Bard Avaulta Lawsuit Filed Over Pelvic Organ Prolapse Mesh

• ChristineAugust 24, 2012 at 5:22 am

  On July 20th 2012 in Kern County Superior Court, C.R. Bard was held accountable! A jury of my peers rendered the verdict that C.R. Bard was negligent in regards to the Avaulta Plus mesh sling products it manufactured and distributed to women world wide. I feel vindicated in a small way. With this said, I still have no true fix to my complications. I know attorneys from across the country attended [Show More]On July 20th 2012 in Kern County Superior Court, C.R. Bard was held accountable! A jury of my peers rendered the verdict that C.R. Bard was negligent in regards to the Avaulta Plus mesh sling products it manufactured and distributed to women world wide. I feel vindicated in a small way. With this said, I still have no true fix to my complications. I know attorneys from across the country attended at various times and I assume even more monitored the cases progress from a distance. I pray this helps others who are willing to hold the manufactures of these devices accountable by laying the blue print on how to stand up to these corporate machines. I know my complications will never be fixed. Even their experts (and there was an army of them) could not offer a way to undue the damage. My push now is for there to be a federally mandated written informed consent from the manufacture to the doctor and patient fully advising their products issues. Had I had this provided, I would have never used their product, but that would have obviously hurt their sales of this product. Several times during this legal Odyssey, this notion of an informed consent rose and several times I heard Bard’s attorney’s burst out, “we have no obligation to the patient”. I do believe the patient has a right to know all the details of the product being implanted in their body and the manufacture does have an obligation to ensure the patient is properly informed. If I had known this product had never been tested (even in animals) in its complete mechanical state, it would have never been allowed to touch me. I wish every one of you who is/has traveled this road the best. Know there is justice out there for you. It may be a battle, but it is there. My husband and I both left a lot of tears in that courtroom, but it was well worth it. Now I begin the next chapter, my pain is still there, my fecal incontinence will never get better and we always wait for the next complication to arise. We survive though and go on with our lives….this has become our new normal. Christine Please visit my website : www.meshgonewrong.com

• ChristinaMarch 26, 2012 at 4:51 am

  I wish I had read this before my surgery this past Jan,. My doctor DID NOT GO OVER ANY OF THIS WITH ME....He didnt inform me on much of was being done. Sadly I had this done and am already having severe issues with this. I am not getting answers and run around...I'm sore...bleeding on and off....sadly I had to ask my OB if my cervix was removed because like I said the OB was to busy to talk it ov[Show More]I wish I had read this before my surgery this past Jan,. My doctor DID NOT GO OVER ANY OF THIS WITH ME....He didnt inform me on much of was being done. Sadly I had this done and am already having severe issues with this. I am not getting answers and run around...I'm sore...bleeding on and off....sadly I had to ask my OB if my cervix was removed because like I said the OB was to busy to talk it over in depth and having limited providers due to insurance restrictions, I was pretty much limited to him. He was a good doctor back in the day but some of his partners have left and he is the only one that can do the surgeries leaving him overworked and sadly careless. He looks beat and I had to reschedule with him 4 times because he had to deliver or emergency surgeries. When I finally did get in, I was eager to get the hysterectomy done with very little understanding about the mesh or anything. I got a standard flyer on the Da Vinci...thats all I got. Im have had ongoing infections since the surgery and I cant get back to see him again until the 10thof April, thats if he doesnt have to reschedule me for thee or more months like he did prior. Additionally I also had complications during my surgery and I almost had to have a blood transfusion. I had a fever for two weeks following the surgery and was put on 3 different antibiotics. At my follow up all he did was look at my scars on my stomach and had me sit up to feel for a hernia....he did not even look at my stitches on my vagina, in fact I got to keep my bottoms on which I found very odd! Iv had babies and they always look there at a follow up even when there is no stitches....Im sad as can be as I am in college which is a private school and closer to being done with a BA in social work, this surgery has already set me back 2 classes as I was too ill post surgery to continue all my full time classes. I am scared to take classes next semester until I know if this is going to be better. The other OB at the office said pretty much that I am not healing quite right and I had infection and prescribed antibiotics to me, However SHE WOULD NOT COMMENT OR DETAIL ON ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE WRONG! SO I SIT HERE SCARED TO TEARS TILL THE 10th and I read this now after I fear its too late! I will re post this and make this as aware to every woman as I can. THANKS FOR POSTING SO I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE IN ALL THIS!!! NOT THAT IT MAKES IT PHYSICALLY FEEL BETTER< BUT MENTALLY WE KNOW WE ARE NOT CRAZY! THANKS A MILLION LOIS AND EVERYONE ELSE THAT SHARED THEIR STORY! PRAYERS TO U ALL!

