AMS Transvaginal Mesh Glitches

Bend, ORCombine AMS transvaginal mesh victims trying to find a doctor to remove the mesh and now a stall in AMS mesh litigation due to the varying degrees of injuries amongst so many women, and that adds up to a whole lot of frustrated women.

Almost 12,000 women who have (or had) American Systems transvaginal mesh implanted were hopeful for a litigation resolution early this year. It’s not clear how many of those women have had the mesh removed, but a number of women are trying to find a doctor to remove eroded mesh. Some women like Linda did have the mesh removed only to find their initial problem with incontinence has worsened.

“I had the Sparc Sling System surgically placed in October 2013 for incontinence issues,” says Linda. “Right away, the first day I got home, I had bladder problems along with spasms and severe pain. I had a post-op visit about three weeks after the surgery and described the symptoms to my doctor. He simply put me on antibiotics for five days, which led me to believe that I had some kind of infection.”

Linda wondered if she got an infection from the hospital or from the mesh. Her doctor didn’t have an answer. The pain got worse but she held on until December, when she wound up in the ER. “I was examined by a urologist who told me that the transvaginal mesh had eroded into my bladder,” Linda explains. “I was admitted right away, hooked up to an IV with more antibiotics and had the mesh, or most of it, surgically removed. I had to wear a catheter for about a month after the surgery and now my incontinence is worse than ever.”

Mary’s doctor sold her on the transvaginal mesh for incontinence, telling her she would never have to worry about leakage when she sneezed or coughed ever again. Her doctor neglected to tell her that the mesh could protrude and erode. Mary has been trying to find a doctor to remove the mesh for the past year - ever since she had the mesh implanted.

“My doctor has done whatever he can to avoid this issue, to the point that he has told me it is ‘all in my head,’ and ‘there is nothing wrong’ and I should give it some time,” says Mary. “He is so wrong. I can’t even make an appointment to see him to get a referral. I have constant pain and blood in my urine. And I have missed so much work. If and when I do find a urologist to remove this horrific mesh, I will have to take unpaid leave (I used up all my paid leave during the first procedure). What a mess this mesh turned out to be…”