Ad Vance Sling Install 4 March 2019

Good Morning Brother's, just a quick note on my recent Surgery. After 5 Years of debate, Carmelita and I decided on the Ad Vance Sling for incontinence, with the help of my Surgical Team that has remained intact since my RPP. Dr Sekula did the install at Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center in Utica, New York, and it has been, as we begin the healing process, a great success. Post Op Doc spoke with Carm, and has contacted me at home 3 times already to check on my progress, we see him for the first post op appointment Thursday. My only complaint thus far, is the pain, and the healing has been painful!!! I thought I did my due diligence prior, had all angles figured, and was prepared, wrong. When I was wheeled into the OR, the first thing I asked, was where was the ROBOT... no robot for this procedure, my Nurse Practioner Theresa told me... Ugh, knew I was in trouble then... Anyway, so far so good, pain and discomfort, extreme swelling is begining the recede, so we are on the upside!!! I decided not to take any more oxycodone the day after surgery... did not like the feeling it gave, so the suffering has been my choice, no one else's... One glitch, the day of surgery, chest xrays revealed at least 2 spots on my right lung. My Team presented this to Carmelita and I, and suggested the option of postponing the procedure and being aggressive in assessing the spots... we chose surgery, one did not have anything to do with the other... Dr Sekula had me in the very next morning, after removing the catheter, I was right in for an immediate CT Scan that was sent to Crouse Hospital in Syracuse. Three hours or so later, Doc called, said the spots were less that 2 mm, were not of concern, and because I was a former smoker in the Military, considered high risk, a CT Scan was recommended annually during my physical. Had I not smoked, there would be no follow up because I would be considered low risk. Talk about Great Care from My Team, Just Amazing. Carmelita, has just been stunned and humbled by the level of care WE have received from Dr Sekula and his Team. Well, that's about it, on the other side of pain, expect to be on light duty for at least another 5 weeks or so, but all in all, this was an evolving decision, was the right one, and all is well. God Bless All of You, Bob in Utica, New York!

Thank you BillyBob, so far so good, there is still considerable swelling, but I am testing the sling to the extreme. 2 pots of coffee, 5 or 6 bottles of water, and a can of pop everyday, and not a single drip in a variety of activities or positions that gave me trouble before!!! We see Doc Sekula tomorrow at 1000 hrs, just ordered the office a tray of cannoli's from our favorite pastry shop, and a gift certificate for dinner for Doc and his Family!!! Life is Good!!! Thank you, All of You, for the support over these 5 years!!! Bob

Good Morning Donna, here's the scoop. My incontinence post op was extreme... I was going through 6 to 8 pads per day for the first 3 to 4 mos roughly, and almost brought me to the end of my time... I dipped into situational depression, and could not reconcile the fact that an Alpha Male like me could not be 100% the day my catheter was pulled 8 days post op... It didn't help that I didn't listen to my Surgical Team either... I was on my roof shoveling snow in the Adirondacks the day the catheter came out... Dumb Ass... All progressively improved, but I could not get to 100%... I went through all procedures, cystop, urodynamics, and physical therapy... At about 1 year, I was able to be at 1 heavy Depends Pad per day, even with the most strenuous work, and continued that until surgery last Monday. Alcohol was an issue, I would lose all control, and intimacy as well. Even if I thought about sex, I would begin leaking immediately. My Urologist and I, me more so, after doing my due diligence and decided the Ad Vance Sling was my best choice based on leakage. We never weighed pads, just based on our 5 year observations of progress... He did emphasize that the AUS 800 was not even in my wheelhouse, my leakage was more a quality of life issue, not one that needed an extreme intervention. Right now, I could not be happier, except for the post op pain, it is significant... My Surgeon Urologist had a Representative in the OR from Ad Vance, during the installation of the sling, for any guidance that might be needed. I have not even so much as dripped since, and am elated... Given, I've not done anything that would really put the sling to the test yet, pain, swelling, and discomfort has prohibited that for now, and will for at least another 6 weeks or so. Hope this helps, Bob in New York.