new problem with incontenance after 5+ months with none

Leaks
Hi,
It comes and goes. Wine hits me worse than beer or hard liquor. I always wear light mini pads just in case. It eases my mind and keeps my pants dry! jj

lion1 said:

Leaks
For Sure, Wine is the absolute worse. It's like someone turned on the faucet. Of course, with me being incontinent the last three years. Anything I drink promotes the leakage. But, in my current state, this isn't going to stop me from having a beer or a few cups of Dunkin Donuts coffee. I'm still going to leak. The fact is I haven't heard of ANYONE after three yrs of incontinence being healed naturally. I pray I will be, but realistically, has anyone been incontinent for 3 yrs and not had to seek some type of treatment or surgery?? if there has been someone, please answer this post. I did the collagen injections and am now looking at my surgery options.

The above comments are very encouraging for many, in that your incontinence is such that it's periodic and not constant. I am glad you don't have to deal with the full-blown thing---it's difficult, but I know someday soon a treatment will have me dry!!!!

Thanks,

Lion1

After years of Incontinence, I intend to try
Hello lion1: Open prostatectomy in 2003 followed by <.01 PSA but incontinence. When I did Kegels following surgery I had tolerable pain in the lower left abdomen. Depends pad usage got down to 1 per day when I was doing 300 Kegels per day. After a year or so, the lower left abdomen pain became intolerable, so I stopped the Kegels. Primary Care physician discovered a minor inguinal hernia which he felt was causing the pain. A surgeon said hernia was minor, didn't need repairing yet, and that Kegels wouldn't solve the incontinence problem anyway. So, for the past several years I haven't been doing Kegels and pad usage has increased to three pads per day. A different surgeon will repair the hernia next month. Then, after the six week recovery, I intend on doing Kegels again for six months or so. I hope I can get back to 1 pad a day. If not, I'll have the AMS AdVance surgery done. In case you haven't seen the webcast on the AdVance surgery, here's the site:

http://www.or-live.com/sentara/2236/event/rnh.cfm?

I don't know of anyone who has recovered from leakage after several years. I hope to, but don't have great confidence. Ergo, AMS AdVance research. I had one collagen injection with absolutely no improvement.

tpelle said:

After years of Incontinence, I intend to try
Hello lion1: Open prostatectomy in 2003 followed by <.01 PSA but incontinence. When I did Kegels following surgery I had tolerable pain in the lower left abdomen. Depends pad usage got down to 1 per day when I was doing 300 Kegels per day. After a year or so, the lower left abdomen pain became intolerable, so I stopped the Kegels. Primary Care physician discovered a minor inguinal hernia which he felt was causing the pain. A surgeon said hernia was minor, didn't need repairing yet, and that Kegels wouldn't solve the incontinence problem anyway. So, for the past several years I haven't been doing Kegels and pad usage has increased to three pads per day. A different surgeon will repair the hernia next month. Then, after the six week recovery, I intend on doing Kegels again for six months or so. I hope I can get back to 1 pad a day. If not, I'll have the AMS AdVance surgery done. In case you haven't seen the webcast on the AdVance surgery, here's the site:

http://www.or-live.com/sentara/2236/event/rnh.cfm?

I don't know of anyone who has recovered from leakage after several years. I hope to, but don't have great confidence. Ergo, AMS AdVance research. I had one collagen injection with absolutely no improvement.</p>

ADVANCE SLING WEBSITE-OPERATION VIDEO
TPELLE,

I watched the whole video on the Advance Sling. It was very interesting and worthwhile. An awesome site for people who want to know exactly what they are getting into. The surgeon said he had done over 150 slings, he likes the Advance Sling which does not have the screws involved. That sounded positive. The biggest thing I gained from this video was that he was inserting this sling into folks who had severe incontinence also. And he claims that in many it worked. All my previous readings had said that people with more than moderate leakage should not get the Sling. So if this surgeon is right then this may be worth the shot at doing this and using the AUS as a last resort. Of course, all my reading with the AUS is use it as a last resort. So I'm concluding that when I see my Doc next month and if it turns out that he says there's a good chance the Sling would do the trick,then why not go that route and avoid the Last resort for now????? So much to think about-------Lion1

tpelle said:

Highlights of Rountable on AdVance Sling in Urology Times
lion1:

The Sentara webcast is most informative. Everyone with incontinence should see it. However, I'm still a bit skeptical and want to see further outcomes.

Several years ago I asked a local urologist, trained by AMS, if he did the earlier screw version -- InVance surgery, which was being touted at that time. He said no, that he found it minimally acceptable. Apparently, the next version, the AMS AdVance, was in a trial/development phases. If I remember correctly, early in it's development a Rountable of the trial surgeons indicated that the AdVance was showing promise in the light-to-moderate leakage post-prostactomy patients. A couple of years later a Rountable (see addressd below) of the same surgeons is much more enthuiastic about AdVance's success even in patients with more severe leakage IF they have some sphincter function. If you haven't seen the results of the later Rountable, about a year old now, here is the address:

http://urologytimes.modernmedicine.com/urologytimes/data/articlestandard//urologytimes/142008/507521/article.pdf

I'd be interested in your comments on the 2008 Roundtable. And, I would be interested in whether your urologist feels AdVance would work for you. If not, why not. My leakage is mostly three pads per day, a bit less than 500 milliliters in 24 hours (about equivalent to the pint Drinking Water bottle.) I think my sphincter is working to some extent as it will almost cut off urine flow momentarily standing at the toilet, even though I haven't been doing Kegels in several years. As you say, so much to ponder. tpelle

tpelle--- Roundtable
tpelle,

The roundtable was excellent. Dr Webster is the very doctor I will be going to see on 12 May if my insurance covers him. I was referred to him by my urologist. Either him or Dr McCammons I believe would be excellent choices for the Advance Sling. After reading the roundtable, I felt this is exactly what I waited 3 yrs for. I, like many others, would use the AUS only as a last resort. But, this news was extremely encouraging. The detail left nothing out---you just have to hope that this procedure will be the silver bullet. I get the feeling if all goes well, this would help me tremendously.

