Living With an Adjustable Continence Therapy Device

After your Medtronic adjustable continence device (ACT® for women or ProACT™ for men) has been implanted, and the surgical cuts are healed, you will be able to resume your regular activities. People with a Medtronic adjustable continence therapy device have been able to do things they were not able to do before, such as go to restaurants, take long walks through the park, see films at the cinema, or travel.

The First Weeks

Following your surgery to implant ACT or ProACT, you may experience a small amount of discomfort. But within a few days, you can start to resume your regular activities. After about six weeks, you will visit your doctor to have the first balloon adjustment. Your doctor will access the tubing system in your labia (women) or scrotum (men) with a fine needle to add/remove fluid from the balloons. Most people need about three adjustments to get optimum results. It is important to stay in touch with your doctor to continue to adjust the device so that it suits you best. This is also a good time for you to ask questions and discuss any concerns.

Daily Living

After about 3–4 weeks, you will be able to resume all your regular activities, including sports. As many as two in three people who receive ACT or ProACT find that they no longer need any pads and their stress urinary incontinence symptoms are cured. Others may still need to use some pads, but far fewer than before. With adjustable continence therapy you can shift your focus from incontinence problems back on your life.

Medical Procedures and Equipment; Anti-theft Devices

Your ACT or ProACT device is not affected by any scanning devices such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Also, it will not activate airport or shop alarm systems.

Getting a Replacement

The ACT and ProACT systems are designed to last for at least 10 years. If you need a replacement for whatever reason, this is quite simple and straightforward.

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