• anneFebruary 2, 2012 at 1:02 pm

  I had the surgery in 2009 and I regret everyday ever having it done. After many years of having other non permanent devices used without success, my doctor suggested that I have the mesh surgery. He never explained the side affects of this procedure. He just told me there has been great succes with the product and not to worry he was going to take care of me. I trusted him. After all I had been hi[Show More]I had the surgery in 2009 and I regret everyday ever having it done. After many years of having other non permanent devices used without success, my doctor suggested that I have the mesh surgery. He never explained the side affects of this procedure. He just told me there has been great succes with the product and not to worry he was going to take care of me. I trusted him. After all I had been his patient since I was 17 years old and am now 44. About 1 year after i had the surgery I began having horrible problems. I now have constant severe pellvic pain, periods that last 3 weeks at a time, back pain, leg pain, problems having bowel movements and I can no longer have intercourse due to the pain the inability to urinate for 2 to 3 days after having intercourse. When I finally can urinate it is so painful I just want to die..I can no longer hold my urine on a normal day. I have pain while walking, if I get up out of a chair the wrong way the pain drops me to my knees, I can no longer exercise. This has also affected my husband during intercourse. He now expierances pain during intercourse. He says it feels like the head of his penis is ripped off and he can feel his penis hitting something. As a result of this I can no longer do my job that I have been doing for 23 years.I am restricted at every aspect of my life. When I wake up the question is not what am I going to do today, it is how much pain am I going to be in today. The part that really enrages me the most. My doctor who I have seen for all these years now all of a sudden can no longer see me saying it is because I no longer have health insurance. Hummm doc you never had any issue seeing me in the past when I had no health insurance. My cash was good then. This is wrong on so many levels, The rest of my life is now altered because of this surgery.

• SallyJanuary 7, 2012 at 11:50 pm

  Having Bad effects from the sling also......

• RobertOctober 11, 2011 at 4:13 am

  Well I Lois I blame the doctors as much as the companies that make this product. I was with my mom the whole time and they never warned her of the possible side effects. Any doctor that is putting this stuff in women are just as rotten as the companies. They know darn well what this stuff is doing to women and they continue putting it in. Thanks to my mom's doctor she committed suicide last Sunday[Show More]Well I Lois I blame the doctors as much as the companies that make this product. I was with my mom the whole time and they never warned her of the possible side effects. Any doctor that is putting this stuff in women are just as rotten as the companies. They know darn well what this stuff is doing to women and they continue putting it in. Thanks to my mom's doctor she committed suicide last Sunday due to the severe pain that she could not control. I would watch her for hours beg for relief and couldn't get any. Now she is gone and I want to see that doctor suffer in some for what he has done. And if you are working with a doctor that is putting this stuff in people you are just as rotten. I now have an attorney but I am not sure what a reasonable settlement would be for what has taken place. I have tried to find some settlement amounts on the web but can't find any. If anyone has heard of any amount would you please let me know. I want to be sure that the doctor is listed in the suit along with the company. He didn't mind taking my mom's money for the operation.and I don't mind filing a malpratice suit on him.

