Ready for the AMS 800 Artificial Sphincter

After open prostatectomy at age 71 I had a 2.4 Depends pad per day usage.  Took me ten years to decide on the AMS800 -- with the encouragement of ob66 and others.  The first one lasted seventeen months and then developed a leak in the balloon.  Had it replaced in January 2015 by a different surgeon.  (First one retired)  At my annual checkup she told me that she had placed the balloon beneath the muscle, apparently to protect it somewhat from external pressure or forces.  The first one was placed just beneath the skin within an inch or to the right of the navel.  The first AMS800 worked well until it failed.  And, this second one is doing well at eighteen months.  There is a occasional drip when I sit on an uneven surface, but a very thin Poise liner handles that issue.   Good luck.

TomA43 said:

Thanks to ob66 and tpelle for

Thanks to ob66 and tpelle for the info and and encouragement. I am mentally prepared and accept whatever I have to endure post surgery. My focus is on the goal line (getting the unit activated) and whatever happens prior to that is just a part of the journey. I am set for the procedure next Tuesday 8/23.

I have an Advance Sling, AUS800 and AMS700.  The AUS was the easiest of the three surgeries for me. I quit using prescribed pain relievers  the day after my surgery and didn't have any of the problems that other posters have mentioned. I haven't had any real problems other than leaks when I sit incorrectly or do stressful work like riding a mower. I would recommend that you go on stool softners a few days before surgery as the stuff used during the operation can lead to constipation.  Good luck on your surgery.

You are making the right decision, in my opinion.

I've listed below some links outlining my detailed experience with the AMS 800 implant procedure and post-surgery fun, in chronological order.

http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1324584#comment-1324584
http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1326323#comment-1326323
http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1339326#comment-1339326
http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1339561#comment-1339561
http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1344785#comment-1344785
http://csn.cancer.org/comment/1413239#comment-1413239

I wish you the best of outcomes.

My pleasure, Tom.

I'm very pleased that I could provide value to you.  Many others have, and continue to, provide value to me on my journey, and I am happy to be able to give back to this esteem group, as well as the newcomers.

I with you the best of outcomes on your journey.

My doctor waited six weeks before activation. Is it possible that you somehow pressed the deactivation button and didn't notice because you were sore. The booklet from AMS shows you how to activate but I would talk to the doctor or his staff before doing anything.  Good luck.

thanks to jimco and Joseph - I will be calling Dr. at first light. 

I had an AUS 800 installed at Kaiser (total cost, surgury and all: $100!) about 6 months ago and it's working very well, no pads, and rarely wet underwear. For the most part I'm happy. But I'm wondering, am I the only one that can feel the pump rubbing the bottom of the inside of my scrotum? I can feel it at least 60% of the time, and it sometimes hurts. My surgeon told me 3 months ago it would get better, but it hasn't. I didn't see any other posts mentioning this.

Larry, after both the first and second AUS800 implants, I had a low-level pain/feeling in the scrotum.  The first pump sat at the bottom of the scrotum; the second very high-right at the penis level.  At about month 21, I suddenly realized that the pain/feeling was gone.  Told the surgeon the pump had finally settled in.  She said more likely the 75 mg Amitriptyline, later Nortriptyline (anti-depressants) was working.  She advised me to continue the med for a while then try to wean myself off gradually to see if the issue is gone.  The high-pump really bulges out, is very visible and easy to manipulate.  Hope this helps.  tpelle

Joseph - I have read most of your posts here, specifically any regarding the AMS800. I've left replies in a couple threads over the past week, but as yet no one has responded... not one.  Specifically I am facing a ticking time bomb in that I am due to begin SRT, but am still nearly totally incontinent. My Uro has recommended the AMS800, and I have done what research I can on the topic. My concern is that the device must be in place and all "tweaks" completed and TOTALLY HEALED before I begin two months of SRT... and hopefully all this can be accomplished during the period when Lupron is still able to keep my PSA low.

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone else here has faced having the AUS placement completed before beginning SRT. I haven't seen much posted on that and the search function on this MB is not the best. Thanks for your time.

Thanks, Joseph. Your posts have been very informative regarding the implant surgery and living with the device. In my case, it appears to be something that I need to have done, or possibly live the rest of my life incontinent. Basically, I was scheduled to start SRT this month, however, my RO recommended waiting until the incontinence improves. Then my Urologist recently informed me that it is highly unlikely that will happen, and referred me to a prosthetic urologist for getting the implant. I did as much research as possible and know that the AMS800 has a 25% revision rate... much related to cuff and reservoir sizing and placement, as well as outright mechanical failure. That's 1 in 4. Then, once SRT begins, any further healing is frozen. No more healing. So I need to be sure that the device is functioning properly and optimally before I proceed with the SRT. Your experience of five months - minus the 6-8 week post-op period before activation, gives me over 15 weeks of "field testing" to become confident that the device as implanted will be durable.. and proceed with the SRT. Sounds adequate to me.

Perhaps I may put together a top level post, introducing myself, and maybe seeking more experience of others. But I'm pretty sure that I need to just go ahead and do this. I plan to present this timeline to the RO next week, and as I said, hopefully HT will keep my PSA will remain in the <.1 range until the AUS gets settled in and RT can begin. Thanks for your info.