Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center Meets Momzilla
My training in residency taught me that Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS) was a dirty little phrase used by ill-informed doctors to describe the observed, normal aging process in women after a tubal ligation. No one who has taught me that concept has ever met Momzilla. Momzilla is her sign-on name, which she gave me permission to use, for the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center message board.
Momzilla came to us at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center seeking relief of problems that occurred after her tubal ligation. She is currently 43 years old, is 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 symptoms after her tubal ligation. I asked her if we could use her as the subject of a blog featuring our patients. She agreed and after her surgery she emailed me a comprehensive list of her physical problems. Below are 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 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. Her surgery went well with Dr. Berger acting as the primary surgeon and me as the assistant. She had good tubal lengths and did well in the recovery room.
Momzilla has kept in touch with us since her surgery and we hope she has a good and speedy recovery. We hope her symptoms abate and we have asked her to keep us closely updated on her progress.
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
Chapel HIll Tubal Reversal Center
March 15th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
WOW!!!! That is all I can say…. I found Chapel Hill while looking to see if a reversal was possible. I have just found this blog story and I can’t believe that I have all of these symptoms too! So, if a reversal is not only going to give us a great chance to concieve but also make me feel more like myself then I definitely believe that GOD is watching over me. I still can’t believe that I found CH in the first place and then to find this out. We can’t wait!!!!
February 5th, 2009 at 4:57 pm
Wow!!! Momzilla is me!! I cannot believe that every single thing that she listed applied to me. I had my tubes tied in 2000 and these symptoms have gotten worse. I had no idea that those symptoms were even related to my tubal ligation. I am so relieved. After reading this, I am making arrangements to have the reversal done. Thank you for sharing her story.
September 24th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Renee -
Insurance generally does not pay for reversal surgery, but there are some differences between insurance companies and specific insurance policies. The best way to answer this is to contact your insurance carrier and inquire directly with them whether or not your policy provide coverage.
September 24th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Thanks so much for this wonderful info, I couldnt believe it!I had my tubes tied in 2005 and have had most of the symptoms described above and I’ve switched dr’s twice because I feel like no one believes me. My question is, if PTLS is indeed a medical condition, will my insurance pay for a reversal? If anyone knows the answer or point me in the right direction, i would be eternally grateful.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Thank thankyou so much for blogging about this. Ive been in and out of docs offices since having my tubes tied. I ran across and article about ptls but it was a breif. I too suffer from these symptoms and had been hoping to rid of them with a reversal. i am a young 27 year old mommy of 3 and i would love to be back to my old self. Its good to know that i am not alone. Thank you Thankyou.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:30 am
PTLS is a significant issue with women who have had a tubal ligation and the fact that so many of the symptoms among patients with this complaint are similar, confirms the need for continued discussion and follow up.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
OMG It is so shocking for me to read about all of these symptoms for PTLS; I am almost in tears. I have had all those symptoms as Momzilla and others have mentioned, and all this time I did’nt know what to think of what has been going on with me. My TL was in 2001 and since then my symptoms have progressivly got worse, and at least now I have a possible answer. So now I have two reasons to get a TR.
June 26th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Thanks to Dr. Monteith and Momzilla for contributing to the growing data that verifies this understated syndrome. Hopefully more women will find this website and realize options for improving symptoms of PTLS.
June 25th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Thank You Momzilla for blogging about PTLS. I believe I have been suffering for 5 years of this , but now I finally have an answer to my madness. Now I just need to find a doctor in Colorado who will listen to me.
June 25th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Wow, I have had these symptoms for years now and never even thought it might be related to TL. It sure make sense though.
June 25th, 2008 at 8:07 am
Hearing success stories – whether about pregnancy or relief from PTLS symptoms – is one of the best parts of my job!
June 25th, 2008 at 5:11 am
I have to say how thankful I am to of had the TR! I am almost off depression meds…which got much worse after the TL. My periods are three days max and I am so regular I can just about tell you down to the time I will start….and stop!! No cramps, my moods are ten times better!! I finally feel whole again!! Thanks to Dr. Berger and his staff, I am me again!! A million thanks!! Best of all I might get a bundle of joy…that is just a perk to having this surgery!! Even if i never have a baby, I would have the TR again!!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Thanks for sharing Momzilla’s story. I think the more PTLS is talked about, the more it will help the women who are living with it every day.
June 24th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
Momzilla’s story is sure to give hope to other women who are suffering with similar post tubal ligation symptoms but feeling that they are losing touch with reality when they complain to their own doctors. It will be really be interesting to hear the rest of this story and how other women react to it.
June 24th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Thank you Dr. Monteith. I look forward to part 2 of Momzilla. I think I know how it is likely to turn out. I’ve heard it time and time again from other patients who have come here for tubal reversal procedures.
June 24th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I hope this information gets out to other women who may be experiencing the same symptoms. Thanks for sharing this story.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
I, too, look forward to hearing updates from Momzilla over the next few months. Hopefully, she will be an inspiration to other patients who are also seeking relief from their PTLS symptoms.
June 24th, 2008 at 11:55 am
We have others that have told us their side effects have subsided after having the tubal ligation reversal. It is great to know that the reversal really helps women suffering from PTLS.
June 24th, 2008 at 7:47 am
Thank you for the blog post Dr. Monteith. As always, I’ll be very interested to hear the follow up blog story on Momzilla’s progress after reversal. Hopefully she will report very significant or total relief of PTLS symptoms!
June 24th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Great story. We see so many women that come here for PTLS and it is great to know that tubal reversal surgery is a wonderful option for these women. Hopefully one day physicians will realize that PTLS is real.