Vaginal Mesh Sling

I know it's not the best topic, but since I am experiencing this, I thought it was important to share with others who may be or know someone who is, experiencing the same thing.

Symptoms of Vaginal Sling Side Effects

The use of bladder slings and vaginal mesh systems have caused a number of troubling problems for patients, prompting the FDA to issue a public health notification in 2008. The FDA notice warned of potential vaginal mesh complications, including infection, urinary problems, recurrence of prolapse or incontinence and mesh erosion, which may develop following mesh surgery. Signs which may indicate vaginal mesh side effects include the following:

• Vaginal infections
• Bleeding
• Vaginal discharge
• Pain during sex
• Lower backache
• Difficult bowel movements
• A feeling of something protruding from the vagina
• Bladder outlet obstruction

A recurring feeling of fullness or pressure in the lower abdomen and recurrence of prolapsed organs may also indicate that the condition, which the vaginal mesh intended to treat, has returned.

So hard to believe that my granddaughter, Aaliyah, will be 2 this month! Kai, Matthew, Ryan, Sarah, and Josh....all of them growing so fast.

Sometimes, I hate that I moved to Florida and away from my sister. I want to see her children on a regular basis like other family members and friends are able to do. Then, on the other hand, had I not left and moved to Florida, I wouldn't have had my other children or stepchildren and known them.

I miss family get togethers, big birthday parties, graduations, weddings, you name it....always something going on in a big, Italian family. I'm sad sometimes that my younger children did not get to know my parents, who passed away much too young, and my 2 youngest only have known one grandparent which is their father's mother. His father passed away long before the girls were born as did my parents, so Grandma Rose is all they know. Sean and Christopher have both parents on their paternal side so that's a plus!

I want to be a big part of my grandchildren's lives and build memories with them to last a lifetime.

Hoping for the answer.....

For the past few years, I have been having health complications that the doctors liked to explain as all either being diabetes related or happening with age. Yet I know how I feel. But explaining that to others without them thinking it's all in your head because every test comes up negative, is a whole other story.

So here's the deal. In 2003, I had a uterine ablation to stop my heavy menstrual cycle which pretty much had be in bed for hours on end. At the same time, I had a mesh sling placed to support my bladder with was out of place after bearing children. That was 9 years ago.

About a year or two after that, I started having recurrent UTI's, yeast infections, chronic fatigue, overall feeling or not being well, low grade fevers, and the list goes on. But since I was diagnosed in 2006 with Type 2 Diabetes, of course, it all had to be related, right? So, not knowing any better, I figured that was that. This past year and a half, I've felt worse and worse, had tests done, and back to the same conclusion, you're diabetic, you're getting older..blah blah.

Yesterday, I finally got to see a decent, human, gynecologist and after doing his exam, tells me that the mesh sling I had placed in 2003 has eroded and is causing sores inside my body and recommends I see a specialist as soon as possible to have this corrected.....

Gee..do ya THINK this could be the reason for all my issues recently? Maybe the reason why I have a white blood cell count 3 times higher than normal that no one can seem to find a reason for???? I wonder!

So, now, I have an appointment on Monday with a specialist and we'll find out what the next steps are. I have also researched and found that my sling manufacturer, along with several others, were taken off the market in 2008 for serious complications. Great. I love being me.