MP Owen Smith said of the NHS England Mesh Review 2017: “Mesh injured women will be deeply disappointed by the outcomes of the final NHS England Review, which seems to have made little progress since its interim report came out over a year ago.
Read our press statement here: July 25, 2017: Sling the Mesh statement following English working group report into mesh
July 18, 2017: A Parliamentary lobby was standing room only when MPs heard harrowing stories of how mesh has changed women’s lives beyond recognition.
MP Owen Smith leads a Parliamentary debate into the controversial operation in September. He will also chair an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) into mesh.
Senior doctors called for a public inquiry saying it is as big as the thalidomide scandal – but with mesh you cannot see the injuries. Read the story from The Guardian and Cambs Times.
Group action:
Have you been affected by mesh? Join Sling The Mesh legal group action. Email mesh@wedlakebell.com for details. Visit Wedlake Bell
For media coverage check out the News page. For magazine features see Women In the Media page.
Owen Smith MP talks on BBC Good Morning Ulster calling for suspension of mesh implants to tie in with Scotland. Listen at 2:16.
Hernia mesh and vaginal mesh on the BBC Victoria Derbyshire Show. Monday 2 July
Surgical mesh is made of polypropylene plastic which can shrink, twist, degrade and cut / erode into nearby tissues and organs causing chronic pain.
It is popular as it is a cheap and quick fix and takes less surgical skill than traditional, native tissue repairs.
It is used to treat incontinence, prolapse and hernias. It is a real fear that if surgeons continue to rely on mesh, traditional surgical skills will die out.
Research carried out by medics at Leicester, Newcastle and Ireland says surgeons are more likely to give women mesh implants because they don’t have the skills to do the tried and tested old fashioned / traditional repairs known as Burch or autologous slings. Read the review here .
Uro Today reports that “The future of surgical care depends on the research we do now. If we don`t address the current shortfalls catastrophic problems like falsified research outcome and bad quality implants and surgical techniques will destroy patients faith and make good techniques disappear.”
Sling The Mesh campaign is calling for:
A full investigation and audit to be carried out into how many women have been adversely affected by vaginal mesh implants and tapes. We want the NHS to write to every woman who has had the operation.
Until that review is complete and we have a full picture of the scale of the disaster we demand that mesh implants are suspended..
Also:
A National Register for mesh implants so a woman is tracked for her lifetime.
And
Bring forward the NICE guidelines for mesh for incontinence. The next review is not due until 2019.
Our aim
Women are calling for an operation with life-changing risks to be suspended across the UK.
Politicians called for mesh operations to be suspended in Scotland in June 2014.
There was no such call in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.
In May 2017, Scottish health secretary Shona Robison called for an independent expert to review a mesh safety report. The BBC reports here.
The English Mesh review came out in July 2017. It has been called a whitewash for missing out essential data and not looking at either the safety of the mesh or the way it is implanted.
Sling The Mesh campaign is headed by regional newspaper journalist Kath Sansom, who had the mesh implant operation on the NHS in 2015, to fix problems caused by childbirth.
Following the 20 minute operation she was in agony with pains in her legs, feet and groin, which left her struggling to walk far. She was unable to use tampons due to severe internal burning and spasms caused by the plastic mesh. She has since had the implant removed by a specialist surgeon. Within a week the burning and spasms went alongside most of the leg and foot pain.
Kath discovered other support groups in the UK, America, Australia and Canada and found Facebook groups with thousands globally suffering.
Angry at realising she was unwittingly involved in a massive women’s medical disaster, Kath set up Sling The Mesh campaign. It was officially launched 10 weeks after her operation.
Sling The Mesh Facebook group now has more than 2,400 members. For other groups across the world see bottom of page for details. The aim is to raise awareness of the risks of this “simple” day case operation. In England alone, 126,000 mesh tape and mesh patches, have been used in the last 10 years.
The Mesh implants and tapes are used to fix incontinence or prolapse, often caused by natural childbirth. High impact training, which puts pressure on the pelvic floor, can also trigger problems.
Incontinence is a common problem for high performing athletes. Some suffer from the distressing condition of incontinence or prolapse due to joint hypermobility syndrome, others for no apparent reason, from a young age.
Kath said:: “There are women in wheelchairs or walking with sticks because of this operation. Others with life-altering chronic pain, on cocktails of high dose medication. Many can no longer work, marriages have broken down and all for a 20 minute, day case operation that was supposed to improve their quality of life.
Lost sex lives
“At least half the women in my campaign have lost their sex lives where the mesh has either cut into or inflamed their sensitive tissue. It becomes too painful to try to have personal relationships. Women say they feel as if they have been sexually neutered.
“Overnight I went from a super fit mum of teenagers who did boxing training twice a week, high board diving, swimming, mountain biking and dancing at gigs, to a physical wreck who could just about walk my dog round the park.”
Mesh kits
For the incontinence operation a surgeon implants a mesh tape sling.
It is known as a TVT or TVTO which stands for tension free vaginal tape.
It can also be called a transvaginal mesh (TVM) or a mid urethral sling (MUS). It is inserted blindly using a set of hooks known as trocars.
For pelvic organ prolapse, surgeons insert a patch of mesh with arm-like pieces to attach it inside a woman’s body. Again using hooks.
In both cases, vaginal mesh implants are the only type of surgery performed “blind”. Other operations are performed open where a surgeon can see what they are doing, or using key hole techniques and a camera to guide them.
Traditional surgery
Traditional surgical fixes for incontinence take up to four hours followed by three to four nights in hospital.
One is called the Burch colposuspension, which is like a hitch and stitch.
The other is an autologous sling, which uses muscle from the stomach wall to make a natural sling.
The incontinence mesh operations take 20 minutes as a day case procedure.The money-saving motivation of mesh is real.
Scotland
Campaigning by Scottish mums Olive McIlroy and Elaine Holmes, along with journalist Marion Scott, led to former Scottish Health Minister Alex Neill calling for a suspension of mesh implants in June 2014.
However, after a three year review, a final report was released on March 27, 2017, which says the suspension is lifted because it claims the implants are safe to use under guidance.
The review’s chairman, a clinician and two patient reps resigned amid whitewash claims.
