BALLARAT mother Fran Harris wants to describe the destruction a mesh implant, intended to fix her prolapse, has inflicted on her life from the inside-out.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Ms Harris wants to voice the heaviness and bleeding she has felt from the way the mesh has eroded multiple spots on her vaginal wall. The chronic pain and tiredness that followed. Inability to have sex.
There is also the mental anguish, including fears of oncoming crippling pain while at work and a relationship breakdown.
Ballarat is shaping up as a hot-spot for women with bad reactions to the controversial procedure.
Victorian-based health consumer advocate Health Issues Centre has had almost 1800 respondents nationwide to a survey on the impact of transvaginal mesh implants. Ten women have been from Ballarat.
Of those with implants, about half are citing negative effects and complications.
HIC’s research will be used as part of its submission to a Senate inquiry into what Senator Derryn Hinch described as "one of the greatest medical scandals and abuses of mothers in Australia's history".
There is no central record of implants performed in Australia, according to HIC, and few reports on adverse impacts.
Ms Harris did not really know a lot about the implants, or the risks, when advised to have surgery in 2011, aged in her mid to late 30s. She “just wanted it all fixed” and trusted the medical professionals.
After surgery, Ms Harris said something did not feel right.
Ms Harris has since undergone four revision surgeries to “trim” the implant, each adding scar tissue and pain. In one appointment with a specialist in Melbourne, Ms Harris was told she needed more surgery despite not having an examination.
Others, like a urologist, have told her she would just have to put up with the pain.
“I am only 43 now, I still have a lot of life to live,” Ms Harris said. “It’s hard to talk about because it’s something you can’t see and people don’t think you look unwell but I’m in constant pain.
“I’m sick of it. This has taken over my life.”
By telling her story publicly, Ms Harris hoped to prevent more women having the procedure, or at least to question it more.
“There is too much more to worry about when things go wrong,” Ms Harris said.
Ms Harris has found a surgeon in Sydney, now specially trained to remove different types of mesh. Her procedure will be more complicated, due to multiple revisions, but she hopes it will restore some of her life back.
HIC is calling on women to complete the survey via facebook.com/pg/UnderstandingPelvicMesh/about/ by Wednesday.