Saskatchewan Protest Over Mesh

May 11, 2013 ~ A group gathered outside a Saskatoon City Hospital Saturday to bring awareness to the dangers of polypropylene surgical mesh. Synthetic mesh is often used as a first-line treatment for incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse (POP) however the women who have had the treatment want to warn others away from that option.

“It’s like a vice grip clamping onto my stomach with, like, razor blades on it said Marika English to CBC News (here).

English has paid $30,000 to travel to UCLA’s urology department to have the mesh removed. The world renowned facility is one of the few in the world with success in the complete removal of synthetic surgical mesh. Canada has options for partial mesh removals so women have petitioned their provincial government to have it pay the thousands necessary to remove the implants in the U.S. Mesh is designed to be a permanent medical device.

Stephanie Brad, who was also at the Saskatoon hospital, also plans to spend whatever it takes to have her mesh removed. She says she can’t walk, sit or do much with her kids because she is in so much pain.

Both English and Brad want the provincial government to at the very least warn women about the procedure. They would prefer to have it removed from the market.

Estimates are up one-third of mesh implants may eventually result in complications such as mesh erosion, pain, nerve damage, infection and migration.

Thousands of Canadians whose problems are being dismissed and ignored have created the website here. Supporters are asked to sign a petition. and ask them to sign the petition there.