Whitewash:
Missing chapter
The Scottish Independent Review was published amid claims of a whitewash because a whole chapter on risks of this operation was omitted.
Plastic can shrink
No information was included on how the plastic polypropylene material can shrink, twist or degrade and leach toxins.
High risk
No mention was made of how prolapse mesh has been upgraded to a higher risk device in America nor a report included by the FDA – America’s health watchdog body – which says the trocars (hooks) to implant the mesh can cause injuries for up to 40% of women having prolapse mesh or 30% of women having mesh for incontinence. Read the report here.
Guesswork surgery
No mention was made in the Scottish Independent Review that this is the ONLY surgery performed blind. The plastic mesh tape sling is inserted by guesswork, a bit like touch typing.
Clean contaminated field
There was no mention in the review that the plastic is inserted through the clean, contaminated, surgical field of the vagina. That means an area of good bacteria is invaded by a foreign body – a piece of plastic – where it can harbour bacteria causing lifelong urinary infections.
Lies, damn lies and statistics
The review does not explain the statistics used in a report published in the Lancet in 2016.
The report claims mesh is low risk BUT it uses Hospital Episode Statistics, known as HES data. If a woman presents with a mesh complication to her GP but does not go to hospital for it then she is not included in the HES data. Women given antibiotics for constant water infections or given high doses of pain killers but not referred to hospital, for example, will not be included in the HES.
That means the figures of risk will be VASTLY under reported. Read the flawed study here
Bigger disaster since thalidomide
The mesh has caused so many health problems in Australia that some of the products were de-registered there in November 2014.
The scandal in the 50s and 60s saw babies born with deformed limbs after women were prescribed Thalidomide as a morning sickness drug with devastating complications.
America
In the USA more than 100,000 lawsuits have been filed from women who have suffered permanent disabilities .
Leading American surgeon Tom Margolis felt so strongly about the TVT product that he wrote to Scottish Parliament urging them to ban the operation, saying the use of the mesh : “Must stop immediately. The complications from this defective surgical theory and defective material far outweigh the potential benefits.”Read the letter:
Orange netting as mesh implant
The TVT mesh is one of many medical devices, including metal on metal hip implants and the disastrous PIP breast implants that used mattress grade silicone, that campaigners say are too easily approved for use.
In January 2015, a team of undercover scientists took a piece of fruit netting, used to package oranges, to a regulatory body in Austria and were on the brink of getting a CE Kitemark approval for it, to prove how lax the system is.
Read the full report in The Times.
Plastic
Kath, whose girls are 14 and 20, decided to have a TVT mesh bladder sling after suffering what many mums are left with after childbirth – mild stress urinary incontinence. She was told it was a minimally invasive, relatively low risk, operation taking less than half an hour.
However, she has since found out what she thought was a body-friendly sling is made from polypropylene plastic mesh – the same material used to make drinks bottles .
Permanent implant
She said: “The mesh is harsh with rough edges as sharp as a razor blade and feels more like the sort of material you would find on a building site not the type of thing to be put near the most delicate area in a woman’s body.”
Once inserted the mesh takes about four to six weeks to knit into the tissues.
After that it is like trying to get chewing gum out of matted hair.
Unlike other implants, that are relatively easy to be removed if there are problems, vaginal mesh is designed to be permanent. Surgeons can put it in but those same surgeons cannot take it out if a woman presents with complications.
Living a new normal
There are only a few surgeons in the world who can successfully remove it. Kath had her mesh sling removed by Natalia Price in Oxford in October 2015 and although quality of life has improved she is adjusting to a new normal.
She can no longer put impact on her legs. Even the shortest run, skip or jump will put her on pain medication for days. Before mesh she planned to cycle Snowdon’s gruelling Marin Trail. Now she can cycle for about 10 minutes on flat ground before leg pain kicks in.
“I was not told that I may suffer horrible leg and pelvic pains or that I would feel like I was being cut by cheese wire inside my body.
“I was not told that this was a permanent device. Some women are on pain killers for life, suffer bloating from the inflammation and go on to develop auto immune diseases like fibromyalgia.
“There are online support forums across the globe with tales of women suffering and crying out for help. When it goes wrong it goes spectacularly wrong and it is not a risk worth taking.
“Few surgeons give women fully informed consent; risks are not properly explained,” she said. “In the world of mesh removals I’ve had a good recovery compared to many others, but even my health has been compromised. None of us ever go back to what we were.”
Human guinea pigs
Woman are the human guinea pigs for a product that was launched on the market in 1996 having only been tested in a few dogs, sheep and rabbits, who cannot speak of crippling pain or lost sex lives.
Those who support mesh say it is one of the most studied operations in the world.
However, most of those studies are either short term or are run by biased medics, who have previously or still have financial interests within the medical device industry.
Alternatively, they use flawed statistics such as Hospital Episode Statistics (HES).
The HES only record if a woman has been treated for her complications in hospital and does not take into account women suffering pain going back and forth to their GP.
Bias
Bias in medical studies unravelled itself in the 2015 Cochrane Review into mesh which looked at 81 different reports.
Out of those 81 , only two were at a low risk of bias. A total of 13 were high risk and the other 66 were unclear.
Read more about the mesh Cochrane Review
Jeremy Vine Show
Sling The Mesh featured on The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2 for the lunchtime medical slot which was guest hosted by BBC media editor, Amol Rajan, and GP Sarah Jarvis. Monday January 23, 2017 at 1pm. Listen here
Sky News
When the campaign launched in 2015 it was featured on Sky News with reporter Charlotte Lomas-Farley.
MESH PROBLEMS ARE GLOBAL
AMERICA Dr Raz explains why he will not use mesh implants.
AUSTRALIA Senator Derryn Hinch backs campaigners who are calling for the surgery to stop.
BELGIUM Women have joined forces to fight mesh implants
CANADA Campaigners are desperate for their voices to be head amid a backdrop of legal cases suing for being maimed.
DENMARK Doctors advised to call in Danish women who received synthetic mesh implants
FINLAND Women in a Facebook support group.
ISRAEL The legal cases are ongoing in Israel.
NEW ZEALAND Just one of many women suffering after a mesh implant.
