Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Hayley A on May 10, 2015, 09:28:50 PM
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Hi Everyone
My Mum had TVT operation January 2014 whilst having front vaginal prolapse repair operation. However since then she has been in frequent/constant pain in that area, after returning to our GP numerous times we have been referred back to see the Gynae Surgeon who did the operation. We did visit a Private Hospital a couple of months ago and the Doctor there upon examination could feel the tape through the vaginal wall.
Has anyone had any bad side effects from a TVT operation? Our appointment to see the surgeon isn't until July so we're hoping that something can be done to help relieve this problem, particularly as far as we were aware the tape wouldn't be able to be removed once it was in.
Any advice/comments are appreciated!!
Hayley (and her Mum!)
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I don't understand what TVT is :-\ ………. nor how it relates to Menopause. Why didn't the Surgeon follow your Mum until she was symptom free :( …….. seems patients get returned to their GPs far too soon!
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TVT is a procedure to cure incontinence CLKD. You can read about it here http://www.liverpoolwomens.nhs.uk/Library/our_services/gynaecology/Urogynaecology/BSUG_Leaflet_TVT_-_Tension_Free_Vaginal_Tape.pdf
Hayley - I'm so sorry to read about your mum's problems and hope she gets some help soon. My gynae wont carry out an anterior (front wall) repair and a TVT a the same time as he believes the bladder and the vaginal wall are too swollen following the wall repair. This may be why your mum's tape is not completely covered. Please let us know how she gets on.
Taz x
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:thankyou: we are a Mine of Info. ::)
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Hi CLKD
Sorry I should have used the full title - TVT has been a part of our life for so long that I forget that not everyone knows. Mum came off of HRT in January 2013 when she was treated for Breast Cancer, she was then put on Tamoxifen which "mimics" Menopause symptoms (the fan is constantly on to deal with the hot flushes!), and during this time she developed the prolapse etc. I know its annoying that you only get one follow up appointment, plus she was running 2 hours late when we had the appointment last year so we were literally in and out! Still I need to be the positive one, we have another appointment!
Hi Taz
Thanks so much for the leaflet - was interesting to read what can be done if there are problems, will print it off for Mum to read.
Thanks again both of you!!!
Have a good week
Hayley :)
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Tamoxifen made me very very ill :'( so I stopped taking it.
Let us know how she gets on!
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I can feel my tape too- no erosion though :)
Very long story short - my TVT sling worked beautifully right from the start but took 7-8 months to be pain free. I had two lots of steroid injected vaginally to help along the way.
I'm so pleased I had it put in despite the bumpy post op journey.
Hope your mum feels better soon x
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Hi
Thanks for your reply, it's a relief for Mum to know that someone else has had problems post op (not that we're glad you were in this situation but you know what I mean!).
I don't know too much about steroid injections, we are in the Greater London area so I don't know if they are available on the NHS here - what are the purpose of them?
We're just trying to gather as much information before we go before to see the surgeon as Mum is worried that she will say that as it's been 18months nothing can be done and the tape has to stay there and she will have to live with the pain.
In terms of the tape working, she has no leakage (so it works in that respect) but she can only pass urine when her bladder is full.
Thanks again for your reply it's much appreciated.
Hayley x
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Hi Hayley - I have found this info from Oxford Radcliffe Hospital. Page 4 may be relevant? http://www.ouh.nhs.uk/patient-guide/leaflets/files%5C100624tvt.pdf
Taz x
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Hi Taz
Thanks so much for this link - its good to read in page 4 that in some cases the tape can be "loosened" - trying to gather as much information so that we are armed with knowledge when we go so that we don't get fobbed off as we need to get something done.
its a relief to read that things can be done as on the days when its painful, its really painful for her (and painkillers don't seem to really help).
Mum really appreciates reading the posts on here (even though she can't really use a laptop - we tried to experiment but gave up!) and its a comfort to know she's not alone!
Thanks again, hope your week is going well.
xx
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Glad that it may be of use Hayley. Does your mum have groin pain? I have found this http://www.ics.org/Abstracts/Publish/42/000069.pdf which mentions treatment but I'm not sure where your mum's pain is so it might not be relevant.
Taz x
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Hey Taz
Thanks for that extra bit of info, the pain is mainly located underneath the urethra area and also on the other side of the vaginal wall (like inside) (its really hard to explain - but its been in those two places, when we saw a doctor at the private hospital she could feel the tape through the wall and that was where the pain was).
The main fear we have is that the hospital will say that because the tape has been in for approx. 18months, it is unable to be removed/altered (as the secondary fear is - if the tape is removed would she then become completely incontinent) - sorry for the long/confusing reply!
Thanks again for the link - I told Mum today when I got home "I've got more information for us!".
x
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Hi Hayley A
Haven't been here for a while so only just caught up with the thread :)
My op was in 2013 - I was readmitted to hospital 12 weeks post op as I developed such intense pain vaginally and either side of the pubis that I couldn't sit down.
I had an MRI scan which showed the tape was beautifully placed so went to theatre for an examination under anaesthetic/cystoscopy. I can't fault my care, I had three Consultants in the theatre as my Consultant hadn't come across my post op problem before. I was injected along the path of the tape as steroid can help treat inflammation. I was better after the first injection and had another injection two months later which settled the pain completely. All done on the wonderful NHS.
My research showed the scarring around the tape peaks at 12 weeks which may have been the trigger for my pain.
Hoping your mum is feeling a bit better x
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Hey Salad
Thanks for your reply :)
Thanks for the information about the steroids - will add that to the list of questions. Mum's pain sounds kind of similar to yours its an intense pain in that area, she normally finds it more comfortable lying on a bed or sofa instead of a chair and we always take a cushion out with us.
Reading the posts has helped her, so she knows its not just her, as our GP was quite dismissive of it (hence why its taken so long to get back to the hospital appointment). Hopefully they can still do something even though it been over a year.
Thanks again - hope your week goes well.
Hayley x
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Hi Hayley
Hopefully her surgeon will be able to offer some solutions. Just a thought, has she had her urine tested for infection as this might also contribute to her discomfort.
I'm having a really good week thank you, as its half term :D
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Hi Salad
Lucky you - having a half term! Hope you had a good one!
She's had her urine checked quite regularly, whenever we've been to the Doctors she always gets its tested - its definitely something to keep an eye on as she doesn't want anything else to cause more hassle.
Hope you have a good week!
x