Tubal Ligation Reversal: A Husband’s Perspective
Tubal Reversal: Mr. Peach Speaks Out
At the request of my lovely wife, Tanya (aka Georgia Peach), I would like to give all the “Guys” an inside look into Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center and what they can expect during tubal reversal surgery and from the tubal reversal staff.
Tubal Ligation,Blocked Tubes: Desire For More Children
I never thought I would ever want another child, at least not until I met Tanya. We were married on December 22, 2008 and she is the most wonderful woman in the world. We started looking into tubal reversal in September 2008. Tanya was late starting her period that month and the curiosity of a pregnancy got to both of us.
But since she had a tubal litigation, “What possibility could there ever be?”. We waited a few weeks and she still hadn’t started. She wanted to take a pregnancy test, but was so scared of the thought of not being pregnant.
On my way home from work, I stopped by Wal-Mart and bought a pregnancy test for her to take, mainly because the anxiety of wanting to know if she was pregnant was eating me alive. That evening, after I got home, I presented Tanya with the pregnancy test and asked her to take it. At first she refused, but then she finally used it.
Unfortunately it was negative. Both of us had high hopes she was. It was at this point we were both sitting in the floor together after grieving for a few minutes and comforting ourselves.
Tubal Litigation – Reversal of Tubal Litigation
After grieving together, we grabbed the laptop and searched “Pregnancy after tubal litigation.”
Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center’s link was the first one that popped up. We investigated and studied the website. Talking to each other about the possibility of having her tubes reversed, we we’re both overjoyed at the possibility of being able to have a child together. I ordered the DVD that Dr. Berger has available. The DVD showed us the details about reversal surgery and what is repaired during the surgery. We both watched the DVD and decided this was something we were very interested in. From that day forward, she was constantly reading the threads on the Tubal Reversal Message Board and talking to other people about their surgery and reversal results.
Our Sterilization Reversal Surgery
Tanya had her surgery on February 26, 2009. We had to be there on the 25th for pre-operative evaluation. We completed the paperwork and meet the reversal center staff. We chose Dr. Montieth as our tubal reversal surgeon. Everyone there is very patient, friendly, attentive, and courteous. The facility is very comfortable. Everything is explained informatively and all our questions were answered. Our appointment time for the surgery was at 7 AM on the 26th of February. Tanya is very needle phobic so the sooner the better.
We arrived at the reversal center that morning around 6:45 AM. The staff didn’t waste any time getting us situated and in the pre-op room. For us “Guys” we can’t go in with the “Wives” for the surgery, but that is understandable.
When first going into the preop/recovery room, there is a big United States map on the wall with black pushpins. You will be able to place a pin on the map showing where you are from. I found this very pleasing. It’s a comforting thing and it sure made me very proud to place that pin on the map.
It was at this point that our dreams became a reality to me.
I stayed with Tanya while Lori and Pam prepped Tanya for surgery. Just as soon as Pam gave Tanya some “feel good” medicine, as she called it, Tanya was high on life. I first thought that 60 to 90 minutes would seem like an eternity, but before I knew it, it was 8:34AM and Lori came and got me. I went back to the recovery where Tanya was laying. Pam came out and told me Tanya did very well. A few minutes after that Dr. Montieth came out. He informed me of the outcome of the surgery and that Tanya’s tubal lengths were 5.5 cm and 6.0 cm.
Recovery After Tubal Reversal: Crossing Over
Over the period of an hour Tanya was in and out, getting over the effects of anesthesia. I fed her pieces of ice to soothe her throat. Tanya was constantly telling me she was ready to go home – at about 9:15 a.m.
Tanya wanted to go the rest room so I helped her there and helped her change back into her Eeyore PJ’s so she would be more comfortable. A few minutes after that they moved us into the second stage recovery room where Tanya laid in a recliner until I moved our truck around to the side so she didn’t have to go so far. After coming back inside and getting her ready to go, Lori and I walked Tanya to the truck.
We left Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center at 9:38 AM, give or take a few minutes. I tried to document everything, but in all the excitement, I may have skipped a few things. After arriving back at the hotel, I walked Tanya to the lobby, got a wheelchair for her, and took her to our room on the fourth floor- room 400- all the at the end of the hall. “Wow”, what a walk. But it was helpful for Tanya to be able to walk around to keep the soreness under control. After getting to our room, I helped her to bed and gave her some medicine.
Hope After Repair of Tubal Blockage
I would like to thank everyone at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center again for all they did and giving us the possibility of another child. None of this would have been possible without them.
For all you husbands out there: stand beside your wife, support her, care for her, but most importantly, love her. They, and our children both present and future, are all we really have that is dear to us.
Submitted by Kevin (aka Mr. Peach)
Readers can view Georgia Peach’s first and subsequent submissions, The Tubal Reversal Journey of Georgia Peach.
The next article in the Georgia Peach Series is Tubal Surgery of Mrs. Peach: Doctor’s View.
IVF vs. Tubal Ligation Reversal Surgery
We are also running a parallel series written by the tubal reversal doctors of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. The current series looks at alternatives for having children after a tubal ligation procedure and has special focus on alternatives for women over the age of 40. The first article in the medical series is Tubal Ligation Reversal After Age 40 | Introduction.
The most recent and very important article compares pregnancy rates after IVF (in vitro fertilization) and tubal ligation reversal when patient age is considered.
Visitors are welcome to leave comments on the blog for Georgia Peach and/or join discussions with other women on the Tubal Reversal Message Board.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
[...] The next article in the Georgia Peach series is Tubal Ligation Reversal: A Husbands Perspective. [...]
April 7th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
I would also like to say that this surgery not only gives a couple the opportunity at adding to or starting their family, but also the reversal does and I am here to prove it from experience it does cure PTLS…..
April 2nd, 2009 at 8:43 pm
[...] the dinner together while on the road for reversal, and in his final statement he submitted in his blog contribution for others husbands to [...]
March 20th, 2009 at 11:03 pm
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Sarah
http://laptopseries.net
March 19th, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Thank you for sharing your experience, Kevin. Best wishes to the both of you!
March 19th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Kevin,
How nice of you to write this! Hopefully, this will put husbands and partners at ease! Tanya is indeed a lucky woman to have you!
March 19th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Kevin,
I want to thank you for this; it is so nice and reassuring to hear from you and your perspective. I think that this will help both me and my husband as we are scheduled in 25 days. You and Tanya are so lucky to have each other and I wish all the best!
Lisa
March 19th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Your tubes can be reversed. Insurance will not pay for any of the procedure. At the age of 48, IVF with donor eggs is the recommended treatment.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
I had my tubes tied on May 6 1982 and I am 48 yrs old. I would like to have my tubes untied but I don’t know what they tied did and I felt like they clamped them. They told me that my tubes can be reversed. I would like to know if insurance would cover it. I desperately want another child. I don’t have this kind of money to pay for it. Thank you.
March 19th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Kevin,
This is the sweetest thing I have ever heard. Tanya is a lucky woman!