TVT Erosion

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Friday, October 19, 2007
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TVT Tape Erosion was never mentioned when I was advised to have a TVT inserted. Immediately after surgery on coming round I had a severe pain under my left buttock which the nurses and Drs just ignored. The pain from the pubic catheter was even worse. I was in hospi...

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TVT troubles
Maria Gifford
Monday, October 22, 2007 at 07:23 AM

Hello, Gill. Welcome to our community.

I'm sorry to hear of your many troubles with TVT. Here is some related information from our site:

Tension Free Tape/Sling Surgery for Stress Incontinence
http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/52/2514/free-stress/

TVT Removal
http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/5101/9861/comments/

Be sure to scroll down through all of the comments as well. As you know, there are others who have similar experiences to yours.

Let me know if I can help you find more specific information. Write again and keep us posted on your progress.

Best to you,
Maria

TVT EROSION
Debbie ferris
Friday, January 18, 2008 at 02:18 PM

Hi, my names Debbie, im 42 and live in the UK,and had a tvt sling put in back in July 2007. I healed quite well after the operation but had a lot of pain antime I walked for more than a few minutes, if I tried to lift anything I had more pain along with a bulging pulling feeling.Twice I went back to my gynie who said that I had a lump in my vagina at the wound site that bulged, but this had nothing to do with the operation and I had probably always had it ....(NO).
The pain on walking was "one of those things", would I like some lubricant jelly !!!
Well ive gained loads of weight, cant even wander around the shops without pain, i felt disabled, all so I wouldnt leak...
Luckily my husbands new job came with medical cover, went private, explained my problem, was examined.
The bulge is my uretha which has herniaed into my vagina, the pain is the very top of my vagina where the tape has eroded and is pushing through.
So Im booked in next week to have the tape removed and reset, the ureatha pushed back, and hopefully I will get my life back.
Like you I am so angry that this seems to be a trial operation, but the problems are not properly explained or looked out for.
I hope yours gets sorted, I will keep you posted

re: TVT EROSION
Gill
Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 10:16 AM
Hi Debbie, Your problems sound so similar to mine after my op. They tried to convince me that the bulge in my vagina was a stitch left over! After going for a second opinion it was the tape had eroded right through the vaginal wall. I have been doing loads of research since and this is happening to lots of women even though our surgeons say it is very rare. It is not. I have made friends with one lady on the internet in Kent who has just had major surgery after 5 years of very little problems the tape just decided to move and embedded itself in her bladder which she has just had surgery to remove but when they tried to remove rest of tape it was so enmeshed in healthy tissue they could not get at it all. She has sent me one email and is still in a bad way after the op with lots of pain. Huge movement in the US to get the government involved in banning medical meshes for tvt and hernias. Log onto this miamiblog@bellsouth.net y in the US started by an amazing lady called Lana. you will find many people with heartbreaking stories but at least you realise you are not going mad and you are not on your own. Wishing everyone living with this ongoing nightmare strength to carry on. I wish I had the strength to start a group in the UK like Lanas. Gill

re: re: TVT EROSION
debbie ferris
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 06:12 AM

Hi Gill
Thanks for your response.
I had the removal surgery 3 weeks ago, at the time I was told I would be under General A for 1 hour. It turned out I was on the table for over threee hours !. I had agreed to have a TOT tape put back in but the surgeon said he had to remove so much tissue this would not be possible.( After more research i wouldnt want it )
As with lots of other ladies the mesh had burrowed its way into my vagina,and onto my bladder wall.The surgeon could only partially remove it.
It turns out the tape had perforated my vagina when it was inserted and was much too tight ( thus the pain which I described to my original gyne as "a puppet with its strings too tight , and someone sanding behind my Labia when I move " for which he offered me KY jelly !!!)
The lower bulge on the vaginal opening feels as if its come back, but its early days and Im too scared to have a feel in case its bad..
As soon as I was out of bed, even though Id had an operation I was instantly in so much less pain than before.
So I would recommend any one to have the mesh removed if your having problems.
Like you Im really angry about this,7 months of pain, two surgerys,and Im not back to normal yet.Plus Im leaking again, but to be honest I wish i had just put up with that (as it never totally stopped with the mesh in, I still had to wear pads, but not as thick ).
Im going to print out everything I can find about this awful mesh and hand it over to my new and old gynes, if it makes them think or at least be honest with the next patient then thats something.
I hope things get better for all of you, I really think this mesh is a ticking time bomb.

y

re: TVT EROSION update
DEBBIE
Sunday, July 06, 2008 at 05:01 PM

Hi,Debbie again, just an update,

Im in for more surgery in the next couple of months as the tape is moving again and more has emerged from the flesh and cut another hole in my vagina, my husband jokes im turning into a sieve!