• KelliJune 30, 2011 at 12:40 am

  I had my rectocele and cystocele (TVT Sling) in Nov 2008 and it is now June 2011 and 4 surgeries later I am still bleeding non stop vaginally and occasionally rectally requiring yet another surgery that I am in no hurry to have done as the outcome isn't any better than where I currently am. I had no choice as my condition was not a inconvenience my bladder was literally hanging out of my vagina,[Show More]I had my rectocele and cystocele (TVT Sling) in Nov 2008 and it is now June 2011 and 4 surgeries later I am still bleeding non stop vaginally and occasionally rectally requiring yet another surgery that I am in no hurry to have done as the outcome isn't any better than where I currently am. I had no choice as my condition was not a inconvenience my bladder was literally hanging out of my vagina, it was the worse case my doctor had ever seen and he actually lost sleep over doing the surgery as I also have other health issues that could have made the surgery more complicated. However had I not had those other health issues and he let me go as a outpatient I would have died instead of having my life ruined... tit for tat at this point. I am alive but have very poor quality of life. In 2008 the mesh that was used was Avaulta and in 2009 the mesh was Prolene the 2010 surgery was to trim the edges of the 2008 - 2009 mesh and it was unsuccessful as I am still bleeding. Constant bleeding since Nov 2008 requiring a Poise extra heavy duty overnight pad daily for both blood and urine leakage. Less than 24 hours after the original surgery in 2008 I hemorrhaged and was rushed into surgery with my life hanging by a thread due to severe bleeding out and no blood pressure could be read. I woke up to find medical staff all around my bed looking at the clock with my doctor holding my wrist and I thought I was dead then a nurse said her eyes are open and they all started moving as fast as a drama movie in crisis. The doctor let go of my wrist and ran to the ER and 2 nurses jumped into my bed while 3 were literally running my bed down the hall and I remember beginning to pray then it was lights out I can't remember much till later that night. I told them earlier I felt like I was bleeding heavy and was told it was my imagination by a nurse and I was in too much pain to position myself to look. I was in the hospital for a week on extremely high doses of pain medications. In my case my symptoms were immediately after surgery. I was in terrible pain and bleeding like a very heavy menstrual cycle and I had a hysterectomy 10 years prior to the 2008 surgery mentioned here. The surgery was Friday before Thanksgiving and my doctor cancelled his family vacation for the holiday because he didn't want to leave me to any of his partners on call. I was told I should always see him only for any GYN issues as he literally knows me inside and out. After 4 surgeries I suppose he is correct. After the last 3 surgeries he left me open on the table for at least 30 minutes after the surgery was complete to try to get the bleeding to stop and it never did stop but it did slow down enough to close me up. I have not been able to have sex since the original surgery in 2008 (and not much prior to surgery once my bladder was hanging out my vagina) with the exception of one time after my last surgery in Oct 2010 and it looked like a crime scene due to all the blood everywhere at which time my husband said no way never again and we haven't. This is not good for any relationship and the strain is very damaging because there is no intimacy what so ever... tell a Scorpio no sex... it will typically piss us off... my sense of humor... yes I still have one because I am working with less pluses on my side... besides laughing it off is better than sitting around and crying or complaining about it. The pain during sex was damn near unbearable and the daily movements of life in general is very painful as well. I have had infections, called unexplained, where I took antibiotics that never fixed the issue. Cramps and the feeling of my insides falling out while standing that sure cuts back on my quality of life... oh wait I haven't had a life since the surgery. I am only 48 and feel like I am 78 due to all my limitations even the simple ones like walking as walking and lifting even light objects cause bleeding. I can and do go a few days without bleeding if I only sit on the couch and do nothing but hey if I want to drink some milk the bleeding starts from lifting the carton. I live in constant pain since Nov 2008. The bleeding is due to the mesh rubbing (Cutting) into my organs however I have no clue which organs are being disturbed and neither does the doctor but he can feel the sharp edges. The doctor has never been able to do a full pelvic originally because my insides were falling out and subsequently because of the extreme amounts of pain that he does not want to put me through. A finger pelvic lands me taking dilaudid for a few days till the pain subsides. I thought I would look into this procedure a little more as surgery just isn't cutting the mustard and I have read horror stories dating back to 2007 and wondering why this mesh is still in usage as well as the procedure. Until reading all this today I have thought it was just me, that I was a freak of nature and suffered in silence all these years and let everyone walk on me because I have felt good for nothing and being told this NEVER happens to anyone by the doctors. The AMA or whoever patrols this type of thing should have shut this operation and material out completely and saved many women feeling like a burden and literally going by the old joke "I love you for your mind" because sex is out of the question type of relationship. How many men will give up sex forever because his wife can not perform simple primal acts as sex?

