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A paramedic claimed treatment for mild incontinence ruined her life, leaving her unable to do her job and in “constant pain”.

Julie Gilsenan, 41, from Netherton, said the operation in February also meant she could no longer have sex with her husband.

She is one of thousands of women calling for a ban on controversial vaginal mesh, the material inserted which many patients blame for serious pain and other severe health problems.

An NHS England review last month said mesh remained a safe, effective option for incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse, and leading manufacturer Johnson & Johnson said most research, clinicians and patients backed their use.

But Mrs Gilsenan and other patients claim the true number of women suffering complications could be higher than official figures suggest.

She had the operation for mild incontinence she has suffered since having her son seven years ago, but now regrets trusting doctors that it was the best option.

She told the ECHO: “It really has ruined my life, it’s disgusting.

“I have constant pain in my hips, back and right down my legs, and a razor-sharp pain in my groin.

“I’m unable to return to my job, pass urine properly or have sex with my husband. That has a knock-on effect on your relationship.

“The day before my surgery I ran a 5k, and I used to run home at 7am after a 12-hour night shift as a paramedic.

“Now if I walk too far I’m in agony and feel like my legs might give way. I can’t drive for more than 20 minutes.

The mum-of-five added: “My son said ‘you can’t do fun things any more, can you’ - I can’t do active things like climbing up a hill or going on a bouncy castle with my kids.

“My employer has allowed me to work from home with a laptop, but we are vastly short of paramedics.

“I have to use a catheter to completely empty my bladder, and get constant urinary infections.”

She has become involved in the Sling the Mesh campaign group, which has lobbied Parliament and is backing legal action against Johnson & Johnson through lawyers Wedlake Bell.

A spokesman for the Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where she had the operation, said: “Liverpool Women’s treats every patient individually and surgical procedures are only ever performed with the patient’s best interests in mind.

“The Urogynaecology multidisciplinary team oversees the care of all patients throughout their treatment. Women undergoing surgery for stress incontinence at Liverpool Women’s only do so following a full discussion with their clinicians and after receiving detailed information on the different treatment options available.

“Whilst we would not discuss an individual patient’s case in public, all women raising concerns about the outcome of their surgery are offered the opportunity to discuss the issues raised and potential resolutions are sought as part of their continued care.”

A Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman said: “We empathise with all women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse and stress-urinary incontinence, conditions that can be serious and debilitating, and we are always concerned when a patient experiences adverse medical events. We have always made patient safety a top priority and will continue to do so.

“Implantable mesh devices, backed by years of clinical research, have undergone rigorous regulatory reviews and are considered to be the gold standard for treating stress urinary incontinence by many doctors.

“We are confident [parent company] Ethicon has acted responsibly in the research, development and marketing of pelvic mesh products and we are prepared to defend these products.”