NORTHERN IRELAND Women are fighting to be transferred to England for mesh removal with a specialist who can remove mesh implants if they have complications because nobody in Ireland can do it. So far nobody is listening. to them.
SCOTLAND The eyes of the world are on Scotland where politically they are leading the way by being the first to take the fight to Parliament. An independent review reinstated mesh implants in March 2017 amid claims of a whitewash. Campaigners are now looking into launching a legal challenge.
TO FIND ALL THE GLOBAL MESH SUPPORT GROUPS FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE PINNED POST ON SLING THE MESH ON FACEBOOK
I wanted to send this to the Sling the Mesh Campaign via email, but couldn’t find one – because this is a lot of information.
I had my surgery in 2006 in the UK. I’m still suffering despite at least 4 subsequent surgeries to address problems with the tape/ remove it. A firm of UK solicitors recently advised me that I am unable to pursue a claim under English Law because I am statute barred from proceeding against the manufacturers regardless of when I first knew there was a problem with the tape, because the 10 year limitation period runs from the date that the vaginal tape was delivered to the hospital, not from when I became aware that my problems were due to the tape.
In the USA, lawyers are taking on cases for women, who had the tape fitted from 2005. This is because USA law does not have the same statute limitation period and on the basis that in 2004 a leaked email to drug reps and surgeons from a manufacturer (Efficon a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson) stated that there is major damage linked to the tape, which won’t go away. They knew the mesh contracts and disintegrates. 20.7% of women have mesh erosion after 1 year. (Paraphrased from May 2017 Victoria Derbyshire programme)
I’ve written to Owen Smith MP (and my constituency MP) outlining my case and because I believe the following issues should be addressed regarding a parliamentary debate in the UK and the Sling the Mesh Campaign to ensure women who have been injured and their lives ruined by these implants can get justice: –
1) The UK ten-year statute of limitations re: a product liability claim should be waived in cases of vaginal mesh to bring it in line with class actions pending in for e.g. USA – particularly in view of the leaked 2004 memo, and that many women don’t get symptoms for many years, and that adequate records have not been kept by Consultants/ NHS etc of the numbers of women affected by complications. Indeed Northern Ireland is currently undertaking an audit to attempt to establish how many women have been affected. I believe that there is a case for amending the UK 10 year statute limitation for women who have had vaginal mesh fitted, in order that they can seek justice and compensation for their considerable financial losses as a result of loosing their careers, jobs, marriages, and homes.
2) The UK statute of limitations should also be waived in cases of vaginal mesh re: claims against the NHS and private Consultants re: lack of valid patient consent.
3) Due to the intimate nature of the complications many women, including myself have not been aware of the developments in the last few years re: issues with vaginal mesh complications. Therefore in the UK we have missed our chance to get compensation for our significant financial and other losses because of the statute of limitations.
4) In addition, the Menopause causes further delayed problems for women who have had this mesh, in that vaginal atrophy and dryness caused by the Menopause causes problems with the tape – therefore the 10 year statute of limitations bars women from claiming for post menopausal problems which occur more than a decade after the tape was delivered by manufacturers to the hospital where they had their surgery.
5) Therefore, I believe there is an argument that the statute of limitations for product liability claims in respect of vaginal mesh claims amounts to (indirect?) sex discrimination because of its disproportionate impact upon women.
6) There should be audits undertaken in England, Scotland and Wales to establish how may women have been affected by complications. The terms of reference for this audit, should not rely on asking GPs/ hospitals/consultants whether or not women have reported complications, because many women were ignorant that the complications were caused by the tape and so were their doctors and consultants! All women who have had vagina tape/ mesh operations should be contacted using appropriately written literature, questionnaires etc in order to gain accurate data and the scale of the problem.
7) Data on percentages of women experiencing complications in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, USA becomes available. This should be considered/ admissible in court parliamentary debates taking into account the terms of reference for collecting that data.
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I’m thelma I Foned a lawyer to day they sed get in writing frm your doc it’s causing probs. I had it fitted about 10 yrs now worked couple month then slowly dwindled year later , double incontinent Uncomfatable legs not write at all swollen difficulty in walkin alway urine infections 4 times a yr swollen belly weight gain no sex life at all after lost partner throght it. Spot on an off belly hernia … dr recoment gastric band. But is that the answer wat about the band
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My name is Barbara. I’m from Ireland. I suffered from this in 2010, and have been suffering ever since. I need to have it removed, but I have to fund it myself. If anybody can reply, with info on how to join your organisation. I’m not on Facebook, but I can provide email and phone number.
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Had a TVT at the age of 25 which I have now been told by 3 separate consultants is unheard of. I wasn’t given another option at the time and didn’t realise the consequences. I’m now 38 and After years of pain the mesh eroded into my vagina and was causing my many infections. I also had urge incontinance caused by the tape being too tight. After having the tape removed I was left with stress/ urge incontinance that is worse than ever. I have had many rounds of Botox that haven’t worked and I’m about to have sacral nerve stimulation as my last chance before a clam cystoplasty which is major surgery, all this before I have even gotten to treating the stress incontinance! Hopefully I will get there and I hope everyone else in this position finally gets some relief and answers
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Hi everyone, Like many of you, I am sat here in shock reading my life!
I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome type 3 which is a hypermobility type and suffered with 6 hernias since I was very young. In 2009 I had my first mesh surgery on both sides of my groin – well that ruined my life completely! I couldn’t attend school (15 at the time) lost out on most of my GCSE’s, pumped full of drugs, referred to psychologists saying it was in my head, I’d pass out in pain, cry myself to sleep, couldn’t walk, was wheelchair bound (I still use a wheelchair every now and again now because of the EDS) the mesh has just been the most horrendous thing! This year I had surgery to ‘trim’ the mesh as it was interfering with the femoral nerve but it’s still painful now. If they remove the mesh I’ll have another hernia, if they leave the mesh it’ll probably rip out eventually and just cause continuous pain, catch 22. I just saw the ITV evening news of the campaign and I want in!!!! I was told years ago to sue my hospital for ruining my life and didn’t because I didn’t want the bitter feelings to continue, but am I in my right to?
I’m at a loss!
Sorry for rambling, I was only going to type a few sentences!!
Take care everyone.
