A grandmother has said her vaginal mesh implant “completely destroyed her life” for 22 years and has accused UK health services of “gaslighting” women after finally having it removed. Patricia Conlon, from West Lothian , Scotland, started experiencing symptoms including chronic pain and vaginal bleeding after receiving a mesh implant to treat her incontinence in 2002. Over the past two decades, these symptoms became progressively worse to the point where Patricia was forced to start using a wheelchair and quit her job.
The 63-year-old former lecturer at Stow College Trade Union Education Department, underwent surgery to have her implant removed on June 7 2024, and discovered the plastic mesh had damaged her vaginal wall and punctured her bladder, which she said now looks like a “tea bag”. Patricia said doctors repeatedly denied her health problems were caused by the implant, but that since it was removed, some of her symptoms have started to improve. She has now launched a petition on change.
org demanding the Government launch a national public inquiry into the “ NHS mesh implant scandal”. “It’s just destroyed my life completely, I’ve lost 22 years of living and there are so many more women out there who need help,” Patricia told PA Real Life. “The health service has just gaslighted us and it’s been an absolute slog to get anything done about this.
“It is a scandal...
it’s dreadful because it’s on such a huge scale – this is being used all .