About This Blog

POP (Pelvic Organ Prolapse) and SUI (Stress Urinary Incontinence) are very common issues, especially for women over 30 who have had children.  Likewise, women suffering from transvaginal mesh complications are also becoming more and more common since mesh is used in most POP repairs these days.  This is despite the fact that there are FDA warnings and alarming numbers of reported complications.

Mesh Me Not is not affiliated with any law-firms, and I am NOT a doctor , or a medical professional.  I can not, and do not offer medical advice. 

This is a PERSONAL blog, created to share my own experience with mesh complications, as well as the information and resources I have since discovered regarding surgical mesh, including mesh used for SUI (Stress Urinary Incontinence), POP (Pelvic Organ Prolapse), and hernia mesh, in an attempt to:

1. Help others suffering from mesh complications find the information, help and support they may need.
   My name is Deb.  I am just one of many women that is suffering from major complications, after what was expected to be minor surgery using TVM for SUI.   I am not an expert, and I do not have a medical background. This is a personal blog, about a very personal experience.  While it’s not always easy, I strongly believe it’s important to share and spread the word about mesh complications.  In addition, I’ll also share the research and resources that I’ve found.  You’ll find links to the FDA warnings, medical journals and more here.  I don’t expect anyone to just take my word on anything.  Mesh complications vary so much.  Everyone is different.   I am not even close to having all the answers.  If  you had a mesh implant and are now having medical issues, you will need to research your own situation to determine what your best options are.   But, I hope this blog can be a launching pad of sorts to helping you find that information.  When I first started researching my own issues I felt very discouraged, confused, alone.  Even desperate.  When I finally found others who understood what I was going thru it was invaluable!  (Check the lists of other blogs, websites, & groups listed to the right in the sidebar).   I was amazed at how many other women I met who’s lives had been devastated by mesh, and how so many of us were told, “you’re the only one”.  I seriously don’t know what I would have done if it were not for these other women reaching out to me to.  Now, I’d like to pay that forward in the hopes of helping others.
   Of course if you are having medical problems, you need to see a doctor.  If you are not happy with the way your doctor is treating you, please keep look for a better doctor! – but, you can not just ignore mesh complications.  Please get medical attention in addition. 
2. Serve as a resource to anyone who is suffering from POP or SUI, and may be considering having surgery using transvaginal mesh.
   If you are thinking of having some kind of repairs that will use surgical mesh, my personal advice would be to please, please, don’t use mesh! But, I know it’s not that simple, and I can respect that everyone has to make their own choices and decisions.   I am not here to judge or second guess your situation.  Instead, I applaud you for doing your homework!  I am thrilled that you are reading this, and what I’d really like to do is to provide you with some important facts so that you have the opportunity to make a well-informed decision.  That is something that I don’t feel like I did.  I made a quick decision, with little information.  I talk to women all the time who say the same thing – they trusted their doctors and they had NO clue about how serious and “not rare” complications could be.  There are some key things I think every doctor and every patient should know before deciding to use surgical mesh as part of repairs/treatment.  Some of these are things your doctor may now even know, and so he/she may not convey to you.  However, these are things you definitely will wish you had known upfront….  especially IF you do wind up having complications as I did (and thousands more like me).  There is a lot to take in and process.  It can be overwhelming – but, I made a list of the Top 10 Things I Wish I Had Known Before I Had Mesh,  and I hope you will read it.
3. Raise Awareness and Concern with the Hopes of CHANGE. 
   There are, fortunately, more and more websites, groups, and blogs popping up that address mesh complications for surgical mesh (TVM, TVT, TOT, Tape & Hernia mesh).  Many of these are listed on this blogs (check list to right).    I do not plan to recreate the wheel and post eeeeeeverything about mesh complications here that I have learned in this blog.  I will not be sharing every detail and step of my mesh complications (your welcome).  However I do like the idea of having a place to vent and share valuable information.  I hope others can do so as well – but please remember this is a public blog.

I figure, the more places there are online for someone to stumble across, the better chance someone in need has of finding help and information they may desperately need.  My hope it that the more voices that speak out against mesh with the hopes of change, the better chance we have of finally being heard.  For more information about myself, and regarding my personal experience with mesh,  please  see the “About Me” page.