Jen x
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any body with mesh compications from south africa due to tvt sling
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Yes! I have developed serious problems after I hav had a bladderl lift operation done at the same time as my hysterectomy in 1999. I started to develop chronic UTI’s and vaginitis. My body became allergic to all NSAD painkillers as well as paracetamol , some antibiotics such as penicillin and other things such as dust, mould, grass, gluten and dairy. I have never had any allergies as a child and have been healthy. My body started to really play up with pain in my muscles and joints. Injuries would not heal and I started to get growths in my sinuses, vagina and developed kidney cancer. I have all the symptoms and has not have had an intemet relationship with my hubby for more than 10 years. I have unbairable Pelvic pain and are very tired. A 13 – 15 cm mesh was removed from my female fault area early in December 2015 after by a gynochologist. It has eroded through my cervix and eaten away the neck of my vagina. Since I have had a partial nephrectomy of my right kidney but am in a lot of pain still as it is taking a long time to heal. I am on chronic antibiotics for my immune system is playing up and different infections and inflammation prevents me from stop using it as it becomes worst then. To the point that I have been diagnosed at one point with the resistant MRSA bacteria or super bug. All the use of antibiotics has killed off my good bacteria and I struggle permanently with vaginal thrush and gut problems. All this because of the tvt tape
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Yes I am from south africa had a supris sling from coloplast,now ended up with bladder reflux,constipation,more incontinent than ever before,low destrutor capacity its painfull at sexual intercourse problems just continue endinglesd
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Class actions has been filed against Johnson and Johnson in Australia, UK and USA. We need to find 10 or more to do the same in South Africa
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We need any adverse listings or complications regarding these mesh bladder slings in south africa please share and help
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I have had TVT mesh since 1999 and awaiting for Ms E’ Neil to remove it . I had problems right from the start would get a blister with pus and then had to have injections inside me as sex was to painful and then I got cystitis for 6 months and lived off antibiotics. Later that year my cells change below and I had to have some of my womb lasered away . My sex was very painful and had lots of checks on my bladder due to pain. Then had to have my womb done with the thing that seals it as my periods were very heavy and they didn’t want to remove it. Then later on my mesh started to erode out of my body and it was like sitting on a hard pencil. My gynaecologist had left my hospital and the new one I had didn’t know what it was it took several years of keep going to the hospital and getting some answers before she took me to see her head gynaecologist and he said it was the mesh and he had removed some from a woman the day before and it took a long time to remove a small piece. she then said she had someone who would remove it so I trusted her. I had the op and instead of removing it he stuck it back inside me. Since 2013 I have had this infected mesh pushed even high and not in the right place stuck back in me. I am now under Ms Eneil and she did me a special untrasound scan and it shows the mesh has been placed to high and now I have problems walking as loads of groin pain and leg pain. I also have lots of infections and sinus problem and chest infections and my joints and so painful and I think it is the mesh that done this. I am now waiting to have this out but very scared. THEY HAVE TO STOP PUTTING THIS IN PEOPLE
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Hi are you also from south africa,and which sling was done
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No I live in UK and seeing Ms E Neil in London Tvt Sling one of the first in Essex and 12 Consultants watch it on a Sat morning in 1999 even then didn’t know I was being a Guinea Pig.
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Kan from which country are you?
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I am from the UK England
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Hi Jolly, I am from South Africa. Drop me a line.
Lilly
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Hi lilly my email is jollyjokers@yahoo.com
thanks
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Has anyone had a problem with TOT tape. Since 2007 when it was inserted I have had terrible pain. Sometimes a night I cry like a baby. Just moved to a village and registered with a new GP who has diagnosed nerve compression in Alcocks canal. He is going to try a nerve block. Has anybody else suffered like me. Kathleen S
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Hi Kathleen, I had the TOT in 2010 and in the last 3 years suffered from chronic UTIs (or that’s what they say) and recently started getting severe pain in my lower abdomen
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I had my mesh fitting in 1999 and I was a fit 40 year old with prolapses of all sorts but only a dribble of wetting myself. I had problems straight away was getting blisters inside me where it was fitted and then had to have injections inside me as to painful to have sex. Then had water infection for 6 month until I learnt to rock back and forth to go a toilet. Then that same year I had a smear and it change and had to have some of the neck of my womb taken out. As time went on went into have my bladder looked into many times due to infections. In 2004 or 2005 my gynaecologist left the hospital and I had a new one who didn’t know much at all about the sling mesh. I was constantly going to her in pain and very sore inside and it was like sitting on a hard pencil. she put me on antibiotics or months which didn’t work and then took me to see their top gynaecologist in the hospital who felt the piece of mesh that was protruding out of me and very painful to touch. She then said she had someone who could remove that bit, but instead of removing it he pushed it back inside me. I sought out the gynaecologist who first fitted the mesh and he said not to have it removed or touched as no one knew enough about it to remove it where I lived in Essex. I said it’s to late it been pushed back up and he looked in my bladder and it was there but it came down right to my urethra and it is now so sore and the whole of my left side is sore inside and out and it’s like sitting on wire. I can’t walk well without a stick and I am now under ms o’eneil who did a special ultrasound to see where the mesh is and it’s been put back to high and in the wrong place near my groin hence now problem walking sitting , can’t have sex and my bowel is so badly prolapse that it presses on the mesh in me causing my more pain . Constant pain and cry all the time and have put weigh on due to getting down. I use to do mountains and long distance walking before this, now hopple with two sticks in al lot of pain . So scared of having this mesh out as my health isn’t great anymore since this evil thing was put inside me.
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Hi ..I’ve just read this page and I’m sat here I’m utter shock .ive have had two prolapse repairs and a hernia repair with mesh .the last in 2001. I am in constant pain ,I have severe adhesions in my abdomen and have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia among other things ..how do I go about finding out if the mesh used is to blame ? I live in Wales uk .
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Hi I am due to have TOT removed and I am stressing…Are there any success stories please?
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Has anyone in Scotland had the tape successfully removed?
Mine has eroded into my urethra and i have been referred to a consultant in Glasgow named Karen Guerrero..only info i can find about her is that she supports the use of these implants and that she has had financial involvement with the manufacturers..
This does not instill confidence and i am really worried having heard how difficult it is to remove this tape .
