Sling Rejection/Excision/With 3 Fistulas

Has anyone else had problems with bladder sling rejection and infection? I'm told my situation is pretty unusual.

I had my hyster in Oct. 2005 and a bladder sling was placed. In Feb. 2006 I started to feel lumps under the skin near my lower abdominal lapro incision sites, which grew and grew and grew until they became the size of plums and eventually exploded in May! Since then I have had constant drainage from these two sites as well as from at least one site inside my vagina. So post-hyster instead of not having to wear a pad at all I now have to wear 2 on my abdomen and one on the crotch! What fun!

The male gyne who did my original surgery wasn't as cooperative as I had hoped after these problems started so I switched to a female urogyne who has decided that I have three fistulas (seen on CT scan) due to my body rejecting the sling and the resulting infection.

I'm scheduled to go in to have abdominal excision of the sling on Aug. 10. My pre-op appointment with my surgeon and anesthesiologist is tomorrow.

I'm told that it's much harder to take the sling out than it was to put it in. My original surgery was done vaginally with a lapro assist. This time I'll have a large abdominal incision, similar to a c-section which probably also means a totally different kind of recovery and a new set of problems to contend with. I'm not looking forward to it, except that I'd just love to have this whole ordeal over with.

I'm just wondering if there are any sisters out there who have had similar problems. I've yet to find anyone who has gone through anything close to what I've experienced. I've found a few people who have had erosion and discharge from the vagina but no one that I've talked to has actually had drainage oozing from their abdominal incisions for months like I have. My old gyne told me that he spoke to the company that made my sling and was told this happens to one person in 10,000! Lucky me! NOT!

Schmoopy who needs a hug!

Good Heavens, Schmoopy--You have certainly gone through the wringer! Sending major immediately...... Truly, I am going to pray for you right away. How have you endured such misery? I'm sure you are on antibiotics constantly for the time being. Your body so absolutely rejected the material used for your sling. It sure makes you wish they could test this stuff out beforehand, doesn't it? I'm starting to wonder why they can't? If so many people react, why don't they test it before they put it into our bodies? <sigh> The recovery for an abdominal surgery is different than for a vaginal surgery but you can still do well. If you go to the checklist for a TAH, a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy, you will find many helpful hints. Be sure you rest even more than last time. You will need the full 6 weeks, if not more, and do NOT stress your abdominal muscles at all while you are recovering. With your bladder involved as it is, I am betting your doctor will tell you to take it easy and do not do any lifting for more like 12 weeks. That is the time period I was told. "Do not lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk for at least 12 weeks." Remember the "Princess" Rules and that resting will be even more important for you. Please check in here and in the Post-Op forum. You will find much help there with people who will also be fresh from surgery and have helpful hints and sympathy. Sending more {{{HUGS}}} and many +++++ thoughts ....
[Post-Op Articles Link just to look over for later]
http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/articlelist_171.htm

Schmoopy,

I did not have a sling, but fistulas...that is something I know about! Do you know variety of fistula you have? I hear you about feeling "Lucky". Fistulas are supposed to occur in less than 1 percent of hysterectomies.

I am glad you are going to a uro/gyne; they truly are a better breed of dr than a gyne for this type of complication.

My hyst started out as vaginal but was switched to the "bikini" cut; I had one vaginal fistula repair and the second was a vertical abdominal incision. Of course the vaginal surgery had the fastest recovery. With both abdominal incisions, you just have to learn that recovery is a process and don't try to rush it.

OrahDeb mentioned the lifting restrictions...my doctor told me to not lift anything heavier than the telephone for a very, very long time. In fact 2 years later I still avoid lifting anything heavy because I can feel it pull on my innards, and I am not willing to go there!

Let us know when you get in to see the new doc.

Sending you many cyber s!!

