
One of my worst concerns and annoyances when I was on diapers (during the healing weeks) was that they can't hold the normal flow both in capacity or speed to absorb it (any brand, some are worse...
I think there might be something related to sitting positions indeed. I went to the bathroom for the first time after 2-3 hours of the activation (no urge yet though) and the pad was slightly more...
The device was activated today (6 weeks + 1 day as it was a holiday here yesterday), and so far it seems that it's working but - and there's this big but - with some effort, it still leaks. It's...
2nd week is over, and it couldn't be more easy and calmer than this. I was expecting much more trouble and discomfort than this. Zero pain, no bloating, no bleeding, no purple shades, scars are...
No I won't do the counting for him "officially", of course, it's not my responsability. He said it kind of joking about it, like "I'm busy and I might forget the exact date so remember me if I miss...
1 week is done. Yesterday I was feeling much better and stayed off the bed all day. Went for my first check with the doctor and everything seems fine and as expected. No bleeding, extra fluids,...
There can be anything at the end of the tunnel... but a slippery road due to leakage :cool: A good state of mind also makes things go very well mostly for all you guys with the extra problem, the Big...
Today it was the best day post-surgery. Pain, yes, it's still there but I'd rate it 2 in a scale of 10. I'm now able to sit at the desktop without discomfort, could deal with my fish tanks (some...
I think this 6 weeks time is a safe zone so to speak, they prefer to err on the safe side. Not everyone heals at the same pace (and it's not also a matter of age), and it's a bit impossible to...
Day 4 is going fine, the first week seems to be the hardest. Pain is gradually reducing or I'm getting used to it. A question I couldn't find the answer for: what's the shortest reported activation...
A short report: definitely yesterday was the worst day. The pain in my belly was really annoying but as long as I didn't move, there was no pain. Sitting or any movement was really annoying. My...
1st night at home was a bit more comfortable, I could sleep much better although quite still for my tastes. It's not really something unbearable, but when you least expect it, there's this warning of...
Thanks! I must say I was expecting a little more trouble than this, one tooth implant I did a couple months ago probably bothered me 100x more than this procedure. Today when the doctor was removing...
OK I'm back! So far so good, no pain but just a very mild discomfort where the pump is. I'm urinating "normally" (volume-wise), very good flow. Im not taking any strong painkillers, just paracetamol...
Getting closer... tomorrow is the day. I'm quite confident, really never been so confident before in any of my previous surgeries (15? I stopped counting!). The other device is called ZSI 375, by a...
Chris, Dr. Google can fix the Portuguese problem! I've read that some people still deal with a few drips here and there, but to me, if the short leakage is due to some sort of residual urine or when...
Hello all, first post here. Although I'm not a prostate cancer patient, I am here to report how this place helped me to get some great information about the AMS 800. I'm going to have mine implanted...