Also does anyone know of a lawyer to contact with a view to suing either NHS and/or the manufacturers?
thank you and if you care to get in touch please email me…
s_ewing@hotmail.co.uk
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Good day, in my case the tape eroded through the cervix and eroded away some of the vagina – was removers (without operation and anaesthetics) in the gynochologist surgery. I never new my ailment were caused by the tape,the list is extensive. Including kidney cancer, allergies, auto immune problems,inflation An infections (chronic) all types sinus, chest, back and other soft tissue, vaginal and UTI leading to pain pain and pain. But mine came out in one piece. I think the tape is easier to remove than the mesh as the mesh allows flesh to grow through it and becomes part of tissue which makes it worst to get out. Don’t know when, if at all my problems will end. On 18 months unpaid sick leave from school where I teach.im very weak at times and tired. Allergic to penicillin, painkillers, iodine and food like gluten and dairy. I’m not surprise any more when I discover an allergic reaction… all due to this foreign material that my body tried to reject and damaged me internally,physically, emotionally and socially. My hands are tied as my operation was performed in South Africa and no one wants to take my legal case for there is no hospital records – it was destroyed after 5 years it is now 15 years later. Australia and America have class actions against Johnson and Johnson but neither want to take me on … even tough it was removed here in Australia. All that I can say to you is Stay Strong!!!! My faith has pulled me through and makes my struggling bare able.
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More than ten years ago, after my second prolapse was repaired, I was told that if I had a further prolapse, I would be given a mesh implant. I did not like the idea then and when I had my third prolapse this year I was told I would be having the mess implant. I refused this operation. I am still waiting for a different method of repair. I always wondered did I really need a hysterectomy all those years ago.
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I work with a medical concierge service out of Orlando, Florida. We have helped thousands of women in the United States with mesh and sling related complications. Please click on the link to learn more about how you too can get help. https://vimeo.com/218515696?activityReferer=1
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I had a hysterectomy and sling implant back in 2012. The 2 ops where performed together causing greater risk of voiding. (I was not told this) At no time was I made aware of the risks involved in the mesh procedure. I was left with a prolapse urethra and bowel, pain in my pelvis (which I still have today)and was unable to void for 8 months.I suffered severe UTI’s approx. every 2 wks. I decided to get a second opinion and after various scans was told that my bladder was only half emptying. I under went further surgery to have the sling divided. This helped somewhat but I still get UTI’s and have to strain to empty my bladder/bowel.This has caused my bowel/urethra to prolapse further.
I can honestly say that I have not felt well since having this sling implant.
I now run the risks of Mesh corrosion and mesh shrinkage.
I have spent the last 3.5yrs suing the NHS. This year I was made an offer of settlement, which will not cover the costs for future surgery. Having said this, it has made me feel that I am fighting the cause for Women!
‘Ditch the Sling’ Yes please! It was encouraging to see this highlighted in the tabloids recently and that more woman are suing for this barbaric implant!
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Oh my god I can’t believe it …i have suffered since having the tvt .i can feel it now ..i have sore eyes I’ve had operations due to bleeding and pain full sex ..pain In right leg …i can’t have a relationship
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I have suffered for nearly 12 years with these implants.
2004, difficult birth of my son
2005 – TOT fitted, failed
2006 – TOT fitted, failed
2007 – TVT fitted.
2014 (approx), severe pains, in groin, recurring bladder infections.
2015- after many trips to doctors had scan to reveal mesh failure and a large sone on my bladder. Removed 28th May 2015
28th October 2016 – attempt to remove all 3 meshes, reconstructive surgery on my urethra. This left me severely incontinent and I barely left the house for over 5 months.
13th April – sling made from my own tissue, failed
Awaiting OP for bulking agent and repair of Bladder prolapse.
I also have mesh left attached to my bone, which gives me constant pain in my groin and leg.
This has completely ruined mine and my family’s life.
Jude
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My problem is not with the vaginal sling, but with mesh used to repair small hernia. Is there a support group for this? I am currently sueing the hospital as op ruined my life. Constant pain, cannot walk or stand for more than a few minutes, even with strong painkillers.15 months of this. Life is not worth living.
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I have been reading all these stories with complete horror.
I have had 7 big babies and noticed my bladder issues are getting worse as time goes on.
I had the tests and was advised I could get the sling done any time I wished but wouldnt be able to continue my job (which involves heavy lifting)
Its got to the point that I want my problems fixed but aside from the sling (which I now would seriously reconsider!) What other options are there for women who suffer these problems?
If this was happening to men then it would be an outrage. 😦
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I had my TVT implanted in Belfast in 2005 when I was 36. I was told it was a fantastic new simple procedure and the gold standard. I was never told of any possible complications and who was I to question a consultant? 12 years later I had to fly to Oxford and pay to have this rubbish removed from my body. I didn’t have mesh erosion or infection but i was in constant chronic pain and found walking nearly unbearable towards the end. For 10 years I never made the connection to the TVT but after seeing various specialists and having all the usual tests (MRI and X-ray) I came across kaths article in one of the papers. I couldn’t believe it. I tried to get someone to listen to me about it over here but it got me nowhere. I was fortunate that I was able to borrow the Money to fund my removal. I couldn’t face another year of the pain and misery. I feel so sorry for all the women who have been fobbed off, lied to and patronised by some of these so called experts. Yea, there are women who so far have had no issues with this mesh but complications can happen years down the line. As far as I’m concerned even one woman harmed should be enough to stop this procedure
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Hi jackiedee,do you recommend having the mesh removed mine eroded the wall of my vagina they stitched the skin over it .It remains in place but has no use as I remain incontinent
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I’ve had the mesh surgically removed, after dilation (stretching) failed, and an attempt to cut the tape to remove the pressure found that the tape was not in the place it was meant to be. It turned out that my tape had been place too high and too tight, resulting in the need for very painful self catharsis, I was left unable to pass wee and constant pain.
The removal of the tape has improved my ability to void, but the pain is worse than ever. I cannot stand or walk for more than a few minutes, I have a patchwork Vagina, permanent nerve damage and swelling internally and external. I will never have sex again.
