I've just had my pelvic mesh removed - AMA

[MeshNoMore]

I had pelvic mesh inserted for stress incontinence almost a decade ago. It worked well and had no complications until it didn't any longer.

I've just had full removal surgery.

Wishing you a speedy recovery. Was the removal on the NHS? How easy was it to get the procedure?

Thank you.

I've been on the NHS waiting list for 3 years, or rather I've been in the referral system since my GP referred me to a mesh centre, as I'm not sure exactly when you're officially put on the waiting list. I was consented for removal at a NHS mesh centre at the start of this year but still had no idea of when the surgery might happen and it was starting to look like it would be 2024 at the earliest.

In the end I went private as psychologically I couldn't cope with the removal surgery being any longer.

I hope your recovery goes well. What measures are being taken to deal with the stress incontince now? Have you had another type of surgery or are you just living with it now?

I'm only a few days post op so waiting to see what happens incontinence wise. I was advised that there was a greater than 50% chance it would return or could be worse than before.

The day after my removal my bladder completely emptied multiple times with no control, but it was very sensitive after the op as the mesh had been stuck to my bladder.

The last few days I've been ok, but I have to get to the loo as soon as I feel the need to go and get up multiple times in the night.

Hopefully it will continue to improve, but I have to let everything heal first. No pelvic floor exercises for the first 6 weeks.

If I need to have a second surgery for incontinence I need to wait until I'm 6 months post op (my surgeon's preference to wait and because chance of outcome being better if I lose weight before next op). However I'm hoping that losing weight and doing my pelvic floor and core exercises may mean I won't need another op. I did the exercises before surgery to prepare as well as I could.

Have you heard of hypopressives? It’s another form of exercise that helps your pelvic floor. Wishing you a speedy recovery too.

@Mustardfan I hadn't heard of hypopressives but have just Googled and found this https://louisathomas.co.uk/hypopressives/
She combined hypopressives with RYC program. I do RYC and used it as pre-hab before my op and plan to do it again once I get the all clear to restart PF exercises. I'll definitely look into hypopressives and adding them to RYC. Thank you

Sorry, I didn't come back. I'm another fan of hypopressives, I attend a weekly class online. I also attend online yoga classes with a specialist women's core/pelvic floor teacher. I had a repair without mesh about 10 years ago.

What were the complications? How did you know it needed removing?

@EversoDisorganised I'd appreciate your recommendations for hypopressive & yoga online classes. Please PM if you don't want to share on this thread. TIA

@Arcadia the mesh had eroded into my vagina.

Is this the mesh that has been problematic for other women? Was it painful? How long was it effective for?

I would also like to know this please!

This is my yoga teacher
https://www.lindastephenswellbeing.com/

My hypopressives teacher sees clients in person for initial training, its not an entirely online system, probably worth googling to find a local instructor

What does having the mesh entail and how is supposed to fix the incontinence?

@EversoDisorganised

I know Linda and have also done her online PF and core program. She's brilliant isn't she.

Thanks I'll Google hypopressives and see if I can find someone local.

@PullUpPrince yes, I had the TVT mesh that's been in the news a lot in recent years and was part of the Baroness Cumberledge review.

I was lucky initially and it worked well for almost a decade. But then it eroded, so I had hard plastic mesh protruding through my vaginal wall. It was more uncomfortable than painful. I couldn't have sex or a bath or swim since it happened.

Mine is 20 years old (TVT if the type matters)

What symptoms did you have?

I also have a lot of scar tissue and adhesions from an ectopic pregnancy

But I had it done when it was clear there wasn't a neural pathway between my brain and my pelvi floor - I was sweating with effort during my physio sessions and nothing was moving

@TwiddlingMyToes the mesh formed a sling to support the urethra and reduce stress incontinence. The mesh devices have now been paused in the NHS and alternative surgeries are done now with own tissue which I may need at a later date. I'm hoping the scar tissue from the mesh removal surgery will do the job, but I won't know for a few months yet as incontinence can return once the initial post-op swelling goes down.

Small world