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.

[Zosia67]

Hi! I know it's been a while since you posted this, but I am experiencing the same problems you did after your surgery 8 weeks post-op, and I went to see my surgeon, who said my sling has shrunk (contracted) and I need to have corrective surgery where he will go in and snip the sling on the right side to relieve some of the tension, and that will solve the problem. I am already having this surgery next week because my insurance expires at the end of June. Is this what you did, and did this solve the problem, or did you have further complications? I hope you will find the time to answer! Zofia

[KCCarr]

What ever happened with your sciatica? I'm experiencing the same thing and don't know if I should contact the uro that did the surgery or just go to a spine specialist.

[KCCarr]

My surgeon told me the same but during the procedure my bladder was perforated and I had to go home with what they called a "permanent" cath. I was experiencing so much pain that the dr. told me to take the cath out early which I did. I'm still having the pulling pain in the lower right but am now experiencing pain in my lower back and sciatic nerve area which is causing terrible spasms.

[cherz815]

You have expressed my exact thoughts.  I did some research last night and found all these comments from people with horror stories after the surgery. I had pretty much decided to live with it instead of having the surgery.

[pammie188]

i had a bladder mesh surgery in 2011. Now having to have second surgery after having 2 stitches removed in dr, office , to learn mesh is to tight obstructing uthera and not letting bladder empty completly causing numerous infections . Has anyone had a 4 inch cut put in mesh to relieve pressure?

[junebug669]

so the bladder was stitched to the vaginal wall vs a sling?