I am now due operation no 5, having finally found help at UCLH London an MRI revealed that a piece of tape had eroded into my urethra and was not removed in the last surgery. I have been warned that this surgery may leave my bladder unstable and further surgery is likely. I also had to undergo a hernia repair in my bowel, but that has failed and I will require another op to correct.
I am pursuing the original urologist for damages, he has finally made an offer of settlement but it doesn’t go anywhere near covering my losses.
I have not been able to take my children out, watch them play sports, enjoy anytime with them that would require me to stand or walk for more than a few minutes.
I have been working throughout, but had to give up the job I loved after that first op as I physically couldn’t do it. I then went to work in an office, but the stress and worry of operation no 5, got to me and I had a mental breakdown resulting in my being left with real financial hardship, and still the prospect of surgery no 5, the possibility of no 6, and another op to repair the failed hernia.
I was a fit and healthy mum of 3, I played league netball twice a week, worked as an education assistant on a farm, l had the occasional Tena moment but it was not a problem…. My problems started in 2013, when I had a nasty cough that caused me to leak, I noticed blood in my wee, so went to my GP who referred me to a urologist. He found that I had polyps in my bladder, nothing to worry about he said…. but he said that the leaking would only get worse as I got older. He told me about a simple procedure that would fix it all. God if only I could turn back time, I would never have had the TVT. My life has been ruined. My body has been wrecked and now my mental wellbeing is in a very fragile place.
I would really like to join your campaign.
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I have developed serious problems after I hav had a bladderl lift operation done at the same time as my hysterectomy in 1999. I started to develop chronic UTI’s and vaginitis. My body became allergic to all NSAD painkillers as well as paracetamol , some antibiotics such as penicillin and other things such as dust, mould, grass, gluten and dairy. I have never had any allergies as a child and have been healthy. My body started to really play up with pain in my muscles and joints. Injuries would not heal and I started to get growths in my sinuses, vagina and developed kidney cancer. I have all the symptoms and has not have had an intemet relationship with my hubby for more than 10 years. I have unbairable Pelvic pain and are very tired. A 13 – 15 cm mesh was removed from my female fault area early in December 2015 after by a gynochologist. It has eroded through my cervix and eaten away the neck of my vagina. Since I have had a partial nephrectomy of my right kidney but am in a lot of pain still as it is taking a long time to heal. I am on chronic antibiotics for my immune system is playing up and different infections and inflammation prevents me from stop using it as it becomes worst then. To the point that I have been diagnosed at one point with the resistant MRSA bacteria or super bug. All the use of antibiotics has killed off my good bacteria and I struggle permanently with vaginal thrush and gut problems. Mine is ongoing. I have had my op done in South Africa and lives in Australia now … just don’t know if any one can give advice on if there is a class action in South Africa going or what the chance is that there is an international action?
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Also from south africa had a supris sling from coloplast done 2015, since then just problems and more incontinence
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Brenda we need to get a class action together like Australia, USA and U.K. If interested please email me at: laeticia_muller@hotmail.com it seems other countries are way ahead of RSA and have given the women way more support!
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Have had hysterectomy when I was 40. I am now 65. In the last few years I had prolapse operation which only lasted a couple of years. Was recommended mesh as this would be stronger, a front wall op. Was worse afterwards in bad pain could hardly walk. Was then told my Back wall was needing done. Which Doc said it was not there when he did front wall. I find this hard to believe. I was even worse after this op, was in really in bad pain and had 2 haematome. I now have bowel incontinence. And still am very uncomfortable walking. Have been told there is nothing they can do. I am on Amotriptoline for scar tissue and nerve damage.
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I had my prolapse operation January this year using mesh,4 mths later i start with stress incontinence and the prolapse came down once again then a mth later my bladder became a major problem. Then last week I started to suffer knife like sharpness inside my vaginally and couldn’t sit down,it was agony! I went to the Dr’s and was treated for a water infection,today has been horrendous as I feeL so sore down below &smarting too! I used a mirror to have a look and was shocked to see a piece of flesh hanging down between my vagina and my rectum! It’s as if they’d cut my perenium and now I’m so scared what’s happening to me!
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Hi Lorraine, Just read about what happened to you & it sounds very similar to me. Can I ask if you had your operation with keyhole surgery ? I had this done & my surgeon keeps telling me I’m the only person he’s done this procedure on thats having so much pain. I had my op done in June 2016. Many thanks if you get to read this x
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Thank you for highlighting this issue, I wasn’t aware of the risks of this operation. It makes me so angry that women are treated this way. So many stories of people being left in pain to “give it time to settle” or some other rubbish. Why are life changing symptoms just dismissed? Why aren’t these women’s voices heard?
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Please make them stop now we have women suicidal
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A friend of mine gave me the article today that was published in Real People Magazine regarding “Curse of a cure”. I have suffered with my bladder for many years, stress incontinence and urgency. I have been under the care of the hospital trying many things first, like change of lifestyle, less caffine, pelvic floor exercises etc. which made no difference. I had TVT surgery May 2016 which I thought at first was a success in terms of coughing with no leakage etc. but then when I was well enough to resume relations with my partner, I cut him and intercourse was painful for us both. At first I thought my coil had been moved during surgery, so went and had a coil check with the nurse. That appeared to be ok, so she sent me to the doctor, who could feel something “rough”, and sent me for a pelvic scan. Again the coil was in place. I then googled post op complications of TVT surgery and realised that I had every symptom that I was reading from other women… groin pain, painful sex, injured partner etc. I contacted the surgeon secretary and explained and she got me to see the surgeon the next day. On examination the surgeons words were “OH”. She then informed me that id need further surgery, which I had at the end of July, to cut away the middle section of mesh as it was exposed through my flesh. She did this and as there was now no support under my bladder she stitched around my bladder pipe to see how that would work. But its not worked, I examined myself towards the end of August and to my horror discovered that the mesh was exposed again, worse than the first time. So I am seeing my surgeon in 2 days time to see whats next. I presume she is going to remove the mesh and do the surgery via bikini line cut and use skin graft from my stomach to go under my bladder, which was an option originally, but I decided against that as I was told TVT was less invasive and quicker recovery. My relationship is now over, (for other reasons) but the thought of my sex life being taken from me at the young age of 49 is awful, and the pain I get, when standing, walking, sitting etc is unbareable. I have been off work ages and now worrying about my financial situation as well as my mental health, depression and everything else that’s gone wrong – I really would not recommend TVT mesh surgery to anyone.
