Coloplast Virtue Male Sling

lion1 · January 2010

cgerhardt said:
coloplast male sling vs AdVance sling
I have not seen a post on this site since before Christmas. I would really like to get an update. I go in for sling surgery on February 3rd. At this point I am planning to do the AdVance sling but would like to hear if anyone has heard any more about Virtue.
Tallman

Sling Surgery
cgerhardt,

Good Luck on the Sling Surgery, I hope it improves and even better yet cures your incontinence. I'll be praying for you. Please let us know how it goes and the stages you go through along the way.

I'll be getting Botox Injections this week. I hope a Sling is not in my future, but if it is, you'll be a wealth of knowledge. I will post by next weekend and let you know how things turn out on my end.

Lion1

randy_in_indy · January 2010

lion1 said:
Sling Surgery
cgerhardt,

Good Luck on the Sling Surgery, I hope it improves and even better yet cures your incontinence. I'll be praying for you. Please let us know how it goes and the stages you go through along the way.

I'll be getting Botox Injections this week. I hope a Sling is not in my future, but if it is, you'll be a wealth of knowledge. I will post by next weekend and let you know how things turn out on my end.

Lion1

Lion
I have a sling they put in during my Da Vinci. It seems to be working fine...I think I can feel it sometimes but who knows it could also just be the surgery on day 26. I cannot remember what mine was called but my surgeon has been putting them in every patient for the last two years...he's trying to set up a blind study that would have patients agree not to know if they had the sling or not prior to surgery and then an oustide agency would do followups with all patients also not knowing who did or did not have the sling to determine the value of placing slings during the prostectomy. I am I would consider barely incontinent currently with only small leaking during the day and virtually none at night rising to pee twice or three times each night. ...I am just glad my body/mind is telling me to get up each night prior to going. I just wonder about the long term effects of the sling....I know when women have historectomies they often need slings because there is nothing to keep the bladder from dropping and causing incontinent problems....I wish you the best of luck with the botox...never heard of that...are they shooting it into the bladder next or sphincter to beef it up ??

Randy in indy - age 52

cgerhardt · January 2010

lion1 said:
Sling Surgery
cgerhardt,

Good Luck on the Sling Surgery, I hope it improves and even better yet cures your incontinence. I'll be praying for you. Please let us know how it goes and the stages you go through along the way.

I'll be getting Botox Injections this week. I hope a Sling is not in my future, but if it is, you'll be a wealth of knowledge. I will post by next weekend and let you know how things turn out on my end.

Lion1

sling surgery
Lion
I will definitely post my progress. I completed the pre operative physical this week and everything is go for my surgery next Wednesday at NYU. Flying there from Michigan to have the sling done by a doctor that has done a large number of them. I will hold off a final decision about doing either the AdVance or the Virtue sling until after consultation with the doctor on Tuesday. I am leaning pretty far toward the AdVance because there is just not enough data available on Virtue. Moreover, the doctors are very guarded about pushing Virtue probably because of some of the pain problems like bigbadjohn has experienced. AdVance seems much safer but seeems the Virtue may be a "stronger" fix.
Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and especially prayers.
Cgerhardt

cgerhardt · January 2010

randy_in_indy said:
Lion
I have a sling they put in during my Da Vinci. It seems to be working fine...I think I can feel it sometimes but who knows it could also just be the surgery on day 26. I cannot remember what mine was called but my surgeon has been putting them in every patient for the last two years...he's trying to set up a blind study that would have patients agree not to know if they had the sling or not prior to surgery and then an oustide agency would do followups with all patients also not knowing who did or did not have the sling to determine the value of placing slings during the prostectomy. I am I would consider barely incontinent currently with only small leaking during the day and virtually none at night rising to pee twice or three times each night. ...I am just glad my body/mind is telling me to get up each night prior to going. I just wonder about the long term effects of the sling....I know when women have historectomies they often need slings because there is nothing to keep the bladder from dropping and causing incontinent problems....I wish you the best of luck with the botox...never heard of that...are they shooting it into the bladder next or sphincter to beef it up ??