I think this will probably be one of many unless I have major surgery to remove it totally, something my gynie says he does not want to do, so it looks like every six months I will have this awful tape cutting me open again with all the pain involved.

WHY IS THIS NOT MORE PUBLIC,HOW MANY MORE WOMEN WILL SUFFER THIS ?

TVT Problems
jaque
Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 09:07 AM
I have had nothing but trouble since i had this done. I have complained from day one about the pain in the pubic bone area. My damage is a little different than yours. I have pain all the time down there. I have nerve damage that isn't reverseable, and i can no longer enjoy sex. I don't have what you call erosion as of yet. My dr that did the surgery made me go to my gyne and blamed it on my hesterectomy. Hello i had that 10 years ago and no pain until i had this done 4 years ago. The statue of limitations has expired and there isn't anything I can do. I feel so stupid. My marriage is ending because I can't take care of my husband the way i should. No, he isn't leaving me, I am leaving him. It isn't fair for him to have a sexless marriage. Any advice you could give me would be great. Do you know of any support groups.

re: TVT Problems
Gill
Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 10:22 AM

Dear Jacque

I am not sure where you are but I can link you to a support group but it is in American but I have found out so much information from this and Lana who started the group is doing a fantastic job, along side a man called Jim who has had similar problems from the mesh used on his hernia operation.    I have also found ont he website an article from a UK Gyneacology & Urology conference held in London which he states that there could be an epidemic of problems with the use of mesh and in future years an outcry of huge proportions' so some of these so called experts do know there are horrific problems with these tapes. It is all bound up with money deals with the manufacturers of the tapes to keep problems hush hush.

Apart from this link I have not found any other groups and wish I had the strength to start one in the UK but am not very good with IT. I have many times thought of writing to a well know womens magazine and see where it went from there.   I may do this some time.

I will look out for future postings from you.    I am in Reading, UK. Gill

re: re: TVT Problems
jaque
Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 02:19 PM
I am from the United States of America. Do you know who the manufacturer of the tape is? My doctor won't give me any information. I agree it is time to let people know what is going on. Please let me know what to do next.....

re: TVT Problems
debbie ferris
Monday, February 25, 2008 at 06:20 AM

Hi Jaque,
i was so sad to read your article.
Have you had a second opinion ? A bad surgeon isnt likely to admit theyve made a mistake.
Ive had problems in the sex department since the first op, and now after a second op I dont know if it all still works.
Your husband loves you for who you are,sex is part but its not everything, many couples live happily without peneratrive sex.
Dont leave him because you dont think you are good enough anymore, you sound like a strong woman whos been damaged by this awful mesh, dont let it win.
Debbie

re: re: TVT Problems
jaque
Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 06:31 AM

Thanks for your advice, i will make an appointment with another Dr. My gyne didn't want to fix someone elses mess. So i kinda had a second opinion.
You can contact me at jaque_6978@yahoo.com i want to talk about something really personal about this as well. I don't want to break any rules so if you can't it's alright.

re: re: re: TVT Problems
jaque
Friday, March 21, 2008 at 09:05 AM
I went to a different doctor and I had my second sugery and it didn't work either. There is one more thing they could try but it could cause more damage than i have now. They would have to go in and cut the whole tvt and everything out. He said he really doesn't want to have to do that. He had troble just cutting the two inches that he removed. I also had a few issues during surgery. I just don't know what to do......I don't feel like much of a woman anymore.

I am another Victim of this nightmare TVT erosion
Loreva
Sunday, August 10, 2008 at 09:51 PM

I discovered the tape eroding just over a week ago early August 2008 and waiting to be seen by a gyny, I am still in shock, the GP's face said it all to me! I had the surgery done in 2005 and did not think for one moment how dangerous this TVT is! I was told it is a simple operation and you will be a new woman!

