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Chamber and committees

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee


Patricia Conlon submission of 29 June 2021

PE1865/X - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

In 2002 I was at an exciting stage in my working life I had just got a new job in lifelong learning working as an Administrator of a Scottish Union Learning Fund project. Something I was very passionate about. My children were 16 so as a single parent I no longer had to worry about childcare and could commit to a job which required travel and times away from home.

I attended my GP with a stress incontinence problem and was referred to Urogynecology dept where a Consultant assured me that my problem was due to a prolapse and would be solved with a simple procedure. He explained that a "tape sling " would be inserted to support my uterus. At no point was I told it was polypropylene or how it would be attached. I am allergic to most metals.

I attended the day of my op and I remember being told it was a quick procedure and I wouldn't be in theatre long. I came around 5 hours later and wondered why had been out so long. Then I noticed blood in my catheter bag. I overheard the nurses saying my bladder had been "nicked" during the op.

From then on my health deteriorated so much that by 2014, at the age of 52, I had to give up work and a comfortable salary as a college lecturer. I developed: Irritable Bowel syndrome; Anxiety; Fibromyalgia; Arthritis; and Recurrent Urinary Infections.

It was only when I joined Scottish Mesh Survivors Facebook Group that I realised that my problems were mesh related.

As time went on my symptoms became more severe with constant pain and I am now more or less housebound often bed ridden. I cannot walk any distance. I cannot stand for more than a couple of minutes. I cannot sit for long periods. I cannot play with my grandchildren, cook ,clean, socialise with friends or walk my dog. I now rely on friends and neighbours as I have no family in the UK and live alone. Neighbours walk my dog. My friend comes in and organises almost every aspect of my life, without him I would not be here. I would almost certainly have taken my own life.

He supports me everyday emotionally and physically and is effectively my unpaid carer, even coming in last thing at night.

I still have 8 years before I can claim my pension I live on disability benefits with no savings. Unable to afford a private removal of my mesh. I would plead that this mesh should never be used again because I would never wish anyone to be living their life like this. I use the word living but it is merely existing, certainly not what I imagined I would be like.

Please do not allow another surgeon put this toxicity into anyone else's body.


Related correspondences

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Ray Taylor submission of 13 June 2021

PE1865/A - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

James Snell submission of 17 June 2021

PE1865/B - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Iana Buckley submission of 17 June 2021

PE1865/C - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Anonymous submission of 25 June 2021

PE1865/I - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Anonymous submission of 25 June 2021

PE1865/J - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Anonymous submission of 25 June 2021

PE1865/K - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Anonymous submission of 25 June 2021

PE1865/N - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Anonymous submission of 25 June 2021

PE1865/P - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Maureen Kane submission of 26 June 2021

PE1865/S - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Graham Bute submission of 29 June 2021

PE1865/U - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Amy Hughes submission of 29 June 2021

PE1865/V - Suspend all surgical mesh and fixation devices