Hernia Mesh Patch Recall - FDA Warns of Death and Serious Healt...

[___Sandra______M S_____]

Mesh Patch Danger wrote:

<quoted text>
" A MESH PATCH WILL ENTRAP YOUR NERVES" CAUSING SEVERE PAIN AND INJURY - TO YOUR ENTIRE GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM -- URINARY TRACT, INTESTINES, CREATE KIDNEY STONES -- KIDNEY FAILURE, AND WORSE. GIVEN THE CHOICE -- LET THEM SEW YOU UP THE OLD FASHION PROVEN WAY -- THREAD AND A NEEDLE. AVOID COLON CLEANSING CHEMICALS -- SODIUM PHOSPHATE, POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL -- RESULT IN KIDNEY DISEASE -- BLOOD CLOTS THROUGHOUT YOUR CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM --

I took glycolax for many years, my doctor prescibed it for me. This may be the same thing you are speaking about. When I took this I had kidney disease and was already on dialysis at that time.
It is the same thing as Miralax I think, not for sure. Medicare stopped covering it for me when Miralax came out over the counter.
I still take Miralax. Does anyone know for sure if this causes kidney disease? If so, I've got to stop taking it because it may cause my new transplanted kidney to fail. I do not want this to happen. Doctors, please respond.

[EMA2012]

Since last post in Oct 97 han the last operation. In Jan 2009 had marlex mesh revoved along with mesh from operation in 99. Hydrocele was also removed.

HAve pain, discomfort and a slight limp now. Taking some non narcotic pain reliever.

[Nancy]

I can't find the replies they say I have??

[Wolf99]

jls wrote:

<quoted text> This sounds EXACTLY like what I have been experiencing for 7 years and now I am having problems with my kidneys, I feel like my kidneys are starting to fail me, and I fear it is from the defective mesh I had implanted. Do you have any more information on the effects the mesh has on the kidneys? I had mesh removed once from the inside of my abdominal wall and experienced everything you described, and I still have mesh in me from a second implant on the outside of the abdominal wall and don't know if I should have it removed or wait until it starts causing more problems. You sound so knowledgeable about this I would love to visit more with you, if you could find the time. I have been through hell and back and now no Dr. wants to help me, I am being sent to pain management for the 3rd time and the pills are no answer to this problem.
Sincerely,
JLS

Hi, 11/13/09,7:16pm c-time I also are having alot of the same problems of lower back, feels like in the kidney with UI infection. But yet I according to med report do not have mesh. but my stomach area swells up like being with child. I just now got health insurance and will have coverage, in 01/10, for new surgery. I think in a way it's going be interesting to just find out what the first quack done.

[___Sandra____MS_ ___]

Gail Edwards wrote:

<quoted text>
I had my hernia surgery in 2004and 5 days later developed mrsa. They put me on vancomyacin for about 3 weeks through a vein in the neck which was a painfll ordeal. I t healed up for a while now I keep having the infections, have been cut 2 or 3 times to release the pus and fluids. they heal and come back, burst open and it starts all over again. I am bandaged up and on antibiotics 3 weeks out of the month. It heals for a week then starts over again. This has been going on for 2 to 3 years now and I don't know what to do. My surgeon passed away and no one seems to care they just keep
subscribing antibiotic which make you very sick and i'm tired of
being taped up 3 weeks out of the month. I don't know where to
turn to next. any ides you have will help tremendesly.

Hi Gail, I,m so sorry for the things that are happening to you.
I don't have any idea who to go to. I know that Dr. Bruce Ramshaw is very good as well as Dr. Keven Petersen in Nevada.
You may contact Dr. Becker about the infections and yeast problems that you are having regarding the antibiotics. Dr. Becker comes on the Angel Channel on television around 1:00 p.m. standard time each day. All I know is that antibiotics cause yeast to develope in the body and the yeast can get into your blood stream and can overtime make you very ill. I know this because it happened to me.
Dr. Becker may also know how to deal with the MRSA. There are many effective ways to counter act the yeast etc. Diet is very important. Stay away from eating sweets while you are taking antibiotics as this makes the yeast grow more in the body. You have several problems at the same time which is difficult to treat but you can conquer them with God's help. Please try to find a holistic doctor in your area or contact Dr. Becker and see what he suggests. Also contact Dr. Bruce Ramshaw or Dr. David Petersen regarding your hernia problem.. God Bless You. I'll be praying for you.

