Vaginal Mesh Helpline, Seeing Increase In calls from Women With vaginal mesh Complications

March 16, 2012 - PRLog -- The Vaginal Mesh Helpline is seeing an alarming increase in women and family members calling for both medical and legal help. The reported complications range from mild to very severe and some even life threatening. "They are all very similiar" says Lisa Spitzer MSW who speaks to most of the callers personally "The mesh was usually implanted to help strengthen a weakened pelvic floor" Says Spitzer " In a women the pelvic floor consists of the bladder, bowel and Uterus, The vaginal wall is an intricate system of muscle and ligaments that can weaken from age, child birth or hysterectomy. Sometimes it is just poor genetics. Many women went in for a hysterectomy and came out with a mesh"" Doctors were lead to believe the mesh was the miracle answer"" very often the mesh was used for very mild SUI"" Women began having complications and infections when the mesh began to fail" The symptoms of a failed mesh which are reported to us include severe razor blade pain or pain that feels like child birth, pain on one side of the body, lower back pain, Spot bleeding, inability to have sexual intercourse, Increased incontinence or problems voiding, Bowel related symptoms or abdominal pain, difficulty sitting and infections." " It is important women understand they are not alone"" It is reported over 300,000 women have been implanted with mesh devices"We asked what is the mesh made of " The mesh is made of a synthetic propylene fiber, a stretchy synthetic material.""When it falls apart and erodes it is very painful" She continues " Women are angry at their Doctors"" many women are going back to the Doctors that put the Mesh in with no help"" They are being told it is all in their mind, just get used to it, We can try to trim it, It cannot be removed, we do not have your records any longer, try physical therapy, It is your fault for coughing, It is because you smoke and cough, get a colonoscopy, it is a tumor, and everything imaginable other then it could be the mesh failing. In October 2008 the FDA issued a warning regarding the vaginal mesh implants to Healthcare practitioners    

"This is to alert you to complications associated with transvaginal placement of surgical mesh to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse (POP) and Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). Although rare, these complications can have serious consequences. Following is information regarding the adverse events that have been reported to the FDA and recommendations to reduce the risks."
                                                                                                                                    Despite the warnings doctors continue to use  the mesh products. " Some of our female callers have very severe bladder, bowel or uterine prolaspe. They have rectoceles and cyctoceles  or  severe incontinence and medical conditions it was hoped the mesh would cure"." They are in a very difficult position right now with a failed mesh". " Some have more then one mesh", others have a mesh that was put in over an already failed mesh". " What concerns me the most are women having severe infections and bowel problems" Says Spitzer " if the mesh erodes thru the bowel  there is the potential for the women to  get sepsis  which can be life threatening". Sepsis is a severe illness in which the bloodstream is overwhelmed by bacteria.  With sepsis, blood pressure drops, resulting in shock. Major organs and body systems, including the kidneys, liver, lungs, and central nervous system are effected,
When asked if she has had reports of death she said " yes. We explain to women how serious this is and suggest contacting a local University Hospital, Department of Urogynecology or the American Urogynecological Association for a local referral.
"The biggest problem is that many of these women have lost their jobs because of the mesh and have no insurance"." There are no current funding sources to help them"
We asked her about the legal aspect " many women think this is a class action. It is actually a multi District litigation where the cases are consolidated under one Judge by a panel of judges who review the cases of one manufacturer"" Our huge increase in calls come from the massive lawyer advertising"" many women have been lead to believe it is all in their heads"'They see the T.V ads and say " Oh my G-d , That is me, or they get an unsolicited email blast""  Women do not realize these can be lead generating companies who are selling them to lawyers and not lawyers at all". We asked about the vaginal Mesh helpline lawyers. " Our lawyers must meet very strict criteria" She said, "they must have experience in mass torts. They must have a female who manages these cases and can speak to our callers with full knowledge of the legal and medical aspects of the mesh.They must be keep the case in house and not refer it out and they must be taking the cases on an individual basis, as an MDL and not a class action".  Lisa Spitzer who runs the Vaginal mesh Helpline is a Medical Social worker who has worked with doctors and lawyers for many years.
The Helpline has become a  leading nationwide resource and support for women with complications from the vaginal mesh, prolapse mesh, bladder sling and other Trans Vaginal mesh products. For more information visit the  Vaginalmeshhelpline.com

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The Vaginal Mesh Helpline assists women with vaginal mesh complications. They offer support, information, the latest news, resources and legal and medical help. Vaginalmeshhelpline.com 1 877 522-2123