New development re: mesh removal

I got a phone call this morning from Doc #1, that performed the hyst. and inserted the TVT.

He is very concerned about me, and wants to try to help me if he can. His nurse asked me today if I would be willing to come in tomorrow afternoon to let him at least do an exam and give his opinion on what to do.

Of course I'd love another opinion!! Of course I'd love to hear from the Doctor, that I happen to like, that he could help me with this mesh erosion. The reality of course is that the removal is a different story entirely and I KNOW that. But after scheduling surgery with Doc #2 (who I do NOT like).....I understand all of the complications and issues with this.

I'd love to think there's an easier, better way to fix this. I don't see the problem with letting him look, do you? I don't have to let him do anything.

Hubby is totally against it, but I agreed to go in tomorrow just for a consultation. He said more people have seen me than he has and it's time to stop showing it around LOL.....MEN. I said it's my tushie, not yours!!

Hello Magnolia 46!

I think it was very kind and compassionate for Doctor #1 to give you a call. There aren't many doctors who would be willing to go out of their way to call a patient and express concern.

I'm glad you are going in to see him - it certainly can't hurt. From what I've read it is extremely important to have a doctor on board who is familiar with this type of surgery. I would suggest you ask him how many mesh removal surgeries he has done. My own beloved Uro/Gyn told me that mesh removal is very difficult to remove if it becomes necessary to do so and that's why he never uses mesh in his repair surgeries.

Let us know how you make out after the appointment!

This Doc has put in many meshes, but says he has no experience in removing it. ......I an anxious to hear his views on this so I will check in tomorrow.

His nurse, not him, mentioned trimming the exposed part in the office....and of course now I know that is known as "iotp" LOL....don't think I could handle that

Magnolia--

Does this Dr. know you've already scheduled surgery with someone else? Hmm...if it were me, it would make me wonder if he saw my name on a schedule somewhere....

I don't see too much harm in letting him see you again. As long as he knows he can't snip or cut or absolutely DO anything while you are there in his office AT ALL. I had all those many in-office torture procedures (yep, that was me) and they are so NOT worth it.

I did want to say that the post-surgical recovery from my partial removals didn't seem too bad. I felt like I healed fairly quickly from them. For me, they weren't nearly as bad as the original surgery. Be sure you ask your surgeon about any restrictions. You may even want to call and ask about it ahead of time just to be sure.

Sending many +++ thoughts and extra good vibes.......

Hi Deb!

No, he had no idea that I've scheduled surgery with anyone. I had to have his nurse mail me my OR records for the uro/gyn for my consult with him.

She had asked me to call her and let her know what the uro/gyn had to say and what he thought needs to be done.

I had never called her back so she called me today. I really didn't expect that. She said my Doc was just concerned about me and wanted to try to help IF he could.

I'm assuming he also needs to report this as an adverse event due to the recall of the mesh.

She also said since he's not seen or dealt with erosion before he would like to see what he's dealing with, since he did put it in. Maybe so he can figure out how to avoid this in future patients?

She went on to say that he thought it was possible to just snip the ends out in the office and I said OH NO....I know that's not an option LOL.

I really don't know what I expect from this visit, other than maybe "I'm sorry this happened".....seems some docs don't even care that it did happen. If he offers to help cover the expenses of the specialist removing mesh, I'd be shocked and most grateful.

eta: Hubby and I attempted relations, and it was very painful. I ended up having some bloody mucous spotting from the mesh erosion area. Will we EVER have a normal sexual life again?

Magnolia, I also see no reason why you shouldn't see your Gyn as long as he understands that you will not have any procedures in office or out without the Uro/Gyn's knowledge. It may be a good learning experience for the Gyn to see your erosion and help him with other patients who may experience mesh erosion in the future
My Gyn who I have referred to as Dr Wonderful has been absolutely amazing. He has certainly gone the extra mile for me seeking top notch physicians to consult on my case. I live just outside of Cape Cod and he has called a Dr in the Midwest just to consult about some of my symptoms with nerve disruption because he heard that this Dr was the best in the country. When I was scheduled for total mesh removal with a Uro/Gyn in Boston my Gyn applied for priviledges at the Uro/Gyn's hospital so he could assist with my surgery. It was so comforting to have him there with me. He even stood by my side and held my hand until the anesthesiologist put me to sleep. What was even better was that he is so accessible to me that if I had any questions about little details of the surgery I could call him and get a response a lot faster than calling the Uro/Gyn. Dr Wonderful has been a Godsend to me.
Maybe you can ask your Gyn to speak with the Uro/Gyn concerning your case. It could be possible, if distance isn't too much of a problem, for your Gyn to assist the Uro/Gyn with your mesh removal. This will give him a chance to see things for himself and possibly help him to prevent this occurring with other women. And it will be a comfort to you to have someone by your side that you trust and feel comfortable with.
Michelle

