Chamber and committees

Agnes Thomson submission of 25 June 2021

PE1865/O - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

I am writing to urge you to suspend all surgical mesh devices.

I was fitted with a mesh TVTO October 2012, aged 51, I suffered with stress incontinence.

A few months after op I was unable to have intercourse as it was too painful. As was any internal examinations including cancer smears.

A few years later my stress incontinence returned too. Different devices were trialled but with no real improvement. I was eventually fitted with an Est-ring which, on occasion, I had to adjust. In December 2020, when performing an adjustment I noticed a change in my internal tissue. I went to my GP who referred me to Urogynae. I saw the Urogynae nurse in January who informed me that the tape was through my vaginal skin. I saw the Urogynae consultant, who inserted mesh, in May. During this examination he informed me that the mesh was starting to migrate on other side of vagina. I pointed out what I thought was a cyst at top of leg that had changed from a small pea to a jelly bean. It turned out that this was a stitch holding tape in place and it had changed as tape was starting to come through skin.

I now have a prolapse too.

ALL THIS IN 5 MONTHS.

I try to walk as advised by cardiologist but the pain I feel in legs, buttocks, abdomen and lower back means I need to take painkillers to manage this previously taken for granted action. Some days a walk is all I manage.

I was never informed of side effects, or even if it failed nobody knew how to remove it. I’m sure I can say a lot more but feel that nobody should ever have to experience even a fraction of what I have when it can be avoided. I implore you to cease using mesh permanently.