AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter

Trew
Trew CSN 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

  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #2
    AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter
    I've had mine for almost 3 years. One of the best moves I've made. Couldn't live without it.
  • Trew
    Trew CSN Member Posts: 932 Member
    #3
    harvs said:

    AMS 800 artificial urinary sphincter
    I've had mine for almost 3 years. One of the best moves I've made. Couldn't live without it.

    Ease of Use?
    Harvs, How easy to use is this device? Any accidents or other problems and who installed the device for you?
  • Evagirl
    Evagirl Member Posts: 60
    #4
    Trew said:

    Ease of Use?
    Harvs, How easy to use is this device? Any accidents or other problems and who installed the device for you?

    How does this work?

    How does this work?
  • Trew
    Trew CSN Member Posts: 932 Member
    #5
    Evagirl said:

    How does this work?

    How does this work?

    Gives one the shudders just
    Gives one the shudders just looking at it, doesn't it? Does me.

    And some say its just prostate cancer! Bah humbug!!!
  • harvs
    harvs Member Posts: 54
    #6
    Evagirl said:

    How does this work?

    How does this work?

    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.
  • Swingshiftworker
    Swingshiftworker CSN 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 CSN Member Posts: 241 Member
    #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 CSN 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 CSN 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 CSN 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 CSN 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 CSN 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 CSN 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 CSN 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.

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