Transvaginal Mesh Procedure “Biggest Regret”

Stacy, MNTwo years ago, Sonya’s gynecologist advised that she have Transvaginal Mesh implanted to treat severe incontinence. Her life has been a living hell ever since, from chronic infections to painful intercourse to divorce.

Sonya says the TVM surgery worked for about a month, until she got one infection after another and lower pelvic pain. “Then the mesh started to move because during sex, my husband of 17 years could feel it,” she says. “I went back to my doctor and she just trimmed the exposed mesh—that really hurt. She also wanted to implant another mesh. Apparently this one wasn’t in the right place to give my bladder enough support.”

Unfortunately Sonya wasn’t aware of transvaginal mesh complications at that time. And like most women, she trusted her doctor. So she had another TVM implanted and didn’t realize until she woke from surgery that the first mesh implant hadn’t been removed.

“I just assumed my doctor was going to take the defective mesh out—there was an obvious lack of communication,” Sonya adds. “She explained that there was no need to remove the first mesh and this new one had been put into a more secure place. But to this day I still have urinary tract infections, pain and bladder problems. The second implant did nothing.”

Frustrated to say the least, Sonya went back to her doctor a third time. Now her doctor advised Sonya to have collagen injections to build up the tissue around the bladder and give it more support but that procedure has to be done every year or so under anesthetic. She didn’t know what to do.

Then she discovered that many other women had suffered the same TVM complications, resulting in a number of Transvaginal Mesh lawsuits. “I emailed and snail-mailed a letter to my gynecologist and the hospital about six months ago, asking what type of mesh was used on me and if it had anything to do with transvaginal mesh lawsuits,” says Sonya. “I never received a response.”

“I was disgusted when I found out that the medical community and the FDA has known about the dangers of TVM yet it is still on the market. If I knew, I wouldn’t have gone through with the surgery. I know I am only one voice but if we get more voices together, maybe no more women would have to go through with this terrible device. Some people probably think that having these mesh and the complications along with it is no big deal, but it is.

"I’m only 38 and just went through a divorce so now I am a single mom with three young children. It also affected my career. I had to quit my job because I took so much time off—my employer more or less told me that I wasn’t reliable anymore.

"I wish someone could fix this. I am sick of taking antibiotics for all the infections-- that alone takes a toll on your body. And I certainly don’t want any more procedures.

"I feel that I have been lied to by my doctors—there is no trust there; I feel betrayed. It seems like asking my doctors questions about the mesh puts them on the defense---thinking I might file a medical malpractice suit. But I’m not asking for money, I just want to be well again.

"If anyone has problems with their bladder they need to do a lot of research—there has to be other treatments besides this transvaginal mesh sling or TVT or anything to do with the mesh. My doctor made it seem like this was such an easy procedure, no big deal. She said it would be ‘life changing in a positive way’, same day surgery, instant fix. But it couldn’t be further from the truth—what a colossal misconception, and my biggest regret.”

A transvaginal mesh attorney will get a response from Sonya’s doctor and the hospital—they will demand her medical records, ASAP.