Magnolia--

Once I got ALL of the mesh out of me, it stopped the erosion process, of course. Then, I had an additional surgery to remove some adhesions that were also causing me pain. I have had a much better time with 'intimacy' since both of those surgeries. When the things that are causing pain are removed, then yes, I'd say your chances for improvement are greatly increased. For most of us with erosion, that's been the case.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you that enough of your mesh is removed to get rid of all your problem. The only thing left for me was/is the extreme side arms of the anterior mesh since they're so close to the nerves of the bladder. My UroGYN didn't want to disturb that and cause any more possible harm esp. since that part wasn't seeming to cause any problems. So far, so good.

Magnolia

I so understand how you feel about going back to the dr you like. I am in the same situation. I had the mesh put in by a dr who I love, but he is 5 hours (one way) from my home, so I thought I would look around for someone "local" to do the mesh removal, but this part of me feels like I need to go back to Dr #1 just so he can see what has happened as a result of this mesh. I have an apt next week on Friday just to go and let him have a look see--Oh I also got the "maybe we can snip it in the office" speach and I have absolutely no intentions of letting this happen!!! It may very well turn out to be a wasted trip, but it is something I feel I should do.

I also have the bloody discharge anytime we attempt relations and the times when we do actually bite the bullet and do it anyway we are both so uncomfortable I wonder what the heck we were thinking to even attempt it! I guess we got to the point where we want that intimacy back and some part of me hopes it will be "ok" just this one time.... I can't wait to get this problem taken care of!!!!

I hope your apt goes well. Please let me know how you came out and what the dr said.

Hugs
Becky

I'm still coming off of a melt down after this last consult. It was the day before Thanksgiving, and for some reason this exam just pushed me right over the edge!!

The Doc was kind, compassionate, and of course curious. He did his exam, offered his opinion, and said go to the urogynecologist. I know him, trust him....and he should do this removal. He did concur that only partial removal would be best at this time.

What DID throw me over the edge though was he said there (in his opinion) an inflammation/infection process going on in there. He wanted to put me on cleocin vaginal cream (an antibiotic cream)....and explained his concern about bacteria crawling around the mesh before surgery.

Well, after Thursday, and after I had time to think about this.....I just FREAKED out. I was so scared I was just bawling. I called the surgeon slated to do the removal and explained to him, while I was bawling my eyes out....how terrified I am.

Probably not a good thing to do, but you know what? I'm human, and I was scared. I really don't CARE what he thinks of me, I needed to know his rationale as to why he did not put me on an antibiotic of some sort.

I tried to explain to him I had actually been on an anti-b at the time of his exam. Maybe that's why he did not see an infectious process going on. He said no no no.....I PROMISE you, once we get in there and excise the mesh and tissue....it will ALL clear up. I am assuming he'll make a decision at the time as to whether or not I need an anti b?

I have to say, I had quite a bit to drink on Thanksgiving Day ......so between the being worried sick about infection and a pretty good hangover I was NOT myself!!

I'm still worried, I mean how can he say there's no infection present when the Doc that saw me Wednesday said it clearly was?

Have I said lately how much I DESPISE Doctors these days!

Magnolia--

Oh dear. Please do NOT freak out. Most of us who have had mesh erosion have had a discharge because of it. Seriously, I think it's one of the major signs. For me, it's how I knew after my partial removals that I was having erosion again. Once that nasty discharge started happening again with that certain 'thick' yucky quality to it, I knew mesh was once again exposed. Also, like your last Dr. said, mine cleared up once all the mesh was gone and has NOT returned again since all the mesh was removed and I was given an old-fashioned anterior colporrhaphy in that area instead. Removing the exposed mesh removes the reason for any infection--mine always looked more like a yeast infection--and it's been clear ever since (the total removal was done in February).

I don't think it would hurt to be on an antibiotic--I had them during and right after surgery--but I was never on one before surgery either and I don't think it hurt me either way.

Sending you extra S and good vibes. You will get through this and it will be only a memory some day........