Mesh has eroded into urethra
In approx. 2003, I had a hysterectomy and surgeries to correct prolapsed "everything". Approximately two years ago, I had a new urge incontinence, and had begun having intermittent urethral pain, recurrent bladder infections/occult blood in urine. I started taking oxybutinin, which helped somewhat, but each time I had a urine test, they found blood in my urine. Yesterday I had a cystoscopy. The urologist found that the mesh used to repair my bladder/urethra has eroded into my urethra, and that, he believes, is causing the ongoing problems. He recommended having this removed. His description of that and his recommendation that I find a very experienced surgeon led me to understand that this is a rather complex procedure with a possibility of worse incontinence issues should something go wrong.
My question is this: my daughter-in-law, who is an RN, has raised the question of whether it might be better just to leave things alone. I don't feel very comfortable with that, but I would like to find out what the possible consequences of doing nothing would be... obviously I would continue to have the bleeding, probably recurrent infections, and pain, but are there other dangers?
Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read/answer this!
Nancy in Michigan
Because recurrent infections can cause some potentially serious problems, I would get a few more opinions from surgeons (urologists and urogynecologists).
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Nancy, My name is Cindy. I, too, have been diagnosed with erosion of the mesh into my urethra. This was a very large erosion. My doctor recently removed the mesh associated with the erosing and then used my own flesh to repair the damage. I had originally had surgery in 2000 to correct herniated colon, vaginal wall, and had my bladder lifted up with mesh to correct the incontinence I was experiencing. I have known for seven years that something was desperately wrong. Every doctor I went to ignored the blood in my urine, ignored the white cell count and continued to tell me that I had bacterial vaginosis. This had ruin my sex life for the last seven years. I was finally referred to a uro/gyn in Tulsa at OU Medical Clinic. My doctor's name is Sprydion Marinis. He is a blessed man who gave a crap about my discomfort.
Please do not allow this to go on. Your body poisons itself when urine leaks into other areas of your body. While I still suffer from the mesh, and will have another surgery in March to correct my bladder AGAIN, I feel very confident that Dr. Marinis, has the ability and the courage to continue this feat.
My email address is bcprox@gmail.com should you have additional questions.
Thanks,
Cindy
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