Meet Momzilla…
Momzilla came to us at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center seeking relief of problems that occurred after her tubal ligation. Momzilla is her sign-on name for the tubal reversal message board. She is 43 years old, happily married, and has three children. She is employed as a human resource manager and her husband is an attorney.
Momzilla had her tubal ligation three years ago and she describes the gradual onset of Post Tubal Ligation Symptoms (PTLS) after her tubal ligation. We asked her if we could use her as the subject of a blog featuring several of our patients. She agreed and provided us a comprehensive list of her physical problems.
Her symptoms in her own words…
“Longer clotty periods with a day or so of flooding blood followed by nothing and then bleeding again. (My menstrual periods from the dawn of time prior to that had been regular and predictable to almost the day), horrible insomnia, light-headedness/dizziness (almost passing out on a few occasions), exaggerated PMS and mood swings, absence of libido and an aversion to sex, fatigue, a sense of dread or doom (not depression), withdrawal from my family (almost needing isolation from people), inability to concentrate, fogginess and an awful memory, tingling in extremities, very dry skin no matter how much I drink or how much lotion I used, more frequent headaches, bloating and GI issues, inability to lose my baby weight (I lost my waist), breaking hair that is more oily, breaking nails, changes in perspiration and body odor (sweating and smelling more easily), bad taste in my mouth, more sinusitis and allergies…I think that about covers it..”
She also had told us she had tingling in her legs, which required her to see a neurologist and have a brain MRI. She also had increased sugar cravings and gained 15 lbs.
Momzilla told us her story of having a tubal ligation and then noticing the onset of these symptoms. She has seen several doctors and had a variety of inconclusive tests. She found information about PTLS on the Internet and discovered Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center as well. She was very clear she was not getting a ligation reversal so she could have more kids. She was trying to get her body to be like it was prior to the ligation. She desired a return to her normal state.
I am happy to report Momzilla had a successful tubal ligation reversal on June 2, 2008. Her surgery went well and was performed by Drs. Berger and Monteith. She had good tubal lengths and did well in the recovery room. She was released to the local Sheraton hotel for an overnight stay and was discharged home the next morning. She has recovered without any complications.
Readers can read about Momzilla’s after surgery report: Momzilla Reveals Her True Identity.
We will also publish reports on patients who have suffered from worsening menstrual, physical, and emotional symptoms after surgical sterilization procedures (women who had their tubes tied).
We invite readers to join our Tubal reversal message board and discuss and share personal experiences with tubal ligation. We also have a dedicated PTLS forum for readers to share experiences of worsening symptoms after tubal ligation procedures.
October 6th, 2008 at 8:07 am
[...] Momzilla is actually Tracy. She is a 43 year-old married, mother of three and is employed as a Senior Human Resource Manager. Tracy is married to Glenn who is a Transactional Real Estate and Business Attorney. In the previous article, Tracy described her symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS). [...]
October 6th, 2008 at 6:41 am
I really enjoyed reading this blog. I look foward to hearing about the results after her tubal reversal. Hopefully this will help other women with the same symptoms.
October 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
I remember this patient well, and I look forward to the next chapter.
October 3rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Thanks Dr. Monteith for this great blog. This puts a very personal look on something that many people are going through. The direct insight from Momzilla is something I am sure lots of ladies from our message board can identify with. This can give some women who feel isolated a way of knowing that they are not alone, and there is help for PTLS. I am happy that Momzilla doing well post TR. Hopefully more women will chime in on their personal stories! I can’t wait to see how Momzilla if feeling now.
October 3rd, 2008 at 7:38 am
Momzilla has created an impressive list of post tubal ligation symptoms, all too familiar with so many patients. Thank you, Dr. Monteith, for bringing this issue to the forefront for discussion.
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:53 am
This is the story that many women want to follow. It gives credence to all their symptoms and hope for the future that PTLS will be recognized as a legitimate surgical outcome of Tubal Ligation in many women.
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:25 pm
This story sounds all too familiar. Momzilla has many clones. I have heard these same symptoms over and over through the years from many patients that have come through the doors of CHTRC. I look forward to reading Momzilla’s follow-up. Thanks Dr. Monteith and Momzilla for sharing.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:18 pm
It is so nice to hear real stories from real patients. Momzilla is someone I have seen many times on the message board. These patient stories really provide a great view, a first hand account, of what these women are going through. This story in particular really brings home the struggles of PTLS.
October 2nd, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Thanks for posting Dr. Monteith. I love the picture. It is truly amazing to hear these types of stories and how the symptoms started immediately after tubal ligation. We look forward to the update from Momzilla and hope her symptoms improve like the majority of our patients with PTLS!