I was 44 years old and having incontinence problems after two large babies, hysterectomy, sterilised, ectopic pregnancy and ovarian cyst removal.

I was told it would benefit me to have a sling fitted, no mention of what it was made of, or any side effects, no leaflet.

I had the TVT mesh sling in 2003 but soon after infection after infection and incontinence came back, pain in back and legs, so got referred back in 2008 and was told I needed a repair – but the repair was a TVTO – which is another type of mesh sling added on top of the existing mesh sling causing problems – and I didn’t know that until I got my notes from the first hospital!

My consultant was shocked as well, having both procedures.

After that, I was getting more infections, fatigue, pain in groin, not being able to walk , depression, incontinence got worse, years of back and forth to doctor’s ,but just put on antibiotics and pain killers, then physio, try this try that, just passed from pillar to post for years.

Then my GP finally sent me for a camera in the bladder, and that is where it could be seen that the mesh sling / tape had eroded and sliced into my bladder causing a tumour to form.

But still then after I had the tape from inside the bladder removed, nothing was mentioned of what really had happened. I was in complete agony. But was told I’d be fine now the tape was taken out of the bladder and repaired.

It was then I found Sling the Mesh and got a lot of information and help from loads of women in the same boat

I went back to the GP and found that she had heard of the mesh scandal and referred me to Sheffield Mesh Centre. I was in for 6 days and had 2 catheters in for 19 days.

I’ve had total removal of TVT mesh which took 6 hours as it was embedded in my bladder wall, a tricky and long procedure. Also partial removal of TVTO. I still have the anchors which are causing me horrendous pain in my back, abdomen, bottom and numbness in legs I have fibromyalgia and am on lots of pain killers.

Next step is to have an autologous sling using my own muscle from tummy, but I can’t have that till I have my stoma fitted.

They say it’s not caused by mesh but it’s a coincidence it’s all started around the same time.

I have no sex life. I’m fully incontinent. I wear nappies 24/7. What a state to be in. I’m finding it hard to cope with, I wish I’d never heard of the damn stuff, it’s totally ruined my life, don’t know how much more I can take.

Karen lives in England.