Women beg Saskatchewan government to pay for surgical mesh removal

REGINA – Three Saskatchewan women suffering life-altering pain because of complications from a surgical mesh are begging the province to pay for its complete removal.

The women all had surgical meshes inserted to help with sagging pelvic organs and urinary incontinence.

But the women say their meshes have failed and are poking into other organs.

Ruth Olson says she has been unable to sit down for seven months because of the pain, while Marika English says it feels like having steel wool inside her.

The women say the process of removing the mesh is like picking away at bubble gum in hair.

They say only a doctor in California is trained to completely remove the mesh and they want the province to cover the $30,000 cost.