mesh infection or irrosion?

Hi everyone,
I am SOOOOOOO frustrated!!!!!!!!!!! I had a rectocele repair with graft done 2 years ago. I have had problems ever since. I even went through bladder instillations that were so painful. The doctor thought I had IC but, did not test me for that. All of my painful urination started 2 months after the surgery. I kept having bleeding from the site, went back to the gyn who would cauterize it. I think I went back 9 times for this! Well, a stitch fell out one day and the bleeding seemed to slow way down. I still bleed if I strain at anything or have been standing a long time. I also have a bad odor on the area where the surgery was. I have thought for a long time that this graft was falling out but, until I read some other stories on here I thought I was crazy for thinking that. This is the same doctor that did my TAH and I never had any problems. Now I am having more urethra pain, went back to my pcp for a urine test, white cells in urine but doesn't culture into anything. He says IC and wants me to see another urologist!!! I just don't think that is my problem. What do I do??? How does one go about finding a uro-gyn in their area? How come my gyn wouldn't say anything about this and would just say that it all looks fine? What are some symptoms of the graft eroding? Please, please help!
Lori

Hi Lori,
I'm so sorry you've been having such a rough time with all this. It certainly sounds like mesh erosion is a possibility given your symptoms.
I had pain from the first day the mesh was put in but assumed I just needed time to recover. Within a few months of the surgery I had spotting every time I had a BM. I also had some vaginal discharge but no vaginal odor. I began to look further into this when I felt around the area the spotting seemed to be coming from and it felt very rough like sand paper. My suspicions were confirmed even before I went to see my Gyn because during sex DH said it was hurting him, it felt like sand paper inside.
I'm not sure why your Gyn says everything looks fine. It's possible the erosion could be in an area he is not able to see well. It wouldn't hurt to ask your Gyn's help in finding a Uro/Gyn. Otherwise you can ask women you know if there is a Uro/Gyn they would recommend. The most important thing is to find a Uro/Gyn familiar with mesh and mesh erosion.
Michelle

I saw a mesh expert today and he explained that the discharge can go from golden yellow to even green.....when exposed to air.

He said it's not infection in my case, but a symptom of erosion, which I have.