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Greetings, I am 74, had RRP in 9/22 and while incontinence improved in following months, I continued to have severe stress incontinence (10+ pads/diapers per day). Last fall I inquired about experience with AUS surgery and received several helpful responses.
I had AUS surgery a week ago and am still in recovery. The discomfort due to incisions is minimal, but one side effect I did not expect persists - after the foley catheter was removed the following morning, I could not pee and did not leak. I was told that inflammation from the surgery likely pressured the sphincter/urethra. I was shown how to self-catheterize and discharged with 6 or so extra catheters. (I was told about 15% of AUS patients experience this side effect.)
The second day I began to have urges which would increase in intensity and began to pee with dribbles and slow stream in the toilet - very uncomfortable. I have had to get up 3 or 4 times each night to pee (I tried to self-catheterize before bed, but nothing comes out.) At this point, I am peeing in the toilet, but must stress to pee, very weak steam, and am not sure the bladder empties. The surgeon says to be patient and within the next few weeks I should again have stress incontinence (which should be controlled when the device is activated 5 weeks from now.) I find it ironic that AUS has stopped my leaking at least temporarily, but created the opposite problem.
I am curious whether anyone has had a similar experience post AUS surgery and how recovery from this situation progressed.
As an aside, I used the catheters supplied by the hospital in the first two days. It was difficult to obtain additional catheters. I did not know self-catheters are a prescription device, not sold at a pharmacy, but obtained from a medical supply company that arranges for drop ship delivery. My surgery was done at a medical center 3 hours away -- they contacted a local hospital which provided additional catheters.
I had AUS surgery a week ago and am still in recovery. The discomfort due to incisions is minimal, but one side effect I did not expect persists - after the foley catheter was removed the following morning, I could not pee and did not leak. I was told that inflammation from the surgery likely pressured the sphincter/urethra. I was shown how to self-catheterize and discharged with 6 or so extra catheters. (I was told about 15% of AUS patients experience this side effect.)
The second day I began to have urges which would increase in intensity and began to pee with dribbles and slow stream in the toilet - very uncomfortable. I have had to get up 3 or 4 times each night to pee (I tried to self-catheterize before bed, but nothing comes out.) At this point, I am peeing in the toilet, but must stress to pee, very weak steam, and am not sure the bladder empties. The surgeon says to be patient and within the next few weeks I should again have stress incontinence (which should be controlled when the device is activated 5 weeks from now.) I find it ironic that AUS has stopped my leaking at least temporarily, but created the opposite problem.
I am curious whether anyone has had a similar experience post AUS surgery and how recovery from this situation progressed.
As an aside, I used the catheters supplied by the hospital in the first two days. It was difficult to obtain additional catheters. I did not know self-catheters are a prescription device, not sold at a pharmacy, but obtained from a medical supply company that arranges for drop ship delivery. My surgery was done at a medical center 3 hours away -- they contacted a local hospital which provided additional catheters.