Randy in indy - age 52

Sling
Randy in Indy,
I have not heard of anyone doing a sling at the same time as RP. This would lead one to believe that incontinence is a lot more common that many would lead you to believe. Why don't you received. It may be helpful to post that here. I don't know enough technical stuff to understand how they could implant a sling during RP surgery. The incision for sling is between the scrotum and anus. Robotic RP is north of that area so unless you had open RP I don't know how they would get a sling below the urethera. Perhaps if someone reads this that better understands the technique they could explain. Anyway, glad to hear that you are doing well.
cgerhardt

lion1 · January 2010

cgerhardt said:
sling surgery
Lion
I will definitely post my progress. I completed the pre operative physical this week and everything is go for my surgery next Wednesday at NYU. Flying there from Michigan to have the sling done by a doctor that has done a large number of them. I will hold off a final decision about doing either the AdVance or the Virtue sling until after consultation with the doctor on Tuesday. I am leaning pretty far toward the AdVance because there is just not enough data available on Virtue. Moreover, the doctors are very guarded about pushing Virtue probably because of some of the pain problems like bigbadjohn has experienced. AdVance seems much safer but seeems the Virtue may be a "stronger" fix.
Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and especially prayers.
Cgerhardt

Botox Injected
Randy,Cgerhardt,

Thanks for your replies. I too didn't know they did Slings at the same time as Prostate surgery. It just goes to show that doctors are trying new and numerous methods to get us well.

My Botox injections were today. It went well and in the next few days I'll post again to let you know if I see any improvement. I am retired military and had this done in a military hospital. Botox for Bladders is not FDA approved, that's why you don't hear much about it. But, doctors are performing these injections in military hospitals and they are showing great promise. Although, a temporary fix it can provide much needed relief. I believe soon that this will become standard practice and approved by the FDA in the near future.

Lion1

lion1 · January 2010

cgerhardt said:
sling surgery
Lion
I will definitely post my progress. I completed the pre operative physical this week and everything is go for my surgery next Wednesday at NYU. Flying there from Michigan to have the sling done by a doctor that has done a large number of them. I will hold off a final decision about doing either the AdVance or the Virtue sling until after consultation with the doctor on Tuesday. I am leaning pretty far toward the AdVance because there is just not enough data available on Virtue. Moreover, the doctors are very guarded about pushing Virtue probably because of some of the pain problems like bigbadjohn has experienced. AdVance seems much safer but seeems the Virtue may be a "stronger" fix.
Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts and especially prayers.
Cgerhardt

Botox Injected
Randy,Cgerhardt,

Thanks for your replies. I too didn't know they did Slings at the same time as Prostate surgery. It just goes to show that doctors are trying new and numerous methods to get us well.

My Botox injections were today. It went well and in the next few days I'll post again to let you know if I see any improvement. I am retired military and had this done in a military hospital. Botox for Bladders is not FDA approved, that's why you don't hear much about it. But, doctors are performing these injections in military hospitals and they are showing great promise. Although, a temporary fix it can provide much needed relief. I believe soon that this will become standard practice and approved by the FDA in the near future.

Lion1

randy_in_indy · January 2010

lion1 said:
Botox Injected
Randy,Cgerhardt,

Thanks for your replies. I too didn't know they did Slings at the same time as Prostate surgery. It just goes to show that doctors are trying new and numerous methods to get us well.

My Botox injections were today. It went well and in the next few days I'll post again to let you know if I see any improvement. I am retired military and had this done in a military hospital. Botox for Bladders is not FDA approved, that's why you don't hear much about it. But, doctors are performing these injections in military hospitals and they are showing great promise. Although, a temporary fix it can provide much needed relief. I believe soon that this will become standard practice and approved by the FDA in the near future.

Lion1

Hey guys!
I am thinking I have a ROCK STAR surgeon at least he thinks he is....That's why I picked him...I have been in very competitive sports all my life at a very high level and anyone that comes across like he did when I grilled him on everything is the one that won my business and vote. He and Dr. Scott have been implanting slings for at least two years on any Robotic they have done if not Three years. My sling is attached and anchored to the Coopers Ligament. I started doing some research and find that it is used in females getting slings also attached to the same ligament. I am still in continent but I am now as I am feeling better drinking more beer...that has to be a problem...when I start to have to travel for my job and it becomes a hassel I am certain I will buckle down and start following thier rules better but until then I am enjoying my life as I always do...Heck the COLTS are in the SUPER BOWL...I cannot stop drinking cold turkey now...LOL

Don't know if I said it here or not but my surgeons are trying to get a study going that will not let the patient know whether or not they get a sling...along with another educational surgeon in town that is also renowned for his prostate robotic success Dr Michael Koch at Indiana University Medical Center. They will have an outside agency do follow-ups for a number of years following the surgery with every patient...sling or no sling and see what the results of incontinence are...My surgeon is convinced he has a better rate of others because of implanting at the time of the Prostectomy. DR David W. Hollensbe and Dr. John W. Scott of Urology of Indiana are the two that are doing the slings with every prostectomy they are doing. Here is their Triage nurse's number if you would like to contact them. Terri at 317-564-5132

Hope this helps.

