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
