Bladder sling surgery repair?

[ppmom1124]

I had the Monarc bladder sling surgery a month ago. I am voiding fine, and don't appear to have the stress incontinence anymore; however, I am in constant discomfort since my stitches are still protruding from my vagina. My surgeon says that I have had erosion through the vaginal wall, which is apparently one of the possible complications. I have been told that my options are: excise the piece of the sling that is pushing through my vagina (touted as the least invasive w/fastest recovery time); remove the sling and go back to the original problem of incontinence; excise the protruding piece and replace it with a piece of another sling (?); or  replace the sling. I was leaning toward the excision of the piece of sling (I'm already out of sick days, so time off was a concern), but am now leaning toward a longer-term solution of replacing the sling. My surgeon has deferred to another urogynecologic surgeon w/more experience than she has with repairs. I have made 2 additional appointments w/other urogynecologists for second opinions, but was unable to get in for another 2 weeks. I want to have the repair "yesterday"! All I can do after work is lay on the couch; I want to move on w/my recovery.

After all of this, my question(s) is (are): how common is the bladder sling surgery repair? At what point am I in danger of developing scar tissue from this surgery? Will they be able to remove the entire sling, or is it already embedded in my tissues? Would you recommend waiting (w/discomfort) until I can get in to see the other drs. for 2nd opinions? Or should I just go ahead and schedule the surgery since I'm pretty sure that that's what I want to do anyway?


This discussion is related to surgery Feb. 2003--bladder sling--problems.

[dottifav]

I have exactly the same pain as you in my left groin, so bad sometimes that it wakes me up at night. I'm convinced it's the end of the TVT tape protruding and I know the surgeon did not make the incision in the right place because the other side is higher up on the pubic mound and does not give any problems. I have constant pain, which is worse after doing shopping, housework, gardening, standing for over half an hour or sitting for more than 20 mins. I wish I'd never had the damn thing put in but after 4 years fear it's too late for anything to be done. My consultant (who incidentally did not do my ops - these were passed down to an "associate") says he cannot do anything more for me but if I want a second opinion he's happy to write the letter!!! If this is not passing the buck then I don't know what is! Welcome to the NHS!

[dimples8874]

I had the sling done 3 days ago i am 23 probably the youngest one to have it done. it was very painful at first couldn't walk barely stand or even move around today im better i have the urge to go more frequently than before but other than that some usual bleeding that the dr said would happen and soreness but back to my normal activites other than work for another week or so. I'm loving this time off and the lovely weather that go along with it BUT what's up with this burning and really really bad itching that just started like a day ago did i do something wrong? I need help its friday night and i cant go another day with this feeling nothing helps but a cold wet rag to relieve some of the sensations!

[Blablfb]

I completely understand what you are going through. I had the sling put in last May. At first things seemed slightly better. The leaking stopped which made me very happy but was still having issues with urgency and frequency. I have tried multiple medications-some helped a little, others not at all. Last week I stood up at work and felt quite a bit of urine leak out (so much that I had to go home to change). I was ok for a couple of days then it happened again. Now it is happening daily, several times per day. A pad helps but it's not always enough to handle the amount. I am 41yrs old but feel 100 when it comes to this. It's embarrassing! I am on the road a lot for work which makes it harder to deal with. I am tired of keeping a change of clothes in the car just so I can stay dry. I have seen so many doctors, none of which can figure out the urgency or frequency (gynecologist, urologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon). I am so sick of this I have put off going back to the dr for the leaking because I feel like I'm not going to get anywhere. I am at my witts end!

[candlefiend]

I had a hysterectomy in November with  urethra sling.  I was back in surgery the next day being the dr cut my bladder multiple times.  I had a cath for a month and had it out for two days before I was peeing spontaneously for no reason.  I went to the urologist who did t.he repair from the cuts in my bladder he gave me meds to stop the urinating.  Everything was fine until today.  I had intercourse and we were very careful knowing what I had been through.  Right after sex I was bleeding.  I know it is my bladder not vaginal.  I can feel the mesh and fear it is broken or something is wrong.  I too was told to have it and my leakage was mild before the surgery.  I do not want another surgery but I would rather have it removed and be in depends than have the mesh protrude and cut through my vagina.  I am only 37 and I feel this is terrible for my age.  I just want to feel normal again.  I had not seen the warnings on tv being I do not watch it until after the surgery.  I laid in bed for 8 weeks and saw commercials every night.  If I could go back I would have refused the hysterectomy and the sling.  I was told it would be easy and quick since I am so young.  I fear life will never be normal again if I do not get this thing out of my body.  I too have fibro and tend to not notice pain since I am in constant pain around my neck and back.  DO NOT DO IT LOOK FOR ALTERNATIVES!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I WISH SOMEONE HAD WARNED ME OR I HAD READ MORE BEFORE.  I see the dr tomorrow and will go from there but I do want it out NOW before things get worse.

[histerblister]

WOW! The whole mesh idea is a bad one I reckon, what about pig skin ?sounds awful but unless you are jewish a better answer than having the mesh thing 'pop' thru the vagina!
Hip streaches sound like a great idea to prep for surgery, I cannot stand for long or even bend sideways now without a leak, haveing the surgery in March. My aunts had big babies and the same problems.they also had successful results, excersing and everything...whoa!
A c section should be something women could opt for freely, my deliveries were a 'natural birth' disaster! When women tell me they are pregnant I cringe, turn the other way to stop myself from telling them I am actually sorry for them, unless they can opt for a c section and dont gain too much weight. I love my kids but I should have been warned rather than told to just breath and "open like a freakin flower" in the delivery room!

I am looking forward to getting some relief but do not think I will ever be the same. I just don't want to have a pessary inserted when I'm 65 when it all might just be slip out on the toilet one day who do you yell for then the fire dept?
Should have been born a man!!! In the meantime I will try and think of myself as a delicate greenhouse orchid during recovery and sit back.

Could we all just tell the young women about child birth and fire the freakin lamazze coaches ..........the truth once in a while please:)

[denbabe]

had tvt op 4 years ago but had no relief from incontinence from the start.have had problems with continual utis and been fed antibiotics since a year .had extreme pain i couldnt walk far or stand for long  and doc said it was an infection causing it which i didnt think.i was admitted to hospitaal with vagina pain just to be told i had a vaginal prolapse .i then had camera put in my bladder which revealed the op had gone wrong 4 years before and was imbedded in my badder and i also have a large bladder stone.im in a lot of pain taking morphine at home and waiting for op to have tape removed and stone removed