Mounting Lawsuits Against Vaginal Mesh Manufacturers

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:35:55 +0100

By now everyone may have known all about the dangers associated with the use of vaginal meshes, especially those who are undergoing through a medical condition like pelvic organ prolapse or stress urinary incontinence. These dangers that come in the form of pains, infections, and vaginal bleeding form part of the reasons motivating distressed women into filing vaginal mesh lawsuits.

Now, another addition to this growing legal matter against vaginal meshes is a woman from New York who had filed a lawsuit against American Medical Systems, Inc because of the suffering she went through while using their IntePro Large Pore Polypropelene Y-Sling vaginal mesh device.

Read full story: New York Woman Files Lawsuit Against Vaginal Mesh Manufacturer American Medical Systems

Self-Catheterization for Incontinence

Fri, 11 May 2012 18:21:07 +0100

To steer themselves clear from the downsides of incontinence surgeries, women having trouble controlling urination are slowly becoming fans of conservative therapies, health experts say. This scenario is getting more and more common in health centers, and according to some doctors, the FDA’s multiple reports regarding vaginal mesh may have something to do with their patients’ sudden interest in long-term non-surgical approaches.

Nowadays, more patients are getting drawn to pessary fittings and urethral inserts. Some even put up with the hassles of having to do intermittent self-catheterizations at home. This may sound difficult for some, but with constant practice under the supervision of a medical professional, inserting a urinary catheter may easily be a part of one’s daily routine.

Incontinence problems related to bladder atony (such as those experienced by women following childbirth) or nerve damage (like in cases of pelvic procedures or spinal cord problems) are highly manageable with the practice of correct self-catheterization. In men, this task is relatively easy. However, women may have to work double time to locate the urethral orifice and effectively lodge the thin, flexible catheter into the bladder. Using a mirror to determine this site often helps.

Most patients complain of discomforts while inserting this tube-like device. A slight pressure is expected during the insertion, but if you experience pain while trying to slide the tube in, gently pull back a quarter of an inch and try to press it into the opening again. If it is obstructed or if you experience further pain, discontinue insertion and call your doctor right away for instructions. Deep breathing while inserting the tube may also help lessen discomforts.

Infections may come as a consequence especially if catheterization is done frequently. However, this may be prevented by always cleaning your reusable catheter. Some patients prefer disposable tubes to ensure they use a clean one each time they need to. This may be a bit expensive for some. To learn more about the right type of catheter to use, always ask the help of a medical expert. If you have to change to a new type of product, consult your doctor first before switching to a new one.

There are other incontinence products in the market that are easily accessible even without prescription, but it is always best to ask for a medical opinion first. When in doubt about your doctor’s findings and suggestions, you may always ask another professional’s advice or do further research before agreeing to a procedure or treatment. Some people have suffered great consequences by not asking questions about the treatments they have gotten themselves into. Take for example the surgical application of an artificial mesh that has opened up a chain of adverse events and thousands of transvaginal mesh lawsuit filings even until today.

References:

merckmanuals.com/professional/genitourinary_disorders/voiding_disorders/urinary_retention.html

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1372063/

suna.org/education/2013/article3101229.pdf

updates

Mounting Lawsuits Against Vaginal Mesh Manufacturers

Self-Catheterization for Incontinence