Tension Free vaginal tape for stress incontinence

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi I am a 39 year old female who has suffered from stress incontinence since giving birth 15 years ago.

I had a posterior prolapse repair 18 months ago and a vaginal hysterectomy (done at the same time) recovered from that and all is fine however still suffering with stress incontinence.

My surgeon has suggested tension free vaginal tape to support the bladder, just wonder if anyone has had this done and it has been successfull and what was the recovery like please.

Thank you xxx

0 likes, 4 replies

4 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi

    I would certainly urge you to read up about this procedure, there has been lots of discussions and shared experiences on this forum and others. Google Tvt mesh and you will find lots of information. I had this procedure myself and experienced problems with erosion. An alternative to the TVT is a Burch Colposuspension, I had this surgery following the removal of the tvt and this surgery has been completely successful.

    • Posted

      Hi, 

      I had a TVT and anterior repair in May and all has been ok until about 3 weeks ago when I had what I thought was a water infection. I was given antibiotics but then the results came back negative. I was then ok for about 10 days now for the last week have been bad again, Its like very bad cystitis, 2 samples sent off both back negative, no treatment given. Something wrong somewhere so seeing GP monday.

      what were the problems with your TVT if you don't mind me asking? I'm hoping mine is not connected.

      I asked my surgeon about the TVT being in the press and bad reports he said he would have no qualms in using it on his wife should she need it so I agreed and went ahead with it. 

    • Posted

      Hi Julie,

      I had a lot of pain from my TVT, right from day 1.  It was very uncomfortable and I felt like I had an intense itch inside my abdomen. I went back to the hospital that did the procedure, had a cystoscopy and they insisted there was nothing wrong,  I found it difficult to sit or stand for very long.  2 years later a routine work medical picked up blood in my urine so I was referred to a different hospital (I refused to go back to the original one),  A x-ray revealed the TVT had, in the Consultants words, "sliced through my bladder like a piece of cheese wire"!  It had been there for a long time as it was covered in stones and it had to be removed.  All the pain and discomfort I'd endured for all that time disappeared as soon as that tape was out! 

      I would ask your Doctor to refer you back to your surgeon (or choose a different hospital if you would rather not go back there) to discuss your concerns, it may not be infected, but any signs of discomfort should be investigated.

      I recently had to have a very large piece of mesh inserted into my abdomen to repair a hernia, I was very concerned about this for obvious reasons, but the mesh used for hernia's is different to that used for TVT's.  When discussing this with my Surgeon he actually said to me "I can't imagine why anyone would think it would be a good idea to place a thin piece of mesh around the urethra - it's asking for trouble". I couldn't agree more.

      Good luck, I hope all goes well. 

       

  • Posted

    Hi, Thanks for the info I will certainly bear this in mind if it flares up again, ok at the moment!!

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