Tubal Reversal Sisters: A Journey Together
In January of 2009 I had the pleasure of working with Lisa and Marshal M.
After her reversal surgery, Lisa M. emailed me a picture she took with the other women who had reversal surgery with her on the same day.
Pictured from left to right are Tubal Reversal Sisters: Lisa M., Lisa R., Christina, and April.
For reasons I will explain, I felt a strong desire to share this picture with our blog Tubal Reversal Blog Readers.
A Tubal Ligation Reversal: The Ringleader
The ringleader of the group is Christina. The sisters found each other and bonded together because of her organizing efforts.
Christina and Lisa R started talking on the Tubal Reversal Message Board before their tubal reversal surgery. Christina eventually noticed Lisa M and April were having surgery the same day as she and Lisa R.
Christina was able to arrange a meeting for the couples and they met the night before their tubal reversal surgeries. They had dinner together and the next day they all successfully went through reversal surgery. The morning after their surgeries they all meet at a local restaurant for breakfast.
The picture seen above was taken at breakfast – the day after their surgeries! Now does it look like any of them have just had surgery approximately 24 hours before this breakfast meeting?
With every couple’s permission…below are the stories of The Tubal Reversal Sisters of January 27th.
Tubal Reversal Patient: Sister Lisa M and Husband Marshall
Lisa M. and Marshall live in Orlando, Florida and together they traveled to Chapel Hill, North Carolina for a tubal reversal surgery. Lisa is 41 years of age and is a manager at Disney World. Marshall is 31 and is an investment manager at a large bank in Florida. Lisa has three children from a previous marriage and Marshall does not have any children. Lisa and Marshall had attempted IVF for one cycle and then decided to have tubal reversal surgery.
Tubal Reversal Message Board Name: Lisama327
Tubal Ligation Method: Postpartum ligation and resection
Tubal Reversal Sister Lisa R and Husband Sean
Lisa R. and Sean live in Ontario, Canada.
They traveled a long distance to see us for reversal of Lisa’s tubal ligation. Lisa is 44 years of age and is a police officer. Sean is a civil engineer.
Lisa has two children from a previous relationship. Lisa and Sean do not have children together.
Tubal Reversal Message Board Name: Ryli
Tubal Ligation Method: Filshie clips
Tubal Reversal Sister Christina and Husband Bob
Christina and Bob live in Fredricksburg, VA.
They have five children from previous relationships and together they desire a child.
Christina is 34 and a stay at home mom and Bob is 31 years of age and a small business owner.
Pregnant After Tubal Reversal!
Christina deserves many congratulations for bringing the tubal reversal sisters together before their surgery and also for the first sister to become pregnant after tubal reversal. Christina was the first to report a positive pregnancy test three weeks after her reversal!
At our last inquiry, her pregnancy was inside her uterus and was growing well.
Tubal Reversal Message Board Name: Thomaspartyof7
Tubal Ligation Method: Filshie clips
Tubal Reversal Sister April And Husband Brant
April and Brant live in Morganton, North Carolina. April is 33 years old and is a church secretary. Brant is 40 years of age and owns a computer repair business. For both of them this is their second marriage and between them they share five children but do not have any together.
April also experienced worsening periods after she had her tubes tied.
Second Reported Pregnancy After Tubes Untied
April was the second Tubal Reversal Sister to report pregnancy four months after her reversal surgery. She was following the Early Pregnancy Protocol and, unfortunately, was diagnosed with an early ectopic pregnancy. She was able to have methotrexate treatment, avoid surgery, and will be able to try to become pregnant in the future.
Tubal Reversal Message Board Name: Still Standing
Tubal Ligation Method: Pomeroy Ligation and Resection
Comment by Dr. Monteith
I was very thrilled to have received this picture from the Tubal Reversal Sisters of January 27th. When I saw the picture the first thought I had was women who have tubal reversal surgery should neither feel scared nor alone.
Tubal Reversal Surgery: Scared or Anxious?
Tubal reversal surgery does not have to be unpleasant.
This picture was taken at breakfast approximately 24 hours AFTER outpatient tubal reversal surgery. If you did not know this you might assume this was a picture taken at a high school reunion. Everyone looks happy and no one looks like they are in pain.
This picture says a tremendous amount about how the staff of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center strives to make this a safe and comfortable surgical experience for couples.
Tubes Tied And Tubal Surgery: You Are Never Alone
You are never alone in your decision to have a tubal reversal.
The concept of permanence can weigh heavily on some. Many women will have their tubes tied during tough and difficult times during their lives. Many may come to regret their decision when life looks different. Feelings of isolation and loneliness do not have to exist because of a permanent sterilization procedure.
This picture wonderfully illustrates a group of women who found each other before their reversal surgery. As they left Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center, they joined their hands and will forever be bound together, through their shared experience, as the Tubal Reversal Sisters of January 27th, 2009.
Submitted by Dr. Charles Monteith
Want More Information About Tubal Reversal Surgery?
Readers interested in having tubal surgery for blocked tubes or to have their tubes untied can visit the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center website for more information.
Anyone interested can also call (919) 968-4656 for a free nurse consultation.
Personal Stories Of Tubal Reversal
Personal stories about tubal reversal surgery can be found in our daily submitted Patient Satisfaction Messages, Tubal Reversal Blog, and on our Tubal Reversal Message Board.
