AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter

Trew
Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
edited April 2022 in Prostate Cancer #1
One of many links with a diagram showing the device:

http://www.phoenix5.org/Basics/treatsides/incontinence/ams800.html

Is this the best device now available?

Best place to have this procedure done?

Interviews RE the artificial sphincter:

http://www.delawareurologic.com/audio/#video

I have a good friend who had bladder reconstruction after bladder cancer and he may be interested in one. Hey, some of us PC guys might be interested in one, too, so add as much info as you can about "Control Issues."
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Comments

  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #7
    harvs said:

    How it Works

    Got this from the AMS web site
    The thing they don't mention is that the pump is implanted in the scrotum.


    The AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter mimics a healthy sphincter in that it keeps the urethra closed until you want to urinate. It does this by automatically moving fluid such as saline (salt and water) through three main components: a cuff, a pump and a balloon. These components are connected by flexible, kink-resistant tubing.

    When you need to urinate, you release the pressure on the urethra so that urine can flow. You do this by simply squeezing and releasing the pump. This action pulls the fluid out of the cuff and sends it to the balloon. Because the empty cuff is no longer pressing the urethra closed, the urine can flow out of the bladder.

    Minutes after the bladder is empty, the fluid automatically returns from the balloon to the cuff. Once the cuff is refilled, the urethra is squeezed closed again.

    OMG!
    OMG!!!!

    Thanks for the info but this is just another thing (along w/penile implants) that I hope that I never have to deal with!!!!
  • lion1
    lion1 Member Posts: 241
    #8
    Swingshiftworker said:

    OMG!
    OMG!!!!

    Thanks for the info but this is just another thing (along w/penile implants) that I hope that I never have to deal with!!!!

    Harvs
    What about the pressure build-up on the urehtra? Can you feel it? Is it painful? It seems like all the pressure would now be on the urehtra and not on the sphincther. Is the urge to go the same with the AMS??

    Thanks,

    Lion1
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #9
    lion1 said:

    Harvs
    What about the pressure build-up on the urehtra? Can you feel it? Is it painful? It seems like all the pressure would now be on the urehtra and not on the sphincther. Is the urge to go the same with the AMS??

    Thanks,

    Lion1

    Night Time?
    And what about night sleeping- do you sleep all night or do you have to wake up with a sense of urgency?

    Good questions, Lion. Inquiring minds need to know.
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #10
    Trew said:

    Night Time?
    And what about night sleeping- do you sleep all night or do you have to wake up with a sense of urgency?

    Good questions, Lion. Inquiring minds need to know.

    Night Time
    The pressure and sensations are all identical to natural function. The urges and relief are exactly the same. Truly a wonder of modern medicine.

    BTW I also have the AMS penile implant and find it excellent also.

    These devices really gave me my life back.
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #11
    harvs said:

    Night Time
    The pressure and sensations are all identical to natural function. The urges and relief are exactly the same. Truly a wonder of modern medicine.

    BTW I also have the AMS penile implant and find it excellent also.

    These devices really gave me my life back.

    Harvs, you are wonderful for
    Harvs, you are wonderful for sharing with us. How long did the procedure take to install this device? I am imagining something rather complicated to get the cuff arund the uretha up near the bladder and implant the balloon that holds the saline solution.

    Surgery is so much fun, as you probably know.
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #12
    Trew said:

    Harvs, you are wonderful for
    Harvs, you are wonderful for sharing with us. How long did the procedure take to install this device? I am imagining something rather complicated to get the cuff arund the uretha up near the bladder and implant the balloon that holds the saline solution.

    Surgery is so much fun, as you probably know.

    Surgery
    The procedure was a little more complex because I had both devices installed at the same time.
    It’s been a while, but I think the surgery was a few hours with an overnight in the hospital.
    The recovery was a bit tough due to all of the swelling after the penile implant.
    No question – I would do it again.
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #13
    harvs said:

    Surgery
    The procedure was a little more complex because I had both devices installed at the same time.
    It’s been a while, but I think the surgery was a few hours with an overnight in the hospital.
    The recovery was a bit tough due to all of the swelling after the penile implant.
    No question – I would do it again.

    Important Question RE
    Harvs, do you need to carry some sort of medical ID just in case you are knocked unconscious- you would not release urine unless someone pushed the start button for you- right?

    And did you have to have a cath in a few days after getting the device implanted?

    I have no questions about modesty- that all was lost with the first surgery.
  • lewvino
    lewvino Member Posts: 1,010 Member
    #14
    Trew said:

    Important Question RE
    Harvs, do you need to carry some sort of medical ID just in case you are knocked unconscious- you would not release urine unless someone pushed the start button for you- right?