• ConnieJune 1, 2011 at 12:03 am

  I had my surgery March 09, i noticed some unusual symptoms about a year after and newer symptoms within this year. My question is, How long after the surgery did you women noticed symptoms? And do they they get worse as times goes by? I want this mesh out but I'm so afraid.

• BeckyMay 29, 2011 at 5:48 am

  I had the surgery in 2005 and my life has been totaqlly ruined. the mesh fell out into my vagina. I went to a another Dr. and had to be put to sleep and have it taken out. they could not get it all. I have terrible pain I have not had relations with my husband for many years. It has almost ruined my marriage. I have also seen another Dr. because I have no control over my bladder. He then in[Show More]I had the surgery in 2005 and my life has been totaqlly ruined. the mesh fell out into my vagina. I went to a another Dr. and had to be put to sleep and have it taken out. they could not get it all. I have terrible pain I have not had relations with my husband for many years. It has almost ruined my marriage. I have also seen another Dr. because I have no control over my bladder. He then inserted some kind of gel. Now I am worse because when I have to have a bowel movement, I wet my pants before I can get t a toilet. I never feel like I have emptied my bladder. I have been diagnosed with seveer scarring and was told not to hae sex. I have been through hell. Sex is now out of the question totally.

• MaggieMay 14, 2011 at 1:44 am

  I had a mesh device implanted in 2008 in which I had an overnight stay in the hospital. I was released and the next day readmitted for ischemic colitis in which I spent 6 days in the hospital. Two weeks later, I still experienced abdominal pain, pelvic pain and mixed incontinence vs stress incontinence. At my 4 week check up, It was discovered that the mesh eroded through my vaginal wall. The[Show More]I had a mesh device implanted in 2008 in which I had an overnight stay in the hospital. I was released and the next day readmitted for ischemic colitis in which I spent 6 days in the hospital. Two weeks later, I still experienced abdominal pain, pelvic pain and mixed incontinence vs stress incontinence. At my 4 week check up, It was discovered that the mesh eroded through my vaginal wall. The original surgeon referred me to a uro-gynocologist who ran many unnecessary test to see how my bladder was performing and finally she agreed that the mesh had eroded through my vaginal wall and she wanted to perform surgery to remove the exposed mesh. During this time, i started having abdominal, pelvic and many other problems. Surgery was performed and two years later after all kinds of cat scans, ultrasounds, and doctors visits, I still was having symtoms and in addition one urinary track infection after another, the mesh has eroded again and another surgery has taken place. I am three weeks post op from my 3rd surgery and my bladder infection is gone. We will see how things look when I return for my follow up. I know the surgery was fully my choice, however I was not told of these risk and my doctor stated that what happened to me was a freak thing and after much research, I have found out that 8 out 10 women who have this surgery, experience problems. For the past few years, I thought I was crazy and all these symtoms were in my head because none of the test showed any results. These devices are hurting women and their families physically and emotionally. All I can say is if I had known it was going to turn out this way, I would have sought alternative treatment with maybe some better results.

