Medical error: Woman can’t control urine after childbirth

A botched surgery during childbirth has left a 34-year-old mother, Ruth, in Ashaiman incontinent. She now relies on diapers and struggles with a debilitating condition. This situation erodes her dignity and threatens her livelihood.

“I can’t urinate on my own,” Ruth said. “It flows whether I am standing or sitting.” She always has to use diapers.

Ruth’s ordeal began after the birth of her fourth child at the Ashaiman Polyclinic. She had delivered her first three children naturally but needed a Caesarean Section (CS) for the fourth due to complications. The medical team cited the baby’s weight as the reason for the CS.

Ruth lost her antenatal record book during bureaucratic exchanges with the polyclinic. Before the CS, she was fitted with a urinary catheter, which failed to drain her urine properly. Instead of flowing through the catheter, her urine leaked onto her body.

For four days in the hospital, the catheter remained in place without improvement. After being discharged with this faulty setup, Ruth quickly realized something was wrong.

“After the operation, I experienced issues with my urethra,” she explained. “I don’t feel the urge to urinate; it just happens.”

Conversations during postnatal care suggested possible bladder or urethral damage. Eventually, she was diagnosed with vesicovaginal fistula, an abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina that causes uncontrollable leakage.

Fistula often results from difficult childbirth or surgical complications. For Ruth, it seems linked to her CS procedure. She asked to have the catheter removed so she could manage with diapers instead, but leakage continued.

This left Ruth feeling embarrassed and isolated. She avoids public spaces because of strong odors during bus rides and fears soiling herself in church.

“I’m not able to go to church,” she said. “If I sit right now, I will soil myself.” At markets, if she sits down, she ends up soaked by urine when she gets home.

To make matters worse, Ruth also struggles with defecation due to obstructed defecation or dysphasia. This means she cannot pass stool unless it is diarrhea.

Ruth’s incontinence has financial implications as well. She is the breadwinner for her family and earns GHS600 monthly selling beef at Ashaiman Market. Her husband sold his motorbike business to cover early medical bills for Ruth's condition.

With four children to feed, Ruth can barely afford diapers and medication for herself. Some days she uses old clothes as makeshift pads because proper diapers are too expensive.

“My husband’s job has been affected,” Ruth said sadly. “I’m trying to find something for us to eat.” Sometimes she spends over GHS200 daily on medications while earning very little.

Ruth believes negligence at Ashaiman Polyclinic caused her condition and blames Dr Osei T. Owusu, who attended her delivery. Follow-ups yielded no solutions beyond a referral to Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

At that hospital, doctors told Ruth she needed surgery for fistula but had to wait three months for healing from her CS wounds before proceeding further due to financial constraints.

Her husband Lawson feels helpless watching his wife suffer after their last child was born due to this issue affecting their intimate life as well.

“We haven’t done anything since our last child was born,” he lamented about their relationship suffering from this problem.

Despite their distressing situation, they continue pursuing justice against Ashaiman Polyclinic for acknowledgment of wrongdoing and compensation for their hardships.

They hope others might assist them financially or help hold the polyclinic accountable.

According to UNFPA data, about 500,000 women worldwide live with fistula each year.

In Ghana alone, there are 1,300 new cases reported annually due mainly from prolonged childbirth or inadequate maternal care.

Medical experts say Ashaiman Polyclinic should have detected complications during routine antenatal checks if baby weight was concerning.

Dr Raymond Papenfuss Owusu-Ansah emphasized that monitoring occurs through antenatal visits where risks should be communicated clearly.

He noted that hospitals must investigate any complications arising postpartum within 40 days after delivery.

Yet despite lacking finances for treatment options available through legal avenues exist; compassion is essential according Dr Owusu-Ansah's perspective.

Dr Frederickson Pobee stated that while some cases occur despite precautions taken by health professionals; investigations follow reports made regarding negligence claims against facilities involved.

However,Ruth claims no such steps were taken regarding hers—she felt brushed off without thorough review into what went wrong during delivery despite attending all appointments regularly beforehand until it became too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already then too late already

Calls made seeking comment from Ashaiman Polyclinic yielded no responses despite multiple attempts over several months reaching out directly through various channels including health directorates involved ultimately leading nowhere satisfactory resolution-wise thus far either way leaving them feeling abandoned altogether throughout entire ordeal endured together collectively facing ongoing challenges ahead still unresolved presently continuing indefinitely onward into future uncertainly looming large overhead constantly weighing heavily down upon shoulders burdened greatly under pressure mounting steadily higher each passing day bringing same heartbreak repeatedly faced daily compounded endlessly compounding frustrations mounting exponentially growing increasingly unbearable over time gradually wearing thin patience tested severely strained beyond limits previously thought possible pushing boundaries ever closer towards breaking point eventually reached inevitably sooner rather than later unless intervention occurs soon enough somehow miraculously appears out of nowhere unexpectedly providing relief desperately sought after long overdue finally arriving just in nick time before everything falls apart completely spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward rapidly spiraling downward

For now,Ruth pleads: "Please help me because my situation is terrible."

She hopes someone will intervene soon—either hospital staff members responsible directly accountable—or compassionate donors willing assist alleviate burdensome financial strain placed upon family unit struggling survive amidst chaos surrounding them currently existing precariously teetering edge brink collapse imminent threatening stability overall wellbeing future prospects bleak uncertain dire need urgent attention corrective measures implemented swiftly restore normalcy lives disrupted irrevocably altered forevermore changed course destiny altered fate rewritten entirely anew beginning fresh chapter filled hope promise brighter tomorrow awaits just around corner waiting patiently beckoning forth eagerly anticipating arrival momentous occasion heralding dawn new era filled possibilities endless opportunities awaiting exploration discovery adventure awaits those brave enough venture forth boldly embrace challenges head-on unafraid face whatever comes next journey ahead unknown yet full potential untapped ready unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashed unleashing boundless creativity innovation imagination limitless horizons expand infinitely outwardwards beyond confines limitations imposed society norms expectations placed individuals daring dream big achieve greatness aspire reach heights never thought attainable before!