Sleeman, ONJody had a transvaginal mesh sling implanted last year to treat POP - pelvic organ prolapse. Since the surgery, the biggest question on her mind is why her doctor didn’t warn about or even mention TVT side effects, including painful sexual intercourse.
Jody, age 53, is a physical education teacher. POP was affecting her career: every time she sneezed or coughed she would experience “leakage,” but the TVT sling has affected her entire life.
“I play a lot of baseball and hockey so the surgery was an obvious solution - my doctor had an easy sell,” says Jody. “I had outpatient surgery and the recovery wasn’t too bad, in fact I was feeling pretty good. However, when I had a post-op check a week later the surgeon asked me how my sexual life was, which I found rather strange. I knew we had to wait six weeks after the surgery to have sex so this question was really odd. I just told him that our sexual relationship was ‘fine’ and didn’t give it much thought, until my partner and I had sex after the requisite wait time…
“It was like the mesh had moved down my vaginal wall - we could both feel it. I didn’t say anything; I just endured it. (I was brought up that way.) I was in pain for a few days afterward but just tried to ignore it, thinking the problem would go away. Wrong.
“Even before the surgery why didn’t he tell me that sexual relations might be a big problem? All you have to do is Google TVM and read about transvaginal mesh complications, including painful sex. As well, I am very active and I ache for days after I do any sports.
“What scares me is that I don’t want another surgeon touching me now. I am afraid to go back to the gynecologist to get anything done. Instead I just take pain pills and deal with it.
“Needless to say, my sex life has decreased. My husband is very sexual and, thankfully, he is also very understanding - he has no idea how much it hurts. Maybe I should take painkillers before sex (kidding, kind of). If I knew the consequences of TVT surgery, I would just have bought a case of ‘Depends’; I would never have had this mesh implanted.”
And, needless to say, Jody is furious with the transvaginal mesh manufacturers. She feels helpless and can’t understand why her GP and gynecologist didn’t know about TVT side effects and subsequent transvaginal mesh lawsuits.
“I live in a small rural area and I don’t know where to turn,” Jody adds. “If not for lawyers working on contingency, we couldn’t do anything; I certainly don’t have any faith in the medical community. Instead of warning me, the gynecologist I was referred to was selling me on this TVM. He even told me to recommend it to everyone. I told my girlfriend - she had the surgery six months ago and she is suffering even more than me. She can’t lift anything, not even her kids.
“I am also worried about my career. I still plan on teaching until I am 67, the retirement age in Ontario. But I am worried that I might not be able to work another 14 years if this TVT mesh gets worse. From what I have heard, this mesh adheres to your organs, you just can’t pull it off. Who wants their bladder removed and a catheter for the rest of their life?
“It has become my mission to tell everyone not to go near transvaginal mesh. We need to get the message out to all women thinking about this surgery - don’t do it. There are alternatives, including Depends.”
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