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Showing posts with label urinary incontinence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label urinary incontinence. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

The Dangers of Using Transvaginal Mesh

"I woke up with a loud roar in my head and excruciating pain through my whole pelvic area.  I was very agitated and apparently I screamed a lot.  My notes say that the caudal block given during surgery appeared not to be working.
  I remember receiving several injections in my thigh to control the pain. I remember several nurses holding my hands and shoulders and urging me to be quiet. I remember being really pissed off that I was in so much pain.  I figured that I had been tricked and that all people must feel this way really, they just don’t tell you."
(One brave New Zealand woman's story:
 http://meshdownunder.co.nz/#/about/4570217667)

Although many women may feel alone when experiencing problems like pelvic organ prolapse (POP), stress urinary incontinence (SUI), or side effects caused by the treatments for these health issues, the reality is that thousands of women are experiencing similar problems and seeking help for them. In fact, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), anywhere between 30 – 50% of women will have pelvic organ prolapse in their life and thousands more will experience stress urinary incontinence. And, in an effort to treat these health issues, thousands have sought help by having transvaginal mesh implanted. Unfortunately, the FDA has reported that problems with these implants are, in fact, not rare, but tragically cause women all over the country substantial problems.  This is not a problem restricted within the borders of the United States.

Potential Consequences

When transvaginal mesh was first introduced to health providers as a treatment for POP and SUI, it was hailed as a more effective and beneficial method of treatment than other options already available. However, in more recent years, this has not only been found to not be true, but potentially the exact opposite. Sadly, transvaginal mesh implants may expose women to serious dangers, including the following:

  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Erosion of the mesh
  • Dyspareunia (pain experienced in intercourse)
  • Perforated (punctured) organs
  • Troubles urinating
  • Scarring in the vagina

In addition to these extremely harmful physical repercussions of transvaginal mesh, a woman could suffer from significant emotional and psychological problems as a result.

While some of these side effects can be treated to a certain extent, the repercussions of a failed transvaginal mesh implant can be permanent and removing the failed mesh can be an extremely complicated procedure that is not always successful. Thus, many women are seeking financial compensation for the losses and pain they have endured as a result of these health problems by filing a transvaginal mesh lawsuit against the manufacturers of this dangerous medical device.  Here, in New Zealand, anybody who feels they may have been harmed by a surgical procedure or implant, can file a complaint with the Health and Disability Commissioner and make a claim for compensation with the ACC.  It would also be advisable to contact Medsafe which is charged with ensuring the safety of NZ medical services is of a high standard.
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About this website
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation.  Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Men and Women: Do you keep getting up in the middle of the night for a Pee?

"A study from Taiwan shows that a simple nasal spray controls nighttime urination in men who were not helped by drugs usually prescribed by physicians today. At night, the brains of most younger people produce a hormone called antidiuretic hormone that shuts down the kidneys.

However, as men age, most have to get up at night to urinate. Some men have to do this more than six times a night, which interferes with sleep and makes them very tired during the day. Doctors prescribe muscle relaxants and some patients find that they help. However, a very large percentage of older men go from doctor to doctor and are unable to find a drug that will control their night-time urination.

Researchers in Taiwan prescribed a nasal spray containing antidiuretic hormone to older men who urinated more than six times each night and had not been helped by conventional treatments (British Journal of Urology International, December 2005.) More than 85 percent improved in a very short time. Muscle relaxants that help some men include: Hytrin (terazosin), 1 mg to 10mg at bedtime; Cardura (doxazosin) 1 to 8 mg at bedtime; Flomax (tamsulosin) 0.4 to 0.8 mg once a day; Uroxatrol (alfuzosin)10 mg once a day.

Hormone blockers help only a little and are not as effective as doctors used to think. They include Proscar (finasteride), 5 mg once a day; and Avodart (dutasteride), 0.5 mg once a day. The antidiuretic hormone that was used in this study shuts down the kidneys temporarily and is effective for both men and women. It is called DDAVP (desmopressin) and is available as pills or a nasal spray, by prescription. The pills are given 0.2 to 0.6 mg at bedtime. The DDAVP nasal spray dose is one spray into one nostril at bedtime.

Do not take any fluids after 6:00 PM. Do not take any other medications that can raise blood pressure".
British Journal of Urology International, December 2005
January 8, 2006
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Gary Moller comments:
Waking in the middle of the night is a huge issue that can impact on lives through disturbed sleep. The article above gives a few clues as to the natural therapies that can be used to manage and even eliminate the problem in many cases. The idea is to set out to do what the drugs with all their side effects attempt to do.