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Hi Debbie, how are you now, did you have you autologous skin graft sling surgery?
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After going to my Urogynecologist having an exam and Urodynamic testing I was told at the next appt. that I had stress incontinence and would need to have a TVT procedure with mesh and was told it is a 30 min. operation with minor complications. When I started to ask more questions than the dr. wanted to hear, she was noticeably irritated and said that she had some patients who came back and needed an adjustment with the tape and further surgery. After reading much about this tvt procedure I called the office to cancel the surgery and opt for physiotherapy and very happy that I did since we all know our own bodies and don’t wish to make things worse.
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Hi kath,
I saw your interview on sky news, I am a 45 year old male that had an umbilical hernia repair with the use of mesh in 2010, from October last year I started to get unbelievable pain on right side, I was rushed to hospital with suspected appendicitis, I was scanned and proved not the case, since then I have endured two colonoscopy sand various tests, all proven ok.
I have been in touch with surgeon in the US who removes said mesh for pain. Dr Kevin Peterson.
I can not get any dr in the UK to believe me or understand the daily pain I am in.
If you know of any more information I can obtain it would be much appreciated.
Also if I can support your campaign in any way please let me know.
Steve
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I have had my mesh removed by Natalia Price and although still recovering (12 weeks) am much better and rarely take pain killers. I would also like to become involved with any campaign to ban the tvt mesh.
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Can I ask you; How long did you have your mesh inside? How are things going with you now? I’m thinkibg about leaking, work, sexual life…
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Hi is any one suffering these complications from south africa ?
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Yes i am suffering. My operation was in August 2016 and trying to get an appointment as quickly as possible.
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If you check out Facebook I have a page called sling The Mesh Removal Surgeons with lots of useful info x
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Hi fransien are you in south africa? Which sling had you had done
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Hi fransien which tvt sling did you had and where in south africa
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Hallo there will you be interested in joining a class action against Johnson and Johnson?
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Hi my tvt was from coloplast
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Hallo there will you be interested in joining a class action against Johnson and Johnson?
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Hi I had tvt done in Cape Town in Feb and my surgeon has already suggested i have it removed as my body has had a reaction to the mesh. i am now looking for a surgeon to remove the mesh if you know one please let me know, i am looking at travelling to the UK to have it removed.
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I have been heavily affected.
I have developed serious problems after I hav had a bladderl lift operation done at the same time as my hysterectomy in 1999. I started to develop chronic UTI’s and vaginitis. My body became allergic to all NSAD painkillers as well as paracetamol , some antibiotics such as penicillin and other things such as dust, mould, grass, gluten and dairy. I have never had any allergies as a child and have been healthy. My body started to really play up with pain in my muscles and joints. Injuries would not heal and I started to get growths in my sinuses, vagina and developed kidney cancer. I have all the symptoms and has not have had an intemet relationship with my hubby for more than 10 years. I have unbairable Pelvic pain and are very tired. A 13 – 15 cm mesh was removed from my female fault area early in December 2015 after by a gynochologist. It has eroded through my cervix and eaten away the neck of my vagina. Since I have had a partial nephrectomy of my right kidney but am in a lot of pain still as it is taking a long time to heal. I am on chronic antibiotics for my immune system is playing up and different infections and inflammation prevents me from stop using it as it becomes worst then. To the point that I have been diagnosed at one point with the resistant MRSA bacteria or super bug. All the use of antibiotics has killed off my good bacteria and I struggle permanently with vaginal thrush and gut problems. It is ongoing and I fear I have some arthritis niw as well.
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Hi did you get a surgeon to remove the sling in south africa
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did you get a surgeon to remove the tvt sling in south africa
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Hi I am shaking reading these comments. I had my op in 2011, I was made to feel it was the gold standard treatment. I was passing out with the pain when I came round, they sent me home after a couple of days and yet I was still loosing so much blood. I have been in for 3 surgeries since after it eroded through my bladder, for my last surgery I was cut from the top of my tummy to my pelvic bone and they still couldn’t remove it all, they said it would do me more harm than good if they tried to get it all out including the anchors. I cannot believe surgeons are putting this mesh into women knowing what the outcome for the majority of us is.
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Hi, I had posterior vaginal repair (rectocele) with mesh in 2009. I get pain when opening my bowels and pain in legs when I walk too far. Since the operation I have become ill with what my Dr says is Fibromyalgia, I also have developed autoimmune hypothyroidism. I have many on going symptoms, could they be a reaction to the mesh?
It was not explained to me at all pre op, though on getting a copy of my notes it states in the Drs letter to my GP that the possibility of erosion etc was fully explained to me!
Jean
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I just happened to come across all the bad information re the Mesh, i’ve had problems from the first day of having the operation in 2007, the day I came home I had a problem sitting down I felt like I was being ripped on my left side inside my vagina everytime I sat down, i went back the following day to have it checked for the consultant to say that he had stiched my skin and it was pulling so he very kindly took a pair of scissors and cut something, you can imagine the pain! all he said then nothing to worry about all will be fine. I have never from that day ever had one single follow up appointment. After the operation my Labido disapeared and has never returned its like someone suddenly switched the switch off and said “thats it no sex for the rest of your life” and im still really painful inside, I miss the relationship i had with my husband so much, he has been so patient all these years, the times i have been to my doctor trying to explain things and being told all looks ok and its prob the coil that the consultant put in at the same time as the operation, I have since had the coil removed, 2 years ago, and hey ho im still exactly the same. I went online today and typed in TVT and was shocked to find all the horrible stories relating to the mesh, and there was me thinking I was alone suffering from this. I was not warned of any of the side effects before hand, if I had I would not have had the operation, my life has been ruined, and my relationship with my husband.
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I had a TVT operation done by Dr Peaty about 13 years ago it changed my life for the better. I could enjoy all the things I loved doing afterwards with absolutely no leakage. I had absolutely no pain then or since. Not all these operations are failures.