• TinishaMarch 17, 2011 at 10:32 am

  I had the surgery done July of 2009 and i had the night mare from hell every since. i had pain like 2 months after and from then on have not been the same.Everything as fell and the mesh is places that it shouldn't even be in. I now suffer horrible pain can't stand for a long peorid of time urinating blood, blood in my stoolsamnd in the water, now my urethra has fallin,and i didn't have that promb[Show More]I had the surgery done July of 2009 and i had the night mare from hell every since. i had pain like 2 months after and from then on have not been the same.Everything as fell and the mesh is places that it shouldn't even be in. I now suffer horrible pain can't stand for a long peorid of time urinating blood, blood in my stoolsamnd in the water, now my urethra has fallin,and i didn't have that promble before.So i have been to the doctors to tell me that if fell and he handed me off to another doctor that is better then him. To find out that he can fix it cause it is really bad,then to be past to to a board ciritifiried reconstruction specialist to see if they can help me but he can't tell me he can even fix it that is how bad it is. i have been in pain where now i have ibm and yeast infections, uti's ect. And now my cervix is coming out and when i open my legs u can see the organs out and now i have been trying to see the specialist and i have to wait 3 months to get an appointment to see him and that's not even to get the surgery, and that is even if he can do it. so that will make the 3rd doctor when i see him cause the 2nd one can't even fix it and he said the1st doctor really messed me up he don't even know what he did? But all he know is that i have to get it fix cuz it is coming out like really ur telling me something that i don't already know!! the 1st doctor didn't really even want to have nothing to do with me except tell me the doctor that he is reffering me to is the "GURU" of this problem and he will fix me like new and when i told the 2 doctor what the 1st one said the 2nd dr said he don't even know who he is he has never seen or worked with him and they r in the same office i was like "WOW". thanks i have organs out and urinating blood pooping blood and uretha has fell as well as my cervix coming out bowels not right bladder the same and mesh balled up in one place and stuck under the in places it has no bussiness being infections and now i have to sit here and wait with the pain, when will i get help?

• lorettaFebruary 21, 2011 at 2:51 pm

  To finish my comments: The next day, the nurse called back & said,The doctor said,You(me) have a urinary tract infection.And that was the last time I have spoken to them(or seen them)I have pain every day,can't be on my feet very long at a time,lots of pain in my left pelvic area &groin.I'm still using a donut cushion to sit on.Just because someone has a title behind their name does not ma[Show More]To finish my comments: The next day, the nurse called back & said,The doctor said,You(me) have a urinary tract infection.And that was the last time I have spoken to them(or seen them)I have pain every day,can't be on my feet very long at a time,lots of pain in my left pelvic area &groin.I'm still using a donut cushion to sit on.Just because someone has a title behind their name does not make them a good doctor!

• lorettaFebruary 21, 2011 at 2:41 pm

  The pain was almost unbearable & when I stood up, bloodwas pouring down my legs.He asked if I needed a pad & walked out of the room.I haven't seen him since.I called to get my 6 weeks appointment & his nurse told me that if I came,I would have to pay out of pocket(remember-I am not working)They said,"Social Services only pays for 2 post op visits & I had already used mine.I told th[Show More]The pain was almost unbearable & when I stood up, bloodwas pouring down my legs.He asked if I needed a pad & walked out of the room.I haven't seen him since.I called to get my 6 weeks appointment & his nurse told me that if I came,I would have to pay out of pocket(remember-I am not working)They said,"Social Services only pays for 2 post op visits & I had already used mine.I told the nurse over the phone that I was leaking & had to wear pads all the time now.She said she would tell the doctor & call me back.

• lorettaFebruary 21, 2011 at 2:29 pm

  I needed to have the prolapse surgery & found a doctor here in naples,fl where I live.(who happens to be the president of the medical society)I don't have insurance & wasn't working because of the pain.i had the surgery through social services(Thank God they helped)But,the doctor was very rough.Three weeks after my sugery,I went for a checkup.He said that I had places scarring down inside [Show More]I needed to have the prolapse surgery & found a doctor here in naples,fl where I live.(who happens to be the president of the medical society)I don't have insurance & wasn't working because of the pain.i had the surgery through social services(Thank God they helped)But,the doctor was very rough.Three weeks after my sugery,I went for a checkup.He said that I had places scarring down inside &.He inserted a dry speculum & I asked him to please use lubricant(I was still very sore & swollen,but had stopped bleeding)Yes! he pulled all three places loose with his fingers!