The next patient story, International Tubal Ligation Reversal: Age 40, discusses why Susan and Stephen traveled from the United Arab Emirates to have tubal reversal surgery at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center.
October 27th, 2009 at 4:16 am
[...] to the center with spouses but some come with family members and friends. Other patients find tubal reversal sisters along their journey. Some patients seek to relieve post tubal ligation symptoms, some come after [...]
August 21st, 2009 at 9:51 am
August 2009 Tubal Reversal sisters discuss their journey on the Tubal Reversal Message Board.
June 17th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
[...] By visiting the website at Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center a person can obtain a vast amount of knowledge and have questions answered by both the staff and other patients as well as women waiting for their TR date to arrive. The friendships forged are one of the most noted events on the message board as read in, Tubal Reversal Sisters: A Journey Together. [...]
June 15th, 2009 at 6:12 pm
[...] Tubal Reversal Sisters: A Journey Together. A great story about four couples who bonded together the day of their reversal surgeries. [...]
June 11th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I am 31 yrs old and it’s nice to see and read these ladies’ stories. My husband and I have 3 kids but none biologically together. We have looked and looked into tubal reversals but can’t afford to do it. It really hurts due to me being young , dumb, and doing this to my self 10 years ago at the tender age of 21. We desperately want to add to our family and have another baby.Congrats and I wish you all the best of luck!!!
Tanda
June 2nd, 2009 at 10:58 am
It’s great that these ladies can come together and share a common bond ! This type of friendship provides a great support system !
June 2nd, 2009 at 6:49 am
Nice story, thanks ladies!
May 29th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Hi Kim,
I haven’t told any of my co-workers and don’t plan to…I don’t think giving out that kind of personal info is necessary at all, for me. After all…they are just co-workers and don’t need to know the details. All I will say it that it is a miracle and that it was meant to be…and that will be true! I’m not concerned about their views and comments but I do hear what you are saying about knowing that people will disapprove but hey,…it’s a workplace, people talk about everything and everyone so I’m just going to focus on the people that matter the most to me…my family. If you really feel strongly about having the TR, you are in the right place…you will be in the best of hands…literally! I hope you can come to a decision that you are both happy with
May 29th, 2009 at 10:41 am
This is a super article that should encourage any women looking into tubal reversal surgery. The testimonies of these TR sisters is priceless.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I am regularly impressed by the wonderful community that is part of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center. The women choosing to take this path really can feel a sense of peace knowing there are so many resources and stories to inspire and feel a sense of security through. This article represents these experiences so well and I appreciate all the couples sharing their stories.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:20 am
This blog is wonderful! Thanks to the TR sisters that participated and allowed their stories to be shared.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:18 am
To Lisa,
Just wondering if you got any negative feed back about having a reversal done from your co-workers. I am also a police officer in Ontario, Canada and am trying to convince my husband to let me have one as well. He is a police officer and has 8 years left to retire. He thinks we are both too old. I am 42 and he is 45. We have 3 children 10, 7, 3 and I had my tubes done following a c-section. I have regretted it ever since. I got a lot of negative comments when I had my son at 39 at work from some of the girls and the guys and can just imagine what they would say if I had a tubal reversal. I wish you all the best and hope your dreams come true soon.
Kim
May 28th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
When look at this picture… this is a new family that I now belong to. These are my sisters and brothers now. I wish I could say that everything is going along smoothly with my pregnancy, but unfortuantley we had to end the pregnancy when we found it was ectopic.
The thing is, I’ve not had to go thru this alone, or weed thru all of the posts on the message board for support during this difficult time. My sisters are just an email or phone call away. Even though we are all taking different paths on our journey, we all started down the same road. I look forward to the future that I will be able to share with these three ladies.
Heartfelt love,
April M
May 28th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I feel so fortunate to have found the CHTRC website when I began looking into the prospect of having my tubal ligation reversed. Dr. Berger, Dr. Monteith and their team are the ultimate professionals, so caring, friendly and down to earth. It is because of this website that I had the wonderful opportunity to meet 3 fantastic women who I have become such good friends with and that I can look to for friendship and support! Meeting them all with their husbands was such a great experience, one that I won’t soon forget. I will always look back on this experience and be so thankful that these ladies have become a special part of my baby journey! A heart felt thank you to Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith for giving us all the chance to bring another baby angel into this world!
Wishing everyone the very best!!
Lisa Ryan
May 28th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Wow! It looks like we are famous! Lol… but seriously to anyone out there who may be thinking about having TR surgery I can honestly say that CHTRC is the place to be. The staff and Doctors are WONDERFUL. I met some of the great friends along the way and although we are all on different paths in our TR journeys we are all strong for one another and here for one another.. no matter what! My Tr sisters, Lisa Ma, Lisa Ryan and April Meridith are remarkable women and they are very dear to my heart, these women have been a great strength for me and an awesome support group for my pregnancy. I know I can always depend on them for excellent advice and a laugh or two! My pregnancy is going well I am currently 18 weeks and going strong… the pregnancy is healthy and I can now feel the baby kicking….
To all of the future TR Sisters, I wish you all well and the best of luck.
Huggzz & Babydust to all,
Christina Thomas