[GET MESH REMOVED]

Lous Daughter wrote:

" no one will touch his case due to the product not yet being recalled.!

- Don't use a law firm that specializes in recalled product. Use a contingency law firm. They put the patch in wrong, your dad has entrapped nerves, find a surgeon to remove it.
It's a known side effects. The frequency of side effects "entrapped nerves, shrinking mesh...."combined with the anesthesia and pain killers (interfer with gastrointestinal motility) is enough to cause "abdominal compartment syndrome" (ie., exploding from the inside out). Forget the "conservative approach -- drugs" -- YOU INSTRUCT THE SURGEON -- REMOVE THE PATCH, CLOSE WITH DISSOLVING STITCHES. IF THE HERNIA IS A RESULT OF SOME UNUSUAL ACTIVITY -- IN MY CASE A MINI-TORNADO (MICROBURST) PUSHED ME OVER -- while i was pushing a cart up hill -- it shouldn't happen again. I was in great physical shape until "the patch." Brand after brand after brand is being recalled -- it's time the FDA get rid of the patch -- any brand. The FDA does not get the final say say on this --- you do. The side effects of mesh patches are too well known -- get the list of them from the manufacturer of your patch. it doesn't matter that it's not recalled. Dissolving thread works. RULE OF THUMB -- whenever possible - DO NOT USE A SURGEON WHO ARGUES.

[Mike Seals]

Ok i am lost ... And maybe found??? i have had 3 hernia repairs . first was in 1986 at ft polk LA (military hospital) after leaving the military I got a job in a factory and "according to my second surgeon" broke the Threads.. My third operation was done 8-27-93 the surgeon told me then since it was the third surgery that I would have problems the rest of my life and basically about every few months afterwords it would hurt. I would take a couple weeks on my back and was good to go again.
a couple years ago it went out and never quit hurting. I have had x-rays and ct scans all show Nothing wrong. so now I just goto a pain management doctor that thinks am "lying" so he gives me pain pills to basically shut me up. NOTE: he doesn't tell me I am lying you can just tell how people act. Now I have found out about this and went to hospital and it states they used (a piece of marley 2x2") I am from a little town in indiana where if you can't work your basically a gold bricker.
And when I tried for disability they said i couls be a survailance systems monitor (if you don't know I had to ask also it means sit in a chair and watch tv screens .. or you can lay on the floor do it) so i was denied disability would be great if they could take this out and "fixme" .. any help please let me know. Mseals @ hotmail (here comes the spam But i really need help.

[Mary]

GET MESH REMOVED wrote:

<quoted text> - Don't use a law firm that specializes in recalled product. Use a contingency law firm. They put the patch in wrong, your dad has entrapped nerves, find a surgeon to remove it.
It's a known side effects. The frequency of side effects "entrapped nerves, shrinking mesh...."combined with the anesthesia and pain killers (interfer with gastrointestinal motility) is enough to cause "abdominal compartment syndrome" (ie., exploding from the inside out). Forget the "conservative approach -- drugs" -- YOU INSTRUCT THE SURGEON -- REMOVE THE PATCH, CLOSE WITH DISSOLVING STITCHES. IF THE HERNIA IS A RESULT OF SOME UNUSUAL

ACTIVITY -- IN MY CASE A MINI-TORNADO (MICROBURST) PUSHED ME OVER -- while i was pushing a cart up hill -- it shouldn't happen again. I was in great physical shape until "the patch." Brand after brand after brand is being recalled -- it's time the FDA get rid of the patch -- any brand. The FDA does not get the final say say on this --- you do. The side effects of mesh patches are too well known -- get the list of them from the manufacturer of your patch. it doesn't matter that it's not recalled. Dissolving thread works. RULE OF THUMB -- whenever possible - DO NOT USE A SURGEON WHO ARGUES.

I just spoke to my surgeon today and confirmed I have 2 marlex mesh plugs and patches. He was not able to tell me the mfg.My operative report doesn't show this either.Is there any other way to get this information?
Also, do I push this surgeon to remove the plugs? He hasn't come right out and said he won't do it but is always pushing me to pain management. He said these are really messy operations and could make things worse than what they are now.

