Tube Blocked: Dorinda and Blocked Tubes
The tubal reversal doctors at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center perform over 800 tubal ligation reversals every year. We perform tubal reversals on patients from all over the United States and across the world. We have become experts in unblocking blocked tubes.
Every one of our patients brings with them a unique story. Periodically, we like to present their stories so readers can see the diverse walks of life from which our patients come.
On December 1st 2008, I meet Dorinda and asked her if she would participate in our Tubal Reversal Blog. She agreed and here is her story:
Dorinda’s Quest for Reversal of Blocked Tubes
Dorinda came here from Rock Hill, South Carolina (S.C.) for reversal of tubal ligation. She is a 27-year-old loan collections agent and has two young children. Four years ago and after the birth of her last child, Dorinda had bipolar cautery tubal ligation. Her new partner, Willy, is the manager of a hair salon and he has a son from a prior relationship. After meeting Willy, Dorinda gradually began to regret having her ‘tubes tied and burnt’. Willy and Dorinda want to have a child together and Willy desperately wants to have a daughter.
Affording Tubal Ligation Reversal
Dorinda looked into tubal ligation reversal three years before she actually made the decision. After meeting Willy, she began to seriously consider a tubal reversal. She wanted to have the surgery sooner; however, she could not afford the cost of tubal reversal at that time. She had to delay having her reversal of tubal ligation and then, sadly, her father passed away.
Dorinda’s father was aware she wanted to have another child. At the time of his death, he specifically requested that money be left for her to have her tubal reversal surgery. Dorinda was fortunate to receive this money and several months after the passing of her father she was able to make the payment to have her tubes untied. Dorinda was finally ready for tubal ligation reversal surgery.
Could Dorinda’s Tubes be Repaired?
In preparation for surgery, Dorinda sent the operative report of her tubal ligation procedure for our evaluation. A disturbing description was the cauterization of 5 cm of the fallopian tubes on both sides.
The fallopian tube is 10-12cm long. On average, most tubal cauterization procedures involve 1-2 cm of tube. The amount of tubal damage during a cauterization procedure usually extends beyond the amount of tube that is seen to be coagulated during the procedure. Dorinda’s fallopian tube was cauterized for 5 cm. If the amount of tubal damage extended for 2 cm on each side, then Dorinda might not have any tubes left to repair or have only extremely short segments.
We were worried her fallopian tubes might not be repairable. We recommended Dorinda undergo a screening diagnostic laparoscopy. This procedure would allow us to look at her tubes with a small camera via a small incision and evaluate the possibility of repairing her blocked tubes. Dorinda decided to bypass the laparoscopy and proceed with minilaparotomy in hopes that her blocked tubes could be repaired. She wanted us to attempt any tubal repair that was possible. She was aware a repair might not be technically possible but decided to leave things in God’s hands.
Dorinda’s Blocked Tubes Were Repairable
We interviewed Dorinda the day of her surgery. Her sister accompanied her. We answered her questions and explained the concern of a difficult tubal repair given the description of her operative note.
Dorinda underwent reversal surgery. During her operation, healthy fallopian tubal segments of 3-4 cm were present on both sides. It appeared a large amount of tube had been cauterized and this was the portion closest to the uterus. Dorinda also developed tubal endometriosis since her initial tubal ligation procedure. The combination of extensive coagulation of the tube and endometriosis caused increased scarring of the tube and uterus.
We were able to remove most of the endometriosis and repair her tubes with the technique of tubouterine anastamosis. The increased scarring caused her surgery to be slightly longer than our average reversal; however, we had completed her successful tubal reversal on both sides after approximately 90 minutes of operating time.
Dorinda did well both during and after the surgery. I met with her after the surgery in the recovery room and discussed the operative results with her and her sister. We examined her the day after surgery and she was then ready to return home.
Comment by Dr. Monteith
We are able to repair at least one fallopian tube at least 98% of the time and both fallopian tubes over 90% of the time.
Very often we encounter difficult conditions, such as scar tissue formation and endometriosis, that makes tubal reversal surgery challenging. We have a large surgical volume, which keeps us in practice, but it is our specialization and commitment to tubal ligation reversa that sets us apart from other doctors.
Our patients typically have a high success rate for pregnancy after tubal reversal. The frequent Patient Satisfaction Messages we receive demonstrate our commitment to successful tubal ligation reversal. We attempt to repair as many fallopian tubes as we possibly can and we try to nothing stand in the way of our objective.
I told Dorinda she was very lucky to have had both tubes repaired given the extent of endometriosis and scarring of the tubes and uterus.