    And did you have to have a cath in a few days after getting the device implanted?

    I have no questions about modesty- that all was lost with the first surgery.

    Trew, I met one guy at our
    Trew, I met one guy at our local prostate cancer support group that had a device put in since he was leaking so bad. Not sure which device he actually had but he loved it. Said it made the world of difference for him. He had it replaced 1 time due to mechanical wear after time. I believe he was in his early 80's. It was remarkable to hear him speak since he has fought the battle against 5 different cancers, Skin, bladder, prostate, testicle and I forget the 5th one.

    He was one of the first US Soldiers to go into Hiroshima after the 'bomb' was dropped in WWII and attributes all of his cancers to this.

    Larry
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #15
    Trew said:

    Important Question RE
    Harvs, do you need to carry some sort of medical ID just in case you are knocked unconscious- you would not release urine unless someone pushed the start button for you- right?

    And did you have to have a cath in a few days after getting the device implanted?

    I have no questions about modesty- that all was lost with the first surgery.

    Question
    No – there was no catheter as part of the procedure.
    There is a Medical ID bracelet to prevent someone from placing a catheter during an emergency.
    you are correct, the unit defaults to an “off” or clamped position, so forcing a catheter through would damage the works.
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #16
    Youtube Video
    Interesting Youtube video on the sphincter:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAit7hRYew&feature=related

    I am thinking that a clinic that specializes in installing these things would be better than a local urologist? If I do need one of these things in the future, I sure want it done right.

    So it would be interesting to know of places that specialize in doing this type of surgery.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker Member Posts: 1,017 Member
    #17
    harvs said:

    Question
    No – there was no catheter as part of the procedure.
    There is a Medical ID bracelet to prevent someone from placing a catheter during an emergency.
    you are correct, the unit defaults to an “off” or clamped position, so forcing a catheter through would damage the works.

    Penile and Urinary Sphincter Implant Pumps?
    Serious question for future reference:

    Were the pump bulbs for both the penile and urinary sphincter placed on the opposite sides of your scrotum AND do they fit in there w/the testes (or was castration necessary)?
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #18
    Swingshiftworker said:

    Penile and Urinary Sphincter Implant Pumps?
    Serious question for future reference:

    Were the pump bulbs for both the penile and urinary sphincter placed on the opposite sides of your scrotum AND do they fit in there w/the testes (or was castration necessary)?

    Penile and Urinary Sphincter Implant Pumps
    They fit very nicely - one on each side.
    No "alterations" necessary.
    No discomfort after initial adjustment
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #19
    Trew said:

    Youtube Video
    Interesting Youtube video on the sphincter:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWAit7hRYew&feature=related

    I am thinking that a clinic that specializes in installing these things would be better than a local urologist? If I do need one of these things in the future, I sure want it done right.

    So it would be interesting to know of places that specialize in doing this type of surgery.

    Youtube Video
    Very good video.
    I agree if you can find a place that specializes in this - much better than the local Uro
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #20
    Harvs, Thanks!!
    I think this topic has put a bit of fear into my system (finally!) and the last 24 hrs have been the driest for me since I ended rad on jan 15.

    I have been kegeling myself to where I can't find my kegel muscles - especially while walking and slow jogging which is not exactly easy to do. I will be dry one way or another. I can not live with leakage.
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #21
    Trew said:

    Harvs, Thanks!!
    I think this topic has put a bit of fear into my system (finally!) and the last 24 hrs have been the driest for me since I ended rad on jan 15.

    I have been kegeling myself to where I can't find my kegel muscles - especially while walking and slow jogging which is not exactly easy to do. I will be dry one way or another. I can not live with leakage.

    Trew
    I was going through 6-8 pads a day plus wearing protective underwear for the overflow. I kegeled myself to death, tried Tegress bulking injections, and clamps. Nothing worked.
    This was a last resort and worked wonders.
  • ob66
    ob66 Member Posts: 227 Member
    #22
    harvs said:

    Trew
    I was going through 6-8 pads a day plus wearing protective underwear for the overflow. I kegeled myself to death, tried Tegress bulking injections, and clamps. Nothing worked.
    This was a last resort and worked wonders.