Dee

Thanks for the sympathy and advice. It certainly has been a challenge. I got all my pre-op stuff done last Thursday and am all set up for surgery this Thursday. My new uro/gyne says that it may actually take several surgeries to make me totally well again and I assure you I will be following all of her instructions to the letter. I did that last time and had a remarkable recovery until those little boogers showed up at my incision sites and then WHAMMO! I felt like someone ran over me with several trucks!

I'm just taking things one day at a time and will do whatever I can to give my body a break to heal and recover. I'll be staying at my sister's house for as long as I need to so that I won't have to do anything strenuous. That's a luxury I didn't have last time because she was still living in California, but she's back in PA now and willing to baby me if that's what it takes to get me well again.

It may take a while until I'm feeling up to it but I will let you know how things work out.

Thanks again for the prayers, and your concern.

Schmoopy

	Quote:
Originally Posted by OrahDeb ...Remember the "Princess" Rules and that resting will be even more important for you. Please check in here and in the Post-Op forum. You will find much help there with people who will also be fresh from surgery and have helpful hints and sympathy. Sending more {{{HUGS}}} and many +++++ thoughts .... [Post-Op Articles Link just to look over for later] http://www.hystersisters.com/vb2/articlelist_171.htm

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Dee4 Schmoopy, ....Let us know when you get in to see the new doc. Sending you many cyber s!! Dee

Thanks Dee! I appreciate your concern and advice. I love my new doctor. This was the second time I saw her and I was very impressed by her willingness to sit down and chat with me about my upcoming surgery and what might be ahead for me. I felt like we were two friends talking over a cup of coffee instead of doctor and patient. I feel very comfortable with her. She even took time to come out and meet my sister so that she would know that I'm in good hands and not be dealing with a total stranger when she accompanies me for my surgery.

She told me that the rejection I'm going through is to such a degree that no one really knows what to expect but since she's a professor I feel certain she's got the skill and knowledge to help me and the patience and compassion to want to make me well. Even though she warned me of the possibilities of the need for further surgeries, the risks involved, etc. she also stated firmly that she promised to hang in there with me as long as it takes and to use every precaution and draw upon every resource possible to resolve this in the best possible way with my best interest as her #1 priority. I don't suppose one can hope for more than that from any doctor.

I'm a true believer that God doesn't heap more on us than we can handle and while this experience has been truly frustrating and exhausting, I feel certain that better days are ahead even if it takes me a while to get there.

Schmoopy

Schmoopy,
I'm sending HUGS too! Good Luck with your surgery, my thoughts will be with you next week. Hugs again.

	Quote:
Originally Posted by Bowlinggrl Schmoopy, I'm sending HUGS too! Good Luck with your surgery, my thoughts will be with you next week. Hugs again.

Thank you! I sure hope this surgery turns out better than my last but I think I'm prepared for all the possibilities, just in case.

Schmoopy

Schmoopy, your doctor sounds like a gem. To state "firmly that she promised to hang in there with me as long as it takes and to use every precaution and draw upon every resource possible to resolve this in the best possible way with my best interest as her #1 priority". Wow, I am VERY impressed. If only every doctor would be like that and feel like that and strive to solve problems like that. Hang onto her for sure. You will definitely be in my thoughts on Thursday. Be sure and keep us updated regularly. We will be keeping our fingers crossed here for you.......

I think she's a gem, too, and I plan to stick with her! Not only was I able to get an appointment with her quickly when I decided to change doctors, but she has been very compassionate and easy to talk to. She was even sympathetic when I told her that when I told my former doctor I was going for a second opinion he told me to "go ahead and have fun". I assure you, nothing about this has been fun! I had previously really liked him but from that day on I was done with him!

Even though this new doctor admits that my situation is somewhat rare and that it will be a learning experience for both of us she did everything possible, I think, to reassure me and my sister that I'm in good hands which was very comforting.

Surgery is never fun but it sure helps going in to know that the person who is in control of the sharp objects has your best interests at heart!

Schmoopy