Life Saving Treatments
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"Often daunted, NEVER"
"We cant be stopped if we'll only just begin"
I am a TransVaginal Mesh survivor and I advocate and educate on the dangers of mesh.
I had my mesh device implanted in Dec 2009 and my world has been completley turned upside down ever since.
Since Dec 2009 I have had to retire from my job of 31 years, sell my home as I could no longer afford the mortgage on my Disability Pension and am pretty much dependant on family for daily living.
I have had 3 surgeries so far due to TransVaginal Mesh and am in the process of looking into having another surgery to remove the remainder of the Mesh. I also require a reconstruction surgery and surgery on my Sciatic and Pudendal nerve which were damaged from the original placement of mesh in 2009.
I have seen a number of surgeons (and have been turned down by 5 of them) in Canada and we just dont have skilled enough surgeons to perform this surgery. I had a partial removal surgery in June 2012 and was sicker after that and thats also when my auto-immune diseases started to happen. I was diagnosed with Lupus (SLE), Foreign Body Rejection (FBR), Connective Tissue Disease Disorder (CTDD), Fibromyalgia, Osteo-Arthritis (OA), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Multiple Drug Allergy Syndrome (MDAS).
Having Multiple Drug Allergy Syndrome means I have very few choices when it comes to antibiotics and pain management. I have have had a bladder/kidney infection since Sept 2015 and on my last treatment (April 2016) of IV antibiotics I went into anaphylactic shock again.
I am still fighting this infection, along with a couple of other things but my Immunologist hasnt come up with a drug so far. It is now at the very scary stage because if the Mesh stays in me the toxins from the mesh are constantly poisoning my body.
This past weekend I was rushed in hospital by ambulance due to a severe anaphylactic reaction to strawberries. I have eaten strawberries my whole life and never had a problem. My reaction was severe and my specialist nearly had to intubate me to get the drugs in as fast as they could.
After many hours I was stablized only to have a "rebound" reaction again which required aggressive treatment. Rebounds are usually much smaller and they are expected for up to a week after the initial reaction.
My Dr said becasue I have Lupus which is auto-immune and then anaphylaxis, which is also auto-immune, my body doesnt know what to do with the two systems fighting each other.
I had a mild reaction this morning to canteloupe, honeydew melon and watermelon, luckliy I have steroids on hand now and used that, Benadryl and my EPI pen. I am fine now but it scared the crap out of me!
I would like to go to a Naturopathic Dr for alternative health choices for my anaphylaxis...if you've never had it I hope to God you never go through it. My Dr told me yesterday that I am lucky I am on this side of the grass.
I would also like to see a naturopath for pain management but they are once again expensive. If conventional medicine cannot help me I would like to be able to explore alternative medicine.
I recently went to UCLA in California and saw a world renowned surgeon who said he would operate on me. I live in Canada and only have MSP coverage with no extended health benefits which means I pay out of pocket for all of my prescriptions and any other medical expenses that I incur.
I have applied to MSP which is BC's provincial health care provider to have my surgery paid for. There are 2 provinces in Canada who are approving out of country surgery so women can go to UCLA to get the mesh removed. Each Province has their own "provincial" health care mandate so when I first approached MSP they told me the rest of Canada has nothing to do with BC's "provincial" health care mandate!!! I was stunned!!!
My GP filled out the necessary paperwork which was sent to MSP, who denied that request. I also had my oringinal implant surgeon fill out the necessary paperwork and the surgeon who did my partial removal also filled it out. They both said that my case is to complex and they can no longer help me and I need to go to Dr Raz at UCLA ASAP. I also attached my consult letter from Dr Raz stating the urgency of my case. MSP has DENIED all of them.
My surgery is booked for Feb 23/17 for total removal at UCLA. I hope my appeal to MSP's decision will show to them I am not looing for a handout. I have also set up and appointment with my MLA to discuss this further.
I am not looking for a handout, I am swallowing my pride and asking for help. This is very difficult for me to do but at some point on this journey I have come to realize that I can't do it alone anymore...it's a bitter pill to swallow but when you have no other choices you have to reach out and ask for the necessary help.
I thank each each and every person who is willing to help me attain my goals, I truly believe in pay-it-forward and hope to one day help other mesh patients financially.
In the meantime I am a Mesh Advocate to many women via FB and groups I have co-founded and I believe that if we stand united not divided, our collective voices will be heard.
Thank you to each person who can help me on my journey to a mesh free life.