I have a long horror story to tell but cannot mention it on here for legal reasons. In the meantime I have been reading horror stories and gathered many links on this subject and I am so outraged I want to start a group here in the UK. If anyone is interested in getting a group together please contact me at lorevans@hotmail.co.uk

I am so angry that not enough tests have been done on this TVT and I feel like I was used as some some of experiement. It appears the erosion is happening a few years after surgery, so you may think it is working for now but you wait a few years ahead like me and then you discover the damage it is doing to your bodies. It is a disgrace!

tvt tape erosion
A smith
Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 09:36 AM

I too have problems form this procedure. 3 years ago I had this procedure. One year later dr went back in and removed some of the mesh. I've had daily bleeding for 2 years now, bleeding from ureathra, and bloody diarrhe from colitis the dr believes is all related.. Going for cystoscope today and friday colonoscopy. Feel generally bad.

Untitled Comment
Anonymous
Tuesday, September 08, 2009 at 08:17 PM

Hi, my name is Sue and I live in the UK. I also had the tvt operation about 2 years ago, and have experienced tape erosion through the vaginal wall which was repaired 2 weeks ago. I am now very worried about what may be in store for me and I am concerned about the future. I am so sorry to hear about what is happening to other women. All I can do now is hope that everything will be ok and I wish all of you to be well too.

re: Untitled Comment
ANON
Thursday, October 01, 2009 at 03:46 AM

Hello,I had th Tvt sling put in 4 months ago.The results were great from day one(leak wise) but experienced constant pain in my right butt cheek which descended down my leg, i thought this would pass but it has`nt.Then unfortunately six weeks later when my stitches eventually came out I discovered the tape had eroded into my vagina,sex is impossible as its too painful and I have a constant period like pain.I am booked in to have the tape resited immediately but am worried about what is going to happen next???

Erosion
Anonymous
Thursday, October 01, 2009 at 05:36 PM

I had this tape inserted on 4th August this year - everything fine until me and hubby tried to resume a normal healthy relationship. He described it like rubbing against a metal file!!

Been for 6 week checkup today and mentioned it to dr, she told me she had been doing this operation for over ten years and had only once before come across a patient who had similar problems. After a quick feel, she immediately booked me in to have another operation as it seems the 'tape' has pushed through the original incision used to put the tape in. This operation is taking place next tuesday, and am so glad I havnt got to wait months for this repair, as I may not have had a marriage left

re: Erosion
nurjol
Thursday, October 08, 2009 at 02:54 PM

i had the surgery on 8/20/09 now 7 weeks later the mesh has eroded through my vagina i am now scheduled to have surgery again on 10/13/09 I realize this message was posted a long time ago. I hope you are fine now. thanks

TVT Erosion
Anonymous
Sunday, October 11, 2009 at 10:07 AM

Hi Ladies

So it looks like i am not the only who has had problems witht he TVT. I had the operation in May 2009 and since had 5 eroisions needing to be taken back to theatre once and awake for the other 4 cutting back of the tape. However, i can still feel pain when i stand, walk, bend or lift heavy loads. I have returned back to my surgeon who stated even tho on this occassion the tape has not eroded through he can feel it on the mucosa which is only 2mm thick. He has advised me to use lidocaine jelly and massage the area in the attempt to retract the mesh backwards and when my partner returns fr on tour fr Afghan (6month tour) to have intercourse to also help pull the tape back. To help with the pain i have been given lidocaine jelly which is like a LA to numb the area. How defalted and frustrated do i feel. I was advised that i am unlucky and fall into the 10% cat of tape erosions. But how can i have so many in such a short time? The 1st erosion was jus 3 weeks following surgery and was large at that. I have also had it break itself down into strands and erode thru my vaginal wall and not just the insertion sites which his says he has never seen before. I am due to try and untake his regime when my partner returns and if it does not rectify the problem back to have another operation in NOV 2009. But the bulging heavy feeling & constant dull pain followed by sharp pain when active is driving me insane. I jus want to feel normal again. I hope we all get back to our normal selves in time. Hope all goes well for those who are due to return back to theatre.

Another TVT erosion victim
Liz S
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 10:55 AM

I had the op two years ago. Experienced vaginal bleeding and a very painful haematoma over the right abdominal incision afterwards. Once I had recovered from that, I have had nearly 2 years of normal life again.

Really depressed in August then, to start the water infection cycle again and feeling very uncomfortable - like something is pricking/rubbing. On investigating, I was horrified to feel the tape in the wall of my vagina. My practice nurse examined me and was also just as horrified.

I have an appointment with the surgeon who performed to op tomorrow. Very worried about the outcome after reading everyone else's experiences. It will be difficult to trust any solution he may offer. Beginning to wish that I had never agree to it and had the traditional op instead.