Bladder Stories

My journey with mesh started in May 2003 when I had a Trans vaginal tape (TVT) fitted for stress urinary incontinence.

In January 2011 I attended my GP several times with urine infections which also had a lot of blood in it. I was given antibiotics which did not clear up the infection. I was in a lot of pain and found it very difficult to sit down so asked my GP to refer me to a urologist.

The urologist decided that I needed a cystoscopy under a general anaesthetic and he found that my TVT tape had eroded my urethra and was sitting inside my urethra. I was prescribed antibiotics, tramadol and metaclopromide. I waited for two weeks but no help was suggested by the urology department as my case was very complex.

I was in so much pain and felt so ill I decided to contact a professor of urology who agreed to see me. He decided I needed the eroded tape removed from my urethra and reconstructive surgery using my labia majora for the repair with both a suprapubic and urethral catheter in situ.

I returned three weeks later as a day case to have my urethral catheter removed and the suprapubic one clamped. I had the suprapubic catheter removed and an area of granulation tissue inside my vagina cauterized. I had sustained right and left nerve damage in my pubic area and also nerve pain in my right groin where the the graft was removed. I also had horrific pain in the suprapubic catheter hole. I was completely incontinent and had to resort to wearing Adult Nappies and the urologist stated that my sphincter was damaged. He suggested that in future after I had healed I would need a sling of my own tissues to cure my incontinence.

Unfortunately the urologist I saw had a stroke and was unable to see me again so I searched the internet for a surgeon that would be able to help me. I eventually found one in London who was prepared to take over my case.

I was admitted to hospital to have the remaining tape, a piece of which had adhered to the neck of my bladder and had to be dissected out, a cystoscopy, a colposuspension and removal of fibrous tissue and adhesions from my pelvic area and ureters. I had to have injections of lignocane and steroid into my right and left pubic area to try and alleviate my nerve pain. Unfortunately this did not work.

In March 2012 I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and prescribed amytriptiline. An unusually high proportion of ladies that have had these transvaginal mesh tapes have developed Fibromyalgia.

In April 2012 my contract of employment was terminated due to ill health. I am in receipt of ESA.

Since January 2011 I have been unable to have a sexual relationship with my husband due to pain and scarring in my vagina. I have lost my job and I am in extreme discomfort on a daily basis due to nerve pain. I also suffer from urge incontinence. I am unable to carry out things that I used to be able to do.

All in all I feel like I am not a useful member of society any more. I have had thoughts of suicide from time to time when the pain overwhelms me. I take medication on a daily basis to alleviate pain.

Due to increasing pain and discomfort in my vagina, urethra and left kidney with possible leakage of urine through my vagina I attended an appointment in February 2014. I underwent a KUB CT scan at University College Hospital London on 21st March 2014 and a video cystogram on 26th March 2014 at the same Hospital. I was diagnosed with atrophic vulvitis and left ureteric reflux and an abnormally swollen uterus due to inflammation and fluid retention.

Please if anybody reads this who is thinking about having a transvaginal mesh/tape DON'T you will regret it because when complications arise they are life long and permanent.