[___Sandra____MS_ ___]

To Gail Edwards-- Hi Gail, I made a mistake, the hernia dr. is Kevin Petersen in Las Vegas, NV. You need to see some type of specialist that can help you with the MRSA infection. Maybe they are called infectious disease specialist. But you need to get this infection cleared up. After all the antibiotics you have taken. I feel that you definitely have a severe yeast infection. This will make you very tired. There is a book called The Yeast Connection by Dr. Crook that's very informative. Also, you need to take a probiotic or otherwise, acidolpholis pills two or three a day. Also, get your doctor to prescribe diflucan to kill the yeast in your bloodstream. Your doctor can also prescribe Bacid
which is also a probiotic pill. But if you can't get a doctor to prescribe it, you can get it at a health food store. I was in the same condition as you many years ago. Not a hernia but constant bladder infections which eventually led to chronic fatigue syndrome. This was caused by severe yeast in my bloodstream..
It took me many years to get back to where I was. Still I have problems with fatigue. I'll be praying for you. Hope someone on here can advise you where to get help from a good doctor. God Bless You. If you need to contact me I'm at: [e-mail]

[Gail Edwards]

Janice Bembry wrote:

I had the Gore-Tex Dual Mesh used in a ventral hernia repair in 2004. I've had nothing but problems with it since.I've had numerous places drained after mesh got infected, been hospitalized and also had places drained under local anesthetic in doctor's office several times. I no longer see that doctor since he has relocated to another state. Now I've been to new doctor who has operated twice and I have permanent drainage after he has removed some mesh twice. He says if he operates again I may end up wearing a "bag" because some of my bowel may be caught up in the mesh that's left in me. I have to change the dressing on my abdoman at least twice a day and it has a terrible odor that I can smell all the time. If you know of anything that is being done about this, please let me know.
Sincerely,
Janice S Bembry
[e-mail]

I also had the Gore-Tex put in me in 2004 which the surgeon decided to pretty much cover my whole abdominal area as he said I would develope more hernia's if he didn't do this because of a previous surgery. Well 5 days later a big hole where some of the sutures where opened up and smelled really bad. I had to go back in the hospital and they put me on Vancomyacin which is for the treatment of mrsa, which they said I was infected with. I had an IV every day for 3 weeks and it seemed like it all healed. Four years later, last year 2008 my stomach swelled really big and got very hot and red. I went to the ER because of the tremendous pain and the ER doctor made a deep hole in me and it drained really bad but this time there was no odor. I was put on Septra by mouth for 14 days and it seemed to heal up. Well a month later it did it again and I was opened again and it drained a lot, put on septra, heals up again. This started going on every other week after that as it started blistering at the opened site and I would wake up covered in blood and pus. Well as I sit here today it still does it, after it heals it bust back open. I am lucky if I spend a week or 2 a month without wearing bandages and changing dressing twice a day and now there are 2 spots that do it at the same time approx. 6 inches apart so now I bandage 2 spots. They put me on antibiotics every time then it does it again over and over which has been going on for 2 years now. They still call it mrsa and they say my screens were infected when they were put in me. My surgeon passed away that done this surgery a couple years ago and no doctor wants to touch me. I finally found a surgeon that says if it doesn't stop he may have to put me in the hospital and open my whole abdominal area as it is all covered with mesh, not sew me up and have them pack me to let me heal from the inside out. This is a scary thought and just doesn't seem right to me. I don't know if maybe you have my same problem or not but I wish I could find someone to help. I also have lots of abdominal pain which sometimes is unbearable untill I bust open again. If you find any answers form anyone else please let me know. Thank You and Good luck, Gail Edwards

[Gail Edwards]

___Sandra____MS____ wrote:

To Gail Edwards-- Hi Gail, I made a mistake, the hernia dr. is Kevin Petersen in Las Vegas, NV. You need to see some type of specialist that can help you with the MRSA infection. Maybe they are called infectious disease specialist. But you need to get this infection cleared up. After all the antibiotics you have taken. I feel that you definitely have a severe yeast infection. This will make you very tired. There is a book called The Yeast Connection by Dr. Crook that's very informative. Also, you need to take a probiotic or otherwise, acidolpholis pills two or three a day. Also, get your doctor to prescribe diflucan to kill the yeast in your bloodstream. Your doctor can also prescribe Bacid
which is also a probiotic pill. But if you can't get a doctor to prescribe it, you can get it at a health food store. I was in the same condition as you many years ago. Not a hernia but constant bladder infections which eventually led to chronic fatigue syndrome. This was caused by severe yeast in my bloodstream..
It took me many years to get back to where I was. Still I have problems with fatigue. I'll be praying for you. Hope someone on here can advise you where to get help from a good doctor. God Bless You. If you need to contact me I'm at: [e-mail]

Thank you I will look into this right away as I noticed this past week that I always run a fever of 101.5 at the least. So what you say makes since. I will start work on this right away. Thanks again, Gail Edwards

[Joe]

I had my hernia repair with mesh done in mid 1995 as well. Over the past year (2009) or so, I have developed on and off again abdominal pain/discomfort. I have had every type of test done (Upper GI, lower GI, endoscopy etc) with no luck identifying the problem. My next move is having surgery to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. I am guessing it will be the mesh. Pain is in the exact same area of my scar from the hernia operation.