"We cant be stopped if we'll only just begin"
I am a TransVaginal Mesh survivor and I advocate and educate on the dangers of mesh.
I had my mesh device implanted in Dec 2009 and my world has been completley turned upside down ever since.
Since Dec 2009 I have had to retire from my job of 31 years, sell my home as I could no longer afford the mortgage on my Disability Pension and am pretty much dependant on family for daily living.
I have had 3 surgeries so far due to TransVaginal Mesh and am in the process of looking into having another surgery to remove the remainder of the Mesh. I also require a reconstruction surgery and surgery on my Sciatic and Pudendal nerve which were damaged from the original placement of mesh in 2009.
I have seen a number of surgeons (and have been turned down by 5 of them) in Canada and we just dont have skilled enough surgeons to perform this surgery. I had a partial removal surgery in June 2012 and was sicker after that and thats also when my auto-immune diseases started to happen. I was diagnosed with Lupus (SLE), Foreign Body Rejection (FBR), Connective Tissue Disease Disorder (CTDD), Fibromyalgia, Osteo-Arthritis (OA), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Multiple Drug Allergy Syndrome (MDAS).
Having Multiple Drug Allergy Syndrome means I have very few choices when it comes to antibiotics and pain management. I have have had a bladder/kidney infection since Sept 2015 and on my last treatment (April 2016) of IV antibiotics I went into anaphylactic shock again.
I am still fighting this infection, along with a couple of other things but my Immunologist hasnt come up with a drug so far. It is now at the very scary stage because if the Mesh stays in me the toxins from the mesh are constantly poisoning my body.
This past weekend I was rushed in hospital by ambulance due to a severe anaphylactic reaction to strawberries. I have eaten strawberries my whole life and never had a problem. My reaction was severe and my specialist nearly had to intubate me to get the drugs in as fast as they could.
After many hours I was stablized only to have a "rebound" reaction again which required aggressive treatment. Rebounds are usually much smaller and they are expected for up to a week after the initial reaction.
My Dr said becasue I have Lupus which is auto-immune and then anaphylaxis, which is also auto-immune, my body doesnt know what to do with the two systems fighting each other.
I had a mild reaction this morning to canteloupe, honeydew melon and watermelon, luckliy I have steroids on hand now and used that, Benadryl and my EPI pen. I am fine now but it scared the crap out of me!
I would like to go to a Naturopathic Dr for alternative health choices for my anaphylaxis...if you've never had it I hope to God you never go through it. My Dr told me yesterday that I am lucky I am on this side of the grass.
I would also like to see a naturopath for pain management but they are once again expensive. If conventional medicine cannot help me I would like to be able to explore alternative medicine.
I recently went to UCLA in California and saw a world renowned surgeon who said he would operate on me. I live in Canada and only have MSP coverage with no extended health benefits which means I pay out of pocket for all of my prescriptions and any other medical expenses that I incur.
I have applied to MSP which is BC's provincial health care provider to have my surgery paid for. There are 2 provinces in Canada who are approving out of country surgery so women can go to UCLA to get the mesh removed. Each Province has their own "provincial" health care mandate so when I first approached MSP they told me the rest of Canada has nothing to do with BC's "provincial" health care mandate!!! I was stunned!!!
My GP filled out the necessary paperwork which was sent to MSP, who denied that request. I also had my oringinal implant surgeon fill out the necessary paperwork and the surgeon who did my partial removal also filled it out. They both said that my case is to complex and they can no longer help me and I need to go to Dr Raz at UCLA ASAP. I also attached my consult letter from Dr Raz stating the urgency of my case. MSP has DENIED all of them.
My surgery is booked for Feb 23/17 for total removal at UCLA. I hope my appeal to MSP's decision will show to them I am not looing for a handout. I have also set up and appointment with my MLA to discuss this further.
I am not looking for a handout, I am swallowing my pride and asking for help. This is very difficult for me to do but at some point on this journey I have come to realize that I can't do it alone anymore...it's a bitter pill to swallow but when you have no other choices you have to reach out and ask for the necessary help.
I thank each each and every person who is willing to help me attain my goals, I truly believe in pay-it-forward and hope to one day help other mesh patients financially.
In the meantime I am a Mesh Advocate to many women via FB and groups I have co-founded and I believe that if we stand united not divided, our collective voices will be heard.
Thank you to each person who can help me on my journey to a mesh free life.
Organiser
Diane Fichter
Organiser
Burnaby, BC
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