Thank you so much---your direction has been right on-------thoughts??

Lion1

tpelle said:

I Predict Webster Is Your Answer
lion1: I went back and read your earlier posts; we seem to be on the same path. I predict Dr. Webster (or McCammon) and AdVance will be the answer to your 5-6 pads-per-day incontinence. Of course, depending if you have some residual sphincter capability. Do you? (Apparently the volume of drippage is not necessarily the measure of the severity of incontinence when AdVance is being considered).

I believe my three Depends pads per day usage could be reduced. But, like you, I won't give up my 25 miles per week treadmill fast-walks, after which the flood gates open. I can just see the sphincter/urethra bouncing around in there with every step I take while it's trying unsuccessfully to stay closed. It makes sense that the AdVance hammock could help.

After reading the very positive presentation of Roundtable 2, you may now see why I am still a bit skeptical. Can AdVance be that successful? Are we missing a bunch of negatives? It would be great to hear from more of the several thousands by now, who have had the AdVance surgery, but I don't think it's in the cards.

lion1, I'll be anxiously waiting to hear of Dr. Webster's recommendation.

Your willingness to share your experiences is appreciated.

tpelle-Webster.
Tpelle,

I agree with you in your skepticism. I believe Webster is the right choice, but many times you do have to do your homework, because you know that old saying----If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. However, what this roundtable does, is it gives hope on potentially improving a situation that will have to be dealt with--I am only 49-- I can't leak for the next 40 yrs.

Additionally, I hear you about the negatives----for instance, when my surgeon did my LRP, I knew I had one of the best, however, when you look at his website, you won't see a picture of me on there, only the folks who had an LRP and toute how great the surgery went and would lead you to believe that none of them have ED or Incontinence and they are all golfing within a month after surgery. Everybody's cured and happy! I will tell you, if I had been continent and having great erections, I at 46yrs of age at that time would have been his poster child----great marketing---get my drift?

I will tell you this, I think I picked the right surgeon, BUT----I like many others thought get the cancer out---do the nerve sparing, because I still have a lot of sex to have in my life--------I really didn't think of the incontinence part, I figured I'd deal with that later. Sometimes we live to much for the moment, what I mean by that is, here I am 3 yrs later and leaking----Cancer,Thank God an afterthought---sex pretty good, but Leaking and I am looking for a comfortable fix----maybe the Advance Sling--------I'll keep in touch.

Lion1

tpelle said:

Great Marketing
lion1: As I was viewing the Sentara webcast with Kurt McCammon, "marketing" was on my mind too. However, I know that skepticism is one of my many faults, so I'm thinking that their presentation is not all about recognition and new business. It certainly appears that there is something to this new AdVance. If only we had the results of a third roundable of the same physicians, and perhaps some new ones, bringing us up to date. Maybe you can get an update from Dr. Webster when you see him in May. Surely your medical insurance will cover the visit. I'll watch for your posts. tpelle

Moving Forward to conquer Incontinence
tepelle,

I got a call yesterday from my Tricare office patient affiars, apparently, since Dr Webster is out of network, my insurance will not cover a visit to him. Instead, the Air Force is sending me at the end of May to Walter Reed Medical Center,D.C. Thye have received my referral and I'll be seeing their Chief Urologist, a Dr Jersee(I may have the spelling wrong), anyway I asked about his credentials and what surgerys he performs---I specifically asked about the Advance Sling and explained that my urologist here in Florida recommended Dr Webster at Duke. The Doctor I was talking to on the phone said, well you maybe in luck because Dr Jersee trained under-----DR WEBSTER-----Can this finally be the right path, the right ticket to Dryness? I will keep you posted.

There are just so many hurdles to climb, but I am staying completely positive and I am going to lick this thing one way or the other-----------------Lion1

tpelle said:

Jersee vs Webster
lion1: Are you retired Air Force? Believe Colon Powell may have had his PC treated at Walter Reed. I tried to find a Dr. Jersee on the Walter Reed web site, but it seems like physicians and surgeons are only listed by title, not by name. The young radiologist I consulted in 2002 was a military educated/trained doctor and was Chief of Radiology at Walter Reed on one assignment just before I met him. Local physicians speak highly of him. Sorry you have to wait longer to hear more about AdVance. Hopefully, Jersee will be informative. Everything seems to be on course for continence in your near future. tpelle

Jersee ve Webster
tpelle,

Yes. I am retired Air Force.(I take it you are too?) Tomorrow I will get the Doctor's name. I am not sure the spelling is right since I was told by another Doctor on the phone that his appointment coordinator would be calling me soon. I still believe it will be late May for an appointment. But your right things are getting on course. If this Doctor believes the Sling will be right for me and happens to not do the Advance surgery, then he may be able to get me in the right hands.


Thanks,
Lion1