Vaginal mesh operation left Conwy woman in agony

Kerry Watson, a 40-year-old mother of three from Kinmel Bay in Conwy county, has spoken out about the devastating and "constant, disabling pain" she has endured for a decade following a vaginal mesh implant. The procedure, performed in 2014 to treat a prolapsed bladder, has left her reliant on a walking stick and consuming over 120 pills weekly to manage her agony. Watson is one of 25 women who have received compensation after operations performed by a single surgeon in North Wales. The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has issued an apology, admitting that Watson was not fully informed about the potential risks, side effects, or alternative treatment options available before her mesh surgery.

"I woke up from the operation in pain that never went away, and it just got gradually worse," Watson recounted, her voice tinged with the deep-seated weariness of her ordeal. "It felt like I had a needle through my back, and it was coming out my front, and I couldn’t twist past it." The relentless physical suffering has had a profound impact on her mental well-being. "Your mental health is affected. You get brain fog, you’re tired, you’re fatigued. You can’t function as a woman – and that’s every day for 10 years," she explained.

As a mother to three sons, Watson expressed the profound sense of failure the chronic pain inflicted. "I’m a mum to three boys, but I felt like I was failing. As they were getting older, I couldn’t even stand to watch them play football," she lamented. The limitations imposed by her condition escalated over time, rendering her increasingly incapacitated. "After 10 years, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t do jobs that a mum would do for her children. That was when I didn’t want to be here at all."

Vaginal mesh, often referred to as pelvic mesh or tape, is a synthetic product resembling a net that is surgically implanted to support pelvic organs. It has been employed in treatments for pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. However, for a significant number of women, the procedure has led to debilitating complications, including chronic infection, severe pelvic pain, difficulties with urination, painful sexual intercourse, and persistent incontinence. In response to growing patient safety concerns, the NHS announced a pause in the use of vaginal mesh in 2018.

By June of this year, Watson’s condition had deteriorated to such an extent that she underwent an operation to partially remove the mesh. While this has brought some relief, the pain has not entirely subsided, and she is awaiting further surgical intervention. The emotional toll of her experience has been immense, leading to social isolation. "It’s a woman thing – you try and hide everything. You end up distancing yourself from friends and family," she confided. "I was defined by the pain, by the way I felt – it consumed me."

Despite her personal suffering, Watson’s primary motivation for sharing her story is to empower other women who may be experiencing similar torment. "But what’s happened to me has happened to other women as well. I can’t bear the thought of others sitting at home, so uncomfortable, so in pain. I want to share my story to give others the courage to come forward and not suffer in silence."

The surgeon responsible for Kerry Watson’s operation was Derek Klazinga, who retired in 2016. Watson is among several women who allege they were not adequately informed of the risks associated with the mesh procedures performed under his care. Attempts by BBC Wales to obtain a response from Derek Klazinga regarding his informed consent procedures for Watson and whether alternative treatments were discussed were unsuccessful. Previously, in a statement to S4C’s Y Byd Ar Bedwar, Klazinga expressed his "sincerest sympathy that these ladies have had to endure such physical and psychological pain caused by, what we now know to be, defective medical products used in their treatments." He maintained that prior to his retirement in 2016, he always practised with the patient at the centre of his care, adhering to the principle of "first, do no harm."

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which oversees NHS services in North Wales, has formally apologised for the distress and suffering experienced by some women due to vaginal mesh procedures. Dr. Clara Day, Executive Medical Director for BCUHB, acknowledged the significant impact on a "small proportion of women in our region who underwent those procedures." She stated, "I have been made aware of some historic claims in relation to one clinician who left the health board in 2016."

Through the legal process, the health board has acknowledged instances of physical harm to patients who underwent these procedures. Furthermore, investigations revealed that record-keeping and consent documentation had not met the required standards in a number of cases. Dr. Day emphasized that "Every claim has resulted in learning for us, which has been scrutinised by experts outside of our Health Board," indicating a commitment to addressing systemic issues and preventing future harm. The ongoing legal proceedings and the health board’s admissions highlight a broader concern regarding the widespread use and potential complications associated with vaginal mesh implants, leaving many women like Kerry Watson grappling with the long-term consequences of a procedure intended to improve their quality of life.