Get the into the groove!
The first action is to get the body's biorhythms working properly so that natural anti-diuretic hormones are secreted at the right time. The first step is to synchronise your daily circadian cycle which often becomes disturbed by modern living that isolates our lives from the daily influences of the sun. Once the body has resynchronised then it will produce the right hormones at the right time of the day - night. Including the hormones that reduce kidney function overnight:
  • Go to bed every night and be asleep before 11pm and be out of bed every morning by 7am even on days off.
  • Exercise daily at the same time every day, preferably in the morning.
  • Exercise in bright sunlight every day. This can be a brisk walk before breakfast or during your lunch break. Wear a hat; but leave the sunglasses behind.
  • Eat meals at the same time every day.
  • Have your last drink 2-3 hours before going to bed.
Produce those hormones with sunlight and fat
Among other things, your body requires cholesterol and vitamin D in order to produce the hormones that regulate the body - everything from healing to sex to peeing!
  • Fat free is not healthy. This is why a fat free diet and/or cholesterol lowering medication can signal a general decline in health. Cut out more of the unhealthy fats like margarine, hydrogenated oils and excess animal fats and have more of the healthy fats like fish oil, flax oil, coconut oil and olive oil.
  • Along with cholesterol, you need lots of vitamin D. With age, vitamin D levels tend to plunge. Cholesterol and vitamin D are integral for the production of most if not all hormones in the body, so it makes so much sense to ensure that there is ample of both available in the body, especially as we get older.
Relax that bladder!
Forget about the prescription muscle relaxants which, among other things, kills your sex life and do it naturally. If the smooth muscle of the body is not healthy, it will be in a state of tension. This often shows as erratic or raised blood pressure, difficulty with stress and heart problems like an erratic pulse. The most likely cause is a combination of mineral and vitamin deficiencies, starting with low magnesium and depletion of the B group of vitamins (A hair tissue mineral analysis is recommended to eliminate the guesswork as to supplement need).

By restoring balance to the body's chemical physiology, the muscles will be restored to their natural state of relaxation. A relaxed bladder has much greater capacity and can therefore hold much more urine overnight. Simple really! But good things take time and you mut be patient while these natural approaches have time to work their magic - months, if not years. But who cares when you have a lifetime ahead of you!

Anti inflammation the natural way

Did you know that vitamin D is a natural anti-inflammatory? So is various omega oils like flax seed, fish oil and especially evening primrose oil. Even garlic oil. So, if the prostate is swollen, it just makes good sense to get those things into the body, along with mineral like magnesium and the B vitamins. And we should not forget to ensure a steady 2,000 or so mg of vitamin C which also has an anti inflammatory and healing quality.


Body - heal thyself!
Why I recommend a hair tissue mineral analysis
A hair tissue mineral analysis determines exactly what chemicals are inside of you, including radiation, heavy metals such as mercury, food chemicals such as aspartame, pesticides and more. Generic medical lab tests don't identify deep tissue toxins or nutrient depletions. The hair analysis is the best tool out there. Having an analysis performed is one of the most accurate ways of detecting toxic metals within your tissues and determining your vitamin and nutrient imbalances.

The protein in hair fiber holds the composition of the body tissues for a permanent period. By analyzing the hair fiber composition, you can tell what toxins have accumulated in the body tissues and what vitamins and minerals are depleted or too abundant causing an imbalance in body function.


You first must identify the cause or causes of your health symptoms before you attempt to ‘heal’ them. By detoxifying unnatural chemicals and by replacing specific vitamins individual to your needs, proper health can be restored through nutrition. The human hair analysis can detail these levels.

Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Do you have trouble peeing? Are you getting up in the middle of the night for a dribble?


From about age 50 it becomes increasingly common among the male population that the flow of peeing diminishes meaning more time spent up against the urinal as compared to their younger bystanders. As age ticks by this flow may become a pathetic trickle. Associated with this is disturbed sleep due to the constant urge to get up for a pee that is more a dribble than anything else.

John (not his real name) was a successful business man in his mid 60's. Things had been very stressful at work lately due to staffing issues and these came to a head while he was overseas negotiating an important export deal. On the last day of his trip, he discovered to his great distress that he could no longer pee! By the time he arrived home, he was in serious trouble with his bladder close to bursting and blood pressure was going through the roof. This was a medical emergency and he was rushed into hospital for prostate surgery and drastic medication to lower his BP. He lived, but was very unwell for weeks afterwards and he struggled to recover his vitality. John soon sold his business for less than he might otherwise have got for it.
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While we are not sure about what is exactly going on, other than the fact that the prostate gland migh be enlargening and impinging on the urethra, we do know that the problem can be reversed in some cases just by diet and lifestyle. I am not sure exactly why the following advice works, or exactly which of the lot is most important; but very good results have been had.
Try this if you have noticed any decline in flow and see what happens:
  • Take 2-4 tablets per day of Nutra-Life Super Calcium Complete for three months
  • Take 1-2 tablets per day of Kordel's Super B Executive for three months
  • Take 1-2 tablets per day of Kordel's Super Antioxidant for three months
  • Take 2-4 table spoons per day of Waihi Bush Flaxseed Oil for three months
  • Get 5 minutes of sunlight on your body each day for vitamin D while exercising
The magnesium, calcium and other minerals are essential for health, including the ability for nerves and muscles to function properly. This includes the smooth muscle that controls peeing flow. Magnesium may be a factor in prostate gland health. Deficiencies can build over many many years. More of these are needed in times of stress and ill health.
The B group of vitamins are essential for health and may be a factor with keeping the prostate healthy. More of these are needed during times of stress and ill health.
The Super Antioxidant formula mops up damaging free radicals that harm healthy tissue. These can have a mild anti-inflammatory effect.
The flaxseed oil is natures richest source of Omega3 oil. This has numerous health benefits including a mild anti-inflammatory effect.
Vitamin D is essential for a robust immune system. If the levels are low, as they often are, your risk of developing all kinds of cancers increases.
If any improvement in pee rate is noticed by three months you should continue the course of supplementation for several more months. The gradual restoration of pee flow may continue for a year or more, so be patient and monitor progress carefully.
From about 35 years of age, it is a good idea to have an annual checkup with the Doc including a prostate exam. This is important to try to detect any serious medical issues that might be looming early in their development.
How safe is this supplementing advice? Side effects are too numerous to list here; they include, better skin, hair and nails, reduced cardiovascular disease risk, strong bones and muscles and generally feeling great!