I also think Dorinda’s father was in some way watching over her…
June 30th, 2009 at 12:42 am
I am so happy to hear Dorinda’s story and I wish her luck. I also had My TR and was left with 4.0 cm and 5.0 cm tubes.At first I was sad. I thought that wasn’t enough tube considering that the normal tubes are at least 10 cm but I am leaving it to God. Hopefully I will be pregnant soon. I will pray for Dorinda and all of the other families to get their bundles soon. Thank you Dr.Monteith for all your work.
June 2nd, 2009 at 4:09 am
Our current recommendation is to wait for 12 months. Read this page about HSG after tubal reversal surgery.
June 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Is there a certain time limit you should wait before wondering if your tubes are blocked or not? Do you just tell your doc that you want to make sure their not & do a test?
May 16th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Tubes that are blocked for reasons other than having them tied can often be repaired.
May 15th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
What about females that have blocked tubes not from tying their tubes but are just told that was the cause?
wingie0914@aol.com
May 15th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Dear Sumita,
Dr. Berger offers tubal reparative surgery on a case by case basis.
Please forward your records to our office for his review.
Please include your contact information and the summary of your history as you did below.
Our address is:
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center
109 Conner Drive Suite 2200
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Once your records are received and reviewed, we will contact you to review Dr. Berger’s prognosis for possible tubal repair.
Thank you,
Jennifer Okun, R.N.
May 15th, 2009 at 8:19 am
I had bilateral hydrosalphinx with spillage in one tube. The doctors cauterized both my tubes as ivf preparation.
Ever since my body is thrown out of gear. Just two months after operation, I have been spotting regularly and now am on birth control pills. I am in devastating state of mind. I no longer want an ivf but am interested in getting the process reversed. Is it possible???? Please reply at my email id sumitajains@rediffmail.com
April 15th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
You can send us the report from your tubal reversal surgery as well as the report and pictures from the HSG done in 2008. Essentially, your options are a tubal revision surgery or in vitro fertilization (IVF). If you send us your records we can review them at no charge and let you know your best option.
April 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
I had my tubes reversed back in 2000 and I have had the test to see if my tubes were open. In 2003, my tubes were opened and I got pregnant but we lost our baby.
In 2005, I had the test done again and it showed that my tubes were blocked.
In 2008, I had the test done again and it showed one tube completely blocked and the other one was blocked halfway.
Is there anything I can do to conceive a child with my husband now.
I will be waiting for a response and my email is
evilone4026@yahoo.com
February 11th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
I am so blessed to have such a skillful doctor as Dr. Monteith. I thank God everyday of my sucess of being able to have both of my tubes repaired. My surgery was pain free and I didnt have any complications. I am still trying to have my Monteith Miracle baby, but I feel it in my heart and in my body that it will come very soon. I feel like a new women, being able to have the opportunity to have a baby again…. Children are blessings and no one should ever take that away from themselves or others. SO THANK YOU DR.MONTEITH AND YOUR STAFF, AND I WILL BE KEEPING IN TOUCH ONCE I BECOME PREGNANT… WISH ME LUCK*
February 6th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
[...] of our patients with blocked tubes or tied tubes tells us they chose tubal reversal surgery because it results in becoming pregnant [...]
January 4th, 2009 at 2:10 pm
What the cost of this ? and Do you have a finanicial aid program and a payment plan
December 24th, 2008 at 11:23 am
It is so great to hear the personal stories that go along with the patients we help everyday by reversing tubal ligations. Knowing that her father made it possible was such a blessing for her. Seeing that what we do makes such a difference in the lives of so many women and their families is so rewarding and makes working at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center extremely worthwhile. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
December 24th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Dorinda’s story is yet another example of the care and commitment of our tubal reversal doctors at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
December 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thank you Dorinda for sharing your tubal reversal journey with all of us. Your story is an inspiration to many. At Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, we take great pride in all that we do to create a memorable experience for our patients. Thank you Dr. Berger and Dr. Moneith for your skill, expertise, and compassion.
December 24th, 2008 at 7:19 am
This is such a heart warming story and another testament to the experience and skill of our tubal reversal surgeons.
December 23rd, 2008 at 4:04 pm
I think it is nice to hear the story behind why a woman seeks out tubal reversal surgery. Reversal of tubal ligation at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center is more affordable than IVF and every month after tubal reversal, women have a chance at having a child with their partner the natural way.
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
What a touching story! After hearing all the barriers that seemed to stand in the way of Dorinda having a successful tubal reversal, I definitely think that Dorinda’s father was watching over her. I wish the best of luck to her!
December 23rd, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Here at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center we experience all types and methods of tubal ligation. Dorinda is a great example of how our staff’s and Dr. Montieth’s experience assisted the surgery. Not only were we able to repair Dorinda’s fallopian tubes but also we were able to do so in a timely manner while giving good care to the patient.
December 23rd, 2008 at 10:15 am
Wonderful news for Dorinda! Hope she see’s her BFP very soon!