AMS Transvaginal Mesh Victims Concur: Should Have Researched First

Eugene, ORAnyone with access to the Internet can do a quick search and discover that AMS transvaginal mesh risks far outweigh the benefits. But many women trust their doctors, and in the not-too-distant past, their doctors trusted the American Medical Systems sales reps. Not so much these days. With every AMS transvaginal mesh lawsuit filed, let’s hope less women will opt for transvaginal mesh to treat incontinence or Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Christina trusted her doctor. He advised her to have a transvaginal mesh implant for urinary incontinence, assuring her that it was an advanced and minimally invasive procedure. “He did tell me that I might have some discomfort for a few weeks after the procedure and not to have sex for six weeks,” says Christina.

If Christina had researched transvaginal mesh side effects, she would have discovered that the FDA since 2008 has warned about the problems with transvaginal mesh, citing “1,000 reports of complications associated with surgical mesh.” In 2011, the agency reported that one in 10 mesh surgeries fail. And many of those complications are associated with AMS mesh products Elevate, Apogee, Perigee, Monarc, and Sparc Sling.

Like a number of women LawyersandSettlements has interviewed, Christina’s doctor, for one reason or another, didn’t have a solution, he couldn’t alleviate her pain or remove the mesh. Christina believes that removing the mesh was something that he couldn’t do.

“All he could do was prescribe Vicodine [a pain killer] and some cream to numb the area, but it didn’t help. In fact it just made me feel lightheaded,” Christina says. “My vaginal area felt like shards of metal and then I began to get spasms in my groin that went down my leg. I finally got him to refer me to a specialist at the Mayo Clinic so I am hopeful that my appointment next month will put an end to this nightmare.”

Susan was also implanted with AMS mesh. She found a uro-gynecologist experienced in mesh removal to remove her Sparc Sling but not before she underwent two painful and unsuccessful procedures in her doctor’s office. “I don’t recommend going through that trauma, no matter how qualified your doctor is,” says Susan. “Even though I had this mesh removed, I am still on pain meds - I am sure it is nerve damage. I couldn’t get a definite answer from anyone, even from the specialist. I think he doesn’t want to say anything negative about my doctor in case I am considering a medical malpractice suit. Well, I am just considering a lawsuit against AMS mesh makers: this mesh caused me to take months off of work and my poor husband is fed up too - we still can’t have sex like we used to, it still hurts and I can’t fake that. If only I’d spent some time checking out this mesh first, I would have just worn ‘Depends’ or suffered through it like women did before this mesh came on the market.”