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Jane Dowdall, 55, is from Ontario, Canada and tells her own story of bladder prolapse repair and her life today.
"In early 2009, I was referred to an Ob-Gyn for a bladder prolapse repair. During my pre-op appointment he explained that he would be using stitches for the repair, but since there was a good chance that following this surgery I may experience increased incontinence, I may want to also have a procedure that looked after that at the same time. Since I did have minor SUI (stress urinary incontinence) prior to the surgery, I agreed to the additional procedure.
"The Ob-Gyn sent me to a colleague who would perform the incontinence prevention part of the surgery. At my pre-op appointment with this Ob-Gyn, he quickly stated that I would be having a TVT-O but said nothing about possible risks or side effects. After leaving the appointment, I checked the Internet for more information on this procedure, but there was little available. Had I known then what I know now, I would have NEVER agreed to this procedure."
"The next time I saw both doctors was in the O.R. on May 15, 2009. It did seem rather strange having two Ob-Gyns in the O.R., and I often wonder if one was learning from the other.
"Immediately after surgery I was experiencing pain and had difficulty urinating but attributed this to post-op symptoms. However, during the next couple of months the pain and urinary retention worsened. The pain radiated from my upper thighs to my navel, feeling much like a migraine headache, along with a burning and stinging sensation. Sitting, especially at my computer at work, was becoming unbearable."
"I visited the first Ob-Gyn and he ordered a pelvic ultra sound that indicated I had 63% bladder retention. He said the symptoms I was experiencing were not from 'his part' of the surgery and referred me back to the Ob-Gyn that performed the TVT-O.
"When I finally got an appointment in September, the TVT-O Ob-Gyn said he had not come across any problems with this procedure in the past, but would ask a colleague what it might be and that perhaps it was too tight. In the meantime he ordered another pelvic ultrasound. At my next appointment in October, he said I had an acceptable level of 20% urine retention, even though I was still having trouble urinating. He was still very puzzled by the pain I was experiencing and prescribed Celebrex and sent me on my way."
"Unable to work a full day due to extreme pain, I visited my family doctor who prescribed narcotic pain medication and referred me to a local Urologist. After a cystocopy that did not reveal erosion of the TVT tape or bladder tears, he felt my symptoms were consistent with TVT mesh rejection. He stated this was very rare and that he could not remove the mesh at this point. I was devastated!
"It wasn't until I stumbled upon a newspaper article on the Internet from the Hamilton Spectator about a woman experiencing identical symptoms as my own, that I realized I was not the only one with an adverse reaction to this surgical mesh. Obtaining my hospital records, I discovered I had had the Johnson & Johnson Ethicon Gynecare TVT-O made of Prolene Polypropylene.
"By January 2010, the Tramadol and Tylenol 3 could no longer control the pain and I was unable to work. Other 'nerve' drugs were tried but I could not tolerate them. The local Urologist found a Urologist in Toronto who had experience in mesh removal and I was given a referral."
"In July, 2010 I had an appointment with Dr. L. Carr in Toronto, a very caring doctor who is extremely sympathetic to mesh issues. She said that only the center section of the tape could be safely removed due to the manner in which TVT-O is anchored and that there may be a reduction in pain but there was no guarantee. I appreciated her honesty. Feeling it was better to have the majority of the mesh removed to decrease chances of future erosion, I had removal surgery in August 2011. There were two other mesh removal surgeries that day, one lady traveling all the way from British Columbia.
"I am now able to urinate normally but have not had a decrease in pain. I am experiencing new stinging sensations that apparently could be caused by the 'arms' or ends of the mesh rubbing on surrounding tissue."
"What angers me is that I spoke with a nurse who just had the TVT-O procedure by the same Ob-Gyn that performed by my surgery, and when she inquired about possible risks or side effects, she was told there may be some post operative discomfort but no risks/side effects that he was aware of, even though on February 4, 2010, Health Canada issued a bulletin, (see here) similar to the FDA's bulletin, warning of complications associated with transvaginal mesh. She is now experiencing problems similar to mine.
"It has now been almost two and a half years since the initial TVT-O surgery. I am in constant pain and unable to work. I have been on Long Term Disability for over a year. In order to get through the day I must take narcotic drugs. I spend most of my time in a reclining position, in loose fitting clothing, and I seldom leave the house. I have filed a report to Health Canada without results."
