Life After TVT removal

Thought I'd share some thoughts since it's been six weeks after my tvt removal. The first few weeks were wonderful . . . very little leaking & feeling more normal. Then the leaking slowly started again. Yesterday wasn't too bad, but today for some reason it's worse. I've changed Poise pads throughout the day. It's worse when I walk faster. I haven't had to wear any to bed so that's good & I've only had to get up once during the night. I finally got rid of my stitches. I had lots of them & at my three week check, the Uro said to soak in a warm bath every night. I had no idea it would take six weeks because he gave me a two week timeframe before the removal surgery. My hubby sure is glad they're out. We've had sex the past few nights & it feels good - like before all this surgery. So that's good!
I had my gyn check last week & he said all looks well & was VERY surprised about the tvt removal. He & the Uro do these procedures all the time & he said he never mentioned it. He said he knows of only one other case where a lady rejected the tvt. She later went in & had a tot put in & never has had a problem since. He said I should consider that (more surgery!). He said it's very simple - they make two tiny holes & that's it. I go back to the Uro in June & hope this all clears up on it's own. I want to bike & fast walk & even light jog again. The extra pounds are getting to me!
Sorry so long . . . Hope everyone out there is doing well!

kate, Yay on getting over all the intial recovery. I hate that you are already starting to leak again. on that! Have you mentioned it to your doctor? Perhaps there is a medicine that you can take that will help at least for awhile. I just read a study where some women with stress incontinence took a med for urge incontinence and had some success with it. (It was from one of the AUGS annual meetings.) I was surprised but hey, if it might work, why not try it?

I am very glad to hear things are going well with intercourse for you, too. That's always a plus. All of us who've had problems with this mesh erosion hope to have such positive results, you know.

You'd consider having another type of tape put in again? I know I'd be very leery BUT if I were to do it, I'd ask about using my own 'autologous' tissue if possible. I even read a study where the patient's own rectus abdominus muscle was used to support the urethra successfully and it was fascinating to read. Please be sure you know all your options. I know I wouldn't want to go through anything like the erosion or removals again nor would I wish it for anyone else.

Sending many +++ thoughts and CONGRATS to you on recovering...

Thanks for replying OrahDeb. The Uro said it was too early at my three week checkup to tell if the leaking would come back, but it has. I was hoping that dry period would have continued. I've since called the nurse & she really feels I'll be dry again after it all heals (I've heard that one before!). I tried Vesicare (didn't work & made my vision blurry) & Detrol LA (made me feel funny but it worked) before the tvt removal. Trying not to use them, but may give in. I know what you mean about going through surgery again. I hope I do not have to! I would be interested in reading that article. I don't want to continue doing this. I think the body can only take so much surgery, esp in one area. Hope you're healing perfectly!!!

thanks for your post, katesc, i'm always keen to read about tvt results. how long was your tvt in place before you and doctors decided to remove it? i.e. how many weeks, or months..?

i'm sure hoping that your dry days multiply, and your leaky days dwindle away......
int'l

I had my tvt 4 months before it was taken out. I went in for my checkup & the Uro could see it eroding through my body. I think I'm staying alittle drier, but certain things make it worse. Hope it goes uphill from here. I want to stop wearing pads daily.

Hi Katesc

I am waiting for a date for my sling surgery..have had all the appt and scopes stress tests ect and when I last seen the dr in march he told me that for some women if the leakage is minor that he injects collagen in the area and it plumps up the tissue and the leaking stops..very minor proc he said..although it won't work for me..maybe u could ask about it see if its appr for you..good luck
Penny

Can I ask how they managed to remove it all, did they have to do a vertical and horizontal incision or did you have it removed vaginally. Have they told you that they got all of it out??

nnodg

hi katesc,
did u really have no idea that the tape was eroding through your body until the doctor told you? is there not any pain or sensation with tape erosion? i'm asking cuz i saw a new consultant today, and he mentioned that the tape could be eroded into my bladder, which is causing my constant residuals +/-100ml. i don't feel any pain. or any other sensation in my bladder...
i'm really hoping that something sorts out your leaking. i remember how badly i used to leak, and just like u say, even WALKING. keep us informed.
hugs, int'l

I will ask my Uro about the injections. They did remove it all. The cut was horizontal under the uretha. I had lots of stitches & some lasted more than six weeks. I did see with a mirror close to my appt that something was showing thru my skin. I was having some issues but kept thinking it was healing & would get better. I just want to be where I was before surgery with my bladder functions. I thought it was tough leaking when I sneezed before. Now I don't have that as much as an issue (less than before) but have leaking throughout the day & have to wear Poise pads. Worse when I walk or move faster.

Hello,
Thanks for the response. It sounds as if youe body just rejected the tape if it was on the way outside your body that is probably why they were able to remove it entirely. I wish they could have gotten all of mine out but no such luck.

If they have operated under your urethra then that is directly where the support was provided by the tape. Unless they are hoping that any scar tissue will hold I'm not sure how bad the leakage issue will get. Are you worse than you were before the surgery regarding leakage?

I was told when I had my tape removed from my bladder that they were not going to touch anything underneath for fear of making me incontinent...well I am leaking more anyway and they operated directly on my bladder, nowhere near where you had your incision...and they cannot understand the outcome. I think our bodies just try and deal with things and we never can really tell what is going to happen until we are dealing with it.

I think that time will let you make a decision as to whether you will have to have more surgery. In the early days you just think no way I am never going to have anything ever done again...but then as you have to live with leaking/pain and the last surgery begins to be a bit more blurry you start to thjink i cannot live with this and you start thinking of taking another chance...I think I am getting to that stage now.

I am very intesrested in when you leakage occurs. I used to leak all of the time on sneezing/coughing/if I left it too long...now I don't leak with those quick involuntary things although it feels like I do, but I do leak at times when i never used to before the TVT...it is so annoying as i cannot work out what is going on. How bad does the leakage have to be before you get another surgery...I don't know.

Hope today is a better day,
best wishes Nichola