Complications... 3 years after surgery...mesh erosion

This is bizarre, embarrassing and kinda scary

The bizarre part:
I went to my family doc because of a vaginal infection that has recurred several times since my surgery 3 years ago, she discovered a piece of string exposed in my vagina. It wasn't just laying there, it was coming up through the flesh for about an inch then went back down through, kinda like the hanging loop you find on the inside of some shirt or jacket collars.

Anyhow, the last infection was bad, fever, chills, body aches, pelvic pain & heaviness, profuse discharge (but no foul odor). I was miserable.

The embarrassing part:
Several months ago I'd discovered a lump deep under the skin in that area but more on my butt cheek. I didn't do anything about it at first because at that time it didn't hurt, and it was a very embarrassing to tell anyone (even a doc) about. However, during the last vaginal infection the lump had suddenly increased in size and was extremely tender, making it difficult to sit or wear pants.

After 10 days of antibiotics I felt much better but the increased discharge remains.

The kinda scary part:
I went to the doc who did my surgery and told him about the string and the lump. During exam he cut out the visable section of string and said it was part of the mesh he'd used during my surgery to repair the rectocele. He said there was some vaginal erosion which is what left the string exposed. He said the string was the source of the recurrent infections and the discharge which should go away now.

He said the lump is where one end of the string attaches, and he suspects a pocket of infection there that may require another surgery to remove the mesh, and that he'd have to bring in another surgeon to assist. I got the impression that the surgery would be a bit involved, and definitely not fun.

So, has anyone else ever had something like this happen? If so, any information or words of advise?

I haven't had anything like this I just wanted to say I am sorry to hear you are going thru it.

How do you have/get vaginal erosion? Is it just from the mesh? Never heard of that before.

Please post to keep us informed.

Thank you for your kind words.

I'm not clear on the erosion bit. He said my body was rejecting the mesh he used so I figure it's where the flesh has eroded away from the mesh leaving it exposed. I'll ask the doc what exactly is eroded when I see him next month. Meanwhile he has me using estrogen cream for 10 days to help in healing.

Gosh I am so sorry to hear of your on-going troubles. To go through the surgery is ENOUGH... but to still have issues! Please take care of yourself!

Can't believe this has happened to you. I too have had complications after surgery and have had many ops since to put things right. Hopefully this next surgery will be your last.
Anyway I will be thinking of you and hope you feel better soon. Good luck for the surgery.

Helen

I tell you that we thought that our hyst would be the end of our long term problems didn't we? Well, surprise, seems to me the beginning of mine, and yours and many other women on this site. I will be 2 years out in jan. and am now having to find a urogyn cause bladder has prolapsed again, and possible rectocele (which I might add was the most painful surgery i have had to date) and fistula. I can't imagine that the doc left something hanging out in there either. That doesn't seem to be normal to me. I hope it all goes well for you although I would possibly consider finding another doc.

Mesh??? Do we all have that too? I'm learning a ton on this board and none of it was mentioned by my dr! I never heard of silver nitrate treatments and mesh until I read it here. What is the mesh for? Does it hold up the bladder? I guess I didn't read enough about this surgery before I had it! I'm pretty good with medical stuff too (EMT and had Medical Assistant training and watch Discovery Heath all the time). My dr. never said anything about holding up the bladder with mesh. He did tell me that he stitched me against the wall of the rectum. At least that's what I remember. This was still on the first day so I was a little out of it yet.

I'm really sorry to hear that you are having complications and so far out too! I hope everything goes well for you though. I'm sorry you have to go through another surgery. I too am hoping this is the end of all my problems (this was my 9th surgery in as many years).

desert-thistle!

I have moved your thread over here to the Pelvic Floor and Bladder Matter forum where there are other women who are dealing with mesh complications and erosion problems.

I am sorry that you are dealing with all of these complications and I hope your doctor is able to help you soon.

Are any of your doctors a urogynecologist? If not, you may want to consider seeing one and asking his/her opinion. These specialist have been helpful to many of the ladies on the site who are dealing with both gyn and uro problems.

Many best wishes to you! in there! s

I too am going through erosion issues. I am six months out of a bladder lift w/cadaver mesh. I have a "hole" in my tissue that is being treated weekly with silver nitrate. My question is Where did the mesh go??? Unlike polyproplene mesh, I quess cadaver mesh may dissolve. I also have discusting discharges, constant UTI's and oh yeah my bladder is going so far south I feel I may pick it off of the floor some day! Doc can't fix the prolapse due to the chance of infection with the eroding tissue. NO SEX,NO SWIMMING,NO BIKE RIDING ETC, ETC. Boss is questioning WHY I have to go to the Doc. every week! Man this stinks!