Randy in Indy

cgerhardt · February 2010

lion1 said:
Botox Injected
Randy,Cgerhardt,

Thanks for your replies. I too didn't know they did Slings at the same time as Prostate surgery. It just goes to show that doctors are trying new and numerous methods to get us well.

My Botox injections were today. It went well and in the next few days I'll post again to let you know if I see any improvement. I am retired military and had this done in a military hospital. Botox for Bladders is not FDA approved, that's why you don't hear much about it. But, doctors are performing these injections in military hospitals and they are showing great promise. Although, a temporary fix it can provide much needed relief. I believe soon that this will become standard practice and approved by the FDA in the near future.

Lion1

Virtue Sling Surgery Wednesday
Hi Guys,
I just returned from NYC and had Virtue sling surgery Wednesday. So far I am very pleased with the results. I have posted all the details on healingwell.com prostate cancer forum under Coloplast Male Sling. You can see the details there. If anyone prefers I can copy the information here as well.

amm1 · September 2010

cgerhardt said:
Coloplast Virtue Male Sling
I am 15 months post RP and incontinence and ED has been with me from the beginning with very little improvement. I have done post RP thearpy...kegals and rectal stimulator therapy with no significant improvement. Dry at night and usually when sitting in office chair. If walking or out and about very little to no control. I control during the day (office worker) with Cunningham Clamp and a pad. This is uncomfortable if doing any real activity but works. Nights I use depends just for safety with only a few drops. But, have to get up and go every 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
Just had the battery of tests Monday FUDS/cystoscopy etc. at U of Michigan. Dr. now recommends either AMS InVance Male Sling or Coloplast Virtue Male Sling She has done +70 InVance and only about 6 Virtue since it is relatively new. Says some have had pain (scrotum nerve) sensitivity from InVance and less chance of this with Virtue.
I am most likely headed for surgery in January and based on here recommendations so am doing all the research I can on alternatives and to see what others have experienced. Any comments would be helpful.

slings
I have read you did not have success with Virtue Sling. Did you consider trying the Advance sling? Did you use Dr. Nitti at NYU? I am scheduled to have a sling inserted in Janaury.

bigxbadxjohn3 · September 2010

cgerhardt said:
Virtue Sling Surgery Wednesday
Hi Guys,
I just returned from NYC and had Virtue sling surgery Wednesday. So far I am very pleased with the results. I have posted all the details on healingwell.com prostate cancer forum under Coloplast Male Sling. You can see the details there. If anyone prefers I can copy the information here as well.

Suffering pain from Coloplast Virtue sling 14 mo. post implant
I was implanted with a Coloplast Virtue male sling July 2009. It has been a nightmare for me.

For beginners, I knew absolutely nothing about the Coloplast Virtue sling, did not know it had just begun clinical trials to learn if it was effective in reducing or ending incontinence or could be tolerated in a human body. I never gave my consent to have a Coloplast Virtue male sling implanted in my body. I never consented to being a Guinna pig. I was suppose to be implanted with a simple "U" shaped piece of mesh, not a four armed Quadratic (their description, not mine) surprise.

It not only made my incontinence much worse but I have suffered continuous pain originating from this implant. I was fortunate to have a portion of the Virtue polypropylene mesh removed from my scrotum last December. This lessened the pain and discomfort inside my scrotum but my scrotum skin remains VERY painful to the touch.

To make matters worse, the polypropylene mesh that is wrapped around my lower pelvic bones (rami) causes intolerable pain when I am seated. It feels like I am sitting on a piece of hemp barn rope. When I shift my weight, in an attempt to lessen the pain, the mesh feels like it is tearing the tissue deep inside my pelvis. For understanding, equivalent pain could be walking with a marble under your foot in both shoes.

I am in the process of scheduling surgery to have as much of the Virtue mesh scrapped or cut from my pelvic bones as possible. Hopefully, in time, I will be able to enjoy sitting again like a normal person.

Best wishes,

John

Coloplast Virtue Male Sling

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