• reneeFebruary 13, 2011 at 3:45 pm

  i had the surgical procedure in july of 09 and the mesh eroded threw my vaginal wall 3 weeks later. i then had to under go another surgery by a different physcian to repair it.... i still have abdominal pain constantly and i dont feel my quality of life is very good at this point.. it is very depressing ,, i used to be a walker and now i cant even do that because the second surgery they we[Show More]i had the surgical procedure in july of 09 and the mesh eroded threw my vaginal wall 3 weeks later. i then had to under go another surgery by a different physcian to repair it.... i still have abdominal pain constantly and i dont feel my quality of life is very good at this point.. it is very depressing ,, i used to be a walker and now i cant even do that because the second surgery they were not able to get all of the old mesh out with out cutting me hip to hip.... im torn between the two because i work for the doctor that did the second surgery who is typically my savor.and i dont want to drag him into anything.....

• MaryJanuary 28, 2011 at 8:09 pm

  In June, 2008,I had the surgery discussed above. After the first year, I was well aware that the mesh did not hold, but my situation is still better than prior to surgery. I went back to my doctor and after an examination, he agreed that the mesh did not hold. He suggested that I have the surgery done again to repair the situation. I have not yet had this second surgery because of simple fear [Show More]In June, 2008,I had the surgery discussed above. After the first year, I was well aware that the mesh did not hold, but my situation is still better than prior to surgery. I went back to my doctor and after an examination, he agreed that the mesh did not hold. He suggested that I have the surgery done again to repair the situation. I have not yet had this second surgery because of simple fear after the previous surgery. In my case, I don't think the surgery was elective. as my insides were falling outside, but I believed it was safe when it was suggested as a means to stop the problem. I have since made calls to my doctors office and they did not seem to feel that the additional surgery was an immediate need, but did not tell me I was in any danger.

• BridgetAugust 5, 2010 at 4:13 am

  Lois, I am so sorry you are suffering. I am a retired nurse contemplating undergoing the same type of surgery. Thank you for speaking out. I may just learn to live with this pelvic organ prolapse. From what I have read complication rates run from 10% to 34%. Too high for my taste. Maybe Sandy would like to roll the dice?

• LoisJuly 29, 2010 at 12:33 am

  I forgot to say this isnt about the Drs. procedures this is about the mesh companies, and it not being aproved properly. There are people dieing from this mesh because their bodies are rejecting it, Its eroding in them.Pelvic organs are being damaged also.This has become a world wide problem alot of women have been suffering in silence, family Drs. not being aware what it was capable of doing, inc[Show More]I forgot to say this isnt about the Drs. procedures this is about the mesh companies, and it not being aproved properly. There are people dieing from this mesh because their bodies are rejecting it, Its eroding in them.Pelvic organs are being damaged also.This has become a world wide problem alot of women have been suffering in silence, family Drs. not being aware what it was capable of doing, including mine. Tests after tests and then finding its the mesh. Now having to find a Surgeon that is willing to take it out. There is a site on here called truthinmedicine, it explains more of what people are having to deal with. We are human to and somebody approved this mesh not knowing all the serious complications, and we are the result of it.

• LoisJuly 28, 2010 at 9:59 pm

  Im not blaming the surgeons, although I only seen her briefly before the operatioon as she had assistants talk to me and yes I did trust her. Its when I went back to her and told her how sore I was, stomach, back hips,groins, nauseated and she told me I should be doing Kegal excercises and go to pelvic physiotherapy. IShe also laughed and threw up her arms and walked out of the room, leaving me [Show More]Im not blaming the surgeons, although I only seen her briefly before the operatioon as she had assistants talk to me and yes I did trust her. Its when I went back to her and told her how sore I was, stomach, back hips,groins, nauseated and she told me I should be doing Kegal excercises and go to pelvic physiotherapy. IShe also laughed and threw up her arms and walked out of the room, leaving me sitting there crying. 5 months later I couldnt walk with excretiating pain in my left buttock. MY L4 and L5 are pulled out of alignment now and Im waiting for surgery. I asked alot of questions, I also am a nursing attendant. I only seen her briefly, as she had assistants, check me.That was in Nov. of 2007. This is just my story, and I hurt everyday bcause of it. Theres alot more to this I just, kind of summed it up., as I didnt want to go on and on. I guess some of us shouldnt jump to conclusions until we know the whole story. I understand you are protecting your profession. I have to live with this the rest of my life, want to trade places?