[AllenP]

To Dave

I am doing very well now after my recurrent lap Nissen. It just took a little time.

[Dave]

AllenP wrote:

To Dave
I am doing very well now after my recurrent lap Nissen. It just took a little time.

I'm glad to hear.

[Dave]

Joe wrote:

I had my hernia repair with mesh done in mid 1995 as well. Over the past year (2009) or so, I have developed on and off again abdominal pain/discomfort. I have had every type of test done (Upper GI, lower GI, endoscopy etc) with no luck identifying the problem. My next move is having surgery to determine the cause of the abdominal pain. I am guessing it will be the mesh. Pain is in the exact same area of my scar from the hernia operation.

Timing is too late for neuroma, etc. You most likely have a recurrent hernia. If this was done open, literature would support a laparoscopic approach (TAPP, TEP).

[Wolf99]

If a person doesn't have mesh or a tenison free hernia repair, what would case body infection from a tenison repair? The possible fact that the infection was not cleansed out before the repair.Refering to a ventral hernia with strangulation.

[Mary]

Dave wrote:

<quoted text>
Timing is too late for neuroma, etc. You most likely have a recurrent hernia. If this was done open, literature would support a laparoscopic approach (TAPP, TEP).

Why is timing too late? Mesh degrades and migrates and balls up. My repairs were done in 99, 2000 and 2002. I have the same problems. How can you make a more or less definite diagnosis with 4 sentances.

[___Sandra____Ms_ __]

Gail Edwards wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you I will look into this right away as I noticed this past week that I always run a fever of 101.5 at the least. So what you say makes since. I will start work on this right away. Thanks again, Gail Edwards

Hi Gail, just wanted to mention a couple more things. I wrote this once but I don't think they posted it, just in case, I'll write again. Ask your doctor to prescribe diflucan to kill the yeast in the bloodstream and also Bacid which is a probiotic or acidolphilus pill to put back your natural bacteria that the antibiotics destroyed. If he won't prescribe Bacid, go to the health food store and get it there. My son (a nurse) works at a specialty hospital where they specialize in helping people that doctors can no longer help. Most patience are in critical cond.
They use yeast treatment in all their patience who are on antibiotics just as a rule of pratice. I talked w/my son reg. your condition and he suggested to find a infectious disease dr. or maybe even call a wound spec. He said they will prob. have to clean the wound and use a wound vacuum to clean out the bacteria and pus etc. Maybe,(hopefully not) do more surgery to clear out the infection. I haven't been able to find Dr. David Becker on TV.
I don't know what station he is on now. His show was called YOUR HEALTH. You may try looking him up on the internet. Also, there is another show called Know the Cause which comes on about 12:00
Noon CST. Somewhere in there. EST may be around one or two. Anyhow, God Bless You. If I think of anything else. I'll write.

[___Sandra____Ms_ __]

To Doctor: When a person has mesh removed and sutures put there in it's place, will the sutures
finally dissolve over time? Will they pull and be uncomfortable. I am having a problem deciding whether to have the mesh removed. I would really like to not be in pain and discomfort all the time.
But I don't want to make the problem worse. Will sutures cause the scar to shrink more? It has already shrunk about 2 or 3 inches. It's pulling on my transplanted kidney already. Would appreciate your comment. Thanks Sandra

[AllenP]

You hernia sufferers need to look toward:

Dr. Kevin Peterson at "no insurance surgery" in Las Vegas
Dr. Bruce Ramshaw who still may be at the University of Missouri
Dr. Shirin Towfigh at Cedar Sinai
Dr. Peter S. Billing at Puget Sound Surgical in Edmonds, WA

I am sure anyone of them will talk to you on the phone and welcome out of town patients. Many have been helped by these doctors.

There is another in Philadelphia, I think his name is Dr. Meyers. Google Dr. Goodyear and search the archives. Dr. Goodyears board is at the North Penn hernia Institute.

This reminds me. Another surgeon is Dr. David Grisckan at the Hernia Institute in Ohio.