Momzilla Reveals Her True Identity
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, Meet Momzilla, Tracy described her symptoms of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS).
Tracy is currently four months out from her tubal ligation reversal surgery and both she and her husband describe her recovery.
In their own words….
Tracy
“Just weeks after my reversal the first thing I noticed was that I had lost the overwhelming sense of dread that had been shadowing me. As I was still healing from the surgery I was less fatigued and more energetic. My mood and outlook were “lighter”. My emotional healing began quickly and the physical healing soon followed. As the weeks passed I noticed improvement in my hair, skin and nails. I was sleeping again and my fogginess and inability to concentrate improved. I have not had a PMS headache, dizziness or tingling in my extremities. Each menstrual cycle since the reversal has gotten progressively better and more “normal”. My exaggerated and prolonged PMS symptoms have diminished. At about 6 weeks post reversal I got my libido back and, for that, my husband is eternally grateful (LOL!). I was no longer feeling like a stranger in my own body. Aside, of course, from getting my health back, the best part of my recovery has been re-connecting with my family. I feel like I have gone from the evil “Momzilla”, tired, moody and short-tempered all the time to just plain “Mommy” again. I feel at ease again in my own skin and with life. I no longer wake up dreading what symptom might take control of me. Shortly after the surgery, Glenn said to me “Welcome back, I missed you…”. In good times and in bad, he and I have always “loved” each other, but, for the duration of time that PTLS held me hostage, we “lost” our connection to each other. After the reversal, along with my obvious physical healing came the healing of my marriage and my family. It still amazes me that, after 3 years of suffering, I could see relief from my symptoms so quickly. I hope, through this series of blogs, that more women and their families as well as their physicians can be educated about PTLS and know that a reversal can bring them new hope for restoring their health and their lives.”
Glenn
Aside from the symptoms, the tragedy of PTLS is that we could have ended up divorced if Tracy didn’t have an inquisitive mind and, after almost three years, discovered PTLS online. From my viewpoint, PTLS transformed my best friend and wife into a detached unaffectionate roommate. Since the medical community did not recognize the possible effect of the tubal ligation procedure, we did marriage counseling which, of course, was unhelpful at best and could not succeed since the cause of the problem was biological. With no other explanation available from medical “experts”, we went through a series of episodes of “blame” with pop-psychology reasons to explain disinterest, depression and other symptoms that we didn’t know were symptoms. I received some truly bad advice from well-meaning sources. Symptoms like memory loss also put a strain on day-to-day living. In the end, we made it through because we started with love, a strong relationship and mutual respect. I have to wonder how many marriages have ended without ever knowing the reason?
I hope that the data compiled by the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center can be used to provide proof to the medical community of this syndrome because it could help so many families if doctors provided pre-tubal ligation counseling and recognized this a possible cause of common symptoms experienced by women.
This is the eighth article in our fourteen part series on PTLS and associated medical conditions. The first article of this series, Pain After Tubes Tied: A Symptom of Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome?, discusses the most common symptoms associated with PTLS.
Our next several articles will present stories of our patients who have sufferred from worsening menstrual, physical, and emmotional symptoms after surgical sterilization procedures ( women who had their tubes tied).
Readers can also view other patient submitted stories about their menstrual symptoms, reasons for reversing tubal ligation, and outcomes after reversal reversal surgery. Each patient’s story is listed below:
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.
June 16th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
I had to have a good cry after reading about Tracy’s journey. I have been going through the same symptoms, but for the past 13 years, instead of 3 years.It has been awful. I especially feel like I have been the same Momzilla at times with my two children. I want to have this surgery so bad now, especially after reading these stories. Preferably yesterday.
Good luck to everyone.
October 8th, 2008 at 5:52 am
Hi Tracy, I can’t believe it’s been four months since you were here in Chapel Hill. I am so glad to hear you are doing well and I know that by participating in the PTLS blog you are helping many other woman.
Thank you.
October 7th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Thank you Tracy and Glenn. There are so many women that have problems after there tubes are tied and I know that this story will help so many women. This blog helps to put a face to the story. We are so glad that you were willing to tell your story. Tubal Reversal Surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is often times the beginning of healing for many women, whether it be the desire to have more children, or the desire to make the body whole again. What a wonderful opportunity for women everywhere.
October 7th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Tracy and Glenn’s story is one of many we hear at the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. Thanks for sharing your “turn around” with others who are looking for answers to their post ligation challenges.
Hopefully, many will find encouragement from their story.
October 6th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
This is a truely amazing story! I am so glad that you were able to start feeling better and to reconnect with your family. I am sure that there are alot of families suffering from the same problems that are not aware of the cause. Thank you Tracey and Glenn for writing this article.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Hi Tracy and Glenn, Your story is so inspirational and moving. Thank you for your testimonial on where you have been, what you have gone through, and happily coming out the other side. It’s nice to see photos of you and your family. I hope, through your story, that others who have experienced the negative symptoms of PTLS can relate to your story and take action.
October 6th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Thank you Tracy and Glenn for the update! Hearing in your own words how life is changing for your family is great. I am so happy that TR has played a part in making your family a happier, healthier one. PTLS is very real, and I just know that your story will touch many people out there suffering just like you two were. I wish you the best of luck as you and your husband reconnect. Please keep us posted on your progress! Best wishes!
October 6th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Tracy and Glenn–It is so good of you to share your personal story. I hope this encourages others to post their experiences. It is really helpful I think, for both the writer and others who read this to know they are not in this alone.
October 6th, 2008 at 9:44 am
I just had my Tubal Reversal on Sept 19th and though I did it for the chance to have another child I also did the research on PTLS and found out how many similarities I had to the other women suffering.
I would have awful Migraines for 7-10 days before AF, horrbile cramps and fatigue, tender breast and horrible mood swings.
My AF is to begin on the 9th of October and I have not had 1 migraine headache no cramps yet and not even an ounce of the irrational moodiness that has plauged me for the last 7 years.
It’s truly a blessing. Like many other women I chalked it all up to “that time of the month”, but with the help and wealth of information of the site and staff at CHTRC I don’t have to be a victim of “that time of the month” anymore.
Thank you so much for all you have done for my family!