• SandyJuly 16, 2010 at 11:50 pm

  Lois- I'm a nurse in the operating room, and it concerned me when I saw that you wrote "One feels so helpless and there hands are tied, these so called professionals take an oath and we trust them with their knowledge to cut open our bodies and do whats best for us. Its all so unfair and then you get oops, you have to live with it. Where is the justice nowadays". Your original surgery was electi[Show More]Lois- I'm a nurse in the operating room, and it concerned me when I saw that you wrote "One feels so helpless and there hands are tied, these so called professionals take an oath and we trust them with their knowledge to cut open our bodies and do whats best for us. Its all so unfair and then you get oops, you have to live with it. Where is the justice nowadays". Your original surgery was elective, meaning, your prolapse was a major inconvenience to your life and you went to your doctor to ask for help in correcting this problem. However, surgery was an option for you--not a necessary surgery to live. He/she gave you the option of surgery, to which you agreed, and as part of the consent process, he/she would have reviewed all of the RISKS and BENEFITs of having the surgery. No procedure is 100% safe and no procedure is 100% error-proof. The "professionals" that work in the operating room (and in any healthcare setting) are humans that make mistakes. We took an oath to do our best for our patients--we did not take an oath that we would be perfect robots performaning without ever making a mistake. Having been involved in a medical mistake myself, I can assure you that there are 2 victims to all medical errors--the patient and the person that made the mistake. You cannot imagine the guilt that one feels after learning that your mistake has caused pain or anguish (mentally or physically) to your patient that trusted you. We do not take these situations lightly. Complications can arrise after an operation. I'm sure your surgeon did not wake up the morning of your surgery and think, "Gee--I wonder how I can be careless during Lois's surgery and cause her to need more medical treatments than necessary". I would hope that your anger stems from the fact that perhaps your surgeon did not simply apologize for the complications after your surgery. Perhaps he/she blamed it on someone else. You have the power to empower--be an active participant in your healthcare. Ask questions--Verify that your caretakers are telling you what they are giving to you (medications, for what reason), procedures, etc. Have a voice--be a part of the solution. Don't just blame medical professionals. We're human, too.

• LoisJuly 15, 2010 at 7:18 pm

  May 25/2005 had an abdominal sacral colpoxy, a retroupubic urethropexy with a paraviginal repair, cystoscopy and a posterior vaginal repair.(5Hr. surgery at Foothills hospital Calgary Alberta,Canada) using a mesh. June 30/2005 had an emergency operation, lower bowel slipped out of the mesh Aug. 30/2005 was admitted to hospital , vomiting and couldnt urinate -my lifes since then has been pure hell [Show More]May 25/2005 had an abdominal sacral colpoxy, a retroupubic urethropexy with a paraviginal repair, cystoscopy and a posterior vaginal repair.(5Hr. surgery at Foothills hospital Calgary Alberta,Canada) using a mesh. June 30/2005 had an emergency operation, lower bowel slipped out of the mesh Aug. 30/2005 was admitted to hospital , vomiting and couldnt urinate -my lifes since then has been pure hell -Ive had everytest you can think of and I feel like my insides are just rotting out -I have been on disability since Oct.,2007, my stress was getting to me and now Im in the process of going on permanent disability -One feels so helpless and there hands are tied, these so called professionals take an oath and we trust them with their knowledge to cut open our bodies and do whats best for us. Its all so unfair and then you get oops, you have to live with it. Where is the justice nowadays.Thank heavens for sites like these where we can have our say and know you know what we are talking about.I pray that THIS MADDNESS IS STOPPED! We have to get the word out so everywoman knows and they dont have to suffer alone, like I have been for the last 5 yrs.