another victim of mesh erosion

Hello Ginger,

Thanks for writing and welcome to our community. I'm glad you've found us.

I'm sorry to hear of your mesh troubles. As you know, unfortunately they're quite common. Here's some related information for you:

After TVT Operation: Mesh Erosion

http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/52/26260/incontinence-tvtl

TVT Erosion

http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/6987/15176/tvt-erosion/

TVT Removal 

http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/5101/9861/tvt-removal

Be sure to scroll down and click on the "Comments" to each of these SharePosts. If I can help you find out more, just let me know. Please keep us posted on how you're doing.

Best,
Maria

Hello everyone out there with Mesh Erosion problems.

I live in London - England. Six years ago I was suffering from mild stress incontinence. At the suggestion of my (then) gynecologist who is an eminent lady professor practising in London I had a TVT inserted. Her name is Professor Linda Cardozo, 8 Devonshire Place. London W1G 6HP. TeL 020 7935 2357. I was not, at any time, told of any possible side effects, simply that she had already done 90 of these procedures very successfully. Had I been informed at the time that erosion was a possible side effect, at least I would have had the option to decide whether to undergo this procedure or not. I was quite ill after the operation but that is another story. During the six years when I had my yearly check up I usually had a urine infection and was told that this was because of my age and my low estrogen levels. I rather suspect that these infections may have been caused by the erosion taking place but I have no evidence of this.

Just before last Christmas I went to see her and said that something was wrong. She prescribed an estrogen cream and said she was sure this would work. My discomfort became steadily worse, the symptoms being sharp pain when I sat down suddenly; when urinating I felt as though I was peeing over razor blades, and excruciating pain on intercourse. In July I eventually saw another gynecologist who admitted me to hospital and did a cystoscopy. He discovered that the mesh had eroded into the urethra. I asked him to remove the mesh but he said he couldn't, as by now the tissue had grown around the mesh and it was now a difficult and dangerous operation. He recommended a Urologist who was removing mesh erosion by laser. Apart from the feeling of violation, I cannot even begin to describe the despair and anxiety I felt. This laser procedure had either not been heard of, or not recommended by the any of the medical profession I had been in touch with in America.

After further worldwide investigation, I came to the conclusion that the only alternative I had was the laser procedure. I went to see the Urologist who has done 5 of these operations in the last 18 months. 4 successfully, with the 5th having to be redone as the mesh re-eroded again quite quickly.

Anyway, the bottom line is that there seem to be two options at the moment: Remove the whole mesh via the vagina, and then urethra and vagina must be reconstructed with plastic surgery. It is really major surgery. Or removal of the erosion by the least aggressive way possible. The downside is that when mesh is endoscopically removed it can take several attempts to remove sufficient of the tape to relieve the symptoms. However, it seemed to me that the less trauma I have to go though the better.

I have opted for laser removal of the erosion . I had the procedure done last week which took 2 hours and a general anesthetic and am praying to God it doesn't erode again. I had a catheter in for 36 hours and then when I could urinate properly I was allowed go home. It would appear that the procedure has been successful but its early days yet and only time will tell. I will be having a scan in November or December to monitor my progress and will keep you posted.

I'm resting now as I feel exhausted, but if I can be of any help to anyone out there just contact me.

Kind regards and good luck

Christine

I had mesh erosion in my urethra and had to have removal and reconstructive surgery. It has been 2 months since my surgery and I am worst off than before. I leak all the time and have to wear pads 24/7. It can be taken out, but make sure you have a good Dr. My Dr. actually teaches how to insert the mesh slings and has done hundreds of sling insertions. My erosion was caused in an area that is rare since the first Dr. inserted the mesh inside my bladder. I also wish that I never had the surgery done in the first place cause I could live with the leakage when I coughed and sneezed and lifted heavy objects. Now I leak when I walk. I have no choice but to have another sling put in since I cannot live like this. The Gynocologist that inserted this sling had not had the experience as the Urologist that I have now. He had only inserted 20 of these and my new Dr. has done hundreds. Check with the medical board for complaints and their schooling. Good luck. Also there is a class action lawsuit against some of the mesh companies that are having erosion issues. The law firm stance is that anything that goes into your body should not erode into.