I’m angry & worn down but I’m still going to fight for women butchered with mesh

Survivors’ pledge to end procedure

needing the loo until it’s too late. When I do feel the need to pass urine it is normally because I have an infection and my stress incontinence is back.

“At times I can’t empty my bladder and other times I am soaking wet. I have no control and it is completely unpredictable. I have to get up a couple times a night to change myself and or the bed.”

A year ago Arlene saw a locum at her doctor’s surgery for another infection and experienced a moment of clarity.

She said: “I told her I had been incontinent since my operation for the TVT and she said I needed to be seen by someone else to check there were ‘no bits floating about’.”

A scan Arlene had in England identified issues with her mesh despite being told here there was no problem. Today she has been given extra contractual referral for mesh complication and will be travelling to England in the hope of assessment and a successful removal.

She said: “I would not advise women to undergo the mesh procedure. Dealing with it has been horrendous.

“I will never get back to my old self. My confidence has been decimated. There were times I wished I could go to sleep and never wake up. I was lucky I have a good and loving husband and family.”

Jackie Harvey who runs the Northern Ireland Sling The Mesh campaign said: “It is atrocious the medical professionals just don’t do the right thing and just stop putting mesh and tapes in women. This is a ticking time bomb and we will see more carnage in years to come.”

For more information go to www. slingthemesh.wordpress.com