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I had a tvt-o sling operation in July 2015. I was not fully informed by the gyno. I was rushed into making the decision. I went to see him for a completely different reason that was causing me so much pain I couldn’t think straight. Since day 1 I have had problems. There are NO urogyno’s or gyno’s in Australia who are able to do a full removal. Many Australia women are suffering because of having a mesh surgery. Australian women are left with no choice but to use all their life savings to travel to America for a $40,000us operation. Most of us have no life savings so we are completely helpless. The TGA says not enough evidence, The supplier says it’s the person (gyno, urogyno) perfoming the operation not enough experience. RAnzog says gyno, urogyno suppose to inform patient and careful patient selection. They are all pointing fingers and avoiding the real problem, that women are suffering, lives are destroyed for what….
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Hi jo was your dr called r reid?
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I went in for a TVT procedure this month. When I came round from the op I was in severe pain on my right side, fluid started leaking from the stitches in the front where they had stitched the tape, I then had blood in my bladder so was rushed back into theatre to have the tape removed as it had damaged my bladder. I have lots of stitches internally and bruising. My surgeon wants to try the op again in 4 weeks but after reading the article in Daily Mail, 7th July, I will certainly not be going in again! Why are they still proformimg this op when things can go so badly wrong? Feel very angry that I have suffered all the pain with no gain and then found out I my have had lucky escape!
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Hi Jenny, my experience is very similar to yours so o do sympathise with you.
How is your bladder now, is it back to normal?
Sandra
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My bladder is fine but I have recently found out after going to the hospital for something else that they actually put the tape through my bladder. I am really upset as on the day the surgeon told me it was caused by a spike of the tape puncturing it. I was also told that there’s no way it could of been missed if it was checked properly after fitting. I know there is a risk with this operation but feel they have been negligent and lied to cover their backs. Not sure whether to complain to hospital or just sue which is not something I would normally even consider. Hope you recover well but ask to see copies of your notes as it sounds like they put it through your bladder too?
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Thanks Jenny, so did you have any problems after having the tape cut out of your bladder?
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Hi Sandra, touch wood everything seems ok with bladder at the moment. Jenny
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I had the TVT operation last August and it didn’t go yo plan. To start with the surgeon nipped a blood vessel during the operation and the only way to stop the bleed was to put a lot of pressure on the pelvic area for 20 minutes. This caused severe internal bruising and 3 days in hospital rather than 1. Once home, I was signed off work for a month but I continuously felt like I had a water infection. In October I had a Cystoscopy where it was discovered that I had mesh inside of my bladder. In February this year, after 6 months of pain and discomfort, I had another operation to remove this mesh. I was told by the surgeon that carried out this operation that I had 7cm of mesh inside my bladder and that it had been there since my first operation. The mesh had not eroded in, it had been wrongly inserted into my bladder. Looking back, with all of the problems that I have had and not forgetting the 2 operations and 2 cystoscopies, I probably would not gave gone ahead. I am a lot better now but just hope that I have no further complications.
Jane (Bristol)
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Hi Jane, my name is Pat and I’m from Bristol. I am going through the similar problems you have after the op and would like to discus this more. If you would like to talk please contact me for my number. Would be much appreciated. Many thanks Pat
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I have had tvt op it’s run ed my life I have no control over my bladder and wear big pads wet myself all day and suffer with pain..its awful
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I know that the comments are about TVT but mesh is used for internal prolapse of rectum. Also used in hernia repair. I had this done for a small internal prolapse of the rectum which resulted in life threatening results and multiple surgeries since. The mesh eroded through rectum and destroyed it, and caused ischemia to the sigmoid colon, I then waited three days before going to theatre as it was thought no problem with the mesh, only to find that the mesh had damaged the left side of the bowel and I had to have a permanent stoma and a trip to ITU. This was explained to me a minor surgery with little to no complications. So far the mesh continues to cause pain and is still eroding through the vaginal wall and twice has been removed surgically. I have been told that at present the bladder has not been effected and no guarantees that in the future more of the mesh will erode through and need more surgery. If you cannot remove the mesh and little can be done and when it does go wrong catastrophically then it should have been more robustly tested and as a company is making vast amounts of money this should not be allowed. I think there have been enough article’s etc. to make some one within the health department to sit up and take notice and ban this mesh from use. Its has wrecked my life and continues to do so and medicine has little sympathy and you are made to feel you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
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I had a vaginal repair with mesh in 2007 and my body started to reject it straightaway but the surgeon refused to take it out until 7 months later by which time my body had grown over it so therefore only a small amount of the mesh was removed and I still have mesh inside my body. The surgeon said there was nothing more he could do for me so I was sent to a pain consultant who told me to go home and live on morphine for the rest of my life and I have been in chronic pain ever since and I take strong painkillers daily. I was told by the surgeon that this was a fantastic new operation and that a expert from Belgium was coming over to assist him but I found out later that the expert from Belgium was not an expert consultant but he was a representative from the mesh company. These operations have to stop.
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Hi doreen sorry to hear of your experience im fom australia and have similar problems can i ask what mesh you had mine is tfs the one that has been deregisterd in australia apparently its still being used in other countries
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I underwent the operation to have the mesh sling fitted in feb 2013,i have had various problems since then but not realizing it was possibly due to this device untill i read Kaths article in our local paper.
I have problems with my legs and hands as if in stinging nettles,horrible,
This operation must be stopped and a new procedure found to help those suffering with incontnence.
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Hi’ ive recently had a complete mesh removal and would like to get involved with this campaign if possible? Sandra
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Hi Sandra, can you please tell me where you had the mesh removed and which surgeon operated on you. Has the pain totally gone?
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Hi I am looking for a surgeon in the UK to remove the mesh. Has anyone had this done? Was it successful ? Please advise as I am desperate .
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Natalia Price. Oxford….brilliant Doctor. John Radcliffe Hospital.
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Sandra, just read you had mesh removal. I have seen sohier elneil in london a few tomes. The last visit was for laparoscopic procedure to see what was going on. I had mesh inserted for POP 3 years ago. It has not worked only made things worse. Just wondered if you had Ms Elneil for your removal. I sincerely hope you are keeping well
kind regards, Sandra
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Just how many women had been refused a referral when things went wrong after this surgery, and how many patients records were destroyed. Was any patient told that if things went wrong that these medical devices could not be removed. They are not fit for the purpose and should be removed from the market.
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