    New visitor
    Picked up on your nice answers. I had daVinci prostatectomy 6/5/2010. Had a slightly elevated PSA last visit (0.05 to 0.07). Need radiation therapy. Am on three to four pads a day currently. Told it will not get better and could get worse with radiation. Doing the AUS sphincter surgery 5/10/2010. Any comments Harv? Worried about activation. Seems like a lot of warnings with regards to surgery---failure of appliance, infection, etc. Any comments? All help would be appreciated.
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #23
    ob66 said:

    New visitor
    Picked up on your nice answers. I had daVinci prostatectomy 6/5/2010. Had a slightly elevated PSA last visit (0.05 to 0.07). Need radiation therapy. Am on three to four pads a day currently. Told it will not get better and could get worse with radiation. Doing the AUS sphincter surgery 5/10/2010. Any comments Harv? Worried about activation. Seems like a lot of warnings with regards to surgery---failure of appliance, infection, etc. Any comments? All help would be appreciated.

    God Bless, ob66
    Ob66, I hope it all goes well for you. keep us updates on appointments and outcome. I am getting better. I was so close to dry when I started radiation. I had a lot of swelling after radiation and the urologist PA back here in MI put me on a 6 day medrol RX which really opened up the flood gates for about 6 weeks. That is now slowing down to maybe 2- 3 pads a day, but still not good enough to be an active backpacker again- and I still have a lot of stress incontinence. If I just sat in a chair all day I woul be ok- but I can't do that- I want to be out on a the trail for a few more years. I have dream to one day hike the CDT end to end. Can't do that with wet underwear and sleeping bag.

    And I know someone who is much worse off than I am but I think he is just going to live with it.
  • ob66
    ob66 Member Posts: 227 Member
    #24
    Trew said:

    God Bless, ob66
    Ob66, I hope it all goes well for you. keep us updates on appointments and outcome. I am getting better. I was so close to dry when I started radiation. I had a lot of swelling after radiation and the urologist PA back here in MI put me on a 6 day medrol RX which really opened up the flood gates for about 6 weeks. That is now slowing down to maybe 2- 3 pads a day, but still not good enough to be an active backpacker again- and I still have a lot of stress incontinence. If I just sat in a chair all day I woul be ok- but I can't do that- I want to be out on a the trail for a few more years. I have dream to one day hike the CDT end to end. Can't do that with wet underwear and sleeping bag.

    And I know someone who is much worse off than I am but I think he is just going to live with it.

    Radiation and incontinence
    Thanks for your helpful reply Trew. Was wondering if there was anyone reading who went into radiation therapy with mild/moderate incontinence (3 pads a day), and either got better than that or stayed the same some time after radiation was completed? My incontinence has improved with physical therapy, caffeine and alcohol elimination, but is still not cured. Any input would be appreciated as I am probably going to have sphincter surgery unless I had high hopes without it. Thanks.
  • Trew
    Trew Member Posts: 932 Member
    #25
    ob66 said:

    Radiation and incontinence
    Thanks for your helpful reply Trew. Was wondering if there was anyone reading who went into radiation therapy with mild/moderate incontinence (3 pads a day), and either got better than that or stayed the same some time after radiation was completed? My incontinence has improved with physical therapy, caffeine and alcohol elimination, but is still not cured. Any input would be appreciated as I am probably going to have sphincter surgery unless I had high hopes without it. Thanks.

    PT?
    Did physical therapy help you any? Any leakage is totally unacceptable with me. I am changing doctors this month and I will discuss with the new doc realistic expectations RE the future. I would love to put this entire cancer thingie behind me, but everytime I see the pad I am reminded that in a way I am still crippled.

    ob, I am very much interested in how it goes with you. I am going to add you to my firends list and I hope we can keep in touch this coming year.
  • ob66
    ob66 Member Posts: 227 Member
    #26
    Trew said:

    PT?
    Did physical therapy help you any? Any leakage is totally unacceptable with me. I am changing doctors this month and I will discuss with the new doc realistic expectations RE the future. I would love to put this entire cancer thingie behind me, but everytime I see the pad I am reminded that in a way I am still crippled.

    ob, I am very much interested in how it goes with you. I am going to add you to my firends list and I hope we can keep in touch this coming year.

    Physical Therapy
    The physical therapy helped immensely, but after ten months I am not all the way there, and need radaition therapy (thus the sphincter surgery). My urologist has an excellent PT who specializes in such things. Once a week visits since last November. Went from 10-12 pads to 5 or so 1 month ago. Now some of that was probably time, but a lot was due to the exercises IMHO. Now with quitting caffeine and alcohol, I am down to 3 pads a day. Found a way to have about 2 ounces of wine with dinner and I am OK.Lots of breathing exercises (yoga), stretches of quads, hams, etc., kegels done in many different PT ways using elastics, the ball, etc. The idea is to work the abdominal cavity to assist you in gaining control. I have nothing but the highest regard for my PT, and would recommended her and what I went though to anyone, even though not a complete reversal of my incontinence. Hope this helps.

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